Obese woman who was immobile for 10 years loses 431lbs and finds love

Obese woman who couldn’t walk for nearly 10 years loses 431lbs after gastric surgery – and has found love after joining a dating agency

• Janine Mueller, from Seattle, Washington, lost almost two thirds of bodyweight
• The 55-year-old’s weight spiraled out of control after the deaths of her parents 
• Says adoptive mother fueled her food addiction by putting her on diet pills age 4
• Janine struggled to get anywhere for 10 years even when using mobility scooter
• Had balloon fitted into stomach to curb appetite but still struggled to walk
• Janine had balloon removed and now weighs 247lbs after weight loss surgery
• She is all set for skin removal surgery with boyfriend Doug by her side all the way

A morbidly obese woman who weighed a staggering 678lb has lost almost two thirds of her bodyweight – and found love after joining a dating agency and getting a wig.

Janine Mueller, from Seattle, Washington, had been immobile for almost 10 years and even struggled to get anywhere via a scooter.

But after a two-year battle with the help of doctor Younan Nowzaradan, she is now down to 247lbs (17.6st) and all set to get skin removal surgery, having shed a whopping 431lbs (31.5st). 

Having been adopted when she was two months old and put on a diet aged three, Janine claims her adoptive mother putting her on diet pills the following year triggered her spiralling weight gain.

The 55-year-old, who first appeared on TLC’s My 600lb Life last year, finally decided to seek help from Dr. Nowzaradan as her weight tipped the scales at a hefty 678lbs (48.4 stone).

Janine Mueller, from Seattle, Washington, had been immobile for almost 10 years and even struggled to get anywhere via a scooter, tipping the scales at 678lbs

The 55-year-old is now down to 247lbs (17.6st) and all set to get skin removal surgery, having shed a whopping 431lbs (31.5st) in two years. Pictured with Doctor Younan Nowzaradan and her new boyfriend Doug

In an attempt to save her life which would ‘soon be in danger’, Dr. Nowzaradan inserted a balloon into her stomach in a bid to curb her appetite. 

A month later she had finally shed 42 pounds and was down 112 pounds overall, weighing in at 566 pounds. 

But on entering the second year of the weightloss programme, Janine was still struggling and lost just 7lbs in the second month after having the balloon inserted in her stomach. 

She began therapy and managed to shed a further 82lbs (5.8st) in two months, taking her down to 478lbs (34st). She then underwent surgery and had a Lymphedema mass on her right leg removed which weighed close to 40lbs (2.8st).

But Janine still struggled to get out of bed and walk, claiming she was in too much pain.

Janine has lost almost two thirds of her bodyweight – and found love after joining a dating agency and getting a wig

Janine, who was given diet pills at age four, finally got a gastric balloon after failing to lose weight on My 600lb Life

She spent time in rehab and eventually had the balloon taken out, at which point she was finally approved for weightloss surgery.

After this she returned to physical therapy rehab and lost more than 80lbs (5.7st), taking her down to 325lbs (23.2st). She also began using her walker instead of her scooter.

With her newfound confidence, she joined a dating website, got herself a sexy wig and connected with a guy called Doug.

The pair began dating and Doug even accompanied her to a weigh-in with Dr. Nowzaradan where it was revealed Janine had lost another 44lbs.

Janine’s mother and her pediatrician put her on her first diet when she was just three years old

By the time she was four years old, Janine’s adoptive parents had her taking diet pills that had the same side effects as amphetamines 

After her weight began to increase, Janine started work as a plus-size model, posing for seductive shoots that saw her putting her body on show

Janine was put on diet drugs as a child after the adoption agency warned her parents that her weight and food intake should be closely monitored because her birth mother was a ‘large woman’. 

‘When I was four, the same pediatrician decided it would be a good idea to start me on diet pills,’ Janine recalled. ‘That really started to mess me up because the pills had the same side effect as amphetamines.

‘I was basically a four-year-old on speed, and my life was never the same after that.’

The feeling of always believing she wasn’t good enough for her parents eventually led to her food addiction

Paramedics took Janine away on a stretcher after she first tried to travel to Houston to see Dr. Nowzaradan

Janine is now beginning to rely less on her mobility scooter after having weightloss surgery

Following her surgery, Janine went back to physical therapy rehab and lost over 80lbs, taking her down to 325lbs

Her weight later then became out of control, and while she became a plus-size model she continued putting on pounds when her parents died.

She finally decided to seek help from Dr. Nowzaradan as part of an appearance on My 600lb Life, and attempted to travel to Houston, Texas for a consultation.

After getting in touch with Dr. Nowzaradan, Janine had a panic attack on the plane on the way to meet him and had to be taken off by paramedics. She then Skyped Dr. Nowzaradan and agreed to go on a diet and attempt another flight.

This time Janine managed to get on the plane, but after landing to make a connection in Dallas she was in so much pain she again had to be treated by paramedics before being driven the rest of the way in an ambulance.

Prior to her weightloss surgery, Dr. Younan Nowzaradan inserted a balloon into her stomach in a bid to curb her appetite as her weight yo-yo’d out of control – which caused visible distress for Janine

Now Janine is using her walker more than her mobility scooter, and has the support of boyfriend Doug

Janine has switched up her diet to contain more healthy food like salad, and enjoys painting in her garden

During her weight loss programme, Janine was rushed to the hospital with an infection in her groin and on her leg. 

After two months in the hospital, she had shed 118 pounds and was down to 545 pounds. Janine was sent home, but just a a month later she was back for a weigh-in and had put on 63 pounds.

At this point, Dr. Nowzaradan told a tearful Janine her life would be in danger imminently unless she had a balloon inserted into her stomach.

‘I’ve tried so many things to get my weight under control, and every single thing has failed,’ she said.

Having been told her life would be in danger if she’d carried on the way she was, Janine has shed a whopping 431lbs and is down to 247lbs

Keen painter Janine is embracing the new lease of life her weightloss surgery has given her

‘So I know that this is quite literally my last chance to get the help I need to turn my life around. So I can’t fail at this. But right now, I’m so nervous.’

However there were further complications when Janine’s weight made it impossible for the doctor to use the X-ray machine to check while he was inserting the balloon.

As a result, Janine had to be taken into the hospital at a later date, where the procedure was successfully performed. 

A month later she had finally shed 42 pounds and was down 112 pounds overall, weighing in at 566 pounds. 

But she returned to Dr. Nowzaradan as she was still struggling with pain and immobility, and was eventually approved for weightloss surgery, which has well and truly changed her life.

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