Latest news with #SecondNature
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pawleys Island to hold ‘summer kickoff celebration' Friday
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – A summer kickoff celebration will take place along the Hammock Coast on Friday evening. People are invited to Pawleys Island Nature Park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to enjoy live music from 'Second Nature,' a dance floor, and other family-friendly activities. The town has encouraged attendees to bring their coolers, snacks, and chairs for the event. This is a rescheduled event from the town's annual Memorial Day celebration, which was postponed due to poor weather at the time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Singer, 57, who nicknamed herself 'Fat Emma' looks unrecognisable after shedding 3st using Mounjaro
A singer who avoided cameras because her weight had caused her confidence to plummet has revealed she's a new woman after shedding 3st thanks to Mounjaro. Emma Hughes, 57, from Gosport, Hampshire, once referred to herself as 'Fat Emma' after reaching 13st 9lbs, a weight that rendered her unrecognisable against her former 9st 'slim' self. The mother, who works full-time as a programme delivery manager, tried countless diets but was only ever left feeling miserable, self-conscious, and watching the scale as she piled on the pounds. The weight gain severely impacted her confidence, with Emma admitting she could hardly look at pictures of herself performing on stage. 'It was hard as I'd spent a lot of my youth slim but it was getting to the point that I actually really disliked myself, hated what I saw and it was making me miserable,' she told FEMAIL. Deciding enough was enough, Emma, who is the lead singer of her cover band Spike & the PieMan, started using Mounjaro (a weight loss jab) alongside the NHS-backed health programme, Second Nature, seven months ago. As a result, she has shed 3st or a staggering 19 kilos and slimmed down from a size 16 to a size 12. Emma decided to embark on her weight loss journey after feeling 'miserable' at seeing pictures of herself on stage at gigs. 'I'm in a local covers band and loads of people take pictures when I'm on stage and post them on social media. All I could see was "fat Emma",' she admitted. 'I was doing everything I could to lose weight. One diet I joined during lockdown helped me lose 7lbs - but then I gained that back, plus another 5lbs. I just felt like I didn't have an off switch when it came to food. 'My weight had crept up slowly, and then all of a sudden, I thought, I really don't like myself. I looked in the mirror and it really was quite unpleasant. 'Now, I'm more confident than ever and don't ever want to go back to what I was. I shouldn't be ashamed of my journey on Mounjaro but it comes with a lot of judgment. 'I've done this through my own hard work and think it could help lots of other people struggling.' Growing up, Emma had always been slim, weighing around nine stone. She had her first child when she was 24, and her second at 32. It was after this time that Emma noticed her clothes starting to get tighter. She tried various diet programmes, including one that lasted for four years from 2020 to 2024 - but ended with her gaining five pounds. Although she had what many would consider a 'normal diet', Emma struggled with portion control. Breakfasts of high-fat nuts, carbohydrate-heavy buttery sandwiches for lunch and calorie-dense dinners were her norm - as well as weekly roast dinners, office croissants, and 3pm chocolate bars. It was only after undergoing knee replacement surgery in 2022 for arthritis and not wanting to suffer further health issues associated with excess weight like type 2 diabetes and heart problems, Emma decided to take action. She said: 'I've done the weight loss companies that you go to, and I even tried one of them for about four years but it just wasn't working for me. Initially I did OK, but I slowly slipped. I ended up heavier than when I started. It was a bit of a vicious circle. I hated my body so I ate and got bigger! 'It made me realise my problem was not with what I eat, as these weight loss companies promote very healthy eating, but the volume of food I was eating. I'm a massive foodie and if I had a big plate, I'd always finish it.' In September 2024, a friend told Emma about Second Nature, a weight loss programme that uses behavioural science to 'rewire' eating habits. Intrigued, Emma did her research and took the plunge, signing up to the plan's Mounjaro injections. Starting in late September 2024, Emma was initially prescribed 2.5mg of Mounjaro, losing around 2lbs a week, before the dosage was increased to 5mg. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injectable drug originally for type 2 diabetes but now used for weight loss. It works by suppressing appetite and regulating blood sugar levels. 'I couldn't believe how much weight my friend had lost. Being honest, I had lost all faith in my ability to follow diets by this point but I thought, maybe this is something that might finally work,' she recalled. 