‘I ditched takeaways to fund my skinny jabs - now I'm saving money'
She lost 7st and gained £250 each month
Natalie Strange has faced a lifelong struggle with her weight, tipping the scales at 19st or 120kg. After years of unsuccessful attempts with various programmes like WeightWatchers, Natalie encountered Mounjaro.
The innovative weight loss and type 2 diabetes treatment has been making waves globally for its impressive outcomes. Despite its cost, she found it balanced out by putting the £250 a month she spent on takeaways into funding her weight loss jabs instead.
Natalie, 36, from Norwich, shared with NeedtoKnow: "I felt disgusted by my body and avoided travelling with my husband because I felt like an embarrassment. I didn't even really enjoy eating takeaways. It just left me feeling guilty and bloated. People used to tell me I looked unhealthy, or severely bloated."
The turning point came when doctors highlighted the severe condition of her physical health: "It really got me down and I was desperate to find a way out of this never-ending cycle. When doctors told me how poor my physical health was, though, that was the moment I knew something had to change."
Her journey with Mounjaro began in March 2024, and the results were quickly visible. Natalie recounted: "In the first week, I lost 10lbs and then in less than a month, I went down by two stone.
"I never felt full before and was constantly craving junk food; but not anymore. Now I feel like a new person. I'm struggling to find my new style though, as I'm unsure what to wear now since none of my clothes fit me."
Before embarking on her weight loss journey with medication, Natalie's diet was far from ideal. She would often start her day with three bowls of cereal, pastries or a full English breakfast. Lunchtime meant a trip to McDonald's for a Big Mac meal, an extra cheeseburger, apple pie, and a milkshake.
Come evening, dinner was typically a takeaway, with choices ranging from Chinese dishes to kebabs, while snacking on chocolates and sweets throughout the day was the norm. This costly and unhealthy eating habit had consequences for her health.
Nowadays, Natalie opts for a healthier start with a protein shake or berries and Greek yoghurt. Lunch is a more balanced affair with a jacket potato and baked beans or a protein bagel with ham and cream cheese.
For dinner, she enjoys chicken with vegetables or a high-protein, low-calorie ready meal, and she has cut down on snacking, choosing fruit when she needs something between meals.
Natalie's transformation has seen her drop an incredible 12 dress sizes and she's been sharing her progress and challenges on Instagram, attracting thousands of followers. Alongside her weight loss, she's discovered a surge in energy, which she channels into yoga, strength training, and running.
However, the journey hasn't been without its difficulties. The stay-at-home mum has faced side effects of the medication, such as nausea, stomach cramps, and frequent headaches.
Stopping her takeaway habit allowed Natalie to pocket around £250 each month. While close to £200 of that is now spent on her Mounjaro injections, she has plans to stop this year as she's currently on a maintenance dose of 5mg.
Natalie said: "I think there is a general thinking that using medication for weight loss is cheating. I feel like it's just levelling the playing field.
"My desperate need to overindulge was a health problem, not a willpower issue. The skinny jabs have just made me normal."
