A pregnant mother who was “terrified” of causing her baby health issues after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes has revealed her incredible transformation – losing 10 stone to overhaul her health.
During her third pregnancy, Kirsty Anderson developed severe gestational diabetes and had to manage her sugar levels for the sake of her unborn child’s health.
Weighing 21 stone and with a BMI of 46, the 31-year-old was told that she would develop type 2 diabetes if she didn’t make serious lifestyle changes – and fast.
“Even when we were going through fertility treatment and having our babies – which should have been such a happy time – I didn’t feel like myself,” Kirsty, a stay-at-home mum from Stirling, Scotland, told Need To Know.
“Having gestational diabetes changed my outlook on everything.
“I didn’t want to be having to take insulin for the rest of my life.
“I was also terrified of causing my baby to have lifelong issues with sugar just due to my eating habits whilst pregnant, so I took this very seriously and really changed my whole lifestyle.”
From cleaning up her diet, Kirsty was able to shed four stone while still pregnant with her daughter, which “shocked” the mum.
But by the time the baby was three months old, she could feel the weight creeping back on again, with old habits dying hard.
Kirsty, who has struggled with her weight for years, said: “There’s never been a time when I wasn’t obese.
“Slimming World, Herbalife, fasting – you name it, I had tried everything.
“They [the diets] didn’t work.
“Everything just wasn’t sustainable long-term, so whilst I got quick instant results, there would be no way I could continue with the diets and maintain a healthy weight afterwards.”
Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Kirsty’s insulin resistance and androgen levels were raised, and she was forced to take insulin twice a day to try and manage her symptoms.
At her wits’ end, Kirsty was determined to get healthy once and for all, for the sake of her three daughters – aged nine, five and eight months.
She decided to try weight loss medication Mounjaro, using healthcare provider Voy, and has gone on to lose a further six stone in five months.
Kirsty said: “Mounjaro has changed everything for me.
“I am now a healthy size 12 and for the first time in my adult life have a healthy BMI.
“I go to the gym three times a week and love it because I can finally feel confident about being in there and actually noticing huge progress.
“I always loved the gym, but due to never getting my eating habits under control, my weight was just spiralling.
“Looking back, my eating habits were the real problem.
“With Mounjaro, I have learned what I can and can’t eat and how much I need.
“I stayed on the lowest dose for the first three months of my journey to try and ensure I wasn’t relying on the medicine for cravings control, which I am definitely not now.”
Kirsty, who didn’t experience any side effects from the drug, now weighs 11st 11lbs and fits comfortably into a size 12 – having previously worn a size 22.
She added, “I can walk into a regular clothes shop now and actually find something that fits.
“No more hunting for XXXL or squeezing into Primark leggings.
“It’s such a small thing, but it means the world.
“My engagement ring used to be a size 22 and now it doesn’t even stay on – that says it all, really.”
As well as a change in her appearance, Kirsty’s energy levels have also seen a huge boost.
She said: “My eldest is into dancing and now I’m the mum jumping up and down, cheering her on.
“Whilst everyone is different and reacts differently to things, I feel that for anyone who Mounjaro is safe to use and they are having trouble losing and maintaining their weight loss should absolutely give it a go.
“You won’t know until you try.”
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