Suvechha Sarkar
Ryan Barkdoll was introduced to the audience in season 10 of TLC’s ‘My 600-lb Life.’ Episode 7, titled ‘Ryan’s Journey,’ focuses on his path toward achieving his weight goal and the hurdles he faced during that time. Initially, he weighed 740 lbs and struggled to fit through the doorways of his home. In the early years, Ryan struggled with emotional turmoil and drug addiction. However, he gradually began relying on food as the ultimate source of comfort, which eventually proved dangerous for his health. When he finally realized that this could threaten his well-being, he decided to turn his life around.
Ryan Barkdoll Was Struggling With Food Addiction and Unresolved Grief
Ryan began gaining weight as a child, and by age 10, he weighed over 100 lbs. The absence of attention from his stepfather since childhood led him to turn to food for comfort. Shortly after he moved in with his grandparents, his grandfather passed away, leaving him devastated once again. As he struggled to cope with his emotional stress, Ryan gradually fell into drug addiction. Although he made several attempts to get clean over the years, his work pressure drove him back into an unhealthy cycle. By 28, Ryan had reached 700 lbs and became almost immobile, hindering his daily life.
When Ryan decided to get help from Dr. Nowzaradan, he realized that his body had reached a breaking point. After his first call with the doctor, he received a goal of dropping his weight to 650 lbs within two months. However, sticking to a strict diet proved to be a great struggle for the reality star, and he often ended up rationalizing his “cheat days” as motivation to stay on track for the rest of the week. Ryan’s mental health took a serious turn when he learned that one of his friends was gravely ill. He continued to miss his appointments with Dr. Nowzaradan, and by the 10th month, Ryan was officially dropped from the program. However, he claimed that he had lost 80 lbs by the end of his time on the show.
Ryan’s Professional Journey Was Derailed Despite His Determination
In high school, Ryan wanted to play football and had set his eyes on the role of a running back. However, at his physical examination, he ended up weighing 185 lbs, which landed him the position of a lineman. When he did not get his desired position, it took a toll on him. During his freshman and sophomore years, Ryan began a downward spiral and started partying. Eventually, he was caught with marijuana, which led to his removal from the football team. After much struggle, at the age of 18, he decided to get clean and take charge of his future. That led him to Yachats, Oregon, where he enrolled in the Job Corps to train as a welder.
Ryan’s dedication slowly began to shine, and he became the dorm captain, the highest rank a student could achieve in the dorm. In the welding class, he was promoted to shop foreman and earned the respect of his peers. Ryan eventually graduated from the program with flying colors, but the harsh reality of the world proved to be a hurdle. While searching for jobs, the reality star found out that there were fewer job opportunities in the welding sector. When he was 21, Ryan again started to get his life back on track when a friend reached out to him with a job as a Wireless Sales Consultant for cell phones at a Call Centre in Montana.
Ryan gladly accepted the opportunity and began an upward trajectory in his career. He saved enough money to get his own place, and it became a milestone in his life. However, the stress of the job slowly crept in, and he began returning to his old habits. The devastating blow ultimately came when his boss fired him, not for his performance but because of his weight. However, the increasing weight affected Ryan’s movements and derailed his dream of reaching heights in his professional life. During his time on the show, he had mentioned his dream of becoming a fireman after losing weight. However, when Ryan dropped out of the weight loss program, it proved to be a barrier to his dream.
Ryan Had the Unwavering Support of His Mother and Her Boyfriend in His Journey
Throughout Ryan’s weight loss journey, the undeniable support of Ryan’s mother, Tammy, and her boyfriend, Leroy, became his motivation. Whether it was helping him stick to his strict diet or urging him to stay away from temptation on his cheat days, they truly offered their help. When the weight loss program required Ryan to relocate to Houston, they were ready to follow him, which was evidently a huge gesture. However, due to some bumps in the road, Tammy and Leroy decided not to move.
Ryan had claimed that this proved to be a hurdle in his weight loss program. When he was ultimately dropped from the program, he updated the doctor about his move to Oregon to help his sick friend. He had insisted that he was still following his diet for the majority of the week. As of writing, Ryan has chosen a private life and has stepped away from the spotlight. He is not active on social media and has never provided his fans with any updates on his progress. However, we do hope that Ryan has continued his journey quietly and is sticking to his healthy diet in order to take care of his health.
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