Whitney Thore is an American television personality, dancer, fitness trainer, and fat acceptance activist best known for her TLC reality show My Big Fat Fabulous Life. Whitney Thore rose to fame in 2014 after a viral video of her dancing confidently despite her nearly 400-pound frame inspired women of all sizes to embrace their bodies. Since then, Thore has lost nearly 70 pounds through diet, exercise, and weight loss surgery. Her journey has been documented on her show, which follows Thore as she runs her body-positive dance classes, continues to lose weight, and advocates for size acceptance.
Contents
- 1 Who is Whitney Thore?
- 2 Whitney Thore Weight Loss Journey
- 3 Struggles with Weight Gain and Loss
- 4 Gaining Fame on My Big Fat Fabulous Life
- 5 Major Weight Loss Milestones
- 6 Weight Loss Impact on Life
- 7 Sharing Her Story and Promoting Body Positivity
- 8 Diet
- 9 Workout Routine
- 10 Weight Loss Surgery
- 11 Whitney Thore’s Biography
- 12 Whitney Thore’s Height and Weight
- 13 Changes After Weight Loss
- 14 How Much Weight Did She Lose?
- 15 FAQs
- 16 Conclusion
Who is Whitney Thore?
Whitney Thore was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1984. She developed obesity at a young age, weighing nearly 200 pounds by high school. Thore said her weight gain was partly connected to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that can cause weight gain and make weight loss extremely difficult.
Despite her weight, Thore was an active child and teen who loved dancing. She earned a partial scholarship to Appalachian State University for her dancing skills. However, in college, her weight climbed to nearly 400 pounds, and she struggled to keep up with dance classes. After graduating college, Thore became depressed and avoided dance, feeling ashamed of her body.
Name: | Whitney Way Thore |
Date of Birth: | 14 April 1984 |
Age: | 38 years |
Height: | 1.62 m |
Weight: | 250 pounds |
Net worth: | $1.7 million |
Profession: | TV Personality |
Nationality: | American |
Husband/Boyfriend: | Single |
Ex: | Chase Severino/2020 |
Sister: | Ashley Thore |
Mom: | Barbara Thore |
Dad: | Glenn Thore |
Whitney Thore Weight Loss Journey
In 2014, Thore started dancing again to get active and boost her mental health. A video of her enthusiastically dancing went viral, amassing over 8 million views on YouTube. The video showed Thore proudly embracing dance and her body. Capitalizing on her newfound fame, Thore launched her body-positive dance classes called NO BODY SHAME. She was soon offered her own TLC reality show, My Big Fat Fabulous Life, which documented her weight loss journey and advocacy.
Over 7 seasons of the show, fans have followed Thore as she lost nearly 70 pounds through diet, exercise, and weight loss surgery. She’s maintained some weight loss, though her weight has fluctuated. Whitney has used her platform to fight fat shaming and prove that people can be happy, active, and healthy at any size. Her infectious personality and self-confidence have inspired women everywhere.
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Struggles with Weight Gain and Loss
Thore struggled with obesity throughout her adolescence and early adulthood. Her weight climbed to nearly 400 pounds in college as she became less active. Thore said her PCOS caused weight gain and made it nearly impossible to lose weight through just diet and exercise. She tried various diets like Weight Watchers and juice cleanses but could never keep the weight off. Her confidence plummeted, causing Thore to avoid dance and physical activity.
After launching her first body-positive dance class, Thore vowed to get healthier through lifestyle changes. Though slow, she started losing through healthier eating habits and staying active. Thore worked with trainers and nutritionists to find an exercise and diet plan tailored to her PCOS. Though she lost some weight, Thore hit plateaus and struggled to get the desired results. This led her to consider weight loss surgery.
Gaining Fame on My Big Fat Fabulous Life
In 2014, Thore shared a fun video of herself dancing as a statement of self-love and body acceptance. The video quickly went viral, gaining over 8 million YouTube views. Inspired by the response, Thore launched her Brooklyn-based dance class called NO BODY SHAME to empower plus-size women through dance.
