A MUM who tried "every diet under the sun" finally managed to lose 11 stone using a Mounjaro weight loss jab.
Rebecca Banks, 25, had struggled with her weight for years, tipped the scales at 26st 6lbs, and wore a size 28 at her biggest.
"Basic activities like walking were a struggle," Rebecca says, saying she struggled to get up the stairs.
"It affected me mentally massively - I was unhappy with my body image."
Rebecca - who admits she "couldn't be bothered to cook" before - would order takeaways daily, costing her £500 a month.
She had tried "everything" to shift the weight - including Saxenda jabs, Weight Watchers and fasting, but nothing seemed to work.
Saxenda, which contains the active ingredient liraglutide, is another weight loss jab that's been available on the NHS since 2020.
With her weight "massively" affecting her mental health, Rebecca decided enough was enough after seeing herself in a photo that her friend took.
Starting in April 2024, she initially lost 4st herself through improving her diet - ditching takeaways and fast food and eating lean meats and vegetables instead and upping her daily step count to 10,000.
Four months later, Rebecca started on weekly Mounjaro jabs which cost her £199 a month privately, and £1,500 in total.
She has gone on to lose a further 7st in nine months.
Despite minor stomach ache on occasion, Rebecca has suffered no other side effects of the jabs which are injected into her stomach.
She now weighs 15st exactly, walks 10,000 steps a day, wears a slender size 16 and says her mental health has improved.
Rebecca, a stay-at-home mum-of-one from Clitheroe, Lancashire, said: "My son, Lorenzo, 13 months, is the main reason why I wanted to lose it.
"As soon as I had him, I wanted to be around for him and not get any obesity-related issues.
"I tried lots of other things before and they all didn't work.
"Some people may see it as cheating but I say it's a tool to help me on the journey - it's helped me change my relationship with food.
"My mental relationship with food has changed because of it.
"Now my mental health has improved a lot, and I'm sleeping much better."
Before losing the weight, Rebecca felt as though she didn't have energy to cook proper meals - something she says the jab has helped to reverse.
Some people may see it as cheating but I say it's a tool to help me on the journey - it's helped me change my relationship with food
Rebecca Banks
Rebecca said: "I was just eating fast food all the time, and I couldn't be bothered to cook.
"Ordering takeaways was my worst thing - I'd get KFC, McDonald's, pizza takeaways and spend around £500 a month on them.
"Going up the stairs was difficult, as well as fitting in the car.
"I didn't have body dysmorphia as such, but one day, I thought I really needed to do something after someone took a photo of me - I was disgusted with how overweight I'd become.
"But the jab has massively changed my relationship with food."
Diet before
Breakfast: Full English fry up
Lunch: Pizza
Dinner: A takeaway of some sort
Drinks: Fizzy drinks
Diet after
Breakfast: Protein porridge and fruit
Lunch: Sweet potato and tuna
Dinner: Salmon or meat and veg
Drinks: Water, juice and protein shakes
A calorie deficit and daily walks helped her shift the initial 4st and since going on Mounjaro, Rebecca has now replaced driving with walks as much as possible.
She said: "I started eating more meat and vegetables rather than takeaways, fast food, and processed foods.
"I massively reduced my carbs and sugar intake because I've got PCOS as well and carbs and sugar can affect you more.
"After that, I felt I was struggling to shift more.
"Mounjaro has really benefited me - it's shrunk my appetite and reduced something called food noise - which reduces thoughts about food.
"I'm not thinking about what I'm going to eat next.
Mounjaro has really benefited me - it's shrunk my appetite and reduced something called food noise - which reduces thoughts about food
Rebecca Banks
"I had no side effects, and straight away, I was mentally ready, and I was on it - it does take some time to get used to eating the smaller portions.
"I'm hoping not to take it forever. I don't want to.
"I'm hoping when I get to my goal weight of 13st then I'll slowly wean myself off and stick to a healthy lifestyle."
Despite her physical and mental change, Rebecca is still adjusting to her new look.
She said: "I still look in the mirror now and still see myself as huge.
"It's only when I see photos that I can actually see a difference.
"I'm able to do simple tasks without getting out of breath and I have more energy to take my son out.
"I can actually go into shops and try things on too."
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) became available in the UK after being authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in November 2023.
NHS England approved its use on December 23, 2024, with a long-term plan to make it widely available.
To be eligible to get Mounjaro on the NHS users must have a BMI of 35 or more (32.5 or more if you're of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin) and at least one weight-related health problem like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
But people in the UK can pay privately for a prescription.
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
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