A new docu-reality show called 'Ruby' premiered on The Style Network last night at 11pm. At the centre of the action is Ruby Gettinger, who is facing a real and fierce battle against her weight. At 500 pounds (227kg) Ruby's situation is serious. Either she loses weight or she loses her life.

To scoop out more about the show and what we can expect I caught up with Ruby in between filming. We're starting with Season 1 ? she's currently filming Season 2, which we'll see too.

Tashi: How did you come to do the show?
Ruby: I was watching Oprah and there were these women on her show ? I've struggled with being overweight since I was 13. The women on her show were like 350 pounds and at the time I was 715 pounds (318kg).

They were talking about how they can't lose weight, how it's the biggest struggle for them, that they never go out with their friends and family because society doesn't accept them.

I was so sad for them because I live my life no matter what weight I am but I knew what they were talking about. I know how people can be cruel, especially strangers out there, so I said to my friends: "I want y'all to follow me around with a camera so I can find out the problem to all this ... I want to find out the truth: is it physical, mental, emotional, spiritual?"

I was going to call it 'The Truth Will Set You Free' ? follow myself going through it and then when I'd reached my goal, show it to the world.

My friend Brittany from LA saw me doing this, she told a producer friend of hers who talked to somebody at Style ? they approached me and said: "We really love what you're doing, we see your vision, we would love to follow you."

Is it a weight-loss journey?
It is, it's also about friendship ? it's not a depressing story. You'll see me getting emotional but if I were to put it in words I'd say that it's a happy show about friends ? getting together, supporting each other.

In the meantime I'm fighting the biggest beast of my life. Trying to survive and live ? to conquer it once and for all. I'm trying to find out the truth ? everything I find out, y'all find out for the first time too ? it's pretty crazy sometimes.

Yes, referring to your addiction to food as The Beast ? how did you come up with it? Why?
I've always called it that ? since I was 13 years old ? I wasn't one of those children that wasn't accepted. I was accepted by friends, I've always had friends and I've always been happy but the thing is I've just fought this forever, this eating ? I've been on diets and it's felt like forever ? it's like this beast that I've been fighting.

Every time I think that I'm beating him he comes out and attacks me and I'm back down on the ground again, trying to get out. I never knew that this journey was going to affect so many people ? so many people can relate to this.

On page two: Ruby talks about fighting her addiction.