The TLC Network has always caught our attention with its reality television stars and shows. 1000 Pound Sisters is no different when it comes to a fascinating series about intriguing, out-of-the-box stars and their journeys. This show highlights the struggles of two southern sisters, whose combined weight is an astounding one thousand pounds! It is well on its way to becoming one of our all-time favorite TLC shows!
Viewers were entranced at how Amy and Tammy Slaton worked through their life as heavyset women in hopes of getting on the right track and qualifying for life-changing bariatric surgery. While much of what fans see on the television screen is nothing but fact, some of the show's details might have been a bit fudged. TLC has had a couple of shows stretch the truth, is this one of them? Check out what is real and what might be exaggerated on 1000 Pound Sisters.
10 Real: They Attained Fame From The Chubby Bunny Internet Challenge
Internet challenges are all the rage these days, and participating in a famous one is how Tammy and Amy Slaton ended up becoming stars. In 2011, the Kentucky duo launched their own YouTube channel. They never expected stardom to come from it, but that is precisely what happened when the Slatons showcased their Chubby Bunny challenge (where they essentially stuffed a ton of marshmallows in their mouths and uttered the words "chubby bunny") and gained 1.8 million views!
9 Real: The Sisters Have Endured Online Bullying
While the Slatons wracked up lots of devoted fans from their social medial channel, they quickly learned that with fame and notoriety came harsh criticism and hurt feelings. In 2017, Amy Slaton posted a video of herself reading off some very concerning and cruel comments left by people who stopped into the sisters' channel. Needless to say, the ladies have had to develop a thick skin being YouTube and reality TV stars.
8 Exaggerated: The Promos Depict Unhealthy Habits, But The Sisters Are Doing A Lot Of Self-Care Behind The Scenes
The promos for the show really play up how the sisters came to be one thousand pounds. They are depicted chowing down on what looks to be a Thanksgiving feast nearly every night. Because this is reality television, however, not everything we see is the entire story. The episodes dive deeper into Ami and Tammy's journey to become a healthier version of themselves as they strive for surgical intervention.
7 Real: Tammy Hasn't Left The House In Years, Except For Medical Appointments
Both sisters are dangerously large, but Tammy outdoes her sister in the pounds department by several hundred pounds. At around six hundred lbs, Tammy is heavily reliant on her sister Ami for mobility assistance. Being at the scale number she is, Tammy has rarely left her home in several years. Most of her excursions past the front door have been because of medical appointments.
6 Exaggerated: The Production Team Spins The Show To Highlight What They Want Regarding The Sisters
Nobody spins a character like the production team of a reality television show. The people behind the scenes of 1000 Pound Sisters highlight what they choose in order to paint any given picture of the Slatons. Like many other reality television stars today, the Slatons can only do so much to spin their own storyline. The editing team and production bigwigs do the rest. Viewers would do well to remember that the ladies have many more sides to their personalities than is shown.
5 Real: They Have Also Battled Many Ailments
Being vastly obsess can really take a toll on a person's health, and Tammy specifically has struggled with several health issues because of her scale numbers. At roughly six hundred pounds, Tammy has endured a couple of blood clots. All of these issues, compounded with her limited mobility, have served as motivation to live a healthier life.
4 Exaggerated: Squabbles Are Shown, But In Truth, Their Sisterly Bond Is Stronger Than Ever
It wouldn't be reality television without a couple of sibling throw-downs, so of course, the network is going to emphasize those intense moments where Tammy and Ami don't exactly see eye to eye. Tensions do run high from time to time, especially with Tammy counting on her sis for so much, but the truth is the sisters are thick as thieves. Their bond and love for each other is stronger than what we see on the screen.
3 Real: A Loss Triggered Their Habit Of Overeating
Until these southern sisters were about ten years old, they were average in the pounds department. Amy Slaton has said that it was their grandmother's passing that really threw them overboard with healthy eating habits. Their grandma was the most prominent figure in their lives, serving as a parental figure while the sisters' mother worked several jobs. With grandma gone and mom working around the clock, the girls turned to easy and unhealthy foods, leading to the present situation.
2 Exaggerated: The Sisters Shut Down A Second Season, But Will We See Them Again?
The sisters first dished on how there would not be a second season of 1000 Pound Sisters, even though the numbers and ratings proved that people were gaga about it. Later on, they seemed more optimistic, saying fans should stay hopeful and stay tuned to see if they would return to the small screen. For now, the general consensus is no season two, regardless of what swirls around on the internet.
1 Real: Amy Is A Married Woman
The Slatons are really a party of three because Amy is hitched to a man named Michael. Her relationship with Michael is a major factor in her quest to lose weight and qualify for gastric bypass surgery. The couple wants to start a family, but Amy's weight has been a hindrance to that process thus far. Michael will likely be a great father as he is already pretty adept at helping his wife care for her six hundred pound sister.