'I've had issues with my knees since I was a child. Before the knee replacement, I was really struggling. I couldn't even get upstairs properly, so I knew I needed to do something to bring down my weight. 'In my first month on the medication, I did suffer with indigestion - which is a common side effect of eating too much while on Mounjaro - but I soon adapted thanks to the support of the health coaches on the programme.' Seven months on and Emma is 3st lighter, weighing 10st 9bs, and feels better than ever. Now, she says her lifestyle is about balance, not restriction. She doesn't eat breakfast, and for lunch, she has fresh soup without any bread. In the evening, she tucks into something healthy like a homemade chicken curry with 'three tablespoons of rice, instead of an entire packet!' 'I still eat everything I want,' she said. 'On a Friday evening, if we're not playing a gig, my husband and I will sit and watch a film, and I used to get an entire bag of Maltesers and a bag of chocolate buttons, and between us we'd share them. Now I get two ramekin dishes, I put a few in each then I put them away. 'I don't deny myself anything. I just have it in moderation, and that psychologically, has helped me. 'I still love food and I still have what I want, but actually, having it in sensible portions, has allowed me to continue to lose weight and to still have what I want.' Now, Emma feels more confident on stage as the lead singer of her cover band Spike & the PieMan - performing hits from Queen, Blondie, The Killers and Stereophonics - and no longer dreads being photographed. 'Now when I go out and gig, I'm wearing fitted t-shirt type dresses and actually I like myself, and I feel good standing up there. I'm not cringing when people take videos and pictures of me anymore. 'I feel like me again! I'm finally happy in my own skin. I've spent a lot of money doing this, but I did it for my own reasons, for my own mental health and for my own physical health. 'There's real mixed media about weight-loss medication which is sad because I'm so proud of what I've done. It's not a miracle cure, because the work has still come from me. It's just a tool I needed and I never thought I would like myself again and I do! 'I'm a size 12and I'm made up with that - I'll happily stay this way for the rest of my life.'
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I spent £1,700 on Ozempic only to GAIN weight... this is what you're not being told
A woman has revealed how she spent more than £1,700 on a six-month course of Ozempic - only to gain weight. Emma Warner, 42, weighed just under 17st when she was given the opportunity to try weight loss drugs from a private clinic in 2022. The Plymouth native was prescribed a six-month course of Ozempic, which is approved for treating Type 2 diabetes but is sometimes used off-label for weight loss. She spent £1,712 on the course in the hope she would lose weight as the drug is meant to suppress her appetite. Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide that reduces appetite and slows digestion, which can aid in weight loss. But this wasn't the case for Emma, who said: 'I was just as hungry as ever and over the six months, I gained 22lbs (10kgs). I was so disappointed.' While semaglutide can aid weight loss for many who are prescribed it, there are some people who simply don't respond to the drug. However, scientists do not know yet why this is the case. Emma's disappointment was so deep she never returned to the private clinic, but the weight didn't budge. Though proven to be 'incredibly effective tools' for many, weight-loss medications aren't 'magic bullets', said Robbie Puddick, nutritionist at NHS-backed healthy eating plan Second Nature. What many fail to realise, the expert said, is that sustained weight-loss requires users to work foster 'lifestyle and habit change' alongside use of the drug. 'These medications work by reducing appetite and slowing digestion, which creates an ideal window for developing healthier eating patterns,' he said. 'However, if someone relies solely on the medication without building lasting habits, they're likely to struggle when they reduce or stop the drug. The appetite suppression disappears, but without new behavioural patterns in place, old eating habits typically return.' It's a fact that became all too clear to Emma, who recalled feeling feeling immense disappointment at not having shifted the weight she hoped to. The turning point came in the summer of 2023 when she attended a family wedding in Greece with her eight-year-old son, Arlo. 