Amy Slaton's journey has been chronicled for the world to see in the reality TV series "1000-Lb. Sisters." Since the show first premiered in 2020, the sisters' weight loss journey has inspired many.
Reflecting on a Four-Year Transformation
Amy Slaton is reflecting on her health journey. In a clip from the upcoming season six premiere of "1,000-Lb. Sisters," the Kentucky native looks back on four years of losing weight, going from over 400 pounds to 237. In the scene, Amy and her sister Tammy visit bariatric surgeon Dr. Eric Smith to discuss potentially getting a procedure to remove excess skin. Amy hadn't weighed herself since the previous year-and when she steps on the scale, she's surprised by a 44-pound loss. "Hell, all you need to lose weight is two toddlers and a divorce," she jokes to the cameras. (Amy's ex-husband Michael Halterman filed for divorce in March 2023.)
Origins of Weight Struggles
The Slaton sisters recognize where their weight struggles originated. While talking with People in 2023, the Slaton sisters shared the origins of their weight struggles. “I’ve always had a weight issue,” Tammy Slaton said. Amy Slaton echoed her sister's sentiments, "Our whole family's big." The sisters said diet played a huge role in their weight gain over the years. Since their mother worked three jobs when they were children, they had to cook for themselves. “And at 10 and 11 you really couldn’t prepare healthy food and stuff,” Amy Slaton said. “The microwave was our best friend,” Tammy Slaton said. “Ramen noodles, bowls of soup, things that were quick and easy - stuff that adds on carbs.” When their grandmother died in 1999, Tammy Slaton said she and her sister "turned to food for comfort." Amy told People in 2023 that their "whole family's big," but noted that diet played a role in their health. The two were often left to fend for themselves while their mom, Darlene, worked three jobs to support them. "Mom was always at work, so we had to learn how to cook and stuff for ourselves," Amy said. "And at 10 and 11, you really couldn't prepare healthy food and stuff." When their grandmother, who helped care for them, died in 1999, Tammy said that they turned to food for comfort. “I started eating my feelings,” Amy added.
Bariatric Surgery: A Turning Point
Yes, Amy had bariatric surgery in 2019. As she shared on the show, she decided to get bariatric surgery because she wanted to become a mom. Amy’s desire for children inspired her to lose weight. Amy Slaton was motivated by her desire to become a mom. After she lost nearly 100 pounds following her bariatric surgery, the reality star took the first steps toward motherhood (she now has two sons). In order to qualify for the surgery, the sisters first had to reach a certain weight. Amy Slaton was the first to reach this milestone and underwent surgery in 2019. In an episode of “1000-Lb. Sisters” that aired in 2020, the reality star showed off her 100-pound weight loss, revealing that she started out at 406 pounds.
Dieting and Exercise: Key Components of Amy's Weight Loss
In addition to having bariatric surgery, Amy changed her diet. How did Amy Slaton lose weight? She now eats small, low-carb meals with a lot of protein, per Us Weekly. Amy planted a vegetable garden to make sure she and her family always have access to produce. The Slaton sisters have approachable dieting tips. In order to maintain her weight loss after surgery, Amy Slaton has a go-to meal plan. “As far as eating habits go, I eat small meals with high protein and low carbs,” she told Us Weekly in 2023. The mother of two also planted a vegetable garden at home to ensure that her family had access to healthy foods. Amy and Tammy Slaton have tried several methods of exercise, including swimming, virtual reality workouts, personal training sessions and group workout classes. For exercise, Amy walks in the park with her sons. She and Tammy have also tried out a number of fitness classes, including swimming, virtual reality, personal training, and group workouts.
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Prioritizing Mental Health
Right now, she’s focusing on her mental health over weight loss. In December, Amy revealed that she was prioritizing her mental wellbeing in addition to her physical one. Recently, Amy said she was no longer focusing on weight loss to instead deal with her mental health. “You can’t have weight loss without mental health,” she told People. Amy prioritizes her mental health over weight loss these days. After going through a divorce, however, she said she's prioritizing her mental health over dwelling on her weight these days. After recognizing that her mental health was "the worst it’s ever been," the reality star began attending therapy sessions and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, acute stress disorder and depression. To manage her mental health, Amy Slaton still attends therapy and is now on medication. She was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder after having a blow-up with her sisters during a trip to Florida. "That's not the person I am," she told the publication. "That is not the person I want to be." In addition to bipolar disorder, Amy was also diagnosed with depression and acute stress from her divorce. “It's a relief to know that I'm not crazy. It was something totally different. I'm not just snapping because I'm snapping. I'm snapping because I'm bipolar,” she said. She’s now in therapy and takes medication. Amy shared that she tries to stay positive by “talking to Tammy, and being with my kids and my family as much as possible. Surrounding myself with love and light… and puppies.”
