At 44, She Weighed 605 Pounds — But Her Determination Changed Everything
Tracy Matthews, a 44-year-old grandmother from Lorain, Ohio, once tipped the scales at 605 pounds. Her lifelong struggle with food began early — at just eleven, she already weighed 170 pounds, and by the time she finished high school, she was 270.
Growing up in a tense and stressful home, food became her comfort and escape. “It was the only thing that made me feel safe,” Tracy admitted. Over the years, emotional eating turned into a heavy chain she couldn’t break.
Pregnancy made things even harder. Each time, she gained nearly 100 pounds, and soon the extra weight caused severe lymphedema — painful swelling in her legs that made walking nearly impossible.
Her turning point came when she joined My 600-Lb. Life. With tears in her eyes, she said, “All I want is to live near my grandchildren and walk without pain.” That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Under the guidance of doctors and through multiple surgeries, Tracy had large amounts of excess fat and skin removed — losing around 167 pounds. It wasn’t easy. The recovery was slow, painful, and full of emotional challenges, but she refused to quit.
Today, Tracy walks again. She cooks healthy meals with her husband, plays with her grandchildren, and cherishes the small moments she once thought she’d lost forever.
“I got my life back,” she says with a proud smile. “Every day now feels like a blessing.”
