90 Day Fiance: The Other Way star Tiffany Franco has revealed she's beginning a weight-loss journey.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Hi everyone :) Today OFFICIALLY starts the path to a better/happier life. I have been overweight as far as I can remember since early childhood," Tiffany wrote early Tuesday morning in her Instagram Stories.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
"And overweight is not even the problem. The problem is unhappy. I want to be healthy. I'm tired [of] everyone promoting unhealthy unrealistic dieting. I want to do this in a way I am not miserable."
Tiffany continued, "I want to feel full of energy, full of life, and I want to know I'm doing the right things for ME and something my kids can be proud of."
ADVERTISEMENT
"I will always update you guys if you would like to see my journey," she added alongside an image of actor Chris Hemsworth saying, "Let's do this."
Tiffany was 27 years old and living in Frederick, MD, when she starred on the debut season of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way with Ronald Smith, who was 29 and from South Africa at the time.
Tiffany met and fell in love with Ronald during a trip to South Africa with a friend that was not shown on the TLC spinoff, and Ronald quickly proposed marriage.
Although they got engaged, it took Ronald some time to tell Tiffany he had a gambling addiction as well as a lengthy criminal record.
Ronald and Tiffany seemed to hit rock bottom together, but then Ronald entered a rehab program for six months and tried to rid himself of his demons.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tiffany therefore had to decide whether she should uproot her eight-year-old son Daniel and move across the world to South Africa for Ronald, in spite of her hunch there were more secrets about his dark past.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Tiffany did, in fact, fly to South Africa again with her son Daniel -- who viewed Ronald as a father and even called him "Dad" -- but she wasn't convinced her trip would become a permanent one.
"I don't know what the future holds, and that is scary, but I am one thousand percent committed to Ronald," Tiffany told the cameras.
She later added, "Unfortunately, the only Ronald I know is the Ronald that loves me but also the Ronald that put me through hell and hurt me and lied to me."
ADVERTISEMENT
Tiffany hoped Ronald wouldn't relapse and disappoint her family again. She also needed to make sure Daniel would love his life in South Africa and feel comfortable.
"If Daniel hates it, I cannot force it just because it's something I want," Tiffany said.
Tiffany's Tourist Visa was only good for 90 days, so she basically had three months to determine whether Ronald was truly a changed man and she could marry him.
"It is so important for Ronald to not mess up again, because I can forgive Ronald if he hurts me, but I will never forgive him if he hurts Daniel," Tiffany told the cameras.
After reuniting in South Africa, Tiffany and Ronald hit some bumps in the road, such as Ronald's wild bachelor party and Tiffany feeling his gambling addiction might turn into something else, such as alcoholism.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"If I lose Tiffany, I'll lose everything that I have... my life and my mind," he told the cameras.
Living in South Africa also turned out to be a huge adjustment for Tiffany and Daniel. There was trash everywhere, and Tiffany worried about Daniel's safety. Ronald even mentioned how human trafficking is a big issue in his native country.
Ronald explained to the cameras his family also had to worry about murders, burglary, and ATM bombings. Ronald also struggled financially and didn't have much money saved at all.
Tiffany had concerns about what her family's future was going to look like, but she still decided to marry Ronald.
According to Starcasm, Tiffany and Ronald tied the knot on October 20, 2018 in South Africa.
When looking for an apartment to rent following their wedding day, Tiffany learned she and Ronald couldn't afford to live in a safe area and they might need to sacrifice groceries in exchange for a home security system.
Tiffany realized her family was going to live "in constant fear" and she'd always be worried about her children. She also later discovered Ronald didn't have enough money to enable her to give birth in a private hospital.
Ronald's chances of getting a visa to come to the United States were slim to none because of his criminal record, but Tiffany still wanted to try because she realized how hard it was going to be to make a life in South Africa for her family.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Tiffany didn't want Ronald to get stressed, and she said financial pressure is "a huge trigger" for his gambling addiction. But Ronald felt very confident he could take care of his wife in the proper way.
ADVERTISEMENT
After two months in South Africa, Tiffany acknowledged Ronald had become a father to Daniel but her common sense told her that they shouldn't live there it was dangerous and she'd be taking opportunities away from her son.
Tiffany and Ronald even took Daniel to a playground that was very depressing. Not only was there a broken swing and rusted parts everywhere, but there was also broken glass on the ground and "rubbish," according to Ronald.
