Ep 8. Chantell

Chantell is the eighth episode of the third season of Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. In this episode, we follow the journey of Chantell Johnson, a 25-year-old woman from Chicago, Illinois, who has struggled with obesity her entire life. Chantell has faced both physical and emotional trauma due to her weight, including bullying and family members who have made hurtful comments about her body.

To start her weight loss journey, Chantell is introduced to her trainer, Chris Powell, who will guide her through the next year of her life. Chris takes Chantell to a gym and has her weigh-in, revealing that she currently weighs 379 pounds. Chantell says that her goal weight is 200 pounds, but she knows that it will take a lot of hard work and dedication to get there.

Chris starts Chantell off with some basic exercises and nutrition advice, but he quickly realizes that Chantell has several physical limitations due to her weight. He brings in a physical therapist to work with Chantell, and together they come up with a plan for exercising that won't cause additional strain on her body.

Throughout the next few months, Chantell works hard to stay on track with her weight loss goals. She pushes herself to exercise, even when she's tired, and she sticks to a healthy eating plan. However, Chantell faces several setbacks along the way, including a family emergency that causes her stress and makes her want to give up on her weight loss journey altogether.

Despite the setbacks, Chantell continues to make progress. She loses more than 120 pounds in the first six months, and she begins to feel more confident in her own skin. Chantell also starts to confront her emotional issues, including the trauma she's experienced due to her weight. She shares her story with Chris and reveals that she was molested as a child, which caused her to turn to food for comfort.

As the year comes to a close, Chantell is faced with a final challenge: running a 5K race. At the beginning of her weight loss journey, Chantell couldn't even walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded; now, she's going to run an entire 5K race. Chantell trains hard for the race, and on the day of the event, she feels nervous but excited.

Chantell successfully finishes the race, crossing the finish line with tears in her eyes. She completes her weight loss journey by losing a total of 195 pounds, and Chris presents her with a new wardrobe and a trip to Mexico to celebrate all of her hard work. Throughout the episode, Chantell's determination and strength inspire not only Chris, but also viewers who may be struggling with their own weight loss journeys.