'When I saw the photos, my heart sank,' she said, as she weighed almost 18st at the time. Fortunately, all hope was not lost, however, and she managed to lose weight by turning to diet programme Slimming World. She said: 'When I got back and showed the photos to family and friends, I was mortified at how I looked. I spoke to my sister Laura and she suggested that we join Slimming World together.' Emma admitted she was nervous about attending a Slimming World support group for the first time, as she worried 'everyone would be looking at me'. However, her sister provided some much-needed reassurance that everyone in the group would be 'all in the same boat.' Emma said she lost 9lbs in the first week, after she and her sister began to think about everyday habits and make simple changes to their lives. According to Puddick, the only sustainable solution for long-term weight-loss, is to combine the powers of the drug with improving 'behavioural patterns' around food. Indeed, by working to 'recognise genuine hunger cues', weight-loss hopefuls can develop 'a sustainable eating framework' and ditch 'emotional eating' habits. Harnessing these methods proved successful for Emma, who admitted she'd previously never given much thought to what she ate. 'I'd been commuting to and from London and I'd often grab food on the go without thinking about it,' she said. HOW EMMA HAS TRANSFORMED HER DIET BEFORE Breakfast: Nothing, or a coffee on the go with croissants. Mid-morning snack: Biscuits. Lunch: Meal-deal sandwich with crisps, chocolate and a full-fat fizzy drink. Dinner: Fish and chips from the chip shop, followed by a ready-made cheesecake dessert. AFTER Breakfast: Overnight oats. Lunch: Leftovers from the night before or anything from the Slimming World food range, with water or diet coke. Dinner: Sweet potato curry, followed by fresh fruit, Hi-fi bars or yoghurt. 'Lunch might have been a sandwich, crisps or a chocolate bar and a fizzy drink as part of a meal deal, or a ready meal, like mac 'n' cheese. 'I realised it was all about convenience for me - it was such an eye opener!' Emma began to learn how to change her eating habits and cook meals from scratch so she could make them healthier without losing flavour. Puddick said learning to improve habits and 'rewire your relationship', was essential to fostering habits that could 'last a lifetime'. But it doesn't happen overnight, he cautioned. 'This process takes time, which is why the medication can be so valuable, as it provides the breathing space needed to establish these new patterns of behaviour.' Adapting her eating patterns was an essential move in creating lasting changes to Emma's weight. She learned how to make her favourite dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, stew and chilli with cheesy garlic bread. She even learned how to make healthy changes to the meals her Ghanaian husband loves. 'I've even adapted some Ghanaian meals, which are typically cooked with a lot of oil, to healthier versions - my Jollof rice is a favourite!' the mother said. 'We're both eating more healthily and cooking meals at home like Slimming World's sweet potato curry or if we're pushed for time, then we both love cauliflower mac and cheese from the Slimming World food range at Iceland.' Now, Emma has lost a total of 3st 6lbs and says 'life is so much easier', adding: 'I don't get out of breath so much and I'm able to play with Arlo and take him to the park. 'I've gone from trying to find a quick fix that cost a fortune to feeling in control of my weight. I've started planning my meals and I batch cook my favourites at the weekend. 'When I commute – which I do less now as I have a new role closer to home – I take something I've cooked at home. I'm losing weight yet I feel fuller than ever and I'm saving money.' The nutritionist maintained that gaining weight after using fat jabs was rarely the failure of the individual or the medication. He said: 'It simply highlights that sustainable weight loss requires addressing the behavioural and psychological factors that contributed to weight gain in the first place. 'When someone experiences weight regain after stopping medication, it's not a failure of the drug or the person. It simply highlights that sustainable weight loss requires addressing the behavioural and psychological factors that contributed to weight gain in the first place. '
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
We lost a STONE a month on a family Mounjaro mission – we'd done fad diets for 50 years now we can't stop shrinking
MUM and daughter Gill Foster and Ellie Westcott have a combined 50 years of dieting between them. But the pair say that none of their health kicks have been as successful as their most recent weight loss mission. 7 Both Gill Foster and her daughter Ellie Westcott had struggled with their weight their whole lives Credit: Supplied 7 The pair have now lost nine stone between them on a joint Mounjaro mission Credit: Supplied Gill, 58, and Ellie, 27, have lost more than nine stone and eight dress sizes between them - thanks to fat jabs and friendly family rivalry. At their heaviest, Gill weighed 17st 10lb, and Ellie tipped the scales at 16st 2lbs, and despite trying traditional weight loss programmes, the weight would always creep back on. Then, in August 2024, Gill, who wore a size 20, decided to take action, starting Mounjaro injections with NHS-backed healthy eating plan But, when the duo met just four weeks after, and Gill had already lost 12 pounds, the driving instructor confessed - and Ellie, a project manager, was inspired to give the jabs a go. She started with the same programme in September 2024, and between them, the pair have now lost a combined nine stone, and Gill and Ellie now weigh 12st 11lbs, and 12st 10lbs and wear a dress size 14 and 12-14 respectively. Gill, from Blandford in Dorset says: 'I have battled with my weight for 30 years. 