"I don't want to live here forever," Daniel told his mom. "I want to be with Dad, but at the same time, I want to live in America, and it's really tough to choose."
Tiffany hated seeing Daniel under this kind of stress, and so she promised to make a decision that would be best for him and their whole family -- including her baby on the way.
Starcasm reported that Tiffany announced to her family that she was expecting a baby with Ronald in early January 2019.
"We'll make it work," Ronald insisted to his wife.
RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHICH COUPLES HAVE SPLIT UP?? (PHOTOS)
But Tiffany said she didn't want Daniel and their baby to be raised the way Ronald had been raised. Tiffany said she was just being honest and wanted to return to the United States and apply for his visa to come to America.
Tiffany said her relationship with Ronald was going to take sacrifice and compromise but they loved each other enough to make things work.
Ronald therefore drove Tiffany and Daniel to the airport, and he said watching his family leave -- along with his unborn child -- cut his heart up into pieces.
However, Ronald promised Tiffany that he would stand by her no matter what, just as she had supported him through so much.
Daniel worried about Ronald being all alone and potentially relapsing, but she had faith they'd all be together again one day.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It's just temporary. Next thing you know it, you're going to see me again," Ronald told a sobbing Daniel at the airport. "I love you. I love you so much. Never forget that."
Tiffany was upset, knowing she'd have to face her pregnancy without her husband by her side.
"The future is still very uncertain for me and Ronald. But one thing is for sure, our relationship is strong and will stand against anything that comes our way," Tiffany said in a confessional.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
During Part 1 of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way's Tell-All special, which aired late last month, Tiffany said she and Ronald were still a family but life in the United States was "so much harder" than she ever could have anticipated without her husband by her side.
Tiffany had given birth to her daughter, Carley Rose, just three weeks prior to the Tell-All, and she wanted to see Ronald hold his daughter for the first time more than anything.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tiffany, who is now going by the name of Tiffany Franco Smith on her Instagram account, and Ronald welcomed Carley Rose on July 3, People reported.
Tiffany and Ronald's little bundle of joy reportedly arrived at 7:35AM. Carley was born weighing eight pounds and three ounces, and she measured 19 inches in length.
Tiffany said during the Tell-All that love was still there between Ronald and herself and made things work by frequently having 12-hour phone calls.
During Part 2 of the Tell-All special, Tiffany revealed she had already purchased plane tickets so she and her children could visit Ronald again in South Africa soon.
Meanwhile, Ronald was still working on himself to become a better man, husband and father.
The Tell-All host, Shaun Robinson, then asked Tiffany to reveal the status of Ronald's visa, and Tiffany assured everyone, "He is coming to America."
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Ronald, however, had yet to apply for the visa because he said it was going to cost him a lot of money.
Since Ronald had never been convicted of a charge and all of his charges had been withdrawn, his record was technically clear, which would make obtaining a visa to come to the United States easier.
If Ronald's visa does not get approved, Tiffany said, "That's something we're going to have to face if it happens, but I'm not making a plan for that."
Tiffany said she won't accept anything other than Ronald coming to the United States. She said she simply wasn't ready to move her kids to another country.
Tiffany and Ronald are still together and living in different countries. She posted an adorable photo with Ronald as recently as November 4.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tiffany's Instagram is filled with cute family photos, and Ronald has also gushed about his wife on social media.
On October 15, Tiffany shared a photo of Ronald and herself and captioned it, "Oh I love you," and a few days before that, she posted a video of herself going on a date with Ronald.
"D8 night still have the hots for u baby daddy," Tiffany wrote alongside the video in which she was giggling and joking around with her husband.
And around that same time, Ronald posted a slideshow of family photos.
"Spending time with Carley Daniel and Tiffany is the best and most precious moments in my life and i couldn't ask for more. I truly love them all soooo much," Ronald captioned the images.
Back on September 3, Tiffany posted a beautiful message to her husband on Instagram along with some throwback photos of Ronald.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Sometimes I seriously feel like I can't anymore and then I remember why I keep going because it is worth it because your heart because of the reason I fell in love with you in the first place. People can watch the show all they want but what they will never see is who you are," Tiffany wrote.
"You are annoying and funny and stubborn and you have a rough exterior but not for us your family, you make me laugh like an idiot. I love you very very much."
"And this road is not easy but it's our road. And people can say what they want but our story is in no ones hands but ours. I love you Ronald Smith."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
Want 90 Day Fiance spoilers? Click here to visit our 90 Day Fiance Spoilers webpage!