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The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
I was traumatised when I was plagued by grim ‘fart burps' months after taking Mounjaro fat jabs
HANNAH Metcalfe caught a whiff of something very unpleasant and felt her cheeks flush red. "It's him, he's farted!" she squealed, pointing at one of the burly blokes standing nearby her at the New Year's party. But the taste in her mouth told a very different - truthful - story. 6 6 6 In fact, the 31-year-old knew the rotten egg smell had come from one of her own burps - an embarrassing side effect of taking weight loss jabs. Around three months after she first started using them, she began having these horrific burps that her friends and family would often compare to the stench of farts, much to her embarrassment. But, despite the embarrassing side effect, Hannah says the weight loss jabs were well worth the trouble, and has gone on to drop an incredible 5st 11lbs. At her heaviest, Hannah weighed 16st 7lbs and was struggling with health concerns as a result, including back pain and muscular issues. Ashamed by her size, she refused to pose for pictures during her own 30th birthday trip to Las Vegas, and couldn't properly enjoy the 'once in a lifetime' holiday with her mum. At her wits end, and having had no luck with diets like Slimming World, fasting and juicing,she decided to try weight loss jab Mounjaro last September. But while the weight started to drop off of her, the unpleasant side effect reared its head. When people noticed the "rotten eggs" stench, Hannah was forced to blame other people for breaking wind or pretended to wonder who was responsible. 'I'm incredibly fortunate that I've had a great experience – but I did experience some of the weirder side effects,' the accounts assistant, from Manchester, tells Sun Health. 'I started having sulphur, rotten egg-like burps after 12 weeks. 'They didn't have any pattern and just happened randomly, no matter what I ate. Women taking fat jabs need 'effective contraception' - as health chiefs warn of serious harm to unborn babies 'I remember them being really warm in my throat, and the smell was horrendous. 'Usually people would think that I'd passed wind – and weirdly that was less embarrassing to admit! 'I kept quite private [during my weight loss] as it was really embarrassing.' Hannah – who worked with weight loss program Juniper – also experienced constipation and dizzy spells, but kept a close eye on what she was consuming throughout her weight loss. She said: 'I knew some of the side effects might occur from the information Juniper had provided me with. 'If I experienced something that I hadn't read or seen online, my health coach provided me tips and information on what was happening, which I really liked. What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. 'I never felt worried about the side effects I was experiencing. 'I was aware of the [potential] sulphur burps, so when they started, I wasn't panicked.' Hannah was a size 24 when she started taking Mounjaro and 'unbelievably unhappy' with how she looked. She said: 'I've always been focused on body confidence and not being ashamed of how I looked, but so many more external factors started to nag in my head. 'I had lower back pain, and regardless of so many scans and doctors appointments to find a root cause, it all fell down to my weight, and the deterioration of my muscles not being able to support my weight. 'It was a really big shock to the system. 6 'I went on the holiday with my mum and I don't have any photos of myself enjoying it, because I hated having photos taken – I still regret that, but my body confidence was shot and my mental health with it too.' She eased her way into the medication, starting on a low dose and building up – and has seen incredible results. Despite any strange side effects, Hannah says it has all been well worth it. She said: 'Thankfully I didn't experience the really bad side effects that some people experience, such as sickness, which I'm grateful for – but I think that even if I did, I would still recommend it. 'I actually recommended it to my partner, and he started taking the medication and has successfully lost weight, and he's experienced absolutely no side effects. 'I've lost 40cm off of my waist and feel amazing now. 'I constantly take photographs of myself and send them to my mum to show her how good I look in my new outfits. 'I also just booked a beach holiday so I can wear a bikini and get great photos of myself and how much I've lost. 'I'm not ashamed to look in the mirror, or try on clothes in a shop [anymore]. 'But it has been a learning curve, no longer seeing myself in a big body and shrouding myself in large clothes to hide myself. 'I still find it challenging to wear fitted clothes, but when I do, people notice and compliment me and it makes me feel amazing – and worth all the money I spent and the side effects I experienced.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'After taking Mounjaro, my life fell apart': Women reveal disturbing side effects from jab that started within days
Women have reported terrifying mental health side effects after taking Mounjaro—the popular weight-loss injection used by thousands of people in the UK. Some describe sudden panic attacks, crippling anxiety and a sensation of 'tugging in the brain' after starting the drug. Mounjaro, along with similar treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy, can help dieters lose up to 15 per cent of their body weight in a year. An estimated 1.5 million Britons used weight-loss jabs in March 2025 alone—and the new wave of jabs have been hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against obesity. But growing numbers of patients say they have experienced unexpected mental health symptoms—including insomnia, tremors, shortness of breath and tinnitus. Although these are not currently listed as official side effects for any of the three major jabs in the UK, an online support group for users suffering such symptoms has attracted more than 2,800 members. Three members—speaking anonymously to The Times—described the onset of debilitating anxiety, sleeplessness and panic attacks after starting Mounjaro. One said the anxiety felt like a kind of 'terror' she had never experienced before. The cases have prompted fresh questions over the safety profile of the medications as their use becomes more widespread. Charlotte Lloyd, 37, a social media manager from London and member of the online group, had anxiety symptoms so bad she found herself in A&E, The Times reported. Last autumn she gained weight during her fertility treatment, so she had a BMI high enough to qualify for the prescription weight-loss jab Mounjaro. While NHS access to the weight loss jab remain limited, the Mounjaro jab is widely available through online doctors and private clinics. To be eligible you must have a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI between 27 and 30 (overweight) and a weight-related health condition such as prediabetes. Ms Lloyd said it was a simple process to access the jab privately through Asda Online Doctor by Zava—requiring her medical history, weight, height and some photographs. But her nightmare began within days of taking her first weekly 2.5mg dose, when she 'almost immediately' lost her appetite and started having difficulty sleeping. The next week after her second dose, she said 'the wheels fell completely off' when she 'stopped sleeping all together'. 