Television
ByRenée Camus
When Amber Rachdi appeared on season 3 of "My 600-lb Life" in 2015, they had many of the same issues that lots of the show's cast members had. They were only 23 years old and weighed 657 pounds. They struggled with anxiety, depression, and a fear of failure, and used food as a coping mechanism. They were overweight as a child, weighing 160 pounds by age 5. They depended on others, such as their parents, to survive and to do everyday tasks. They were unable to stand for longer than 30 minutes and relied on a scooter or wheelchair to get around. They had a "supportive" boyfriend who really only served to enable their poor eating habits. Fortunately, they were anxious to change and put in the hard work to save their life.
Happily, Amber was able to do that, working with Dr. Younan Nowzaradan to live a healthier lifestyle. They proved their ability to follow Dr. Now's advice and lose weight on their own, thus qualifying for gastric bypass surgery. After the surgery, they changed their habits, incorporating healthy eating and exercise, moving out of their parents' house and living independently, and worked with a therapist to find different habits for coping with anxiety, guilt, and depression.
By the end of Amber's year followed in their episode of "My 600-lb Life," Amber had lost 257 pounds, and — if not for their already beautiful face — would be practically unrecognizable now. See how they're doing now after the jump.
Amber Rachdi is an Instagram model and influencer now
What's also true of many "My 600-lb Life" success stories, Amber Rachdi appears much happier now. They're rocking their Instagram page as a model and influencer with 214k followers, and they're absolutely stunning as they show off the latest makeup tips and fun hairstyles. Their gorgeous cheekbones and impeccable eyebrows are as sharp as their nails, and their new body is over 400 pounds thinner.
But they're also brutally honest about their continuing struggles, encouraging others while refusing to give medical advice. "I resonate so deeply with the fears and feelings of shame people carry to me," they said on Facebook, "But, I am not a doctor or a nutritionist or a health educator." Despite anxieties that they are failing people, they say "I would be horribly negligent if I tried to tell anyone what to do with their bodies or health."
Amber also confirmed they won't appear on "My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now," citing their unpleasant experience with the show. They told Starcasm how "disorganized and jarring" the filming was, saying "they ran late, reshot difficult to replicate scenes, and really sort of acted like bullies." Production also exhibited "next level unethical" behavior by "threaten[ing] to postpone or cancel" surgeries if they didn't cross certain boundaries.
Fortunately, fans can keep up with them on social media. They're now married to a different fellow, they "graduated with a 3.5 GPA" in English (per Facebook), and they're outspoken about body positivity. Keep living your best life, Amber!
Amber Rachdi has a new mystery man
As we mentioned, Amber Rachdi is married, and it's not to Rowdy. Avid "My 600-lb Life" fans may remember that during Rachdi's weight loss journey, they were in a relationship with Rowdy. Many weren't a fan of Rachdi's partner and felt he encouraged bad eating habits. Rachdi revealed on "My 600-lb Life," "I've gained a lot of weight since I met him. I've gained probably 200 pounds." Well, after filming wrapped, Rachdi not only got rid of a bunch of weight, but they also got rid of Rowdy.
Rachdi and Rowdy broke up, but the reality star still came to his defense after he was attacked online following "My 600-lb Life," per Suggest. Rachdi shared a tweet, "In defense of Rowdy, my ex who was on the show: who do y'all think is taking pictures of me at the gym? He IS a good, supportive friend." And that's all he is to Rachdi, a friend, because they have moved on.
In 2016, the "My 600-lb Life" star shocked fans when they revealed they were engaged, per Suggest. But, don't bother scouring social media for a picture of him because Rachdi has been extremely private about their new man. They only briefly mention him in posts. In 2018, Rachdi wrote, "Ok, so not a selfie. My husband took this one, but I still feel pretty cool in my leather jacket." And as far as we know, Rachdi and their husband are still happily married.
Recommended
