Jennifer Lamb, wife of Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson and stepmother to Honey Boo Boo, has been making headlines for her dramatic weight loss transformation. Her journey, much like that of Mama June Shannon, has been chronicled on WE tv's Mama June: From Not to Hot and Mama June: Family Crisis. This article delves into Lamb's motivations, methods, and the impact her transformation has had on her health and relationships.
Initial Struggles and Health Concerns
Before embarking on her weight loss journey, Jennifer Lamb faced significant health challenges. During an episode of From Not to Hot in 2017, she revealed she was experiencing "chest pains, being dizzy, and just not feeling right." After stepping on the scale, Jennifer learned that she weighed 431 lbs, which surprised her. "Oh my God, I know that I’ve gained some weight, but c’mon - that’s a lot of weight,” she said. Tipping the scales at 472 pounds, Lamb said: “Lately I’ve been having these chest pains, being dizzy and just not feeling right. There’s no need to tell Mike until I find out what’s going on for myself. With the dizziness and the chest pain going on, I’m starting to worry that something is seriously wrong. My joints, my knees, my hip. There’s days I can’t even function because they hurt so bad. I’m having chest pains, where you get out and you start walking and you can’t breathe." These health concerns served as a major catalyst for her decision to pursue weight loss.
The Decision for Weight Loss Surgery
Initially, Jennifer was resistant to the idea of weight loss surgery, expressing her belief that "big is beautiful." She didn't want to look like Mama June. "I don’t believe in having surgery like June did just to lose weight. I’ve always said big is beautiful and I will always stand by that,” said Lamb. “I don’t want to look like June. I never would want to look like June, but if I keep doing what I’m doing now, I’m not guaranteed the next five years.” She also feared how her husband, Sugar Bear, would react. “He loves me the way I am, so that’s sort of what scares me too,” said Jennifer. “One thing I know: Mike don’t have nothing to do with no one that looks like June.”
However, the severity of her health issues and the realization that her weight was threatening her life ultimately led her to reconsider. Lamb decided to drop the weight by having gastric sleeve surgery, a source close to the reality star confirmed to RadarOnline.com. She opted for gastric sleeve surgery, following in the footsteps of Mama June, who had previously undergone lap band surgery and lost around 300 pounds. Following her surgery, she gained about 50 pounds back. Lamb was originally 472 pounds and is now down to 212 pounds.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery and Transformation
Jennifer Lamb's weight loss journey involved gastric sleeve surgery. This procedure reduces the size of the stomach, limiting the amount of food a person can eat. Lamb's post-surgery makeover was covered on the next season of the WE tv show, RadarOnline.com confirmed.
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In a preview for the show, she stated, “It’s a process but I’m going to keep trying to transform myself into a healthier person.”
Relationships and Feuds
Jennifer's weight loss journey has been intertwined with her relationships, particularly her ongoing feud with Mama June. Their weight loss goals aren't the only things they're in competition about. Lamb also thinks that she could do better in the parenting department than Shannon could as well. The two have often traded barbs, with Jennifer even suggesting she would be a better mother to Honey Boo Boo than June.
Lamb recently said, “I always knew I would be a better momma to Alana than June was.” Honey Boo Boo is currently living with her sister, Pumpkin, because of Shannon's arrest, drug addiction, and her dysfunctional relationship with her boyfriend, Geno. She also said that Pumpkin should come to her for parenting advice, because she has, “a lot more experience.”
However, Lamb doesn't have the best relationship with Pumpkin, either. On a recent episode of From Hot To Not, the two women traded barbs.
Lamb said about Honey Boo Boo, "If I was co-parenting her, her attitude wouldn’t be that way. I’m not surprised that Alana has an attitude because Pumpkin has an attitude, too. But it has become worse since she’s been living with Pumpkin. If me and Mike had custody of Alana, her attitude would change a lot."
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Pumpkin fired back at her, saying, "Jennifer has the nerve and audacity to tell me to not act like Alana’s sister. I need to act like her mom. That’s when I really just want to tell her to shut the f*** up. Because, first of all, I may only be 19, but I’m also a mother and a wife and I promise you I can handle anything that’s thrown at me."
She also faced tension with Sugar Bear, particularly after she secretly conducted a DNA test to determine if he was Honey Boo Boo's biological father. In 2018, Sugar Bear blew up at Lamb - not because she wanted to lose weight, but because she went behind his back and had a DNA test done to see if he was really Honey Boo Boo's biological father! The results of the test were inconclusive, due to subpar samples.
Lamb claimed to be protecting her husband. He exploded, yelling, "I am the father! I don't need no damn piece of paper telling me," and stormed out of the house. Lamb later said, "If he is this mad about me doing a DNA test, what is he going to say when I tell him about the weight loss surgery?”
Jennifer's Opinion on Mama June
While Jennifer’s getting her act together, building healthy habits, and losing weight, June Shannon’s coming apart at the seams. And Jennifer Thompson has some things to say about her castmate from Mama June: From Not to Hot.
Then, Jennifer said Sugar Bear’s ex needs to “put your man aside” and get rid of Geno. Plus, she advised that the Mama June: From Not to Hot star “go to rehab” and get back home for her children. Although Jennifer Thompson’s got some harsh criticism and advice for June Shannon, she’s showing her stepdaughter love and hope on Mama June: From Not to Hot.
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It seems like Lamb is always up for a little drama, which seems to work in your favor when you're starring on a hit reality show. If she's shown anything, it's that Lamb doesn't hold back when it comes to trying to outdo Shannon in any part of her life: “Everybody said Mike [Sugar Bear] wouldn’t stick by my side because he likes the bigger women. Guess who’s still by my side? Everyone says I look better than [Mama] June now. That woman is horrible. That woman got arrested for crack cocaine.”
Life Before Weight Loss
Lamb got engaged to Sugar Bear in October 2016. She is a resident of Georgia and works for Pepsi. She married Sugar Bear in a casual backyard ceremony in March 2017. Honey Boo Boo walked her dad down the aisle and they lit a candle together. Lamb's son Joseph walked her down the aisle and they also lit a candle together.
Current Status and Future Goals
As of the latest updates, Jennifer Lamb has lost a significant amount of weight, reportedly shedding 260 pounds. She expressed optimism about reaching her goal weight, stating, “By December I will have reached my goal weight." A source close to Sugar Bear’s newly slimmed-down wife told RadarOnline.com, “She feels great". She continues to focus on building healthy habits and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Her journey is a testament to her determination to improve her health and well-being, despite the challenges and drama that come with being in the public eye.