'I tried sleeping pills, antihistamines—nothing worked. I may as well have been eating sweets. After two nights awake I started to feel like I was losing my mind,' she said. It wasn't just difficulty sleeping, three days after she started experiencing symptoms, she went to A&E when her 'heart was pounding nonstop'. In the hospital an ECG revealed her heart was above the normal resting heart rate for adults, which is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. But while it was 105bpm compared to her normal resting heart rate of 70bpm, the rhythm wasn't irregular, so she was discharged. 'I explained I hadn't slept in days and they basically told me to go home and have a bath,' she said. Despite still struggling to sleep, her GP was unable to help, as she had 'reached the limit of what she could prescribe'. Things got worse when she was hit by a series of panic attacks and tremors for five weeks—which she likened to 'swallowing an earthquake'. Although she had noted in her application for the medication she had experienced some anxiety and insomnia in the past, it was still approved. But the anxiety she now experienced she described as 'a physical terror I've never known. Like a switch had been flipped in my brain. 'I went into a constant state of fight-or-flight—like a bad drug trip that wouldn't end. I couldn't see how I was going to be able to survive it.' Initially signed off work unable to 'do anything' or even 'follow a conversation', she later resigned with her relationship ending that same week. The woman who said her life 'just fell apart', said: 'The way I see it, it's a roll of the dice as to how you're going to react to these drugs. 'If people knew that they could have potentially catastrophic mental and physical side-effects, they could make a more informed decision about taking them.' Ms Lloyd isn't the only one experiencing psychological side effects—another woman also found herself in A&E after taking the jab. Maria Edwards, ended up in hospital last year only 48 hours after taking her first dose of the Mounjaro jab. When her BMI was over 30, so she too qualified for the weight loss jab which got from the online doctor, MedExpress. 'I thought I was having a heart attack,' she said, but her scans, x-trays and bloods taken, all came back clear. She said: 'I've never had any mental health problems. I've never had a panic attack or anxiety. I've always been a laid-back person and now it's like everything is stressful. 'I get this thing that we've termed 'air hunger' where it's like I can't take a deep breath. If I'd have known Mounjaro could have mental health side-effects I never would have taken it.' The third woman, Julie Peters, a 31 year-old mother from Birmingham had a similar experience after getting the jab. She had a panic attack that lasted two hours on January 11, after taking the lowest dose, 2.5mg, of Mounjaro, once a week for two months. The mother went to A&E also thinking she was having a heart attack, but similarly she said: 'tests on my heart, kidneys, and for pancreatitis all came back clear. Ms Peters also described experiencing tremors, a 'tugging' sensation in her brain' and tinnitus—'The ringing in my ears has been constant, sometimes with multiple ringing sounds. 'The pressure and heaviness in my brain make me feel dull, disconnected and nauseous, and I also have a sensitivity to motion. 'I recently requested a brain MRI, and while the results came back normal, I am relieved yet uncertain about what to do next. It's incredibly suffocating,' she said. It follows a study published in January last year in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy which found 481 psychiatric events were linked to weight loss jabs. The 'seriousness of the adverse events warrants additional research' to explore the causual relationship,' said lead authors, Hajer Elkout and Mansour Tobaiqy. This was despite psychiatric events only accounting for 1.2 per cent of total reports associated with the active ingredients in weight loss medications. Anxiety, depression nor insomnia were listed as potential side effects by Asda Online Doctor by Zava or in the patient leaflet they refer patients to. The clinical governance team at the private pharmacist who stressed patient safety told The Times all applicants are required to give their medical history. This includes their GP details which they said enables the GP to inform them 'of any discrepancies or concerns they have with the prescription'. They added there are studies evidencing mental health can be improved with treatment, and no clinical-based-evidence of a negative impact 'they are aware of'. Last year a study published in the journal of Natural Medicine found taking semaglutide for weight loss or diabetes reduced the incidence of suicidal ideation. However, a more recent study found Ozempic and Mounjaro can raise the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. However, Asda Online Doctor by Zava added: 'Our doctors, of course, will provide suitable advice to any particular patients of concern or who are managing complex mental health issues and may not be able to use the treatment appropriately alone. 'These patients, where necessary, will be signposted to their GPs for further support to manage their weight.' The manufacturers of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, and of both Ozempic and Wegovy, Novo Nordisk told The Times patient safety was their top priority. 'We take any reports about patient safety seriously and actively monitor, evaluate and report safety information for all our medicines,' said Eli Lilly. With Novo Nordisk adding it welcomes: 'Independent research investigating the safety, efficacy and clinical utility of our products.' The two drug companies both highlighted that the UK regulatory agency had assessed the risk and benefits approving their respective drugs. Novo Nordisk added that independent analysis 'did not find an association between use of GLP-1RA medicines and the occurrence of increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions.'
