A woman who lost more than three stone by using weight loss jabs has weighed in on why she thinks slimming groups are failing users – following WeightWatchers filing for bankruptcy this week.
Amanda Strowbridge steadily gained weight after the menopause started, but became unhappy when she reached 14st 5lbs – despite eating healthily and exercising.
After trying multiple weight loss methods – including the slimming group – the 56-year-old decided to try jabs Wegovy and Mounjaro and has had incredible results.
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After dropping to 11st and feeling better than ever, Amanda has weighed in on the apparent decline of slimming groups.
“I didn’t even notice the weight coming off when I was on the jabs – whereas on a diet, you’re white-knuckling it to get through,” Amanda, a therapist from London, told Need To Know.
“It was just so easy.
“There’s no willpower needed like there is with slimming groups – it does the work for you.
“I’m 56, so I’m old enough to have tried everything.
“I did WeightWatchers years and years ago and it just wasn’t effective – it was only successful for about six weeks, and then I was back to where I started.
“I also didn’t want to go and sit around listening to how much weight people had lost – I’d rather use that time going to the gym.
“I think it was inevitable that they would file for bankruptcy [after jabs became available].
“The public are way more educated and aware now of dietary advice, so it’s no surprise.
“There’s a price difference, obviously, but if people can afford it, I think they’ll inevitably pick the jabs.
“WeightWatchers have had their run, and now it’s time for something else.”
Amanda has worked as a nutritionist, personal trainer and therapist, but after the menopause started for her back in lockdown, she struggled with weight gain.
She said: “I was getting fatter and fatter, even though I was still eating healthy and exercising.
“My hormones had gone up the creek and I put on about three stone.
“It was just going up and up and up.”
Amanda went to the doctors to have a blood test and was close to being pre-diabetic – despite her healthy lifestyle.
She said: “I had tried everything.
“The more I exercised, the hungrier I was, and the more tired I was.”
Amanda researched online and heard from a cousin in the US about Ozempic, having had great results himself, and she decided to try it herself, starting Wegovy in November 2023.
She later switched to Mounjaro six months later and hasn’t looked back since.
She said of weight loss groups: “They have a good business model as they keep people coming back [after you gain weight again], but the jabs actually stick.
“They stop you craving and thinking about food.
“It turns you into a ‘normal’ person, knocking out any craving or reward-based behaviour.”
While a cited benefit of the slimming clubs is the group environment, Amanda says forums are available to achieve that similar sense of community online with other people using jabs.
Amanda is currently ‘micro-dosing’ using a very small amount, which she admits she my need to continue for life.
But she says it is well worth it, saying she has noticed her knees feeling better following the weight loss – and even believes it has had an anti-inflammatory effect on her.
She added: “If I needed to lose weight again, I’d definitely turn to jabs over groups like WeightWatchers.
“I don’t agree with it.
“I don’t like the competition element of it, and that the more weight someone loses, the more they are congratulated.
“It’s not good to lose more than one-two pounds a week.
“I definitely think WeightWatchers and other groups have the competitive element where the more you lose, the better it is.
“I think that’s horrific advice.”
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Amazing transformation! It’s interesting to see how jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro can make weight loss easier and more sustainable. Really makes you rethink traditional slimming groups. More insights like this at (www.shemed.co.uk/blog
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Wow, what an inspiring transformation it’s amazing to hear how much Wegovy and similar jabs helped where traditional plans like WeightWatchers didn’t work for you! I’ve also been comparing prices and found this useful guide to Wegovy price options in the UK here:
— it really helps see where you can get the best value. Keep sharing your journey