From Size 16 to American vogue: One Woman’s journey with ‘Fat jabs’
A woman’s remarkable weight loss journey, spurred by the use of GLP-1 medication, has not only transformed her physical health but also her relationship with food and body image, allowing her to rediscover a wardrobe she thought lost to the past.
In May,while waiting for a friend visiting from America,she was nearly passed by unnoticed. The reason? A profound physical transformation. She had lost three stone,six inches from her waist and hips,and dropped at least three dress sizes since their last encounter. “I look profoundly different,” she stated, reflecting on a change that extends beyond mere numbers on a scale. Now in her 40s, she finds herself in the best shape of her life, a stark contrast to the woman who struggled to zip up a size 16 pair of jeans at Marks & Spencer just last November.
The catalyst for this change was a radical hysterectomy in the summer of 2023,which initially offered a temporary respite from weight gain due to the removal of 2.2kg of fibroids.However, the procedure quickly ushered in medical menopause, triggering a frustrating cycle of weight gain. Despite the popular narrative surrounding hormone replacement therapy (HRT), she found it wasn’t a universal solution. “While some influencers would have us believe that HRT is a magic drug that makes the weight slip off, I think it’s fair to say that this is not the menopausal experience for the majority of women.”
Compounding the issue was a lifelong love of cooking and a tendency to overeat when dining alone. “I would cook supper for myself, and go back for seconds and thirds,” she admitted, acknowledging a pattern of consuming excessive portions even of healthy foods – entire packets of brown rice, generous helpings of vegetables, and multiple portions of protein.
Then came Mounjaro. She initially hesitated, aware of the stigma surrounding weight-loss drugs, but ultimately decided to try it after a friend’s positive experience. The results were swift and dramatic. She was able to wear a dress she hadn’t fit into since her 20s, and even landed an interview at American Vogue – and it fit perfectly. Her body shape had undergone a complete metamorphosis. She had always carried weight around her midsection, a source of concern due to the associated health risks of visceral fat, but that had now disappeared. “I have a flat abdomen and an actual waistline for the first time in my adult life,” she shared. While acknowledging a lingering “pot belly” as a result of the hysterectomy, she feels at peace with her body.
Mounjaro,she believes,has fundamentally altered her relationship with food. She hasn’t drastically changed what she eats, but how she eats. She no longer turns to food for emotional comfort or consumes it out of boredom. She’s also lost her cravings for processed foods and sugar, and no longer experiences the debilitating hunger that once dictated her day.
Though, she expressed frustration with the criticism leveled against weight-loss drugs by those who haven’t experienced the challenges of obesity, specifically citing model julia Fox and actress Sophie Turner. “Thin privilege is enraging,” she asserted. “If their struggle with weight is the difference between being a size 12 and a size 10…they really have no idea what it’s like to struggle with obesity.” She emphasized the potential health benefits, noting that obesity is the second leading cause of cancer in the UK and that reducing inflammation is a priority.
the psychological impact of knowing she would lose weight, she added, was immeasurable. Before starting Mounjaro, the prospect of a healthy regimen felt daunting, filled with restriction and uncertainty. Now, she understands that the drugs are not a magic bullet, requiring conscious eating habits and regular exercise – even if it’s simply hefting boxes of antiques.
After six months on the medication, she reduced her dosage to a half dose every couple of weeks, with plans to discontinue it fully by Christmas. Remarkably, she has maintained her weight loss even during a three-week vacation in France, indulging in baguettes and cheese without consequence. She attributes this to a lasting shift in her hunger levels and portion control.
While delighted with the return of her cheekbones, she wryly acknowledged a slight “wattle” developing on her neck, a common side effect. But, channeling her inner French woman, she concluded, “isn’t that what silk scarves are for?”