'I'd tried everything and even had success, but the weight would pile back on. 'Medication was a last resort because it was getting to the point where my weight was affecting my health. Most read in Fabulous 'I wanted to be able to eat normally and healthily and be rewarded for my efforts. 'I did my research and found Second Nature. I was a little skeptical and didn't want to tell anyone I was doing it but just a few weeks later, the results were impossible to hide.' Woman who forked out on fat jabs saw eight stone fly off her - people say she's being lazy, but they've changed her life Ellie, from Pimperne just outside of Blandford, says: 'I've always had an unhealthy relationship with food. 'The only time I remember being slim but still thinking I was fat was back at school and doing extreme exercise to fit in my prom dress. 'I've done quite a few diets over the years since, the same as mum, and obviously growing up with a mum who also dieted, it's easy to learn those habits, and we obviously love food. 'But the day after taking Mounjaro for the first time, I texted mum to say that I hadn't been thinking about food at all, and my day seemed to feel quicker, because I wasn't constantly looking at the clock thinking, 'what am I going to eat next?'' Growing up, Gill struggled with Looking for support in more healthy choices and a better relationship with food, she tried to join a weightloss programme at 19 but they told her she didn't weigh enough to join them. When she went to university, she ate what she wanted and her weight spiralled. The next time Gill, a mum of three, went on a diet was when her oldest son was 18 months old and she was 28. Diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2003, her health was starting to suffer. 7 Ellie says that her thoughts used to revolve around food Credit: Supplied 7 She is now committed to weighing less than her mum Credit: Supplied 7 Meanwhile Gill says that her yo-yo dieting always saw her putting the pounds back on Credit: Supplied 7 She now has a healthier relationship with food and was amazed how quickly her weight slipped off Credit: Supplied Gill tried traditional diets, and weightloss plans over the years - but she would always end up putting the weight back on - and each time just a little bit more. She says: 'I've always enjoyed healthy, good-quality food, but whenever I was cooking, I'd help myself to a mouthful here and there, kind of one for the pot and one for Gill but I've never been a big portions meal person. 'As my children got older and I worked as a driving instructor, time became my biggest issue. I would skip breakfast then grab something on the go. 'It's difficult to make healthy choices at the petrol station and when hunger strikes the temptations won. I was finding it harder and harder not to give up all hope. 'After getting home, I'd eat whatever I could find in the fridge - picking at cheese, leftovers, cold meats, pickles. 'I would have good intentions; portioning a healthy meal for dinner, sometimes spaghetti bolognese or homemade curry, but every time I went back into the kitchen, I'd help myself to another mouthful.' Gill tried everything to lose weight but it was beginning to impact her health. After four weeks on the programme, it became impossible to hide Gill Foster At her heaviest at 58, Gill weighed 17st 10lbs and was squeezing into size 20 clothes. She hit 'breaking point' and knew she had to do something 'drastic'. Her online search took her to Second Nature, an NHS-backed healthy eating plan that uses behavioural science to 'rewire' eating habits. It also offers medication-assisted programmes including Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, or as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which treats type-2 diabetes and weightloss, and Wegovy, or semaglutide. Potential users have to complete a She took her first Mounjaro injection at the end of August 2024 and almost immediately, her hunger began to subside. 'When I had dinner that night, I wasn't hungry anymore. It felt like a switch had flipped,' she says. 'I questioned how I was supposed to feel and couldn't help thinking it might be a placebo effect. I was terrified of the potential side effects but luckily didn't experience any. 'At first, I kept it a secret from my daughter Ellie. I didn't want her to think that I was doing something extreme. But after four weeks on the programme, it became impossible to hide.' Ellie had also struggled with her weight for years. Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), she had tried everything from intermittent fasting to intense gym routines, and walking her dog every day. Despite her efforts to shift the pounds, the dial on the scale rarely moved. At her heaviest, Ellie weighed 16st 11lbs and wore a size 20 clothes. Seeing the difference in her mum, Ellie followed suit and joined Second Nature in September - and called her mum for the 'scary' first injection. 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. Ellie says: 'I was terrified of actually putting a needle in me and was on FaceTime to mum 'what if I'm allergic?' But it was nowhere near as bad as I thought. 'I definitely eat less because I'm able to control myself now, and with my portion control, I can pick and choose and know that I'm eating less. 'The biggest shock for me has been the health side of it, where I'm losing weight, I've had my first period in five years now, which is amazing. I'm healing.' Instead of reaching for a chocolate bar, now when Ellie fancies a sweet treat, she opts for a few strawberries and she doesn't eat the whole punnet - like she previously would have. In her breaks at work, she used to scroll Instagram looking at food and would eat a tupperware pot full to the brim of pasta for lunch before having a snack from the vending machine in the afternoon. Now, she naturally puts less on her plate. We're healthier, happier, and we've made it through this journey together Gill Foster Ellie's lost 4st 6lbs and now weighs 12st 10lbs and Gill's lost 4st 13lbs and now weighs 12st 11lbs - and they've even turned their transformations into a friendly rivalry. They check in with each other on their progress and push each other to keep going. 'I just want to weigh less than my mum,' Ellie admits. They both admit they enjoy going through their weight loss together, and have supported each other through the ups and downs. Gill says: 'We send each other screenshots of our scale progress every morning, and we share pictures of the meals we're eating. 'In the early days, when Ellie wasn't seeing as much progress, I felt like she needed some reassurance, and we'd talk about it. That kept us going.' Ellie's target weight is to be a small size 12, and to wear the box of clothes that have been sitting above her wardrobe since lockdown. Gill says she would like her weight to be less than 11st and have a healthy BMI. She adds: 'Now, I feel like a 'normal' person again - I eat what I want, when I want, without feeling overwhelmed by food. Read more on the Irish Sun 'We're healthier, happier, and we've made it through this journey together. 'The absolutely liberating part is I have zero guilt around food, the habits that I've tried to form over the years, it's being fulfilled now, because it's possible to do it, it's working, and I just have to make sure I do whatever it takes to keep that going.' GILL & ELLIE'S DIETS BEFORE AND AFTER FAT JABS GILL BEFORE Breakfast: Skip Snack: Crisps, chocolate Lunch: Something convenient from the petrol station like a ready-made sandwich or sausage roll, crisps, and another chocolate bar Dinner: Home-cooked meals such as pastas, curries, stews, but portions for 2 or 3 people GILL NOW Breakfast: Overnight oats or sourdough toast with a poached egg Snack: Herbal tea, fruit like apples or berries Lunch: A portion of the meal from the night before or something on toast or a jacket potato, homemade soup Dinner: Sticky chicken with new potatoes or vegetarian curry with green vegetables, salmon fillet with steamed green veggies ELLIE BEFORE Breakfast: Skip Lunch: Leftover from dinner - pasta or chilli in a tupperware bowl filled to the brim Snack: Something from the vending machine. Dinner: Big portion of pasta, homemade chilli or lasagne. ELLIE NOW Breakfast: Greek yogurt with homemade granola and berries Lunch: Half a sandwich and a pepperoni stick, a much smaller portion of the meal left over from the night before Snack: Fruit, hummus and veggies to dip Dinner: Smaller portion of homemade chilli or salmon and salad, big healthy salads, paella, homemade family favourites like cottage pie with lots of veggies and much smaller portions 7 The pair say that being on the journey together has been a great motivator Credit: Supplied
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
We lost a STONE a month on a family Mounjaro mission – we'd done fad diets for 50 years now we can't stop shrinking
