I shed 11st in 14 months on fat jabs and kept it off for a YEAR despite side effect – and being skinny is great
AFTER "fighting a losing battle" with her weight for years, a mum shed 11st in a matter months with the help of weight loss jabs.
Amy Kane, 34, was able to keep the weight off for a year - but experienced a side effect that's all too common for
Advertisement
11
Amy Kane struggled with her weight for years due to PCOS
Credit: Cover Images
11
After being diagnosed with diabetes in 2022, she decided to try weight loss jabs
Credit: Cover Images
11
The mum shed 11st stone in a matter of months
Credit: Cover Images
11
Her rapid weight loss left her with loose skin around her belly
Credit: Cover Images
The mum-of-three spent most of her adult life hiding behind baggy 4XL clothes, dodging cameras and feeling like a stranger in her own body.
After years of
Over the course of 14 months, she watched pounds drop off and was left feeling more confident than ever.
But Amy's rapid weigh loss also left her with loose skin around her belly that "reminded [her] every day of who [she] used to be".
Advertisement
She decided to undergo surgery to remove the excess skin and now says she's entering a new chapter of her life.
'My jiggle belly is gone,' Amy, from Chicago, beamed in a recent post-op update.
'And I finally feel like I belong in my own skin.'
Amy's struggle with her weight began at just 13, when she was diagnosed with
Advertisement
Most read in Diet & Nutrition
Exclusive
'I felt like I was fighting a losing battle,' she recalled.
'I would starve myself, then binge. I'd try every fad diet out there, but nothing worked. PCOS made it feel like my body was working against me.'
Weight loss jab fad left me fighting for my life
After having three children, Amy tipped the scale at over 300lbs.
She said: 'I wasn't living. I was surviving.'
Advertisement
It wasn't until the mum was diagnosed with diabetes in 2022 that everything changed.
She added: 'That diagnosis scared me straight. I had to get healthy – for myself and my kids.'
11
Amy tried a number of fad diets over the years
Credit: Cover Images
11
After having three kids, she felt like she was fighting a losing battle with keeping her weight down
Credit: Cover Images
Advertisement
11
Amy said her lose skin exacerbated feelings of body dysmorphia
Credit: Cover Images
11
She went under the knife in March to remove it
Credit: Cover Images
Amy completely overhauled her lifestyle in October 2022, eliminating sugar from her diet.
These days, Amy shares her go-to healthy meals and simple swaps on TikTok - from high-protein breakfasts to quick, low-sugar dinners her kids enjoy too.
Advertisement
She said: 'I've learned how to fuel my body without feeling deprived — and that's been key.'
She began walking daily and, eventually, turned to weight loss jab Mounjaro.
But not everyone has been kind.
'People online say I 'cheated' because I used weight-loss injections,' Amy admitted.
Advertisement
'But they don't see the blood, sweat, and tears behind the scenes. Losing 160lbs isn't easy, no matter how you do it.'
'I fee whole again'
After maintaining her weight loss for over a year, Amy made the decision to go under the knife in March 2025 to remove the excess skin from her tummy and lift her breasts — the final hurdle in what she calls her 'healing era.'
'I wasn't someone who obsessed over loose skin,' she explained.
'At first, I just wanted to feel better. But once I lost the weight, I was still stuck with this skin that reminded me every day of who I used to be.
Advertisement
"I struggle with
Amy, now feeling confident and comfortable in her own skin, says she has no plans for more cosmetic procedures.
'This was it for me. This was the finale. I feel whole again,' she said.
She's back home recovering with her husband and three kids by her side.
Advertisement
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 patient.info, 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.
'This journey has been about more than weight loss. It's about reclaiming my life, healing old wounds, and showing my kids that it's never too late to change,' she said.
Her advice to others battling body image issues?
'Be kind to yourself. Take it one day at a time. And don't let anyone tell you your path isn't valid. If you want to lose 10lbs or 200lbs — you deserve to feel good in your skin,' she advised.
Advertisement
Read more on the Irish Sun
Now, as she enters the final chapter of her transformation, she hopes to inspire others to put their health first — whatever that looks like.
'Being skinny is great,' she said. 'But being happy? That's everything.'
