Amber Portwood, known for her appearances on MTV's "Teen Mom," has captured public attention not only for her personal struggles but also for her inspiring weight loss journey. Her time on "Teen Mom" has been marked by tumultuous events, including battles with mental health, legal issues, and relationship challenges. Amidst these struggles, Amber has been committed to transforming her life, emphasizing her mental and physical health.
Early Life and Struggles
Amber's journey began in Anderson, Indiana, where she became pregnant at 16 with her then-boyfriend, Gary Shirley. Their daughter, Leah Shirley, was born in 2008. However, their relationship was strained by Amber's first arrest in 2010 for domestic abuse against Gary, an event that occurred in Leah's presence. This marked the beginning of a series of legal issues that would impact Amber's life and her relationship with her daughter.
Mental Health and Relationships
Throughout her time on "Teen Mom," Amber has been open about her struggles with mental health. After her initial prison stint, she worked to rebuild her relationship with Leah and began a new relationship with Andrew Glennon, which led to the birth of her second child, James. Despite these efforts, she was arrested again in 2019. Since then, she has dedicated herself to repairing her relationships with both Leah and James while focusing on her personal well-being and fitness.
Weight Loss Journey
Amber's weight has fluctuated since the birth of Leah. She has reported significant weight losses, including one of 65 pounds and a more recent loss of 35 pounds. Amber has promoted meal replacement shakes as part of her weight loss strategy. She has also incorporated physical activity into her routine, including practicing MMA fighting.
SnapChat Updates
Following a social media hiatus, Amber shared her progress with fans on Snapchat, revealing her goal to lose a final 20 pounds. She posted a photo showcasing her slimmer waist, wearing a black top and tie-dye leggings. In a video, she shared details of her fitness plan, mentioning cycling and karate. Despite hitting a plateau, she remained determined to reach her goal weight.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Turning Point
At the "Teen Mom OG" reunion, Amber's conflict with Gary and his wife, Kristina Anderson, underscored the challenges in co-parenting Leah, who is under their full custody. This difficult period seemed to motivate Amber to refocus on her well-being.
Following a picture from 2021, Amber embarked on another weight loss journey, showcasing a slimmer figure on Instagram. She also experimented with her appearance, including platinum blonde hair, which was met with positive feedback from fans. Her Instagram account features images of her evolving style and inspirational quotes.
Custody Battles and Self-Improvement
After losing custody of both her daughter and son, Amber has been urged by fans to prioritize her well-being so she can be present for her children in the future. She is in a much better place than in 2019 and 2020 and is ready to fight for her son and get her life back. Despite still sharing legal custody of James and being allowed three unsupervised visits a week, she is not satisfied with the outcome. Amber claimed that Andrew prevented her from seeing her son on Christmas. She requested her ex be held in contempt of court for failing to follow the court’s custody order. A restraining order was granted against Andrew to prevent him from further interfering with Amber’s parenting time.
Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle
Amber has openly discussed the obstacles she has faced in her weight loss journey, including her struggles with weight gain over the years. Her message to fans is to "keep working and don't give up" to reach their goals. She underwent a "mommy makeover" in the fall, which included a breast lift and body contouring.
Facing Mental Health Struggles
Amber has also shared details about her mental health struggles. In July 2019, she was arrested after an altercation with Andrew Glennon. She has spoken about a difficult period following the incident, during which she lost 35 pounds in less than three months and experienced significant stress. She compared this period to other low points in her life, acknowledging the deep depression she experienced and the importance of learning from her mistakes.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Physical Transformation
Early in her career on "Teen Mom," Amber was once the most zaftig girl on MTV. Amber already looked more fit during the reunion special for the first season of Teen Mom this February, but now she’s reportedly down to 120lb. During the reunion special in Feb. she said she was losing weight by eating lots of veggies and fruits and watching her diet. She looks great, but hopefully she’s lost weight in a healthy way and avoided anything too drastic.
According to Us Magazine, Amber’s weight loss strategy involved replacing mac and cheese and sweets with lean meat, fruit, and vegetables, along with two-hour cardio and weight sessions four times a week. She has lost a total of 65 pounds since giving birth to Leah in November 2008. “I was looking in the mirror and I thought, I don’t like this. I’m only 20.
Fitness and Diet
Portwood previously told WomensHealthMag.com that she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and her medication made her gain weight. "At first I tried to restart a no-carb, no-sugar diet," she said. "But I realized there was no way that was going to work for rest of my life. I love mac and cheese! So I had to figure out a way of living my life that’s healthier. In her latest weight loss update via Instagram, Amber writes, "If this is fat, then I'm proud…almost at my goal!! We got this!" We love that Amber is owning her body, no matter what the size.
Plastic Surgery
Amber Portwood, star of Teen Mom OG, recently underwent a mommy makeover surgery to reclaim her pre-pregnancy body after her weight loss. She tweeted, “Everyone should feel good about their bodies. . . Amber isn’t the only Teen Mom star to turn to plastic surgery to feel more comfortable and confident with her body. Kailyn Lowry, star of Teen Mom 2, followed the growing trend of enhancing her backside. She got a Brazilian butt lift and a tummy tuck to contour her figure. Briana DeJesus, star of Teen Mom 3, joined Kailyn in hopping on the buttock enhancement trend. Briana also underwent a Brazilian butt lift, along with a breast augmentation, liposuction, and labiaplasty.
Current Status
Amber continues to share her journey with the public, hoping to inspire others. In a clip from the upcoming season of Teen Mom OG, Amber speaks to ex and baby daddy Gary Shirley about her arrest, clearly full of regret over what went down. "The number one regret that I have is that I did not walk out of that house that night," she recalls in the video below. "Now I look back and I’m so ashamed because all I keep thinking about is, ‘Amber, you should have walked out of the house.'"
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation