Just to be clear, I say all this with love and compassion. I work in the health, fitness, and wellness industry to give women choices about what they want to do. My goal is to create a space for women to feel good about themselves, away from diet culture. I use the same ideas as them, but without the shame and guilt.

That is, using Food, Exercise and Behaviour change to change how you feel about yourself.

I am not anti weight loss, I am anti diet culture.

The industry shames you into believing you are not worthy as you are. It promotes the idea that you are broken. It suggests you need this ‘magic’ and usually expensive product to feel worthy and unbroken. Promising something that is quick and easy but lasting short term.

And this isn’t just weight loss injections this is diet culture as a whole.

I also have no issues with women choosing to use it.

So many women have their choices taken away from them about how they treat their own bodies. I am certainly not about to start telling you that you shouldn’t do it.

For me, it’s always been about women making choices for themselves. It’s about feeling good in your body, having confidence, and feeling worthy. You should feel worthy just as they are or as you change it. It’s also important to be physically and mentally strong.

It felt like we had come far with anti diet culture. Yet, with weight loss injections readily available, we have taken many steps backwards. Back into the thick of diet culture where they make billions off women’s insecurities.

Again, I am not anti weight loss!

Let’s be honest about weight loss

Losing weight in a world of chocolate digestives and takeaway apps is no small task. For many people, the journey towards a healthier weight is complex. It involves years of dieting and emotional eating. We get conflicting advice. Our metabolism seems to have hit the snooze button.

So when these medications enter the room, it’s no wonder there’s curiosity. There’s also confusion and even a little bit of hope too.

I know you want to feel good in your body, and I also know you wanted to feel like that.. like yesterday.

I’ve been there to. I was so desperate to achieve weight loss. I wanted to finally feel confident in my body. I would have done anything to get me there.

Weight gain is mostly a combination of how you eat and how you move. Your body is doing its unique thing based on age and genetics. Illness, hormones, and many other factors also play a role.

The biggest blocker to weight loss I have seen is the change in behaviour people need to undertake to achieve this goal.

This is why my approach to changing anything is slow and steady. It should be achievable with a little bit of discomfort. This encourages us to push through the ‘comfort zone’ we love to live in.

(BTW its normal for all humans to stay in this safe zone, so you’re not broken. You are just staying safe in the ‘known’ rather than the ‘unknown’ because the unknown can bring erm.. death… back in the day when we needed this life saving awareness from the dangers of sabertoothed tigers)

Let’s break it all down:

What these medications actually are, what they do, their ups and downs. Most importantly, how to make sure you don’t end up relying on them forever.

So what are weight loss injections

In simple terms, weight loss medications are prescribed to help people who are considered overweight. This includes those with a BMI of 30+ or slightly lower if you have health conditions too. The goal is to weigh less.

Although each medication is different they broadly do the same thing!

Weight Loss Injections are a group of medications that mimic the actions of a hormone your body produces. It’s called Glucagon – Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1). And comes in brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy.

• Appetite Suppressants: Trick your body into feeling fuller, so you’re less likely to raid the fridge after dinner.
• Fat Absorption Blockers: Stop some fat in food from being absorbed. Be cautious, as you’ll want to be near a loo if you go overboard on the chips, just saying.
• Blood Sugar Stabilisers: Help regulate insulin levels and reduce cravings, especially for sugary foods.

Think of them like stabilisers on a bike. They help you to get going, but they’re not meant to stay on forever.

It can reduce hunger levels. This leads to lower intake of energy (calories) from food. It can reduce the urge to eat high fat foods, also known as eating less!

The result:  you lose weight.

The Positives (just to make it a more ‘balanced’ view point)

Helps kickstart weight loss when it feels impossible. (I’m not going to challenge how you feel, your feelings are your own.  I know weight loss feels impossible, I’ve been there)

Improves physical health markers by lowering health related risks linked to too much weight gain. (My view is there is more to health than the number of the scale but this blog isn’t about the causes and effect side of health and weight, I’m sure I’ve done a podcast on that)

Boosts confidence and mental wellbeing because you feel lighter, move easier and removes weight stigma (aka societies fat shaming ideals)

‘Supports’ lifestyle changes by reducing hunger and cravings making it easy to stick to healthy eating habits. (in the short term while you use it)

They offer hope to women who have tried everything! (nice bit of shame based marketing here, you’ve tried everything and look, you still can’t be successfully, try this instead)

But what about the side effects?

The not so glamorous side of these meds

Common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Oily stools (particularly with Orlistat – lovely)
• Headaches
• Tiredness

More serious (but less common) risks:

• Gallstones
• Pancreatitis
• Mood changes

These medications need proper monitoring to make sure they’re helping, not harming.

Also worth noting: These meds are not suitable for everyone. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have certain medical conditions, they won’t be prescribed. Again, medical supervision is key.

Just like any other diet culture quick fix, most people regain the weight once they stop taking it. They rebound the weight back on. They regain about 2/3^rd of it.

Why? Because their full appetite returns. Which means you need to take it forever to keep the weight you have lost.

Out of pure interest I did a quick google search based on One month supply used for 1 year. It was £2340 a year.  If you are my age and needed to take it forever it would cost you £70k. Imagine what you could do with that sort of money.

Lifestyle Changes: The real secret to long term weight loss success

❤️Here’s the truth:

No weight loss can be sustained without changes to how you live your life.

These medications are not a short cut. Yes, I believe they can be used to support you. But lasting results come from how to eat, move and take care of yourself.

You need to create a lifestyle that supports your energy, health, mental wellbeing, physical health and your long term wellbeing.

Otherwise you are spending £70k just to stay thin! And who has that money just floating around.

So if you are using medication to Kickstart your weight loss and don’t want to be on it forever here are some things to start working on:

🥙Start building your meals so they support your body and with foods you love to eat.

Focus on nourishment, not restriction. More plants, More fibre, more protein. Less guilt, less punishment and definitely no celery juice (unless you actually like it anyway)

️🏋️‍♀️Movement: Particularly strength training and walking.

The issue with rapid weight loss is that the body needs energy to keep going. It craves tasty energy. Muscles give energy and nutrients. Other body parts like fat and bones also contribute to the body’s functionality.

When you are going for weight loss, some muscle loss is normal. Yet, with rapid weight loss, up to about 40% of your weight loss can be muscle mass.

And women in their 40s need muscle mass. Bone density helps support our bodies changing in menopause. It also prevents things like osteoporosis. Your body needs its muscle and its bones if you want to live a long mobile life

Unfortunately society prizes thinness over health…

New scientist GLP-1 drugs are only the start – the powerful drugs to expect next | New Scientist

“a GLP-1 treatment called albiglutide was found to reduce strokes and heart attacks with only minor weight loss in trials. Yet, this drug is no longer manufactured. It wasn’t profitable.” (WTF)

So… as always, start small. Tin cans in the living room with a You tube video is a good place to start.

😴Manage your stress, rest and self care.

If you are like me, you are running around at a million miles an hour. You are hoping to get everything done with no space for your own ‘to do’ list. Slow down my queen, that shit is going to be there later too.

Sleep and stress is often overlooked, but it is vital. Poor sleep and chronic stress can mess with your hunger hormones. Prioritise rest and self-care like you would a friend in need.

🤯Ditch the all or nothing thinking

No more: I’ve ruined it so I might as well eat myself house out of home (Is that the quote?, I think that might be one of those miss worded quotes I have from childhood). You haven’t ruined anything, life is life, eating is eating. Sometimes stuff happens. The problem is you haven’t been taught to overcome these ‘setbacks’.

So what! it didn’t go to plan, learn from it and move on. Failure is only providing you feedback on how not to do it next time.

Eating & Moving Well While on Medication

Here’s where the real magic happens: combining the medication with a slow, sustainable shift in how you eat and move.

 Top Tips:

• Use the reduced appetite as a chance to reconnect with hunger and fullness cues.
• Don’t skip meals! aim for regular eating to avoid dips in energy and mood.
• Focus on how food makes you feel, not what result it will give you on the scales
• Set gentle movement goals
• Treat self-care like a non-negotiable – because it is.

Build the habits now, you’ll have something to fall back on once the medication is phased out.

You’re still the Queen of this story

Here’s the most important part: taking Weight loss medication doesn’t mean you’ve “failed.”

 It doesn’t mean you’re cheating.

It means you’re human, and you’re getting support. It’s like using glasses to see better. Or it’s like using braces to straighten teeth.

You are still in charge. These meds are a tool, not a replacement, for your own wisdom, effort, and courage.

You’re allowed to want to feel good in your body. And can to make that happen in a way that’s kind, supportive, and works for you.

So, are weight loss medications helpful? They can be.

But they work best when paired with compassionate support, lifestyle changes, and a whole lot of self love.

If you’re considering them, have an honest chat with your GP. And if you’re already on them, focus on creating habits that will serve you even after you’re done.

You’re not broken, lazy, or lacking willpower. You are just doing what you think is best for you at this time.

Pin for later

Drop a comment below, or get in touch – I’d love to hear your thoughts 💬