Mum tried to keep her diet a secret, but her results were too good for people to miss WEIGH TO GO We lost a STONE a month on a family Mounjaro mission – we'd done fad diets for 50 years now we can't stop shrinking Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MUM and daughter Gill Foster and Ellie Westcott have a combined 50 years of dieting between them. But the pair say that none of their health kicks have been as successful as their most recent weight loss mission. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Both Gill Foster and her daughter Ellie Westcott had struggled with their weight their whole lives Credit: Supplied 7 The pair have now lost nine stone between them on a joint Mounjaro mission Credit: Supplied Gill, 58, and Ellie, 27, have lost more than nine stone and eight dress sizes between them - thanks to fat jabs and friendly family rivalry. At their heaviest, Gill weighed 17st 10lb, and Ellie tipped the scales at 16st 2lbs, and despite trying traditional weight loss programmes, the weight would always creep back on. Then, in August 2024, Gill, who wore a size 20, decided to take action, starting Mounjaro injections with NHS-backed healthy eating plan Second Nature - although she kept it a secret from Ellie. But, when the duo met just four weeks after, and Gill had already lost 12 pounds, the driving instructor confessed - and Ellie, a project manager, was inspired to give the jabs a go. She started with the same programme in September 2024, and between them, the pair have now lost a combined nine stone, and Gill and Ellie now weigh 12st 11lbs, and 12st 10lbs and wear a dress size 14 and 12-14 respectively. Gill, from Blandford in Dorset says: 'I have battled with my weight for 30 years. 'I'd tried everything and even had success, but the weight would pile back on. 'Medication was a last resort because it was getting to the point where my weight was affecting my health. 'I wanted to be able to eat normally and healthily and be rewarded for my efforts. 'I did my research and found Second Nature. I was a little skeptical and didn't want to tell anyone I was doing it but just a few weeks later, the results were impossible to hide.' Woman who forked out on fat jabs saw eight stone fly off her - people say she's being lazy, but they've changed her life Ellie, from Pimperne just outside of Blandford, says: 'I've always had an unhealthy relationship with food. 'The only time I remember being slim but still thinking I was fat was back at school and doing extreme exercise to fit in my prom dress. 'I've done quite a few diets over the years since, the same as mum, and obviously growing up with a mum who also dieted, it's easy to learn those habits, and we obviously love food. 'But the day after taking Mounjaro for the first time, I texted mum to say that I hadn't been thinking about food at all, and my day seemed to feel quicker, because I wasn't constantly looking at the clock thinking, 'what am I going to eat next?'' Growing up, Gill struggled with body dysmorphia in her teens and had always been naturally curvy and a 'picker' when it came to food. Looking for support in more healthy choices and a better relationship with food, she tried to join a weightloss programme at 19 but they told her she didn't weigh enough to join them. When she went to university, she ate what she wanted and her weight spiralled. The next time Gill, a mum of three, went on a diet was when her oldest son was 18 months old and she was 28. Diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2003, her health was starting to suffer. 7 Ellie says that her thoughts used to revolve around food Credit: Supplied 7 She is now committed to weighing less than her mum Credit: Supplied 7 Meanwhile Gill says that her yo-yo dieting always saw her putting the pounds back on Credit: Supplied 7 She now has a healthier relationship with food and was amazed how quickly her weight slipped off Credit: Supplied Gill tried traditional diets, and weightloss plans over the years - but she would always end up putting the weight back on - and each time just a little bit more. She says: 'I've always enjoyed healthy, good-quality food, but whenever I was cooking, I'd help myself to a mouthful here and there, kind of one for the pot and one for Gill but I've never been a big portions meal person. 'As my children got older and I worked as a driving instructor, time became my biggest issue. I would skip breakfast then grab something on the go. 'It's difficult to make healthy choices at the petrol station and when hunger strikes the temptations won. I was finding it harder and harder not to give up all hope. 'After getting home, I'd eat whatever I could find in the fridge - picking at cheese, leftovers, cold meats, pickles. 'I would have good intentions; portioning a healthy meal for dinner, sometimes spaghetti bolognese or homemade curry, but every time I went back into the kitchen, I'd help myself to another mouthful.' Gill tried everything to lose weight but it was beginning to impact her health. After four weeks on the programme, it became impossible to hide Gill Foster At her heaviest at 58, Gill weighed 17st 10lbs and was squeezing into size 20 clothes. She hit 'breaking point' and knew she had to do something 'drastic'. Her online search took her to Second Nature, an NHS-backed healthy eating plan that uses behavioural science to 'rewire' eating habits. It also offers medication-assisted programmes including Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, or as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which treats type-2 diabetes and weightloss, and Wegovy, or semaglutide. Potential users have to complete a strict test online to see whether they're eligible for the medication. She took her first Mounjaro injection at the end of August 2024 and almost immediately, her hunger began to subside. 