A mum who was “horrified” after seeing how she looked at her sister’s wedding has called Mounjaro a “lifeline” after losing 9st using the “skinny jab”.
Hope Lancaster Colquhoun’s relationship with food had always been a challenge.
She’d often overindulge in sweets, crisps and chocolate as part of a reward, or whenever feeling low, with no limits.
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At her heaviest, she weighed 18st 8lbs.
Hope’s turning point came, though, after seeing the snaps from her sister’s wedding where she was a bridesmaid, leaving her “horrified”.
The 42-year-old knew something needed to change, especially when she was rushed to hospital as her body had started to shut down due to the pressure of her weight.
She was prescribed Mounjaro, an injection used to treat diabetes and help with weight loss, and has lost nine stone in just over two years.
“On my sister’s wedding day, I felt defeated,” the content creator, from Texas, US, but living in Hebburn Tyne and Wear, UK, told Need To Know.
“While everyone was getting their glam done, I was helping set up because at that point, my looks didn’t matter.
“I was just the ‘bigger one’ in the background.
“I dreaded walking down the aisle, as I knew people would look at me and judge how heavy I was.
“I’ve always been made fun of.
“Once, I got a call from my niece saying someone took a photo of me at our local grocery store and captioned it: ‘Whales shouldn’t be put in clothes.’
“Even to this day, I struggle wearing shorts in public out of fear my photo might get taken again.
“People have nicknamed me ‘marshmallow’.
“It’s been isolating and made me deeply self-conscious.
“I didn’t leave the house except for groceries or to pick up my kids from school.
“Scrolling on social media or watching TV became quite tough.
“There was a constant reminder that I should be thin.
“If I wanted to be accepted, or partake in certain trends, I had to lose weight.
“I was a complete shell of myself, with no social life, happiness or motivation
“Not only that, my health was suffering, too.”
Hope used to have McDonald’s for breakfast, followed by leftovers from the night before for lunch and carbohydrate-heavy dinners, such as pasta and chips.
She had tried to lose weight naturally, including going to the gym, having consultations with a dietitian and using other weight loss medications.
Unfortunately, this had little-to-no success.
After months of unexplained illness and frequent fainting episodes, she was rushed to hospital as her blood sugar levels were “dangerously high”.
Hope was diagnosed with diabetes and prescribed Mounjaro by Oushk Pharmacy for £189 a month to help manage this.
And the effects were “life-changing”.
She said: “The weight just slipped off me.
“Not only that, my blood sugar levels improved and I felt like a totally new person.
“I couldn’t believe it.
“It was like I had found the answer I’d been searching for my whole life.”
Hope switched up her diet to include lots of fruit and vegetables, as well as healthy protein such as lean chicken – and at least five litres of water.
She joined a gym and used to chase her sister’s spider monkeys around the house.
She said: “I found myself craving healthier foods, drinking more water and just overall more active.
“Within a month, I noticed I wasn’t feeling so depressed either.
“I reversed any health issues and was able to come off my medication as I didn’t need it anymore.
“My diabetes is now excellently controlled – and considering I was on the brink of death with it, I’m pretty proud of myself.”
While Hope suffered some minor side effects, such as regular burping, diarrhoea and headaches, the positive outcome was all worth it.
She’s now gone from a UK dress size 22 to an 8.
Hope tied the knot on 17 April 2024 and says she had “never felt more beautiful”.
She added: “I’ve completely got my life and confidence back.
“My family are completely overjoyed by my transformation.
“They’ve watched me struggle for years, but now they’re so proud of the person I’ve become.
“People have said I’m cheating or commenting that I’ve lost too much weight.
“But none of them told me to stop eating when I was slowly killing myself being obese.
“During the weight loss, at one point, I compared my stomach to a bull dog’s face [due to the excess skin].
“But over time, my skin has shrunk.
“I’ve also lost seven of my teeth, with four needing fillings, so I’ve been given a partial denture.
“I never had an issue with my dental health before; though doctors think it’s just because I’ve lost so much weight in such a short frame of time.
“I’d encourage people to consider the jab because of how life-changing it’s been for me.
“Even my sister and mum both take it now.
“Weight loss journeys are hard and all of our stories are different.
“This isn’t the easy way out, as some might say, as we still have to make healthy food choices, stay active and prioritise our health.
“For those of us with multiple conditions, such as myself, it’s been a lifeline.
“I credit Mounjaro for giving me another chance at life.”
DIET BREAKDOWN:
BEFORE:
BREAKFAST: Cereal or McDonald’s Breakfast
LUNCH: Sandwich or leftovers from the night before
DINNER: Pasta dishes, salads, chips, rice with meat and sauces
SNACK: Pudding, Dr Pepper, crisps, chocolate
AFTER:
BREAKFAST: Yogurt with pomegranate, blueberries and granola
LUNCH: Salad or chicken skewers with vegetables
DINNER: Meal prepped chicken or chicken sausages with sweet potatoes, rice and vegetables
SNACK: 5L of water
