My 600-Lb Life Couples Who Broke Up After Their Weight Loss Journey

When Tanisha Cleveland debuted on Season 5, she weighed 589 lbs. At 32, Tanisha had already weathered sexual abuse, assault, and a childhood of violence. Her grandparents mostly raised her due to her own parents’ drug addiction, and she often turned to food for comfort. Her weight became an issue after her second child was born, and it took therapy and working with Dr. Now three times to get her headed in the right direction. 

When she started her work with Dr. Now, she was married to a man named Troy. While he helped care for her at her largest, he wasn’t supportive of her weight loss or the positive changes she was making in her life. In one episode of the show, Cleveland explains why their relationship fell apart, “Troy and I started fighting because I felt like he wasn’t being supportive of me trying to get my life turned around for the better. So, he decided to leave.” She goes on to talk about how much it hurt her, “It was definitely painful. I am thinking this is my soulmate; this is the person I am going to spend the rest of my life with.”

The breakup didn’t hold her back, however. By the end of her journey on the show, Cleveland had shed nearly 120 lbs and found a new boyfriend. 

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If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).