Where is Stephanie from 'My 600-lb life' now? Dad's death and foster care led to star's eating addiction
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Stephanie, who appears in 'My 600-lb life' Season 11 Episode 6, will have to decide whether she wants her life back on track or lose it forever. As a child, Stephanie always craved her parents' attention. However, losing her father at an early age made her fall into the unending loop of weight gain.
Many of 'My 600-lb life' patients are anxious about their gaining weight, which often leads them to suicidal thoughts. As a result, the TLC stars often find themselves spiraling. Stephanie is one among the many patients who will be seen making a weight loss journey in order to have a future with her family.
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'My 600-lb life' Season 11 Episode 6 will feature Stephanie's struggle. She went through a lot as a child, but the one thing that turned her life upside down was her parents' split. Stephanie's mother claimed in a confessional, "Stephanie's dad was a truck driver. So he was on the roads a lot. Him and I had a fallout and he left me with the kids." After the split, Stephanie's mother met somebody who was an "alcoholic" and an "abuser." As she had no support, she called Stephanie's father for help. Being a supportive person, he asked her to get back to him in California. Sadly, within a day or two after the duo made it to California, he died in an accident.
Without anyone's financial or emotional support, Stephanie and her mother became devastated and homeless. Stephanie's mother said, "We lived out of a car." Seeing their condition, someone called CPS saying Stephanie's mother was not taking care of her. She was subsequently taken to foster care. Stephanie said, "It was really hard. I didn't get to cry. I get told that he (father) died and then taken away from my mom." For Stephanie, it was as if she lost two parents on the same day. She was in foster care for about 4 years.
What made Stephanie turn to eating?
Stephanie had a tough time adjusting to the foster care environment. However, instead of crying her heart out, she had to stay strong for her siblings. Stephanie said, "I ate whatever I could to suppress. Something to make me happy."
Stephanie revealed that her parents had "an odd job" that often left her all by herself. Her dad used to be busy with his job but would often take her to work "driving his ice-cream truck." She would "sit in the truck and eat ice-creams" for free, which made her feel special. With tears in her eyes, the star claimed, "I didn't feel alone at that time." However, things took an unfortunate turn when her parents split up.
Where is Stephanie now?
Being a mom of three and an obese person has made Stephanie think hard about her future. She fears she might not be able to see her children grow up due to her health issues. Therefore, she needs to put everything aside and focus on losing weight to have a healthy life.
Stephanie will be seen joined by her mother in the gym. As Stephanie lifts weights, her mother asks, "Feel the burn?" In the sneak peek clip, her mother instructs Stephanie on how to lift weights. She then sits there watching her daughter struggle with the exercises. Stephanie further claims in the confessional, "I've never pushed myself this hard before." She adds, "It's sweaty but I know it will benefit me in the end." Stephanie's one goal is to be comfortable coming to the gym. After a few lifts, Stephanie claims "I'm done." Her mother helps her get up and they both walk out of the gym. Stephanie says, "I really want that surgery, so that's what's motivating me." The star claims that she is doing it for her "whole family." Moreover, Stephanie feels like she is "turning over a new leaf this time."
We will see Stephanie meeting Dr Younan Nowzaradan to discuss health issues in the upcoming episode. Dr Now, who often suggests exercise routine and healthy diet to his patients, will be seen giving Stephanie similar advice. However, it is to be seen whether Stephanie will be a potential candidate for bariatric surgery.
The synopsis claims, "With her weight spiraling, Stephanie needs her mom's help to care for her three kids. Now, she's at the point where she'll have to lose weight or risk not having the chance to see her kids grow up." The sneak peek of the upcoming episode shows Stephanie hitting the gym as she chooses to exercise in order to lose weight. As she walks into the gym, the star asks, "Is it fat-friendly?" She is then seen sitting down and doing stretches. Stephanie starts working out on her upper body, mainly her arms. She is then seen starting with lifting small weights.
The Wednesday episode of 'My 600-lb Life' shows fans that social media may be the only way to get a 2023 report on Stephanie Smith's whereabouts after she determined Dr Now's weight reduction program wasn't the solution to her issues. Those who follow the TLC series from week to week know that Dr Now's regimen is designed to help extremely obese people reduce weight with or without exercise. He bases his nutritional advice on the assumption that his patients are unable to move. Dr now understands that patients who come to him without losing weight are lying about the diet adjustments they've made because the diet plan guarantees success if implemented properly.
Dr Now eventually realized that Stephanie was not being truthful with him, as months and months passed with her scarcely losing any weight. Stephanie Smith had blocked Dr Now by the end of the episode and refused to accept his phone calls or attend any of the appointments he had set up. Furthermore, she admitted to the cameras that the weight reduction program was not for her and that she felt she received the short end of the stick because the TLC doctor gave up on her.
Sadly, nothing on her profile indicates that she has had any further success with weight reduction. Last month, she posted a video on Facebook in which she claimed she was moving forward despite feeling as if the entire world was against her. She thanked the individuals in her life who had her back and continued to support her in a second Facebook Reel. She hasn't shared much on her page since August of last year, aside from these two Reels and a photo.
Let us wait and see if Stephanie will continue to work out. 'My 600-lb Life' Season 11 airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on TLC.