When Thederick Barnes first waddled—or rather, struggled to move—onto our screens in Season 9 of My 600-lb Life, the vibe was heavy. Literally. Weighing in at a staggering 740 pounds, he was a guy who hadn't left his house in years except to satisfy a craving. Most fans remember him as the man with the massive lymphedema on his left leg that looked like a heavy bowling ball dragging him down. It's 2026 now, and the internet is still buzzing about thederick 600 pound life now and whether he actually managed to turn things around.
The truth is a bit more complicated than the usual "he lost 400 pounds and runs marathons" narrative we sometimes see.
The Reality Check in Houston
Thederick's journey started in Gretna, Florida. He was 32, living with his mom, and basically a prisoner of his own body. If you saw the episode, you know the deal: he would walk to the ice cream truck just to get some exercise, which honestly felt like a bittersweet moment of self-awareness. But when he finally got to Houston to see Dr. Nowzaradan, things got real fast.
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He didn't hit the ground running. In fact, he stalled out for months.
Dr. Now is famous for his "tough love," but with Thederick, the concern was genuine. He eventually dropped about 125 pounds, getting down to 615. That’s a huge win, right? Well, yeah, but then the medical wall hit. When they went to prep him for the gastric bypass, the tests came back messy. He had cardiomyopathy—basically, his heart was too weak to handle the anesthesia and the stress of surgery.
He was in congestive heart failure.
The Breakthrough in 2025
For a long time, fans thought that was the end of the road. But in early 2025, TLC aired a Where Are They Now? follow-up that changed everything. The biggest news? Thederick 600 pound life now status includes finally being rid of that massive lymphedema.
Dr. Nowzaradan performed what was described as one of his "biggest removals ever." That growth on his leg had been a physical and psychological anchor for years. Imagine carrying an extra 50-plus pounds on just one limb. Once that was gone, his mobility skyrocketed.
- The Weight Loss: As of the latest updates, he's hovering in a much healthier range than 740.
- The Location: He actually moved back to Florida to be near family after his stint in Houston.
- The Mindset: He seems a lot more positive, often posting about "new chapters" on his social media.
Life in 2026: Is He Still on Track?
Honestly, social media can be a bit of a smoke screen, but Thederick has been fairly transparent. On his Facebook and Instagram, he celebrated his 37th birthday (he's a Virgo, for those keeping track) in September 2024 and looked significantly slimmer in the face.
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He calls himself "Big 37" now, but the "big" seems more about his personality than his waistline these days. He’s been working on walking twice a day and sticking to the "Dr. Now diet" even without the constant cameras. It’s a grind. You don't just "fix" a food addiction that started from childhood trauma overnight.
One of the most interesting things about thederick 600 pound life now is his relationship with his mom. On the show, she was definitely an enabler—feeding him the very things that were killing him. They’ve had to set some serious boundaries. From what we can see, he’s taking more ownership of his own meals, which is usually the make-or-break factor for Dr. Now’s patients.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think that if you don't get the surgery, you failed the program. That’s just not true. Thederick’s story is a prime example of "harm reduction." Even if his heart remains too high-risk for a full bypass, losing the weight naturally and removing the lymphedema has arguably saved his life. He's no longer bedridden. He's not just waiting to die in a bedroom in Gretna.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Followers
If you're following Thederick's journey or struggling with your own health goals, here’s the takeaway from his story:
Don't wait for the "perfect" conditions. Thederick waited years for surgery that he eventually couldn't even have because of his heart. If he hadn't started losing weight on his own first, he would have never been healthy enough to even get the lymphedema removed.
Address the "Why" behind the eating. Thederick was very open about his past and why he turned to food. In 2026, he’s still vocal about the mental health aspect of weight loss.
Small wins matter. Walking to an ice cream truck (and eventually choosing not to buy the ice cream) was a joke to some viewers, but for him, it was the first time he’d moved his body in years.
To stay updated on his progress, the best place is his official social media, though he tends to go quiet when he’s "in the zone" with his diet. He’s proven that even with a "failed" surgery attempt, you can still win the larger battle for your life.
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Keep an eye on TLC's schedule for any surprise 2026 check-ins, as they often film these updates over several years. For now, Thederick Barnes stands as one of the more resilient success stories from the show—not because he's "skinny," but because he's finally free.
If you're looking for more updates on Season 9 cast members, you should check out the latest on Samantha Mason or Justin McSwain, who have had similarly dramatic (though very different) paths after the show.
Next Steps for You: You can follow Thederick on his public Facebook profile to see his most recent "Virgo Season" updates and gym check-ins. If you're interested in the medical side of his journey, researching "lymphedema removal in bariatric patients" provides a lot of context on why his specific surgery was so high-risk and life-changing.