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Gemma Collins calls out 'skinny people' for taking weight loss jabs in sad admission
Gemma Collins has opened up about her life-changing journey but has slammed 'skinny people' for taking weight-loss injections Gemma Collins has always been open about her weight struggles, often posting her ups and downs with various diets and fitness plans on social media. But recently the reality star revealed something more personal, her hard battle with ' food noise ' - constant, intrusive thoughts about eating. Food noise affects thousands of people and is described as a constant stream of intrusive thoughts about food - what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat and how to manage cravings. It's more than just hunger, it's a mental loop that can persist throughout the day, disrupting focus, energy and peace of mind. It's particularly common among those with a history of dieting, emotional eating or disordered eating habits - all struggles Gemma has faced in the past. However, the former TOWIE star now says she's finally found peace of mind and she's never felt better, the Mirror reports. Injectable medications such as Mounjaro work by mimicking a hormone that affects appetite regulation in the brain. These drugs were originally developed for type 2 diabetes, but now have been licensed for weight loss in the UK, they help users feel full for longer and eliminate the mental noise around food. Speaking about her journey using the weight loss medication Mounjaro, Gemma revealed that she feels confident and in control for the first time in years. She said: "I feel amazing" and has credited the treatment for not just physical changes but mental relief too." She shared: "I've gone from a size 26 to a size 20, and I've never felt better. Mounjaro is unbelievable and it's changed my whole life. I think it's a life-changing drug. Being able to pick up a size 20 top in M&S, put it on in the changing rooms and just get on with my day, is just such a life-changing experience for me honestly." Gemma went on to express her frustration with individuals who use weight loss injections despite already being slim and not overweight. The TOWIE icon criticised those using the jabs as a quick fix to lose a few pounds, saying it detracts from people who genuinely need them. "I really don't agree with already slim people taking it, that's just not right at all, and it's not what it's for," she said. "It's for overweight people and it breaks my heart when there's people on the NHS who can't access it and it's such a shame because everyone deserves not to struggle with their weight and you would only understand if you had a weight problem and how difficult it is. I know how it is." When asked how she feels about the people who desperately want to go on the jab but are afraid of the side-affects, Gemma expressed that she could not recommend it enough - as she feels like a completely different person since taking it. "Don't be scared or anxious - do it! You can't just buy them backstreet - there's so many people selling them dangerously and on the backstreet market. You have to go with a proper company and it will seriously change your life. It has been the biggest success for me. I have so much energy. I just feel good and I'm not obsessed with looking too thin." "I feel a lot more confident - I mean I have always felt confident - but genuinely more confident in myself. I'm not panicking thinking 'Oh what can I wear'. I can go into so many more shops now, it feels beautiful. It's a massive weight off my shoulders," she revealed. "I don't need to prove anything to anyone, I know myself that I'm losing the weight and I feel so much healthier. They really are a wonder-drug and if anyone is struggling with their weight, I really do understand." "I know how difficult it is. It's always so much more than just what you eat - it has to do with your blood sugars, genetics, mental health etc. There's nothing to be scared of as long as you don't abuse it," the star reassured.
