Corey Phelps, known for his appearance on the Discovery Plus weight-loss series "Too Large," has an inspiring story of transformation that extends far beyond just weight loss. His journey encompasses overcoming adversity, advocating for body positivity and inclusion, and pursuing higher education and career goals. While his time on "Too Large" brought him into the public eye, Corey's experiences with the show, as he reveals, weren't always as they seemed.
Early Life and Struggles
As a child, Corey faced bullying due to his size. His weight issues escalated in high school when he came out as gay and was rejected by his mother due to her religious beliefs. This rejection led to homelessness after he moved out of his mother's house. He found stability with the help of the Good Neighbor homeless shelter, where he met his best friend Renee and secured a job in tech support.
At 28, Corey was sharing a one-bedroom apartment in Cartersville, GA, with Renee and working in tech support. Although he had achieved some stability, his weight had spiraled out of control, and he recognized that he needed help to save his health and independence. This realization led him to seek assistance through the show "Too Large" and consider weight loss surgery with Dr. Procter.
"Too Large" Experience: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Corey's episode on "Too Large" was a two-hour special, significantly longer than the usual 45-minute episodes. At the beginning of the show, Corey weighed 664 pounds and expressed a desire to lose weight. However, Corey revealed that his experience on the show was not entirely authentic, describing it as "a bunch of smoke and mirrors." In a video shared with his fans, he explained that the way the cameras were angled and audio was clipped together was misleading.
He claimed that the producers manipulated scenes to create a false narrative. For instance, they allegedly made it appear as though he was eating large amounts of unhealthy food, such as a giant bowl of fruity-flavored cereal, a large helping of donuts, and a giant éclair, when this wasn't his typical behavior. Corey stated that this footage was filmed on the first day and exaggerated for dramatic effect.
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Corey also recounted a scene where producers made it look like he was donating donuts to his old homeless shelter. He clarified that the shelter did not have the funds for such donations and that he would not eat as many donuts as the show portrayed.
The show also presented a distorted timeline of Corey's weight loss journey. While it depicted him working out and eating better, Corey said that this was exaggerated to create the impression that he was struggling more than he actually was. For example, the show portrayed him as distraught when Dr. Procter told him he needed to lose 50 pounds before surgery. However, Corey claimed that he had actually told Dr. Procter he was willing to lose 100 pounds. Furthermore, the order of his workout sessions with his brother Bobby Phelps and aunt Kristin Phelps was also misrepresented.
Other inaccuracies included a refrigerator full of vegetables that wasn't even his. Corey's breaking point came when producers dismissed letters from his family as unimportant. These letters were given to him after his surgery, despite the fact that he was supposed to get them before.
Corey ultimately quit "Too Large" due to disagreements with the executive producers. He clarified that his issue was with the production company, not Discovery Plus itself.
Weight Loss and Continued Journey
Despite the challenges he faced during the filming of "Too Large," Corey achieved significant weight loss. With hard work and successful surgery, he dropped a staggering 264 pounds and weighed in at around 400 pounds. He celebrated his newfound mobility and freedom in an Instagram post, expressing his excitement about being able to walk across campus and take the stairs without limitations.
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As of the summer of 2021, Corey was under 400 lbs. His Instagram is updated regularly with photos from his walks, showing that he’s still committed to his health while remaining body positive.
In July 2021, Corey provided an update to Studio 10 in Australia. He emphasized that he measures his success not just by the weight he has lost, but by what he has gained, such as the ability to walk for miles after struggling to walk from his front door to his car.
Advocacy and Education
Corey is a long-standing advocate for equity and inclusion. His advocacy led to the first body-positive representation of a queer individual on "Too Large." He is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Human Services at Kennesaw State University, with plans to graduate in 2022. Furthermore, he is preparing for the law school admission test.
In 2021, Corey completed a rewarding nonprofit internship with the Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia Chapter, where he focused on growing its digital presence. During his time there, he developed strategies for digital fundraising, emphasized the importance of culturally competent content creation, and created incentives for collaborators to stream for the charity.
Corey utilizes his personal love for graphic design and his professional passion for nonprofit management to help organizations thrive in a digital era.
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