That same year, Thore was approached by TLC to star in her reality show. My Big Fat Fabulous Life premiered in 2015, documenting Thore’s weight loss efforts, her dance classes, her retail job, and her advocacy for size acceptance. The show became a hit, giving Thore a vast platform to fight fat shaming. Fans loved Thore’s confidence, sense of humor, talent, and determination to improve her health. Her vow to “live life to the fullest,” no matter her size or obstacles, resonated with women everywhere.
Major Weight Loss Milestones
After struggling to lose weight for years, Thore underwent weight loss surgery 2016 at age 31. She received gastric sleeve surgery, which removed 80% of her stomach to limit food intake. In the year after surgery, Thore lost an impressive 70 pounds. For the first time in her adult life, she was under 300 pounds.
Though thrilled with her initial results, Thore has admitted weight loss surgery was not a quick fix. She’s had to carefully monitor her diet and exercise regularly to maintain her weight loss. In 2018, concerned she was stretching her smaller stomach, Thore worked with a personal trainer and lost 30 additional pounds through strength training and cardio. However, her weight has fluctuated over the years. Through it all, Thore has celebrated her small victories while acknowledging weight loss is an ongoing journey.
Weight Loss Impact on Life
Losing nearly 70 pounds has had a significant impact on Thore’s health, mobility, and self-image. Though she advocates for self-love at any size, Thore has said she feels healthier and happier at her current weight. Her more petite frame has made it easier for Thore to be active with less joint pain and fatigue. She has more confidence showing off dance moves and embracing styles she previously felt uncomfortable wearing.
Thore also says she has much more energy to participate in physical activities she once avoided, like hiking, gym workouts, and dance classes. The weight loss has also improved conditions related to Thore’s PCOS, like insulin resistance. Overall, Thore serves as an inspiration that significant weight loss is possible through hard work and determination.
Sharing Her Story and Promoting Body Positivity
Part of Thore’s mission is promoting body positivity and self-acceptance. She advocates that true beauty comes from within, not dress size. She spreads this message through her TV show, speaking engagements, and social media. Whitney Thore reminds women that being overweight does not make someone lazy or undeserving of respect.
She is also outspoken against fat shaming. She calls out social media trolls and bullying. She openly discusses the discrimination and stigma plus-size people face. This reminds fans that hurtful comments about weight can have serious consequences. Her goal is to shift conversations to be more understanding and health-focused. This proves you can make positive changes at any weight while still loving yourself.
Diet
To help with her weight loss, Thore has tried various diets. Working with nutritionists, she has focused on finding eating plans that work with her PCOS diagnosis. Whitney has seen the most success following diets low in processed sugars and carbohydrates. She limits snacking and opts for lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Portion control has also been vital for Thore.
While she allows herself occasional treats, Thore focuses on healthy home cooking. She prepares many chicken, fish, salads, and vegetable-packed meals. Whitney also limits sodium, unhealthy fats, and excess calories. While her diet has evolved, she always strives to eat in ways that fuel her body well but don’t restrict or deprive her. Thore emphasizes finding balance and sustainable lifestyle changes versus extreme crash dieting.
Workout Routine
Fitness has become a massive part of Thore’s weight loss and health journey. She works out regularly with a trainer to build strength and improve her endurance. Whitney is circuit training combining cardio machines, resistance bands, weights, and bodyweight moves. This allows her to target different muscle groups and get aerobic activity. She also attends dance classes several times weekly to stay active doing what she loves.
Thore has built her stamina from being nearly sedentary to being able to complete challenging workouts. While she takes breaks as needed, she doesn’t let her size hold her back. Thore shares her workout routines on social media to show plus-size women they can be fit and strong at any weight. Movement and activity make Thore feel empowered in her body.
Weight Loss Surgery
After struggling for years to lose weight, Thore underwent gastric sleeve surgery in 2016. The procedure involved surgically removing about 80% of Thore’s stomach, drastically limiting how much she could eat. In the first year after surgery, Thore lost 70 pounds, hitting her lowest weight ever as an adult.
Thore said the decision to get surgery was complicated and something she didn’t take lightly. But ultimately, her desire to improve her health and be more active compelled her. Whitney has been open about the challenges of adjusting to a smaller stomach.
She’s had to slowly stretch her stomach by eating frequent, small meals. Thore also admits weight loss surgery isn’t a cure-all. She’s had to work through diet and exercise to maintain her results consistently. Still, Thore is grateful for the tool and the boost it gave her ongoing weight loss efforts.
