'My 600-lb Life': Where is Julian Valentine now? Here's what he's up to after surgery
The recently aired episode of 'My 600-lb Life' featuring Julian Valentine's story is that of achieving your goal despite all the odds. When the audience was first introduced to Julian, an Arizona-based electrician, he couldn't carry out any of his day-to-day tasks by himself owing to his whopping 830-lbs body weight. Luckily for Julian, he had his doting wife Irma Valentine by his side ready to help him. From helping him with his baths to bringing him food, Irma did everything she could to help her husband.
But things weren't always this way between Julian and Irma. The couple's sweet love story will melt even the coldest heart. Julian narrated how he never dreamt of having a wife or falling in love, owing to his size. But it was love at first sight for him when he laid his eyes on Irma. It was the same for her too, in her green room interview, she candidly explained how she was head over heels in love with him the minute she saw him. But she didn't tell him anything as she didn't want to come off as a creepy person. Soon the couple began dating, and Julian described their marriage as the best thing to ever happen to him. He also revealed the moment when he realized that he wanted to marry Irma. He recounted how while they were dating, he spent a night at her place. Irma's grandfather was upset with the 'My 600-lb Life' star and began cussing him out and throwing him out of the house. So Julian left the house angrily and later while he was waiting at the bus stop, Irma reportedly came running after him. He was pleasantly surprised over her decision to pick him over her family, and since then he decided that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
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The couple couldn't have a big wedding like they wanted to but had a small intimate wedding. Although both Irma and Julian want to grow old together, Irma, unfortunately, has concerns about it. owing to Julian's steady weight gain over the years she fears that she might lose him due to health issues arising from his weight. In her confessional, she gets emotional imagining life without him and declares that she wants to grow old only with him and nobody else. Julian is aware of her concerns and worries and explains that he has tried losing weight in the past but could never stick to it or keep up with the plan and within no time he was back to square one.
Julian loves food, and his unhealthy relationship with food began at a very early age. he recounted how while he was growing up his family never had enough food and whenever they had food at home, he always ate a lot as he was just never sure about when his next meal would be. So, he began associating food with security and comfort. Later when his mom got remarried, things got worse as his step-father began mistreating him. So, he turned to food as an escape and a source of comfort from his surroundings. This just deepened his unhealthy bond with food, and just got worse over the years.
Although Julian is very well aware of how his love for food was slowly killing him and taking over all aspects of his life, the thing that hurts him the most is how he can't have children due to his weight. He also knows that although Irma wants him to be healthy she is also scared that if he loses weight he might leave her for somebody else. Irma confirms it and reveals that she's willing to put her insecurities aside for Julian to get healthy. Based on Irma's insistence, Julian turns to Dr. Now for help.
Dr. Now asks him to work on losing at least 100lbs in two months, so that Julian can be moved to Houston and continue to lose weight. Dr. Now also warns him about all the risks associated with operating on him if he doesn't lose enough weight. Julian and Irma went back home determined to hit the goal weight set by Dr. Now and began their diet and exercise. Julian's journey was filled with quite a few triumphs and hardships. When after two months, Julian went to get weighed he was surprised when the weighing scale at the hospital couldn't read his weight as its maximum capacity is 800lbs. So Dr. Now concluded that Julian didn't lose weight and didn't stick to the plan given to him. But Julian assured Dr Now that he would work harder and make significant progress in time for his next consult.
True to his word, Julian managed to lose a cool 116lbs, which reassured Dr. Now that he was indeed serious about losing weight and willing to put in the work. So Dr. Now signed off for him to move to Houston so that he could continue working on losing further weight. But the move to Houston clubbed with a few personal losses became a contributing factor to Julian piling on weight. He once again promised Dr. Now that he would stick to the plan and lose weight in order to be approved for the surgery.
Julian managed to lose enough weight and got approved for the surgery. Towards the end of the episode, Julian was shown getting his surgery done by Dr. Now.
Where is Julian now?
If you're wondering what happened to Julian since getting operated upon, we got you covered. According to his Facebook profile he continues to stay in Houston, and looks like he's still working hard on losing weight. The show also revealed that Julian has started taking Irma out on dates, and he is ready to take charge of his life. He seemed optimistic about getting a job and starting a family soon.
'My 600-lb Life' Season 10 airs every Wednesday at 8/7c on TLC.