I lost over 4st on Mounjaro after embarrassing yo-yo dieting weight regain had me hiding from friends ...Middle East

CHRISTINA Park had struggled with yo-yo dieting for years – trapped in a vicious cycle of losing 4 to 8lb, then putting on 6 to 11lb.

“I felt like I had let myself down, but I also felt incredibly embarrassed that I had let this happen after raving about my weight loss so much,” she said.

The 38-year-old mum from Dorset shed 5st 5lb to get to her dream weight – then put it all back on again.

“I hid from many social situations and made excuses to avoid meeting friends I hadn’t seen for a long time,” she added.

“I was weighed down mentally as well as physically.”

Everything changed in April last year when Christina’s partner popped the question.

While thrilled, the thought of being the centre of attention filled her with dread.

“I was happy, of course – but the idea of having hundreds of photos taken and standing in front of everyone terrified me,” she said.

Desperate to feel confident on her big day, she opened up to her bridesmaids.

One mentioned Mounjaro – a weekly injection designed to help regulate blood sugar and reduce appetite.

“I’d never considered weight loss medication before,” Christina said.

“But after doing a lot of research and speaking to my maid of honour, who was keen to try it too, I decided to give it a go.”

She started the treatment in August 2024 through Oushk Pharmacy.

At 15st 8lb (99kg), she set herself a goal: to feel comfortable in her skin again by her wedding day in August this year.

Since then, Christina has lost 4st 1lb (26kg) and dropped from a size 18–20 to a 12–14.

“I feel like a different person,” she said.

“I’m incredibly proud of myself. I’m more active, my habits have changed, and my confidence is growing every day.”

She even enjoyed wedding dress shopping – something she’d been dreading.

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 patient.info, 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.

“I found my dream dress and fitted into every single one beautifully,” she explained.

“It was honestly the best experience ever.”

Christina, who shared her journey on TikTok, said her struggles with food began in childhood.

“My dad would always set restrictions on certain drinks or food I could have,” she said.

“But he would always want me to finish my plate and eat what was in front of me whether I liked it or not.

“My mother always allowed me open access to all kinds of food.

“She was a great cook and served big portions, which were mostly very rich.

“We would also often have takeaways on the nights my dad wasn’t around – he was a policeman working different shifts.”

After the birth of her son, Christina joined Slimming World weighing 15st 10lb (100kg).

She lost 5st 5lb in 13 months, but slowly gained it back over four years.

“Then Covid hit and I was back to square one weighing more than I did in 2014,” she said.

This time feels different. Christina now uses a walking pad and has built exercise into her routine.

Remember that obesity is an illness and addiction that is very hard to control

She has even started jogging – something she couldn’t manage for more than 30 seconds five months ago.

“I have a new relationship with food,” she said.

“Once the food noise is silent you just see it all so differently and make so many better choices.

“I’ve found a growing confidence, wellness, energy and overall life quality, new friends and a growing support network.

“My friends and family are super proud and incredibly happy that I have made such amazing changes to my life that have improved my life quality and happiness.

“My mother has been so amazed that she started her own Mounjaro journey a month ago.”

Christina added: “Remember that obesity is an illness and addiction that is very hard to control.

“If ‘eat less and exercise more’ was so easy, we all would have done it and be slim.

“Don’t let people tell you you are lazy and choosing the easy way out. You are looking out for yourself and taking charge of your life again for a better future.

“Mounjaro isn’t a magical pen, but it’s a tool that can aid us to change our lives for the better.”

How to blast belly fat WITHOUT going to gym or dieting

Chew your food

This mindfulness trick is used to focus your brain on the food you are eating – how it tastes and feels – rather than scoffing it in a hurry. If the brain does not register that you have eaten, you’ll soon crave more food.

Avocado a day

Eating avocado every day can fight visceral fat in women, which collects around the organs in the stomach and can lead to diabetes, heart attack, and some cancers, according to a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study of 105 people.

Avoid fizzy drinks

Losing belly “fat” may just be a case of preventing bloating, which can be onset by fizzy soft drinks. Instead, keep hydrated with water.

Reduce alcohol

Alcohol does no favours at all for our health or figures. It is ’empty calories’, meaning it contributes to your calorie intake without giving any nutritional benefit.

Hangovers can also lead you to eat more fatty foods, while putting you off exercising.

Sleep more

Various studies have shown that if you’re not sleeping well, it can cause weight gain.

People are more likely to crave junk food when they are sleep deprived because, not only are they in need of an energy boost, but their appetite hormones are all over the place.

Reduce stress

Stress causes an imbalance of hormones, particularly cortisol. This hormone has been linked with obesity and excess belly fat.

Find ways to reduce your stress to avoid the so-called ‘stress belly’.

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