90 Day Fiancé: Ashley Michelle’s Fitness Journey Damaged Her Marriage To Manuel Velez (Has Her Weight Loss Changed Her?)

90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? stars Ashley Michelle and Manuel Velez are facing another rough patch in their marriage. Ashley and Manuel met in Ecuador and rekindled their romance after a decade apart. Manuel left his family in Ecuador behind to start a life in New York with Ashley. They were married in September 2023. Since first appearing on 90 Day Fiancé season 10, Ashley and Manuel have butted heads over countless issues, including their opposing spiritual views and financial miscommunication.

Ashley is a spiritual business coach and self-described witch. Manuel comes from a Catholic background. Manuel was hesitant to introduce Ashley to his family due to fear of them judging her profession. Manuel also has two children in Ecuador, who Ashley has never met. This made Ashley feel like she was not fully a part of Manuel’s life and doubted his commitment. As her marriage suffered, Ashley shifted her focus to her career and personal wellness goals.

Ashley Lost Over 100 Pounds

Her Fitness Journey Became Part Of Her Career

Ashley began her fitness journey to become healthier and lose weight. She lost 60 pounds before her wedding in 2023. Her weight loss continued, and by the time the 90 Day Fiancé season 10 Tell All was filmed, Ashley had lost 100 pounds. She keeps her social media followers updated on her fitness evolution, posting before-and-after photos and outlining her gym routine.

Ashley’s astounding weight loss transformed both her body and mind. While working to achieve her goals, she discovered that spiritual health and physical health are intertwined. She devoted herself to inspiring her followers with her progress by detailing the spiritual benefits of physical wellness.Ashley is rightfully proud of her weight loss and her improved mental state, but her hard work is now impacting her personal life.

Ashley is an incredibly determined businesswoman. She quit her day job to make her spiritual practice her full-time profession, and now, Ashley has also incorporated fitness and weight loss into her coaching. Ashley has both a personal and professional agenda for her workouts. While her transformation has been great for her health, it also requires a massive time commitment that is beginning to take a toll on her marriage.

Ashley And Manuel’s Marriage Was On The Rocks At The Happily Ever After Tell All

Manuel Tearfully Claimed He Wants To Return To Ecuador

Ashley and Manuel faced many challenges on 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? season 8. Finances were a source of tension as Ashley’s the sole provider due to Manuel’s immigration status, leaving Manuel financially dependent on her. It fell on Ashley to give Manuel money to send to his family in Ecuador. Manuel was secretive about what exactly the money was for, which caused Ashley to feel taken advantage of. As she works hard to juggle her business, Ashley deserves to know exactly where her money is going.

Ashley and Manuel seemed to be in a better place at the end of the season. However, when they filmed the Tell All special, they revealed their marriage was in a tough spot. Manuel’s refusal to learn English after living in America for a year made him dependent on Ashley, not just financially, but socially as well. She felt he was unmotivated to find a job and create a life for himself in New York.

However, Ashley admitted it took her a year to file Manuel’s immigration paperwork. This prevented him from getting a job, which is why he felt unmotivated to learn English. The delay in filing made Manuel resent Ashley. He wondered why he had left everything behind when she did not take the initiative to complete his paperwork. Manuel showed rare vulnerability when he tearfully told the camera that he wanted to leave and return to Ecuador. Ashley was not present for Manuel’s confession, and the fate of their marriage was left uncertain.

Manuel Claimed Ashley Prioritizes The Gym Over Him

Her Fitness Obsession Took Time Away From Her Marriage

When Manuel criticized Ashley for putting off filing his paperwork, he suggested her gym habit is to blame. He said Ashley spends four hours a day at the gym. Ashley’s dedication to working out was putting a wedge between her and Manuel. Manuel was offended that Ashley had so much free time to exercise, but she could not find the time to help him acquire legal rights to establish himself in her home country.

Ashley and Manuel’s argument goes deeper than the gym. It casts doubt on Ashley’s priorities. If she did not devote time to helping Manuel’s legal status, it makes sense that he did not feel obligated to start his own life in America. Ashley resented Manuel for being dependent on her, but her failure to file the paperwork kept him that way. It created an imbalance within their relationship, which understandably put a strain on their marriage.

Has Ashley’s Weight Loss Changed Her?

Her Marriage Has Deeper Problems

Dramatic weight loss can certainly change people, but Ashley’s weight loss is not the root of her marriage problems. Ashley is a strong-willed woman who puts her heart into everything she does. If she did not stay busy at the gym, she would have found something else to devote her time to. Ashley’s weight loss didn’t change her, but it did highlight the personality differences responsible for the conflicts within her marriage. While the gym is a convenient excuse for her delay in filing Manuel’s paperwork, the real problem runs deeper.

Ashley, unfortunately, didn’t make Manuel a priority. Likewise, Manuel did not communicate the urgency of submitting his paperwork and how invalidated he felt without it. Ashley’s confrontational style tends to make Manuel shut down, which likely made him avoid telling her how important his paperwork was. This left them both feeling frustrated and disrespected, which played out in arguments over money and religion. After confronting these issues on the 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? Tell All, Ashley and Manuel can begin moving forward and repairing their relationship.

Despite their problems, Ashley and Manuel remain married. On July 22, Ashley posted a photo from their wedding with the caption “Soul family is soul family.” This proves they have managed to find happiness even while Ashley continues her fitness journey. It was clear on 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? that Ashley and Manuel’s love is stronger than their differences.

Source: Ashley Michelle/Instagram