My life of 600 lbs Season 7 featured Mercedes Cephas and her TLC weight loss journey, but she disappeared from the spotlight after her time on the show. The reality TV series follows Dr. Younan Nowzaradan (Dr. Now) as he tries to get his morbidly obese patients to lose weight and improve their health. Sometimes, things go according to plan—when that happens, patients see turnarounds on camera, and behind the scenes on My life of 600 lbs. However, other cast members, including Mercedes, struggle to make progress.
Mercedes was a 37-year-old mother of two from Ohio. When she was on the show, she weighed 773 pounds and suffered from severe lymphedema. She had to rely on help from her extended family and kids. She was bedridden and she really couldn’t take care of herself. On My life of 600 lbs. Mercedes revealed that her food addiction was the byproduct of childhood trauma. She said she was sexually assaulted by her father. When she met Dr. Now, he informed her that her obesity could eventually damage her internal organs.
Mercedes did not lose enough weight on my life of 600 lb
Mercedes lied to Dr. Now
.
While Mercedes is not very active on social media yet My life of 600 lbsIt doesn’t seem like she’s lost any more weight.
Mercedes cannot meet the requirements that would allow her to qualify for bariatric surgery. She was often seen lying in front of the doctor now – when she wasn’t fibbing, she was complaining about the strict regimen she had to follow in order to lose weight. She lost 81 pounds, so she didn’t slim down enough to get approved for surgery. According to Republic worldMercedes’ Facebook profile indicates she is back in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her profile also shows that she is a stay-at-home mom.
Mercedes started a GoFundMe after my 600 lb life
She didn’t get much money
yet My life of 600 lbsMercedes Started a GoFundMe campaign that has since closed – it was listed under the “medical” category. She wanted to raise money to get gastric bypass surgery on her own. She fell short of her $10,000 goal after receiving just $175.
In January 2021, a rumor spread online that Mercedes had died. However, there is no proof that she died. Right now, what she’s up to is a bit of a mystery. She has Facebook and Instagram profiles, but she doesn’t post often. Her last Facebook post was in July 2020, when she updated her profile picture.
Mercedes Cephas’ journey was so stressful and terrifying
Her addiction took a toll
Mercedes is trusted on Reddit, like most My life of 600 lbs Stars do it, but no one has walked a mile in her shoes. On a My 600 lb Life: Where Are They Now? Episode, the obstacles Mercedes faced were quite extreme, as shown in the TLC In Facebook clip above. First, there was the super morbid obesity – because she was so heavy, just moving around was difficult. She was mobile but talked about his:
Painful, in pain.
That was one layer of complications, but there were more. Another issue was her fear that she would be out of her home. Mercedes obviously had very little money or options at the time. Through the screen, it is all too easy to feel her fear, anxiety and discomfort. She and her kids found a new place, but her sense of trepidation is still there.
For Mercedes, the world was an unpleasant place – a metaphorical minefield. One bright spot was her beautiful children. They smiled even when things got difficult. They loved her when she was at her lowest.
Unfortunately, Mercedes’ responsibilities are crushing, and her health is uncertain. The mother and the children moved into a hotel because there was not enough money for an apartment. Mercedes said, as per the clip above:
I just want to be stable. I won’t have to worry about getting off or getting my stuff out.
Unfortunately, she hit turbulence with her children. At one point, Mercedes said she was living for her kids. But where are they now? Revealing that she went a whole two years without talking to them. That really tells a story. Apparently, after the show, Mercedes’ life is still packed with drama. Of course, some of this can be blamed on her poor health decisions. Mercedes is an addict – she is hooked on food and that is her problem. However, addiction is a disease.
On Reddit, a fan on a thread started by Shocked old lady Heard Mercedes say on screen that she lived for her children, but begged otherwise. The My life of 600 lbs Viewers believed that Mercedes was living for herself. The shade might be too simplistic, but the redditor said:
“I live for my children, they need me.” No woman, you live to stuff your mouth full of food and you abuse the kids!!!
The verbal tirades at Reddit are cruel. There is often a grain of truth, but nevertheless, there is not much compassion for a woman who is clearly living with mental health issues. In the clip above, she is more or less in despair. She barely has the hopelessness that drags her down.
Yes, she tries, but her attempts to build a normal life for her children torment her. Mercedes is world-weary, sick and poor. “Fans” who take to Reddit to tear you apart, basically kicking someone when they’re down. Regardless, she is perceived as a villain, just as Steven and Justin Asanti are.
Fortunately, Mercedes appears to be alive in 2024. Several other alums of the famous (and often emotionally wrenching) series are gone. Kelly Mason died, Sean Milliken sadly died, and Henry Footes is no longer alive. Although Mercedes’ life is anything but perfect, she is still here and that means there is still hope. She can stop trying to make her life better – she can try to fix her problems with her kids. What’s important is never giving up.
There were dead rumors about Mercedes
However, there is no proof that she died
In a Reddit thread started by BrittleSome people wondered if Mercedes was still alive. It seems like her death would have made headlines. It has never been confirmed by a news outlet, so it is very likely that she is alive. However, a lot of Redditors indicated that they wouldn’t be surprised if the sad news of her passing surfaced. They judged her for how she lived her life, not that they wanted her to die. They just thought she was damaging her health to the extent that she could die due to her health issues. Someone wrote:
I think she’s probably dead. This is the sound.
An intensive online search revealed the grave of one Mercedes II. Cephas, who may be Mercedes’ mother. However, the birth and death dates would make more sense for a parent or other relative of these My life of 600 lbs Star – The man was too old to be the Mercedes featured on the show. It may be a coincidence that the Mercedes whose grave is displayed online bears a name so similar to the reality star. But it is quite possible that the two women are related… May the elderly Mercedes rest in peace.
Mercedes was considered more of a villain than anything else, but even the cruel redditors didn’t want her dead. However, they called her life choices, including a split with her children. Many parents sometimes have difficulties with their children, but people do not feel sorry for Mercedes, because they felt that her weaknesses make her children unhappy.
The journey after My life of 600 lbs is just as important as the cast members’ steps in the reality series. Weight loss, when achieved, must be maintained. Sometimes, it is a matter of life and death. Unfortunately, deep-seated psychological problems make many of the show’s alums vulnerable. They may recover or become ill because of their weight. Hopefully, Mercedes takes good care of itself in 2024.
Sources: Republic world, GoFundMe, Shocked old lady/reddit, Brittle/ Instagram
My life of 600 lbs
- Figure
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Jonathan Nowzaradan, Lola Clay
- Release date
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February 1, 2012
- Directors
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Tatjana Andric, Jonathan Nowzaradan