A morbidly obese couple who met at a weight loss clinic over a decade ago have become intimate for the first time after losing 574lbs (41 stone) between them.
Lee Sutton, 42, and Rena Kiser, 39, from Missouri, who weighed 714lbs (51 stone) and 542lbs (39 stone), respectively, had gastric bypass surgery in the hopes of having a ‘normal’ relationship after their weight skyrocketed to the combined total of 1,256lbs (almost 90 stone).
But after managing to almost half their combined body weight in the 12 months since they both underwent gastric surgery, they were finally able to have sex for the first time since meeting 11 years ago.
Lee Sutton and Rena Kiser began dating after meeting at a weight loss clinic and after having gastric bypass surgery were able to have sex for the first time
The couple, who admitted their weight loss had gotten out of control, managed to lose 574lbs between them
Despite a few hiccups along their weight loss journey road, the couple managed to get back on track and become intimate for the first time
Their story is featured in the Lifetime reality series My 600lb Life, where Lee shared his delight at their new-found intimacy, saying: ‘We never had intercourse before but we can now!’
The couple, who first met when Rena and her older brother Michael decided to check into a weight loss clinic together, were using food to cope with their problems.
But their mutual size got so out of control they were forced to rely on Lee’s sister Cassie to come over and take care of them.
In a preview for the programme Rene admitted that ‘it’s embarrassing’ that she and Lee couldn’t even take care of themselves anymore.
‘The only reason we are even able to survive right now is because Lee’s sister comes over every day and helps us.’
Lee was the first to be accepted to have the gastric bypass but afterwards he went back to his old eating habits which caused tension between the couple
But fortunately for Lee he lost the weight required to be approved for a gastric bypass but tensions rose between the pair when he went back to his old eating habits.
Rena became frustrated with him and Lee’s temper surfaced and she explains in the show that he became violent with her – after he only shed just 9lbs.
Meanwhile Rena suffered from pnuemonia and had to spend time in hospital.
After she returned home the couple continued to argue – and their doctor Dr Nowzaradan sent them to therapy where Lee promised not to get violent in the future after Rena threatened to leave him.
Rena ended up in hospital with pneumonia but it wasn’t long before her health improved and she was able to undergo her operation
Rena then underwent her surgery and was soon dropping weight – allowing the couple to finally have sex for the very first time.
At the end of the 12 months, Lee had shed a total of 303lbs, dropping to 411lbs while Rena lost 271lbs, dropping to 278lbs – a combined weightloss of 574lbs. Lee then vowed to propose once they both hit their goal weights.
Lee admitted he used to get ‘kind of jealous’ when they first met because Rena was always tending to her brother and making sure he had everything he needed when she came into their room.
After 12 months Lee had lost a total of 303lbs, dropping to 411lbs after initially weighing in at 714lbs
Quitting: Lee and Rena first met at bariatric rehab, but they checked out of the clinic because their romantic relationship was forbidden
Rena lost 271lbs, dropping to 278lbs – which meant for the pair it was a combined weightloss of 574lbs
‘I got to [the point] where I would follow her around. We were like Bonnie and Clyde,’ he says.
Rena says that Lee was a ‘sweet guy,’ and they they started spending a lot of time together until the ultimately became an ‘item at the clinic.’
‘That broke the rules there, so we either had to stop dating or leave,’ she says, and Lee notes they would get in trouble for holding hands or showing any kind of affection to each other.
Out of control: Lee, 42, and Rena, 39, from Missouri, weighed 714lbs and 542lbs, respectively
Throwback: Lee admitted he used to get ‘kind of jealous’ because Rena was always tending to her brother and making sure he had everything he needed when she came into their room
Big decision: After they were told they needed to stop dating or leave the clinic, they discharged themselves
Trouble: Over the past 11 years, their weight had spiraled out of control and they could no longer take care of each other
Constant struggle: Lee could barely leave their bed, and Rena was getting to the point that she could no longer take care of him
Embarrassing: The couple has to rely on Lee’s sister Cassie to come over and take care of them
‘We decided we just wanted to be together. We wanted a relationship,’ Lee says, and Rena adds: ‘We loved each other, and we’ve stayed together over the past 11 years since leaving the clinic.
However, they’ve both continued to struggle with food and their health is only getting worse. Lee can barely leave his bed and relies on Rena to take care of him, but her weight is rising so rapidly that she won’t be able to take care of him for long.
‘Rena has done an excellent job of taking care of Lee, but within the last two to three years she has went downhill so much that I have to do it,’ Lee’s sister Cassie tells the camera.
As their weight continued to spiral out of control, Rena and Lee made the decision to travel from Missouri to Texas to see weight loss surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan in hopes they both qualify for potentially life-saving gastric bypass surgery.