Ashley Reyes' journey is a testament to the power of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Her story, documented on My 600-Lb Life, is not just about weight loss; it's about overcoming trauma, healing relationships, and reclaiming her life. From a peak weight of 668 pounds to a significant transformation, Ashley's journey is an inspiration to many.
The Beginning: Struggles and Trauma
Ashley Reyes' first appearance on My 600 Lb Life in 2017 revealed a woman struggling with morbid obesity and deep emotional scars. Weighing 668 pounds, Ashley described herself as feeling like a "monster" and carried immense guilt for the burden she felt she had become to her family.
Her weight gain was rooted in a traumatic past. Ashley revealed that she had been sexually abused by an uncle starting at the age of twelve, leading her to use food as a coping mechanism. This trauma resulted in significant weight gain, which eventually strained her marriage to her husband, Daniel.
Ashley felt that her weight was placing a terrible emotional strain on her marriage. "It strains my marriage that I can’t be romantic with him, that we can’t express our love the way we want to, but I just don’t want him to see me….It’s been such a long time that [Daniel] has taken care of me, that I can’t give back,” Ashley explained, highlighting the emotional toll her condition had on her relationship.
Turning Point: Dr. Nowzaradan and the First Steps
Despite her profound anxiety and emotional issues, Ashley sought help from Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, known as Dr. Now, a bariatric surgeon specializing in helping individuals with extreme obesity. Her time with Dr. Nowzaradan showed immediate results. Ashley was told she needed to lose 50 pounds before Dr. Now could operate on her. Ashley lost 54 pounds quickly and qualified for gastric bypass surgery. Following the surgery, she dropped a further 106 pounds in the months following her successful operation.
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Dr. Now's program requires patients to demonstrate commitment and discipline before undergoing surgery, as it is crucial for their long-term success. There are good reasons for this - for example, it's hard to put patients in certain x-ray machines (MRIs, for example) if they are over certain weights. This means that patients who are too heavy might not be able to get important tests. Also, the risks of surgical complications rise when patients are extremely heavy. Ashley's determination and commitment to the program were evident, setting the stage for her continued progress.
Addressing the Psychological Battle
Ashley’s journey was not just physical; she also had to confront the psychological aspects of her weight loss. After surgery, she talked about feeling sick, and after Dr. Now found nothing physically wrong with her, he recommended therapy, where she was diagnosed with food deprivation. It was then that Ashley began dealing with the psychological side of her weight loss. She told Dr. Now that she felt sick constantly, but Dr. Now couldn’t find anything physically wrong with her - and suggested she visit a therapist, instead. There, Ashley came to understand she’d spent the better part of two decades equating food deprivation with love deprivation.
Therapy helped her understand the root causes of her eating habits and develop healthier coping mechanisms. This mental and emotional work was essential for her long-term success. Ashley Dunn Bratcher also said "This whole journey has been not only a physical rollercoaster, it's been very a much an emotional rollercoaster,"
"Where Are They Now?": Continued Progress and Challenges
This past summer, Ashley’s first follow-up episode aired. From the outset, things were going well: between the end of her first episode and the start of her next, Ashley’s weight loss had increased, to over 300 total pounds. In her "Where Are They Now?" episode, she had stuck with Dr. Now's regimen and had lost a total of 300 pounds. “I had gotten up to 700 pounds,” Ashley said, “and now my body is strethced and disfigured and it’s depressing to see.
By now, Ashley and Daniel’s relationship had healed to the point where he was openly, even happily helping Ashley - and she was willing to accept his help without feeling guilt. “I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Ashley told him, at one point.
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Despite her success, Ashley faced new challenges, including dealing with excess skin, pain, and chafing issues due to her transformation. She expressed a desire to undergo surgery to remove the excess skin, which she found distressing.
Life After the Show: Privacy and Progress
Since that update aired last summer, it seems Ashley has disappeared from social media. In Ashley’s case, though, it seems more like she may have made the decision in order to focus more attention on herself and her weight loss journey. Several of her fellow cast members have made positive public reference to Ashley in the months since her last update; given how tight-knit the cast community is, it feels unlikely that either controversy or tragedy struck Ashley. The most likely explanation is that Reyes wants to focus on living healthily without the gaze of others.
As of 2023, Ashley had come a long way in her weight-loss journey. Over the years, she faced many issues, including difficulty sticking to diets. However, the My 600-lb Life alum didn't give up on her fitness goals. She kept pushing to lose more weight. According to Reality Titbit, Ashley has lost over 300 pounds and seems to be making progress every day. This milestone appears to indicate that she's successfully recovered from the issues that once hindered her. However, she still wants to get rid of the excess skin because she doesn’t like the way that it looks or feels.
A Fan Favorite: Likability and Endearment
Ashley Reyes isn't considered a My 600-Lb Life villain. She's actually a bit of a fan favorite. She was known for her sweet bond with her husband. She treated people well and gave them love. She was a kind and gentle person on the show. That's why it's so easy to wish her well now. While there isn't a lot of chatter about her on Reddit, one person who visited that platform considered her likable. My favorite since starting the series just recently is Ashley Reyes in Season Five. I'm not sure where she's at now, but her overall attitude, commitment, and the relationship with her husband were so endearing. I just loved her so much.
Her positive attitude, commitment to her goals, and the loving relationship with her husband resonated with viewers. Ashley's journey was marked by her determination to overcome her struggles and her ability to maintain a positive outlook despite the challenges she faced.
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The Importance of Support
Throughout her journey, Ashley had a strong support system in her husband, Daniel, who played a crucial role in her success. By now, Ashley and Daniel’s relationship had healed to the point where he was openly, even happily helping Ashley - and she was willing to accept his help without feeling guilt. “I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Ashley told him, at one point. Fortunately, she doesn't have to go through this journey alone as she has her husband to help her, and the episode also detailed how she no longer feels guilty accepting his assistance.
Daniel's unwavering support and love helped Ashley through some of her darkest times, reinforcing the importance of having a strong support network when tackling significant life changes.