A doctor once asked Amber, at 22 years old, if she wanted to talk to hospice. That gut-punch became a pivot point—not into a fairytale, but into a decade of clear-eyed choices, bariatric surgery, and a long arc of sustainable change. We invited Amber to tell the truth behind the cameras, the clinic, and the countless meals that followed.

We walk through what most shows skip: how casting really works, why production often writes your role before it meets you, and what genuine medical prep looks like for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass—therapy, dietitian support, pre-op targets, insurance approvals, and the quiet discipline of a phased, protein-forward recovery. Amber shares why her extreme weight didn’t come with expected comorbidities, how subcutaneous versus visceral fat affected her risk, and why assumptions about sleep apnea at larger sizes often miss age and fat distribution. She stayed active at every stage—volleyball, long walks, and now husky-powered jogs—which protected mobility and made progress stick.

There’s science, but there’s also soul. Amber’s path wasn’t a dramatic drop; it was seasons of plateaus, better sleep, and small, durable wins. We get practical about portions, satiety, and an unexpectedly powerful trick: the “bucket method.” Load your day’s food into a visible container or tray and graze with receipts. It’s funny, tactile, and radically accountable—a way to keep snacks without slipping into a surplus. Along the way, we trade fiber hacks (chia for the win), talk about gums and fake sauces that taste like a lab, and still make room to laugh at ourselves.

Amber is now fundraising for skin-removal surgery, starting with brachioplasty and targeted calf lipo after years of lymphedema and record-size calves that once made walking a grind. Her counsel to anyone struggling is simple and bold: begin with grace, then investigate your why. If overeating props up pain, you can’t just yank the beam—you need a new support. Hit play for honesty, nuance, and a plan that favors real life over rigid rules.

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