I was a secret fat jabber – I'd tried diets & gastric band but nothing worked until ‘cheat' Mounjaro, now I've shed 6st

The Irish Sun

27-05-2025

A WOMAN who was so ashamed of using "cheat" Mounjaro she kept it a secret - but has now shed 6st and proudly talks about the fat jabs.
Marianne Bell, 41, had tried fad diets and cosmetic surgery before turning to the weight loss injections.
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Marianne Bell weighed 15st before turning to Mounjaro
Credit: Cover Images
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Marianne was a secret jabber and managed to lose 6st
Credit: Cover Images
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She is no longer embarrassed about using the weight loss injections
Credit: Cover Images
But she didn't tell anybody about her latest health kick because she was "scared she'd fail again".
She said: 'I've tried everything - every diet, every quick fix, even a gastric balloon.
"When I started Mounjaro, I felt ashamed. I didn't want people to think I'd cheated.'
Marianne has now shed 6st 3lb (40kg), dropping from 15st (96kg) to 8st 7lb and no longer stays silent about how she did it, viewing fat loss drugs like Mounjaro as medical treatments, not vanity tools.
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'We don't shame people for using insulin or inhalers. Why should this be different?,' she adds.
'The stigma is what keeps people stuck.
'This isn't the easy way out. It's just one tool. You still have to show up, do the work, and heal from the inside out.
'You don't owe anyone an explanation. You're allowed to do this quietly. You're allowed to get help. Don't let shame keep you from freedom.'
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Marianne, from West Lothian, Scotland, says Mounjaro has completely transformed her life, and her relationship with food - including the absence of food noise.
'It's that constant internal radio: 'What will I eat next? Should I eat that? I shouldn't. But I want to. What's wrong with me?'' she explains.
I was depressed and exhausted before Mounjaro - I've lost 4 stone but have had FOUL side effects, including eggy burps
'It was like food had control over my brain and it was exhausting. Mounjaro, she says, didn't just help with appetite, it quieted the chaos in her head.
'For the first time, I had space to think about things that mattered. I could feel hunger and fullness again instead of guilt and chaos.'
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But the real transformation was deeper than diet.
Marianne was grieving the loss of her father and felt emotionally and physically exhausted when she decided her life had to change.
Now, she feels mentally stronger after repairing her relationship with food.
'The biggest shift wasn't physical, it was emotional,' she says. 'I've learned to love my body, even with imperfections. I've stopped apologising for taking up space.'
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'At my dad's funeral, I'd lost weight but felt overwhelmed with grief,' she says.
'That used to be a trigger. I'd eat to numb. But I didn't. I let myself feel it. That was a breakthrough. I proved to myself I could face pain without food.'
She is now in the maintenance phase and, while fearing weight will creep back on, has worked to control her anxieties.
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'I didn't do this for anyone else. I did it for me,' she says.
'And I'm not relying on willpower alone. Mounjaro gave me the breathing space to build the habits, routines, and emotional tools that keep me going.'
What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro
IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do:
Evaluate Your Caloric Intake
Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try:
Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help).
Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight).
Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy.
Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval)
If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may:
Pause dose increases or lower your dosage.
Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss.
Strength Training & Exercise
To prevent muscle loss:
Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week.
Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga.
Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes
Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst).
Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued.
Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies
Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience:
Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements.
Consider Further Medical Guidance
If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider.
They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss.
Marianne documents her life on TikTok
And while she spends her day working in financial services, the rest of her time is used to coach other women to escape cycles of emotional eating and self-sabotage.
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'I've always been drawn to coaching and mentoring,' she says.
'But it was through my own journey that I found my real purpose. I want to help women feel at home in their bodies.'
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She says the messages she receives from followers on TikTok often bring her to tears.
'Women message me saying, 'I thought I was the only one who felt this way.' We've been made to believe we're weak if we need help but that's a lie. Obesity is a disease, not a failure of character.'
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