Tammy Slaton can’t believe how much weight she’s lost.
In an exclusive PEOPLE clip from Tuesday’s episode 1000 lbs. SistersThe 38-year-old is having an appointment with her bariatric surgeon Dr. Eric Smith along with her siblings Amy, Amanda, Misty and Chris.
Smith tells Tammy that she looks “terrible” and shares his excitement that she no longer needs a wheelchair to get around.
“At the bottom I was about 725 lbs.” she says before the clip shows a flashback of her stepping on the scale two years ago. “The last time I saw Dr. Smith was about nine months ago and I weighed about 420 lbs. He told me I needed to lose 100 pounds. before my next meeting. I’m extremely nervous.”
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Tammy steps on the scale and weighs 303.8 lbs, which Smith says is “unbelievable.”
“I surpassed Dr. Smith’s goal, my goal, all goals!” Tammy brags in the video. “I’m so ready for skinning!”
“I was absolutely thrilled for Tammy and incredibly proud of her progress, but not surprised,” Smith tells PEOPLE. “Tammy has consistently demonstrated her commitment to sustainable lifestyle changes to maximize the benefits of her surgery. I emphasized the importance of small, daily adjustments to ensure not only her continued progress, but her long-term success. She is truly committed to her health journey.”
Smith explains that goal setting is an essential part of any weight loss journey. He says he worked with Tammy to change her mindset to focus on daily habits instead of being “obsessed” with end goals, which led to life-changing progress.
As Tammy continues to make impressive strides on her weight loss journey, she hopes to qualify for skin removal surgery. Smith notes that they are approaching the point where the procedure is a viable option.
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Tammy Slaton and her bariatric surgeon Dr. Eric Smith.
Dr. Eric Smith/Instagram
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“In general, we want patients to achieve most of their weight loss and maintain a stable weight for 3-6 months before proceeding with skin removal,” he explains. “However, in Tammy’s case, she has a significant amount of loose skin which affects her mobility and contributes to other health problems. That being said, it makes sense to consider surgery sooner rather than later, even though she will continue to lose weight in the future.”
Although Tammy has yet to undergo skin-removal surgery, Smith tells PEOPLE that there is “pure joy” when she reflects on her journey. She says she often sends him photos of the new things she can do since losing so much weight, thanking him for helping her achieve it.
“I’ve always wanted her to not only live a healthier life, but more importantly, to believe she deserves it. There were times when she didn’t feel worthy of feeling better or living a healthier life. Helping her recognize her own worth was just as rewarding as seeing the weight come off. That was a key factor in her success.”
“Every time I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness as she finds both health and joy,” adds Smith. “That’s really all you could want from a patient.”
New episode of the series 1000 lbs. Sisters airs Tuesday, October 15 at 9:00 PM ET/PT.
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Source: HIS Education