1000-lb Best Friends star Vannessa Cross is celebrating after her life "changed completely" when she was finally able to wear a seat belt.
The 44-year-old said she's had "so many breakthroughs" recently and has opened up about how her weight loss journey has impacted her life.
Vannessa weighed 32 stone (448lb) when she first appeared on the TLC reality show, but has since lost an impressive 14.2 stone (200lb).
In the latest episode of 1000-lb Best Friends, she celebrated her milestone achievement during a meeting with her surgeon, Dr Procter.
"Honey, my world has changed completely. I put a seat belt on. First time. In the front, put the seat belt on and clicked it. All my life I’ve had to put it behind me, click it, and just pull it around.
"I have had so many different breakthroughs. I feel like I’ve been locked up for 20 years, been in prison for 20 years and now I’m free.
"I get to see things in the world I didn’t get to see," Vannessa admitted.
Dr Proctor had originally instructed Vannessa to get her weight down to 18.5 stone (260lb) and she was delighted when she stepped on the scale and saw she had exceeded his request.
Vannessa now weighs 17.7 stone (248lb).
Speaking to the cameras, the star said: "My starting weight was 448lbs. I’ve now lost over 200lbs total since this journey started.
"I'm so excited, I’m overjoyed. I really want to go run around and throw a party."
Vannessa now wants to have surgery to remove her excess skin, but she will have to wait a little longer than she expected.
She had hoped to have the operaion to remove her excess skin because she had become self-conscious about her "hanging".
However, after paying a visit to Dr Procter, the reality star realised she will have to wait a little while longer.
In the latest episode, Vannessa excitedly told cameras: "I'm hoping that Dr Procter can talk to me about having plastic surgery."
But her doctor stopped her in her tracks, saying: "Right now's not the time to have the surgery. You're probably not quite ready yet."
Vannessa looked visibly upset at the news and was left speechless.
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