11
Amy is now recovering from her surgery
Credit: Cover Images
11
She said being happy beats being skinny
Credit: Cover Images
Advertisement
11
She pleaded with others in her position to be kind of themselves
Credit: Cover Images
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Doctor shares one mistake many people make when showering and the risks it poses
It's something that many people look forward to at the end of a stressful day - that long, hot shower. But if you are someone who tends to turn the temperature to extremely hot, you could be causing significant damage to your skin and hair. The Express reports of the little-known health impacts associated with overly hot showers, with one doctor warning that there are a number of impacts that come with excessive heat while washing. Dr Max Maddahali, who boasts more than 560,000 followers on TikTok, shared his thoughts on extremely hot showers in a recent video on the social media platform, in response to one man who revealed that he finds it impossible to take a shower with his wife because they have very different opinions on how hot the water should be, with his spouse enjoying the water "just below boiling." In the video, Dr Max explained that "there are some natural oils on your skin that are keeping your skin moist, but hot water can completely wash them off so dryness can happen." The medical practitioner also revealed that "hot water can cause hair damage." Standing under very hot showers for an extended period of time could also have an impact on your blood pressure. Dr Max added: "Not to mention if you're taking hot showers for too long, it can cause your blood pressure to drop and cause you to faint." The video, which has been viewed over a million times, closes with the doctor saying: "Finally, having a shower that is too hot can compromise your immune system." The warning sparked quite the debate in the comments section, with some insisting that they intend to continue taking hot showers, but others backed up Dr Max's advice with one admitting that "my fiancé use to take boiling showers and would always faint." A second person commented: "Yeah I definitely passed out couple times." A third added: "I turn it slightly down for washing my hair. But I won't stop getting it hot for the rest of the body." A fourth TikTok user detailed their approach: "I use hot or warm water to open up the pores and then at the very end I use the coldest water possible to close the pores." Whilst a fifth noted: "The blood pressure issue and fainting happens to me a lot. I always have to take care to keep the water temp right." Expert advice from Mira Showers seems to confirm Dr Max's theory on excessively hot water, with a company spokesperson saying that "hot water strips your skin of natural oils, which can lead to dry and itchy skin, so it's best to stick to an average shower temperature of between 37°C and 38°C."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I wanted to unzip my skin after getting a virus from a charity shop – I tried a silly TikTok hack… don't make my mistake
A WOMAN has warned against trying out a silly "TikTok trend" after she ended up contracting a skin infection when trying it out in a charity shop. Meg had 3 Meg ended up in hospital when a rash that had started behind her ears and on the back of her neck started spreading Credit: tiktok/megsdeangelis 3 She couldn't figure out where she'd got the skin infection from - until she remembered a video where she'd tried out a TikTok trend in the charity shop Credit: tiktok/megsdeangelis 3 She warned other shoppers to always wash the clothes they get from the charity shop to avoid finding themselves in a similar situation Credit: Alamy As she and her friend prepared to head to the tanning booth, Meg's pal pointed out that a small rash that had started on the back of her neck a week before was "spawning" onto her face. And because she had the beauty filter turned on for the video, she hadn't noticed. However the itchiness was hard to ignore, as Meg said she "literally want to unzip out of my skin". After deciding she wouldn't have the tan, Meg instead opted to head to the local hospital, as she said that the speed at which the rash spread "scared" her. Read more Charity shop stories Once she was at the urgent care centre, the doctor told her they were going to treat the rash in two ways - one with oral antibiotics, and one with a cream. When she left, Meg was scratching her head trying to figure out where she could have contracted the virus. She'd previously tried swapping her shampoo, skincare products and jewellery, as she thought they may have been responsible for the little bumps first appearing. However, once she'd been to the hospital, she once again tried to figure out how she had ended up with the infection - and decided to look through her previous videos to see if it jogged her memory. Most read in Fabulous When she did so, she came across a clip of herself in the charity shop - where she tried out a TikTok hack which involves wrapping the waistband of jeans around the neck to see if they'd fit. And when she suggested to the doctor that the hack could have potentially been responsible, he immediately agreed. We went hunting in the charity shop's 'rag house' and were stunned by our discoveries - we found a £80 bag & £600 shirt So Meg then "I just wanted to come on here and say I'm so sorry, I take full responsibility for like spreading that trend," she sighed. "Please don't try that!" She