Tammy Slaton's Journey and Support System
Tammy entered rehab to lose weight. As part of her weight loss efforts, Tammy Slaton entered a food addiction rehab center on several occasions. In order to qualify for surgery, her weight goal was 550 pounds. Tammy Slaton's rehab experience was somewhat tumultuous and she initially left the facility weighing more than when she first entered, per People. And the next time she went to the rehab center, she lost 115 pounds in one month. After regaining the weight, the reality star entered rehab once again and then was able to reach her surgery goal weight. After reaching her weight goal, Tammy Slaton underwent surgery in July 2022. Per People, she was down to 285 pounds as of December 2023. At her heaviest, she weighed 725 pounds. Tammy Slaton's fans recently applauded the reality star when she posted swimsuit photos after losing 440 pounds. The Slaton sisters rely on each other for support in weight loss and in life. In an episode of "1000-Lb. Sisters" that aired after Amy Slaton's weight loss surgery, Tammy Slaton called her sister "my everything." "She's been there for me whenever I need her (and) whenever I don't need her. But Amy needs me right now, so I'm going to help her as much as possible. Whatever she needs, I've got her back," she said. Before her husband Caleb Willingham passed away, Tammy Slaton spoke to Us Weekly about his loving support. “We support each other wholeheartedly. On our weight loss journeys, when he’s having issues with wanting to eat because he’s bored or because he’s an emotional eater, he comes to me and we talk about the situation,” she said. “It’s the same for me and I talk to him. We talk about our issues and why we feel this way. We are true partners.”
Celebrating Milestones
Tammy celebrates her weight loss milestones. Tammy Slaton's weight loss journey has been a marathon, not a sprint, and she's learned to celebrate her milestones along the way. “I remember the first time I got a picture that she sent me of her riding the front seat in a car with a seatbelt, things that we may take for granted,” her doctor, Eric Smith, told People. “That was a huge accomplishment for her when she used to be coming to my office in the back of a minivan with the seats removed because that was the only way that they could transport her.”“Just being able to walk without a walker or be pushed in a wheelchair, and no oxygen. I don’t even sleep with it at night anymore,” Tammy told People. “Then it was being able to fit in a regular vehicle, front seat, and then the belt buckle, and not have to use an extender now. So I mean, just what seems minor to some people is giant for me.” Tammy appreciates the impact her weight loss has had on her mental health. “Before I went to rehab, I was bitter, unhappy, very, super suicidal, depressed and just mean. Everybody hated me, and they still do. Oh well,” she said. “I had this I don’t care attitude back then. I still do but it’s not as bad. Part of Amy’s success came from the knowledge that she had lost enough weight to wear the heels without risk.“It’s registering that I have lost weight, and I’m not going to break the damn heel,” she quips. “It’s a good moment.”
Approachable Dieting Tips and Lifestyle Changes
Amy Slaton has a go-to meal plan to maintain her weight loss after surgery. “As far as eating habits go, I eat small meals with high protein and low carbs,” she told Us Weekly in 2023. Tammy Slaton's approach to maintaining her weight loss is also quite simple. “Oh, you (eat) proteins, low carbs, no sugars, no pop, portion control,” she commented on Instagram in response to a fan, per People. Tammy curbed her soda intake. In an early episode of "1000-Lb. Sisters," Tammy Slaton said she usually drank eight to 12 cans of soda a day. Tammy Slaton also said she now mostly drinks water. “Or if I do drink something else it’s tea - diet tea - or sugar free Gatorades. I do like drinking Crystal Light packets and stuff like that sometimes, but (I mostly drink) plain, ordinary water,” she said. Amy planted a vegetable garden to make sure she and her family always have access to produce. Her son Gage is a big fan, too. “Gage will eat Brussel sprouts. He’ll eat broccoli. He’ll eat cauliflower. He’ll eat all of that,” she told People in December. Ultimately, Amy says she's committed to raising her sons in a healthier environment than what she and Tammy grew up in. "I try to be there for them as much as possible," she told People. "If they ain't at Daddy's, they're with me. I know my mama couldn't always do that."
Amy's Weight
Amy started her weight loss journey at 406 pounds, she told cameras on 1,000-Lb. Sisters. In an October 2024 episode of "1,000-Lb. Sisters," she weighed in at 237 pounds.
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