Woman, 37, ‘drowning in her own body' at 18st shed 5st with weight loss jabs and says ‘it isn't cheating, it's survival'

The Irish Sun

a day ago

Find out more about who's eligible for weight loss jabs on the NHS below
WEIGH TO GO Woman, 37, 'drowning in her own body' at 18st shed 5st with weight loss jabs and says 'it isn't cheating, it's survival'
FOR years, Emma Morris hid from cameras, avoided mirrors and felt like a prisoner in her own body because of her weight.
But now five stone lighter and brimming with self-confidence, Emma is the face of a new kind of weight loss.
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Emma Morris would always hide from cameras and mirrors because of her weight
Credit: Cover Images
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But after a nurse recommended she try Zepbound to lose weight, she now feels like she's living again
Credit: Cover Images
The 37-year-old mum credits her transformation to powerful new tool Zepbound, known as Mounjaro in the UK - a GLP-1 medication designed to help regulate the biology behing weight gain.
And while some critics call it "the easy way out", Emma isn't having any of it.
"This isn't cheating, it's survival," the dental hygienist based in the US said.
"And for the first time in years, I finally feel like I'm living again."
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Read more on fat jabs
NO WEIGH I cried every day over my looks until I lost 7st without fat jabs just by talking
Living in Winder, Georgia, with her husband Stephen and daughters AvaGrace, 11, and Eliza Anne, 7, Emma's life on the outside looked picture perfect.
But inside she was crumbling.
She weighed 18.5 stone at her heaviest, had no energy, her joints ached, and was "just surviving each day."
"I had tried everything, clean eating, working out, you name it. But my body just wouldn't cooperate," said Emma.
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She was also battling a string of health issues.
'I struggled with PCOS, inflammation, borderline high blood pressure, and extreme fatigue,' Emma said.
Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons
'I went to doctor after doctor, and no one had answers. I was drowning in my own body.'
It wasn't until a routine appointment with a nurse practitioner that everything changed.
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'She looked at me and said, 'If we can get some of this weight off, you'll feel better'. That moment felt like someone had finally heard me.'
'I've gained my life back'
Emma was prescribed Zepbound and within just a few weeks, Emma felt the shift, physically and emotionally.
'The inflammation started to go down. I could walk upstairs without pain,' she said.
'And that constant obsession with food, what I was eating, when I'd eat again, just stopped.'
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What followed was a steady weight loss and a dramatic change in mindset.
'I've lost five stone, but I've gained my life back,' she said.
'I used to define success by a number on the scale. Now it's about playing with my kids, enjoying dinner with my family, and loving the woman I see in the mirror.'
Zepbound didn't 'do it for me'. It gave me a chance to actually fight back
Emma Morris
Emma is quick to shut down those who claim medication is a shortcut.
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'For years I blamed myself, thinking I was weak or lazy,' she said.
'But obesity is a disease, it's hormonal, metabolic, and neurological. Zepbound didn't 'do it for me'. It gave me a chance to actually fight back.'
She compares the treatment to managing any chronic condition.
She said: 'If I had diabetes, I'd take insulin. If I had high blood pressure, I'd take medication. This is no different.'
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These days, Emma tracks her progress through more than just numbers.
'I journal my mental health, my energy levels, how my clothes fit,' she said.
'I take monthly progress pictures because sometimes the scale doesn't reflect what's really changing.'
She's also built healthy habits that support her transformation, including walking daily, staying hydrated and prioritising protein.
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Emma had tried everything to lose weight but found nothing worked for her
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She's quick to claim medication isn't a shortcut for weight loss
Credit: Cover Images
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She now hopes to lose another 30lbs, but says her goal is to feel good and stay healthy
Credit: Cover Images
And when tough days come, she "gives herself grace".
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She said: "This is a long-term journey. Not every day is perfect, but every day is progress.'
Emma's definition of thriving has shifted.
She continued: 'Thriving used to mean being thin. Now it means being strong, joyful, and fully present in my life. I'm a better wife, a better mum, and a better version of myself.'
And her transformation has deepened her connection with family and friends.
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She said: 'I used to avoid photos. Now I'm in the pictures with my kids. That means everything to me.'
Though she still hopes to lose another 30lbs (13.6kg), Emma no longer obsesses over the finish line, and said her goal now is to feel good and stay healthy.
Her message to others? To start small and be kind to yourself.
She advised: "Use the tools that work for you, whether that's medication, therapy, or movement. And don't ever let shame stop you from taking control of your health.'
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