A woman who used to spend £250 a month on her “takeaway addiction” has revealed her 7st weight loss after ditching the habit to fund “skinny jabs” instead.
Natalie Strange felt “disgusted” with the way she looked.
The 36-year-old had tried everything, such as Weight Watchers, Slimming World and a calorie deficit diet with no success.
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She found it difficult, though, to kick her £250-a-month “takeaway addiction” and ended up in a vicious cycle with no clear way out.
Until she visited her doctor, who said she was pre-diabetic with a “dangerous” level of high blood pressure.
Natalie, terrified about the future, then came across Mounjaro and cut her unhealthy habits to fund the jabs instead, costing £200 a month.
In less than a year, she’s lost seven stone – and has been able to build up her savings at the same time.
“I didn’t even really enjoy eating takeaways,” the stay-at-home mum, from Norwich, told Need To Know.
“It just let me feeling guilty and bloated.
“[Cutting this addiction] has basically funded my medication.
“I had been trying my whole adult life to lose weight.
“I’d avoid travelling with my husband because I felt like an embarrassment.
“It made me miserable, anxious and depressed.
“People used to tell me I looked unhealthy, or severely bloated.
“It really got me down and I was desperate to find a way out of this never-ending cycle.
“When doctors told me how poor my physical health was, though, that was the moment I knew something had to change.”
Before, she’d eat pastries or a full English for breakfast, followed by a large Big Mac meal with a milkshake and apple pie for lunch.
At dinner, it’d be something from the local takeaway, such as a kebab or Chinese.
Natalie, who felt exhausted, couldn’t find the energy to squeeze in any exercise, which left her weighing 19st at her heaviest.
When starting Mounjaro in March 2024, though, she instantly saw results.
She said: “In the first week, I lost 10lbs and then in less than a month, I went down by two-stone.
“I never felt full before and was constantly craving junk food; but not anymore.
“Now I feel like a new person.
“I take pride in my appearance and better care of my hair, skin and nails.
“I’m struggling to find my new style though, as I’m unsure what to wear now since none of my clothes fit me.”
Natalie has gone from a UK dress size 22 to a 10.
She regularly does yoga, strength training and running, which has led her to find new friends and boosted her confidence.
Currently, she’s on a 5mg maintenance dose and plans to come off the jabs completely this year.
While did she experience nausea, stomach cramps and frequent headaches; she doesn’t regret the decision one bit.
She added: “My only advice is to do it.
“It’s changed my life – and only for the better – you won’t regret it.
“I think there is a general thinking that using medication for weight loss is cheating.
“I feel like it’s just levelling the playing field.
“My desperate need to overindulge was a health problem, not a willpower issue.
“The skinny jabs have just made me normal.”
DIET BREAKDOWN:
BEFORE:
Breakfast: Pastries and other baked goods, three bowls of cereal or a full English
Lunch: Big Mac, large fries, milkshake, cheeseburger and apple pie
Dinner: Chinese or kebab takeaway
Snack: Chocolate or sweets
AFTER:
Breakfast: Protein shake or berries with Greek yogurt
Lunch: Jacket potato with baked beans or protein bagel with ham and cream cheese
Dinner: Chicken and vegetables or high protein low-calorie ready meal
Snack: Fruit, but usually nothing
Natalie’s journey is inspiring and shows how making small financial shifts can lead to big health gains. I’ve found support through shemed.co.uk, which really helped me understand my own wellness path better.