also urged people to always wash their charity shop clothes before putting them on. "That was what caused it," she concluded. And the comments section was almost immediately filled with people stunned by Meg's revelation. Top charity shop tips for bagging a bargain Ross Dutton has been a manager for Crisis's charity shops for four years and currently runs the charity's Finsbury Park shop in London. Choose your area - As a rule of thumb, the posher the area, the better quality the clothes that are donated. Don't hang around - If you see something you like, buy it, as it'll likely be gone when you come back Look out for cut-off labels - Some of your favourite high street stores will have deals with local charity shops to donate stock that isn't sold during their own sales. Often part of the deal is that they need to cut the labels off the clothes. Stay at home - While some charities have their own site, like "Omg I've been doing that hack for YEARS," one gasped. "Stop…I do this all the time…!" another said. "Got it - I will never be doing this again," a third promised. "I've done the jean trick for years - have never had this happen but nice to know it could be unsafe," someone else wrote. "Same - I think it was the hangers at this specific store!!" Meg replied. While others shared their own similar "horror stories", with one writing: "My ex got ink poisoning from his new jeans for wearing them before washing them. "He was in the hospital because of it!" "Thrifting horror story: when I was a child I had a veryyy small on my foot cut from a stubbed toe," another added. "We bought some light up Barbie shoes from a thrift store that my mum let me wear straight out of the store. "I ended up getting very intense staph that had me hospitalised and almost lost my leg." "As someone who works in retail, the clothes stay out all day, thousands of people touch them everyday," a third commented. "We do not wash the clothes - we fold them, fix them up, that is it. "WASH THE CLOTHES BEFORE U WEAR THEM." "This is why I wash everything used or new in stores before I wear it!" someone else sighed.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Primark fans rush to snap up £18 LED masks which are £382 cheaper than other shops – as beauty buy is back in stock
PRIMARK caused a stir when they released their own LED masks for just £18 compared to £399 from other brands. If you missed out on the 5 Primark's £18 LED face mask is back and beauty fans are snapping it up Credit: Tiktok/@prmrkbeauty 5 Primark has restocked the mask in stores Credit: Tiktok/@prmrkbeauty Beauty lovers have been racing to snap up the budget-friendly device, which is "rechargeable" and 'suitable for all skin types.' The beauty product features LED lights which can be changed to red, blue, or green, depending on your skin's needs. Red is thought to boost collagen and reduces wrinkles, blue fights acne-causing bacteria , and green calms skin and fades pigmentation. Shoppers have been delighted that Primark's LED mask is back, with one person writing on TikTok: 'Omg need.' More on Primark Another added: 'No way!' And a third wrote: 'Looks good.' Compared to other LED masks on the market - including 5 The Current Body mask will set you back £399 Credit: Current Body Do LED face masks work? You might've seen influencers donning the space age-looking masks on social media and wondered what they actually do. Most read in Fabulous Well, they are clinically proven to aid with some skin concerns, although results will vary depending on how powerful the mask is. 'There's a lot of scams out there…most of the time, energies are very, very low,' Glynis Ablon, a dermatologist and associate clinical professor at UCLA, told For red light, the pro recommended 105 milliwatts per centimeter, but blue light can be lower. 5 Primark previously sold the mask back in January Credit: Instagram 5 The mask has three LED colours, red, blue and green Credit: Instagram 'If it's somewhere in that 40 range, I'm ok, but if it ends up being 10, it's probably not doing anything," she added. Primark's website doesn't currently note the strength of the lights on their mask. That said, even with a strong mask it can take time to see real results. Results depend on how often you use it, and your age and skin condition. How do LED face masks work? Are they safe? LED face masks work by using low-level light therapy (LLLT), where specific wavelengths of light penetrate the skin at different depths. This helps to trigger natural cellular processes—like increasing collagen production, reducing inflammation, or killing acne-causing bacteria—without heat or damage. Aesthetic surgeon Dr Glyn Estebanez says: ' 'Wavelengths penetrate skin at different depths, stimulating cellular activity and promoting various skin benefits. 'Blue light is often used to target acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation, while red light aids wound healing and reduces the signs of ageing. "Near-infrared light can penetrate deeper to promote tissue repair and alleviate pain. 'LED light therapy is safe and clinically proven for the treatment of a variety of skin conditions and pain management. 'It's generally painless and well-tolerated. 'Most individuals experience a mild warming sensation during the treatment, but it should not cause discomfort. "Many clinical studies have demonstrated the positive effect of light therapy on skin health, but it's essential to use the devices as directed for consistent results."
