Latest news with #wellnessjourney
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
I've lost 3st since coming OFF Mounjaro – yes the food noise came back, but here's how I avoided piling on the pounds
A WOMAN has revealed how she managed to shed a further 3st after coming off Mounjaro. The TikToker only known as @ midnight_sky_x has been ''on a wellness journey'' since last summer, at some point also using fat jabs to help her lose weight. 3 3 Before kickstarting the weight loss process, the TikToker ''avoided mirrors and always hid in photos'', so she never really saw ''how big'' she'd become. ''Even though my health was considered 'good,' I knew I was fortunate,'' the woman bravely opened up in a video. ''It was only a matter of time before the strain on my body caught up with me. ''I tried not to let my size hold me back. I still did things. I still travelled. I still lived. ''But I was always self-conscious.'' The daily worries that most people don't think twice about were constantly on her mind - including whether the seat will be big enough and whether the seatbelt will fasten. Determined to get her weight back on track, she then decided to jump on Mounjaro, which is known as the King Kong of jabs. Mounjaro is said to suppress the appetite, making people feel fuller for longer. Weight loss injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese - with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over. One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on a person's weight. Thanks to Mounjaro, the woman managed to shed a staggering 6st, she revealed in a clip online, before going cold turkey. It's now been eight months since she gave up the popular jab - and despite sceptics insisting she'll ''gain it all back'', the TikToker has lost a further 3st. Sharing her incredible success story on social media, @midnight_sky_x revealed how she continued to drop the excess weight even when hunger and food noise came back. Food cue reactivity, or food noise, refers to the "constant and persistent thoughts" about food, "to the point of feeling as if [subjects'] lives revolved around food," according to research published in the academic journal Nutrients. According to the researchers, it can lead to unhealthy eating patterns, including emotional eating. 'It could also contribute to overeating and therefore living with overweight and obesity and developing weight-related complications,' Dr Priya Jaisinghani, an obesity specialist from NYU Langone, US told Health. 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. ''I prioritise protein, fibre, healthy fats to build volume with every meal,'' she said in the video. ''I don't cut carbs, they have their place on everything plate!'' While the food noise did return, the TikToker explained that it was now different ''compared to before''. ''Yes, I have food noise but it's so much easier to control. ''I don't crave most of the foods I did before. I've still not had a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar in over a year.'' Since coming off Mounjaro in December last year, she's shed an astronomical 3st. How, you may wonder? According to the beauty, it's thanks to sticking to her '' healthy habits '' that have ''been the key to keeping the momentum going''. While fat jabs ''can give you a boost to start making changes'', ''it's up to you to put in the work to maintain those results'', she went on. As well as getting her steps in to keep active, the TikToker also eats nutrient-dense meals, such as delicious-looking yoghurt bowls with berries, chicken tray bakes, as well as protein wraps with meat. Mounjaro users react The clip, posted less than 24 hours ago, has already taken the internet by storm, amassing close to 200k views and over 100 comments. One person said: ''This is the kind of information the mj community needs. Congratulations on your journey and thanks for sharing.'' Another chimed in, praising the woman: ''Most people think its a quick easy fix but fail to forget, they have to stop at some point and if them eating habits are not kept in check, that weight will go right back on! Well done.'' ''This is very helpful advice. I've been worrying about this,'' someone else shared. 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. Be aware of the dangers Although many were impressed with the epic weight loss, those debating whether to start using Mounjaro should know that it can have fatal consequences. And experts and NHS medics have shared a stern warning about the dangers of taking such medications without a prescription. Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with 'life-threatening levels of obesity.' But despite this, the NHS advised people to 'never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you.' The NHS warned: "These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.'
