Eighteen years ago, my life changed forever in more ways than one. Bringing a mini-me into the world is such a beautiful thing
Little did I know that along with my new motherhood adventure, it would also be the beginning of a long and tumultuous journey with my weight—a battle that would stretch across nearly two decades, through yo-yo dieting, failed attempts with various programs, and the overwhelming challenge of trying to find myself again. Now, at 43, I am finally just 10kg away from my goal weight, and for the first time in almost 20 years, I feel confident and comfortable in my own skin.
Pregnancy and the Pounds: When I became pregnant, I was prepared to gain some weight, however I never imagined just how difficult it would be to lose it afterward. Gaining three additional stone during my pregnancy set the stage for a struggle I simply wasn’t prepared for. The weight didn’t just stay—it lingered, and it brought with it a host of emotional challenges that I wasn’t expecting. The joy of motherhood was coupled with the frustration of looking in the mirror and not recognising the person staring back at me – in fact I hated me.
Yo-Yo Dieting and Desperation: Over the years, I literally tried everything to shed the weight. All of the fad diets including: Herbalife, Weight Watchers, you name it—I did it. Each time, I’d lose a bit of weight, only to gain it back, often with a few extra pounds as a cruel bonus. The cycle was endless, and it seemed like no matter what I did, my body was determined to hold onto the weight. The frustration was overwhelming, and it took a toll on my mental health. Each failure felt like a personal defeat, chipping away at my self-esteem and my wardrobe had a collection of items ranging from size 10 to 18.
The Impact of a Controlling Relationship: During this period, I was in a very challenging relationship that made it even harder to lose weight. My ex husband was controlling, and his behaviour pushed me further into the arms of comfort eating. Food became my solace, my escape from the emotional strain of the relationship. I convinced myself that eating an entire box of Jaffa Cakes in one sitting was acceptable—after all, it made me feel better, even if only temporarily. But in reality, it was just another way I was sabotaging myself.
The Gastric Balloon: In desperation, I tried a gastric balloon in 2023, which meant I had to swallow a large capsule on a wire whilst awake and then have 500ml of saline pumped into my stomach to inflate the balloon, which I thought at first looked like a breast implant haha! I look back now and cannot quite believe I had the guts to do this.
The 72hrs hours that followed was horrendous and I was very much regretting my decision. It did however work a little and a few kgs were lost in the process. I was later told by my consultant that the balloon I had inside me was part of a ‘dodgy’ batch which reduced efficacy by 50%, I was given 50% refund and an offer to have a replacement balloon which I declined as I felt like I was fighting a losing battle, each new method I tried left me feeling more hopeless.
A Glimmer of Hope: Mounjaro Then, everything changed when a close friend told me about GLP injections. At first I was like, I’m not injecting myself – eek!! Although something was telling me to try it,I mean I’ve tried pretty much everything else. It was going to cost just under £200 per month as not available on the NHS, but I thought I had the refund from the gastric balloon to invest so why not! I organised a private consultation to make sure medically it was going to be an option for weight loss and I received the green light.
I started the medication in May 2024 and for the first time EVER I found something that actually worked for me. The weight started to come off steadily, and I began to feel like I was gaining control over my body again. The injections have been a game-changer, and now I am 10kg away from my goal weight. I finally feel like the person I was always meant to be. I may well do a separate blog on my MJ journey as so much to tell (Watch this space!)
A Newfound Confidence: Looking back, I can hardly believe how far I’ve come. This journey has been anything but easy—it’s been a battle, one that I’ve fought every single day for nearly 20 years. But now, at the age of 43, I can finally say that I’m confident in my weight and how I feel about my body. It’s taken a lot of hard work, determination, and perseverance, but I’m finally here. And it feels incredible.
For anyone else out there struggling with their weight, know that you’re not alone. The journey is long, and it’s often difficult, but there is hope. Keep fighting, keep pushing forward, and one day you’ll reach your goal. And when you do, it will all be worth it ❤️
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