Tammy and Amy Slaton didn't just walk into a TLC casting office and become stars overnight. They were already internet-famous, or maybe internet-notorious is the better word, long before the cameras started rolling in Dixon, Kentucky. If you look at 1000 lb sisters then and now, the shift isn't just about the scale. It's about a total overhaul of their lives that most people didn't think was possible.
Back in 2020, the goal seemed simple: lose enough weight to qualify for bariatric surgery. But the reality was messy. Amy weighed around 400 pounds, while Tammy was pushing 600. They were living in a small duplex, eating massive amounts of junk food, and leaning on each other in a way that was both supportive and incredibly toxic. Watching those early episodes feels like a lifetime ago. You see two women who were essentially trapped in their own bodies, filming YouTube videos to pay the bills and hoping for a miracle that science—and their own willpower—would have to provide.
The Reality of the Scale: How Far They've Come
Let's talk numbers because that’s what everyone looks for first. Amy Slaton-Halterman was always the "smaller" sister. She got her surgery early on, dropped over 100 pounds, and achieved her biggest dream: becoming a mother. She has two sons now, Gage and Glenn. However, life hasn't been a straight line for her. Divorce from Michael Halterman and the sheer stress of raising toddlers has made her journey look a lot different than Tammy's.
Tammy's transformation is the one that actually leaves people speechless. For years, she was the one fans worried about most. She was frequently hospitalized, used a wheelchair, and eventually had a massive health scare that required a tracheotomy and a medically induced coma. When she entered rehab in Ohio, she weighed over 700 pounds.
Fast forward to today.
Tammy Slaton has lost more than 400 pounds. Read that again. She is down to roughly 285 pounds. She’s had her skin removal surgery, she’s walking unassisted, and she can actually fit into a regular car seat without a seatbelt extender. Seeing 1000 lb sisters then and now side-by-side photos is jarring because Tammy's face has completely changed shape. The "forehead fat pad," a physical symptom of extreme obesity, is gone. She’s wearing clothes from normal retail stores instead of specialty 8XL outlets.
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Success
People think weight loss surgery is a "cheat code." Honestly, it’s anything but. Dr. Eric Smith, the bariatric surgeon who has worked extensively with Tammy, has been vocal about the fact that the surgery is just a tool. If you don't change your brain, the stomach will just stretch back out.
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The sisters had to navigate a lot of emotional baggage. Their mother, Darlene, wasn't exactly the "cheerleader" type, and that upbringing played a huge role in their relationship with food. Food was comfort. It was a coping mechanism. To see them now, you're seeing people who have had to learn how to exist without their primary numbing agent.
Amy’s journey has actually been quite a bit rockier recently. While Tammy is hitting new milestones, Amy has struggled with the mental health toll of a high-profile divorce and the pressure of being a single mom. This is the part of the "now" that doesn't get enough attention. Surgery doesn't fix your marriage, and it doesn't fix your depression. Amy has been very open about her struggles with bipolar disorder and the emotional eating that can creep back in when life gets chaotic.
The Impact of Loss and Love
You can't talk about Tammy's "now" without mentioning Caleb Willingham. Tammy met Caleb at the Windsor Lane Health Care Center in Ohio. They got married in late 2022. It was a beautiful, albeit quick, romance between two people fighting the same demons.
Then tragedy struck.
Caleb passed away in 2023. For many people in Tammy's position, a loss that devastating would lead to a total relapse. In the past, Tammy might have turned back to food to bury that grief. Instead, she stayed on track. She kept losing weight. She used the loss as a reason to keep living because she knew Caleb would have wanted that. That’s the most significant change in the 1000 lb sisters then and now timeline—not the weight, but the resilience.
Behind the Scenes: The Role of the Slaton Siblings
While Amy and Tammy are the stars, the "then and now" includes Chris, Misty, and Amanda.
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- Chris Combs: Chris has been the breakout star for many. He started his journey alongside the girls and has maintained a massive weight loss, often acting as the voice of reason.
- Amanda Halterman: She’s the blunt one. Her presence changed the dynamic of the show, bringing a "no-nonsense" approach that Tammy actually seemed to respond to eventually.
- Misty Slaton: Usually the quietest, but she’s also undergone her own health journey recently, showing that the obesity struggle was truly a family-wide battle.
The family dynamic has shifted from one of enabling to one of accountability. In the early seasons, they all kind of sat around and ate together. Now, you see them going on outings, walking, and actually engaging in life. They aren't just sitting in a living room anymore.
The Physical Toll of Rapid Weight Loss
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. When you lose 400 pounds, your skin doesn't just "snap back." It hangs. Tammy has dealt with a significant amount of excess skin, which can cause infections and mobility issues. The "now" version of Tammy includes the reality of multiple surgeries to remove that skin.
There’s also the "dumping syndrome" and the strict nutritional requirements. They can't just go out and have a burger and fries. If they do, they get incredibly sick. Their bodies literally reject the food they used to live on. It’s a permanent lifestyle change that requires constant monitoring of protein intake and hydration.
Why This Story Still Matters in 2026
We’ve seen a lot of reality TV weight loss stories. Most of them end in heartbreak or the person gaining the weight back. The Slaton sisters are different because they are unfiltered. They didn't pretend to be perfect. They cursed, they fought, they failed, and they did it all in front of millions of people.
The 1000 lb sisters then and now comparison works because it feels earned. When you see Tammy standing on a beach or Amy playing with her kids in the grass, you remember the episodes where they couldn't walk 20 feet without gasping for air. It’s a reminder that even when you’re at your absolute lowest point—literally stuck in a house, unable to move—there is a path out if you’re willing to go through the hell of rehab and self-reflection.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights from the Slaton Journey
If you’re looking at the Slaton sisters and feeling inspired to change your own life, don’t just look at the surgery. Look at the habits. Here are the real takeaways from their years of transformation:
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Mental Health First: Both sisters have shown that weight loss is 90% mental. If you don't address the reason why you’re overeating—whether it’s trauma, boredom, or depression—the weight will come back. Seeking therapy is just as important as seeing a nutritionist.
The Power of Environment: Tammy had to leave her home and go to a controlled environment (rehab) to save her life. Sometimes, you can't get healthy in the same environment that made you sick. You might need to change who you spend time with or where you spend your time.
Small Wins Matter: In the beginning, Tammy’s goal was just to stand up for three minutes. Then it was five. Then it was walking to the mailbox. Don't look at the 400-pound goal; look at the next three pounds.
Accountability is Key: Whether it’s a sibling, a friend, or a public platform, having someone to answer to makes a difference. The Slaton sisters had the entire world watching them, which added pressure, but it also provided a massive support network.
The Slaton sisters are no longer just "the girls from YouTube." They are symbols of a very specific kind of American resilience. Their story is ongoing, and while there will surely be more setbacks, the "now" version of Amy and Tammy is a far cry from the "then." They aren't just surviving anymore; they’re actually living.
If you are following a similar path, focus on the non-scale victories. Can you tie your shoes? Can you sit in a theater seat? Can you breathe without a machine? Those are the milestones that actually define the 1000 lb sisters then and now evolution. Keep your eyes on those small, daily freedoms. They add up to a brand new life.