News24
6 days ago
- Health
- News24
Dangers of ‘SkinnyTok' plus tips to get in shape the healthy way
Trends like 'SkinnyTok' glamourise extreme thinness and can induce eating disorders. Healthy ways to document a wellness journey include sharing setbacks and celebrating small wins. Develop a healthy relationship with eating by avoiding labelling foods 'good' or 'bad'. We live in an era of information, trends and challenges constantly bombarding us on social media, whether you like it or not. Just a few minutes on social media will have you sucked into the wild west of trending challenges and information (or misinformation) - no wonder they call it doom scrolling. The TikTok trend #SkinnyTok, which idolised and glamorised extreme thinness, is one such trend that is more harmful than many realise, with the social media platform ultimately banning the hashtag. The landing page on TikTok when you search the hashtag #SkinnyTok. Social media trends like 'SkinnyTok' have a major influence on especially young women and girls, who see content creators fitting the normalised standards of beauty, embracing extreme diet and exercise trends. 'Trends like #SkinnyTok often romanticise extreme thinness, encouraging disordered eating behaviours, comparison and self-loathing in small, unnoticeable doses,' Ziyanda Khumalo, academic student advisor at The South African College of Applied Psychology, tells TRUELOVE. 'For impressionable users, many of whom are adolescents still forming their identity, as per Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, this content fosters internalised fatphobia and body dysmorphia.' The long-term effects of consuming 'skinny culture' content Social media and celebrity culture are putting extreme hourglass figures and super flat stomachs all over timelines, feeds and for you pages, which can lead to chronic and major dissatisfaction with your appearance. This can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Ziyanda shares that this often leads to 'ongoing body image distortion, compulsive calorie counting or over-exercising, eating disorders (e.g., restriction, bingeing, purging), social withdrawal and low self-worth [and] the pursuit of quick fixes like diet pills or unsafe detox methods'. She adds, 'Mental health disorders such as anorexia nervosa or orthorexia may develop or worsen over time. Even when individuals don't meet full diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder to be diagnosed, the psychological harm, such as obsessive thoughts about food, guilt after meals or shame around clothing sizes, can deeply affect one's overall well-being.' Healthy ways to document your wellness journey Documenting a wellness journey can be empowering, but context and tone matter. Ziyanda offers some healthy ways to approach it: Focusing on function over form, keeping in mind that exercise improves mood, sleep, or strength, not just physical appearance. Celebrate the smaller non-physical victories like better energy, improved self-confidence, or decreased anxiety. Use inclusive language and avoid before/after pictures that create an 'ideal' body. Share setbacks and struggles to normalise the ups and downs of any lifestyle change. Avoid filters, extreme editing, or presenting a highlight reel that doesn't reflect the full picture or true identity. Prioritise holistic wellness, mental, emotional and physical, not just numbers on a scale. Developing a healthy relationship with food Whether you're on a weight loss, weight gain or bulk journey, it's so important to have a healthy relationship with food where you're not depriving the body of the healthy fats and nutrients it needs. Fad diet trends circulating on social media, like all-fruit diets, are dangerous and can lead to nutritional deficiencies and can even increase the risk of diseases, warns registered dietitian Ntokozo Kgopa. Ntokozo outlines some healthy ways to curate your food intake no matter your wellness journey, and how you can create a healthy relationship with food. @truelovemagazine A tour of the Babylonstoren warehouse in Johannesburg 🍊 The #Franschhoek farm open this warehouse in 2021 to service the demand in Gauteng. #babylonstoren ♬ original sound - TRUELOVE 'People can enjoy a variety of foods, meaning that they will be getting different vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytonutrients, which is vital for nourishing the cells. A practical way of doing this is portioning the plate as half of the plate to be fruits and vegetables, [one quarter of the] plate to be starch and the last quarter of the plate to be protein. 'People should eat more natural foods, 80 percent [of] which are more filling and nutrient dense, and less processed foods, which are energy dense negatively affect the gut, increasing [the] risk of diseases. Healthy eating involves healthy ways of food preparation and cooking, such as not peeling the potatoes, avoiding deep fat frying and rather steaming or grilling etc.' Both Ntokozo and Ziyanda reject the notion of 'good' and 'bad' food, 'which might lead to [a] guilty conscience if they have consumed the 'bad food' and that might trigger the binge-eating behaviour,' Ntokozo advises.
