A WOMAN who struggled to lose weight through WeightWatchers is now delighted to have lost three stone using fat jabs.
Amanda Strowbridge steadily gained weight after the menopause started, but became unhappy when she reached 14st 5lbs – despite eating healthily and exercising.
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After trying multiple weight loss methods – including the slimming group – the 56-year-old decided to try jabs Wegovy and Mounjaro and has had incredible results.
After dropping to 11st and feeling better than ever, Amanda revealed how easy she found losing weight on the jabs.
“I didn’t even notice the weight coming off when I was on the jabs – whereas, on a diet, you’re white-knuckling it to get through,” Amanda, a therapist from London, told Need To Know.
“It was just so easy.
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“There’s no willpower needed like there is with slimming groups – it does the work for you.
“I’m 56, so I’m old enough to have tried everything.
“I did WeightWatchers years and years ago and it just wasn’t effective – it was only successful for about six weeks, and then I was back to where I started.
“I also didn’t want to go and sit around listening to how much weight people had lost – I’d rather use that time going to the gym.
Mounjaro — a brand name for tirzepatide — is a so-called ‘fat jab’ which the NHS plans to roll out to a quarter of a million people over the next three years.
It works by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer.
And although many people have had successful experiences with the jab, others have reported side effects, such as anxiety and depression.
Additionally, there has been a recent uptick in people buying the jabs from unlicensed online pharmacies.
Figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency recently revealed that fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK, so it is important to only use the medication if it has been properly prescribed to you by the NHS.
WeightWatchers filed for bankruptcy last week, and Amanda believes that this was inevitable, thanks to skinny jabs.
What are the side effects of weight loss jabs?
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.
“The public are way more educated and aware now of dietary advice, so it’s no surprise.
“There’s a price difference, obviously, but if people can afford it, I think they’ll inevitably pick the jabs.
“WeightWatchers have had their run, and now it’s time for something else.”
Amanda has worked as a nutritionist, personal trainer and therapist, but struggled with weight gain after going through menopause.
She said: “I was getting fatter and fatter, even though I was still eating healthy and exercising.
“My hormones had gone up the creek and I put on about three stone.
“It was just going up and up and up.”
Amanda went to the doctor to have a blood test and was close to being pre-diabetic – despite her healthy lifestyle.
She said: “I have tried everything.
“The more I exercised, the hungrier I was, and the more tired I was.”
Amanda researched online and heard from a cousin in the US about Ozempic, having had great results himself, and she decided to try it herself, starting Wegovy in November 2023.
She later switched to Mounjaro six months later and hasn’t looked back since.
Amanda is currently ‘micro-dosing’ using a very small amount, which she admits she may need to continue for life.
But she says it is well worth it, saying she has noticed her knees feeling better following the weight loss – and even believes it has had an anti-inflammatory effect on her.
She added: “If I needed to lose weight again, I’d definitely turn to jabs over groups like WeightWatchers.”
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