'I lost 3stone with weight loss jabs and there's a side-effect no one talks about'

Edinburgh Live

08-05-2025

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A brave young mum has opened up about her harrowing weight loss journey that led her to a wake-up call after existing on a mere 900 calories per day.
Miranda Edmonds, riddled with low self-confidence, spent her days camouflaged in baggy garments and avoided any form of social interaction. It was not until her health took a severe hit that she acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
"I was pre-diabetic, constantly exhausted, and inflamed. My doctor warned me I was on the path to fatty liver disease," explained the troubled 30 year old.
The reality of her health risks hit home hard. "As a mum, that was terrifying. I knew I had to change - for me, and for my family."
Miranda, tipping the scales at 15st (95kg), poured herself into learning about GLP-1 medications, innovative injectable drugs aimed at curbing appetite and stabilising blood sugar levels, reports the Mirror US.
Having tried and failed with other methods, she chose to explore this last resort.
(Image: Miranda Edmonds/Cover Images)
Admitting her concerns, she says, "I was nervous," she admits. "It was expensive, and I wasn't sure it would work. But I was desperate. I'd tried everything - counting calories, gym memberships, restrictive diets-and nothing lasted."
To her initial astonishment, the results appeared miraculous. Her meal sizes shrank, the pounds shed effortlessly, and her hunger felt controlled.
Yet, disturbing side effects began manifesting rather quickly.
"I started feeling weak and irritable," recounts Miranda. "I was nauseous, drained, and hitting the sack by 7 pm nightly. My hair was losing its thickness. Something was definitely amiss."
The turning point for Miranda came when she recorded a "What I Eat in a Day" video for TikTok and realised her daily calorie intake was shockingly low. "I was eating about 900 calories a day-less than my toddlers," she said.
"I felt full, but my body was starving. I'm an active mum, constantly on my feet. I couldn't survive like that."
She noticed the lack of discussion about the risks of not eating enough while on GLP-1s and decided to share her own experience transparently.
(Image: Miranda Edmonds/Cover Images)
"I talk about everything now-the progress, the setbacks, the hard days, because I know someone out there needs to hear it."
To improve her health, Miranda reintroduced structured meals rich in protein.
"Protein is my foundation," she says. "I drink a shake in the morning, eat beef sticks, bars-anything to fuel my body, even when I'm not hungry. I set reminders to eat, not out of obsession, but necessity."
Despite making strides, she has stopped obsessing over every calorie. "Counting calories wrecked my mental health," she admits.
"I'd panic if I didn't know the macros of a restaurant meal. I'd lose 10lbs and gain it all back. I just couldn't live that way anymore."
Now, seven months into her weight loss journey, Miranda boasts a 46lb (20.8kg) loss, going from 15st to 11st 7lb (74kg), and transitioning from a US size 18 to a size 8. However, her transformation extends beyond the physical.
"Mentally, I'm the healthiest I've ever been," she says. "I love working out, I'm building muscle, and for the first time in my life-I actually love my body."
(Image: Miranda Edmonds/Cover Images)
She proudly accepts her stretch marks and loose skin, seeing them as badges of her resilience. "This body grew two children," she said with pride.
"It's strong. It's powerful. And now, it's finally nourished."
Through her honest posts, Miranda has fostered a supportive online community of individuals on similar journeys. However, not all feedback has been positive.
"Some say using a GLP-1 is cheating, that I didn't earn it," she reveals. "But there's nothing easy about this. The medication is just one tool-it's not a magic wand. I still had to do the work."
Her driving force remains her family-her husband Caleb and their two sons, aged 7 and 5. "I have a goal weight, but more than that, I want freedom. To eat without guilt. To go places with my kids without worrying if I'll fit in the seat or hate every photo. I just want to live without my weight hanging over everything."
And to the woman she once was, the one who wept in changing rooms and dreaded shopping, Miranda has a message: "It wasn't your fault. You weren't lazy or weak. You just needed help. And there's no shame in that."