'When I had dinner that night, I wasn't hungry anymore. It felt like a switch had flipped,' she says. 'I questioned how I was supposed to feel and couldn't help thinking it might be a placebo effect. I was terrified of the potential side effects but luckily didn't experience any. 'At first, I kept it a secret from my daughter Ellie. I didn't want her to think that I was doing something extreme. But after four weeks on the programme, it became impossible to hide.' Ellie had also struggled with her weight for years. Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), she had tried everything from intermittent fasting to intense gym routines, and walking her dog every day. Despite her efforts to shift the pounds, the dial on the scale rarely moved. At her heaviest, Ellie weighed 16st 11lbs and wore a size 20 clothes. Seeing the difference in her mum, Ellie followed suit and joined Second Nature in September - and called her mum for the 'scary' first injection. 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. Ellie says: 'I was terrified of actually putting a needle in me and was on FaceTime to mum 'what if I'm allergic?' But it was nowhere near as bad as I thought. 'I definitely eat less because I'm able to control myself now, and with my portion control, I can pick and choose and know that I'm eating less. 'The biggest shock for me has been the health side of it, where I'm losing weight, I've had my first period in five years now, which is amazing. I'm healing.' Instead of reaching for a chocolate bar, now when Ellie fancies a sweet treat, she opts for a few strawberries and she doesn't eat the whole punnet - like she previously would have. In her breaks at work, she used to scroll Instagram looking at food and would eat a tupperware pot full to the brim of pasta for lunch before having a snack from the vending machine in the afternoon. Now, she naturally puts less on her plate. We're healthier, happier, and we've made it through this journey together Gill Foster Ellie's lost 4st 6lbs and now weighs 12st 10lbs and Gill's lost 4st 13lbs and now weighs 12st 11lbs - and they've even turned their transformations into a friendly rivalry. They check in with each other on their progress and push each other to keep going. 'I just want to weigh less than my mum,' Ellie admits. They both admit they enjoy going through their weight loss together, and have supported each other through the ups and downs. Gill says: 'We send each other screenshots of our scale progress every morning, and we share pictures of the meals we're eating. 'In the early days, when Ellie wasn't seeing as much progress, I felt like she needed some reassurance, and we'd talk about it. That kept us going.' Ellie's target weight is to be a small size 12, and to wear the box of clothes that have been sitting above her wardrobe since lockdown. Gill says she would like her weight to be less than 11st and have a healthy BMI. She adds: 'Now, I feel like a 'normal' person again - I eat what I want, when I want, without feeling overwhelmed by food. 'We're healthier, happier, and we've made it through this journey together. 'The absolutely liberating part is I have zero guilt around food, the habits that I've tried to form over the years, it's being fulfilled now, because it's possible to do it, it's working, and I just have to make sure I do whatever it takes to keep that going.' GILL & ELLIE'S DIETS BEFORE AND AFTER FAT JABS GILL BEFORE Breakfast: Skip Snack: Crisps, chocolate Lunch: Something convenient from the petrol station like a ready-made sandwich or sausage roll, crisps, and another chocolate bar Dinner: Home-cooked meals such as pastas, curries, stews, but portions for 2 or 3 people GILL NOW Breakfast: Overnight oats or sourdough toast with a poached egg Snack: Herbal tea, fruit like apples or berries Lunch: A portion of the meal from the night before or something on toast or a jacket potato, homemade soup Dinner: Sticky chicken with new potatoes or vegetarian curry with green vegetables, salmon fillet with steamed green veggies ELLIE BEFORE Breakfast: Skip Lunch: Leftover from dinner - pasta or chilli in a tupperware bowl filled to the brim Snack: Something from the vending machine. Dinner: Big portion of pasta, homemade chilli or lasagne. ELLIE NOW Breakfast: Greek yogurt with homemade granola and berries Lunch: Half a sandwich and a pepperoni stick, a much smaller portion of the meal left over from the night before Snack: Fruit, hummus and veggies to dip Dinner: Smaller portion of homemade chilli or salmon and salad, big healthy salads, paella, homemade family favourites like cottage pie with lots of veggies and much smaller portions
