Whitney Thore is an American television personality best known for starring in the TLC reality series My Big Fat Fabulous Life. She first gained notoriety in 2014 after a YouTube video she created titled “A Fat Girl Dancing” went viral.
Thore has struggled with her weight since childhood. At her heaviest, she weighed 380 pounds. Over the years, she has embarked on a weight loss journey that has seen her lose over 70 pounds. Her experiences with weight gain, loss, and body image have been chronicled on My Big Fat Fabulous Life. This article will provide an overview of Thore’s weight loss efforts, including changes to her diet and exercise routine, her skin removal surgery, and the impact her transformation has had on her life.
Early Life and Weight Gain
Whitney Thore was born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1984. She grew up as a dancer and was very active as a child. However, when Whitney went away to college her freshman year, she began gaining a significant amount of weight.
Whitney’s weight gain escalated rapidly, and by her sophomore year of college she had gained over 100 pounds. Several factors contributed to Whitney’s weight gain in college, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), depression, and a knee injury that prevented her from dancing. Whitney continued gaining weight through her 20s. By her late 20s, she reached her highest weight of 380 pounds.
My Big Fat Fabulous Life
My Big Fat Fabulous Life is a reality TV show that premiered on TLC in January 2015. The show chronicles the life of Whitney Way Thore, who gained popularity after her viral “A Fat Girl Dancing” video in 2014. At the time, Whitney weighed over 380 pounds.
The series follows Whitney as she embraces her body and her life. It documents her attempts to lose weight, her dance career, and her relationships with family and friends. My Big Fat Fabulous Life provides an intimate look into the daily struggles Whitney faces as a person living with obesity.
My Big Fat Fabulous Life has received praise for spreading a message of body positivity and self-acceptance. Whitney refuses to be defined by her weight and lives her life to the fullest. The show highlights that people of all sizes deserve to feel confident. My Big Fat Fabulous Life helped ignite a broader cultural conversation about beauty standards, fat shaming, and loving yourself at any size.
Deciding to Lose Weight
Whitney began seriously considering weight loss after being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that can make it difficult to lose weight. Her health struggles motivated her to make a change. Whitney said, “I realized I was too fat to live the life I wanted to live”.
She decided to focus on losing weight in order to improve her quality of life and be able to do more physical activities. Though the path to weight loss seemed daunting, Whitney was determined to take control of her health. “I’m ready to do the work and change my life,” she declared. Her positive attitude and motivation propelled her through the challenges ahead.
Diet Changes
Whitney decided to lose weight by making major changes to her diet. She worked with a nutritionist to develop meal plans that focused on healthy, balanced nutrition while reducing overall calorie intake. Her new diet emphasized lean proteins like chicken and fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. She cut out processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive carbs.
A typical daily meal plan for Whitney might include things like oatmeal with berries for breakfast, a salad with chicken or salmon for lunch, and roasted vegetables and quinoa for dinner. Her nutritionist helped her pay closer attention to portion sizes and make substitutions like cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles instead of starchy carbs. While allowing occasional treats, the overall goal was to reduce calorie intake while maximizing nutrition from wholesome, minimally processed foods.
Exercise Routine
Whitney Thore decided to embrace exercise not just as a means to lose weight, but to live a healthier lifestyle. She worked with a personal trainer to develop a routine that worked for her body and abilities. Her workouts focused on strength training, cardio, and dance fitness. Some of the specific exercises and routines she did included using resistance bands, pilates, Zumba classes, cycling, weightlifting, and walking on the treadmill.
Thore set fitness goals to become stronger and more active, not tied to a number on the scale. She aimed to exercise 3-5 times per week for at least 30 minutes per session. Her approach focused more on how she felt during and after workouts rather than counting calories burned. Thore embraced exercise as a lifelong journey, concentrating on sustainable habits over short-term results. She learned to enjoy movement and being active, which provided not just physical benefits but also boosted her mood and self-confidence.
Weight Loss Results
Over the past few years, Whitney has made incredible progress in her weight loss journey. Sources estimate that since starting the process, Whitney has lost between 70 to 100 pounds total.
Much of Whitney’s weight loss occurred after the tragic passing of her mother in November 2021. Dealing with grief, Whitney doubled down on her health goals and lost around 50 pounds in 2022 alone.
Before and after photos show a dramatic change in Whitney’s appearance after losing weight. She looks noticeably slimmer in recent social media posts and episodes of her show. While Whitney felt beautiful at any size, the weight loss has increased her confidence and made her feel healthier overall.
Skin Removal Surgery
After losing a significant amount of weight, many people opt to get skin removal surgery to get rid of excess skin. This was the case for Whitney Thore as well. After dropping over 100 pounds through diet and exercise, Whitney decided to undergo several skin removal procedures.
There were a few reasons Whitney chose to get skin removal surgery. First, the excess skin was uncomfortable and caused chafing and skin irritation. She wanted to feel more comfortable in her own body. Second, the loose skin made it difficult for her to be as active as she wanted. Getting it removed would allow her to be more mobile and continue on her fitness journey. Finally, though Whitney preaches body positivity, the excess skin was impacting her confidence and self-image.
In 2018, Whitney underwent her first skin removal surgery, a brachioplasty to remove excess skin from her arms. Later procedures included a tummy tuck, breast lift, and thigh lift. The operations went smoothly overall. The recovery process from skin removal surgery can be painful and require significant downtime. Whitney had to take it easy and allow her body to heal. She experienced swelling, bruising, and numbness. With her doctor’s care and time to recover, the results were transformative. Removing the excess skin helped Whitney feel more comfortable and confident.
Lessons Learned
Whitney has learned a lot through her weight loss journey that she openly shares to help others. She advises focusing on overall health rather than getting caught up in specific weight loss goals, as crash dieting is not sustainable. Whitney says the most important thing is feeling good mentally and physically, not achieving a certain number on the scale.
She emphasizes making gradual lifestyle changes at your own pace. Whitney recommends adding exercise that you enjoy, even if just starting with small amounts, as it helps boost energy and mood. She also stresses the value of building a support system to stay motivated, and suggests being patient with yourself through the ups and downs.
To maintain her progress, Whitney focuses on consistency, reasonable portions, regular workouts, and listening to her body’s needs. She aims for balance rather than perfection. Whitney wants people to know lasting weight loss is possible when you make sustainable changes.
Impact on Her Life
Whitney’s significant weight loss has had a profoundly positive impact on her life. After losing over 70 pounds since 2017, Whitney says she feels healthier and more energetic than ever before.
Most notably, Whitney’s weight loss has led to major improvements in her health. She no longer suffers from sleep apnea and back pain like she used to, and her blood pressure has normalized as well. Whitney says she used to struggle going up a flight of stairs, but now has much more stamina for everyday activities.
Looking to the future, Whitney plans to continue her healthy lifestyle and keep losing weight at a steady, maintainable pace. She hopes to be under 200 pounds eventually. Whitney says her outlook on life is much more positive now that she is feeling better physically and emotionally. Losing weight has boosted Whitney’s confidence, and she is determined to embrace the next chapter of her life as a happier, healthier person.