Whitney Thore’s Biography
Whitney Thore was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 14, 1984, making her 38 years old. She was raised Christian and attended North Carolina University, graduating with a theater degree in 2008. Professionally, Thore worked retail jobs until gaining fame in 2014 for her fat acceptance dance video at age 30.
Thore was diagnosed with PCOS at age 15, a condition that made losing weight nearly impossible. She developed obesity at a young age, weighing nearly 200 pounds by high school. Thore came out as bisexual in 2019 and got engaged to boyfriend Chase Severino in 2020. However, they called off the engagement after learning Severino was expecting a baby with another woman. Outside of her TV career, Thore teaches body-positive dance classes and is an activist against fat shaming.
Whitney Thore’s Height and Weight
At her heaviest, Whitney Thore weighed around 380 pounds on her nearly 5’2″ frame. After undergoing weight loss surgery in 2016, Thore dropped down to the mid-200s, losing almost 70 pounds. More recently, her weight is estimated to be in the low-mid 200s range as she continues working on her fitness. Thore has been very open about her weight fluctuations, refusing to be defined by a number on the scale. Instead, she focuses on being healthy and active regardless of her size.
Changes After Weight Loss
Losing close to 70 pounds had a visible impact on Thore’s body and health. She went from a size 26/28 dress to a comfortably fitting size 16. Thore’s face shape changed as she lost weight in her double chin area. Her stomach, arms, and legs slimmed down considerably. She could cross her legs comfortably for the first time. She had more energy to be active and felt less joint pain.
Thore also gained confidence in her body image after losing weight. She became more comfortable wearing form-fitting and revealing clothing. Thore displayed her body proudly, feeling sexier and loving her curves. The weight loss kickstarted Thore living a healthier lifestyle through diet and exercise. While she still embraces her size, the weight loss facilitated Thore chasing her dreams and living life to the fullest.
How Much Weight Did She Lose?
At her heaviest, Whitney Thore weighed around 380 pounds. After gastric sleeve surgery in 2016, Thore lost an impressive 70 pounds within one year. This brought her weight down to the mid-high 200s, a significant milestone. She was thrilled to finally be under 300 pounds for the first time since elementary school.
While she’s experienced some fluctuations, Thore has maintained an approximately 70-pound weight loss. Around 2018, through dedicated workouts and dieting, Thore dropped another 30 pounds into the low 200s. Though her weight remains in flux, Thore has kept off the majority of the weight she lost initially through surgery. By sharing her experience, Thore remains an inspiration for people striving to improve their health through weight loss.
FAQs
What surgery did Whitney Thore have?
Whitney Thore underwent gastric sleeve surgery in 2016, which removed about 80% of her stomach to facilitate weight loss.
How much did Whitney Thore weigh at her heaviest?
At her heaviest, Whitney Thore weighed close to 380 pounds before losing weight.
How much weight did Whitney lose on My Big Fat Fabulous Life?
Thore lost around 70 pounds within her first year after gastric sleeve surgery. She’s maintained a near 70-pound weight loss over the past several years.
What does Whitney Thore eat?
Whitney follows a diet low in processed carbs and sugars. She eats lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Portion control is critical.
Is Whitney Thore still with Chase?
No, Thore called off her engagement to Chase Severino after learning he was expecting a child with another woman. Thore is currently single.
What exercises does Whitney Thore do?
Thore works out regularly through strength training and cardio. She also attends several dance classes per week to stay active.
Conclusion
Whitney Thore’s dramatic weight loss journey shows that significant transformation is possible through hard work and determination. By opening her struggle with obesity to the public eye, Thore became a role model for body positivity and self-love. While surgery aided her weight loss, Thore continues putting in tireless effort through diet and exercise to maintain her results. Most importantly, she lives life to the fullest – chasing dreams, falling in love, and dancing proudly. Thore’s story inspires other women struggling with weight to believe in themselves and take control of their health.
Dr. Aqsa, a dedicated Dentist with a degree from Kothiwal Dental College and Research Centre. She values honesty, enjoys sketching and reading. Join her as she explores celebrity weight loss journeys, offering expert tips for your transformation. Embark on a journey to a healthier you with her guidance. As a health professional she loves to provide information health and wellness.