Mama June Shannon is known for packing away giant portions of food, but after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery the From Not to Hot star’s days of binge-eating are over.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve thrown up from eating too much,” June says in the latest issue of PEOPLE. “I don’t do it all the time. You realize what you can and can’t do.”
Shannon, 37, underwent an extensive series of surgeries that include the insertion of a gastric sleeve, breast augmentation and skin removal on her “turkey neck,” “bat wings” and stomach — an area where doctors removed 9 lbs. of loose skin.
Since then she’s switched to a low-carb, low-sugar diet, though she still indulges in her favorite cheat meal items: “Mexican, barbecue and Little Debbie jelly-filled pies,” she reveals. “They are heaven in a box.”
Watch PEOPLE Features: Mama June’s Shocking Transformation, available now on the new People/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN). Go to PEOPLE.com/PEN, or download the PEN app on your favorite device.
While Shannon’s healthier lifestyle is a work in progress, she’s making efforts to make sure she keeps the 300 lbs. she lost stay off for good. “Nobody taught me how to cook, so it’s a learning experience all the time as we look up new recipes.”
FROM COINAGE: 9 Healthy Kitchen Staples That Cost Less Than $1 Per Serving
For more on Mama June Shannon’s weight loss transformation, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday
The finale of Mama June: From Not to Hot airs Friday at 9 p.m. ET on WE tv.