The mum said she feels much happier now but has to put up with negative comments
A mother of two has opened up about her weight loss journey using a medical jab, revealing that some people have labeled her “lazy” for not taking a more natural approach. Emma Lasenby, 36, spent years struggling with her weight, often avoiding social situations and finding it difficult to keep up with her young children, aged four and eight.
Mornings were particularly hard as she would often be reduced to tears when she saw herself in the mirror. However, a turning point came when she saw a photo of herself at her brother’s wedding. Realising she needed to make a change, Emma began researching injections that would help with weight loss.
Less than a year later, she has lost over four stone. However, despite one in 10 women in the UK using weight loss medication, Emma, from Kent, is among the 38% who feel that people who take this route are judged more harshly than those who lose weight through traditional methods.
Emma, who works as an NHS infant feeding specialist, told What’s The Jam: “There is so much judgment about people’s weight and size, and then again about people doing something about it.” She chose to be selective about who she told regarding her use of weight loss medication but had already heard dismissive comments from others. “People assume that if you use medication, you’re lazy or that your weight loss doesn’t count because it wasn’t achieved through exercise.”
Emma believes that weight loss medication is just one tool to assist in the process. “It’s not a magic wand, but it gives people the time and space to reset habits and develop a healthier relationship with food.” Before starting on medication, Emma had tried various weight loss methods, including Slimming World, restrictive diets and intense exercise routines. However, the results were always short-lived with her saying she needed a “sustainable way to lose weight.”
“I’d tried so many diets and exercise programs, but the weight always crept back on faster than it came off. I needed something sustainable. Using weight loss medication is another tool to aid the process – it’s not a magic wand – but it does give people time and space to reset habits and replace those unhealthy relationships we have with food. I felt so confident and comfortable in what I had worn for my brother’s wedding, but when I saw the photo, I was shocked.
“In reality, I looked entirely different. We were due to go on holiday later that year, and I was a bridesmaid. I refused to look or feel the same as I did that day. Emma had been trying to lose weight since she was a young adult, but after having a second child this took a back seat. At her heaviest, she weighed over 14 stone, and her self-esteem suffered.
She said: “I didn’t feel confident or accepted at my size. I learned to dress a certain way to hide my body and lost my sense of style – I worried about how I would feel and how others would see me. Compliments always seemed to have a caveat. I didn’t have the energy to keep up with my children. I was tired, had aches, and lacked energy.”
Like many of us, we don’t often consider its nutritional value especially if we’re in a rush and need a quick meal. But fed up with repeated failures, Emma researched and came across Mounjaro. The self-injectable medication, primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, but has also been adopted for weight loss purposes.
Emma accessed the medication through Juniper after checking her eligibility and discussing a plan with a prescriber. A starting dose can begin at £180, increasing depending on dosage adjustments. She recalled: “Before, when I lost weight, it quickly crept back on faster than it came off whenever I stopped dieting or exercising. Now, I’m more confident, wear what I like, and feel like I’ve got my own style again. I’m more energised and willing to do more things.”
Now, Emma weighs 10 stone and has dropped from a UK dress size 18 to 12. She said: “I now understand how to balance my nutrition throughout the day and the importance of fuelling my body regularly. I make use of protein shakes, and lunch is something simple – balanced, with a focus on protein – rather than eating large portions for the sake of it. For dinner, we use a subscription service, which has been great for finding new recipes.
“I’ve never felt that ‘buzz’ after a workout, so this time, I’m integrating exercise into my daily life. Getting out with the kids, multiple trips up and down the stairs – anything to keep moving.” Emma is now on a maintenance dose of Mounjaro as she approaches her target weight. For her, though, it’s not about getting as small as possible – but finding the point where she feels happy and where her weight no longer impacts her daily life.
She hopes sharing her story will encourage others to consider weight loss medication if they feel it’s the right choice – but emphasises the importance of doing thorough research first. Emma added: “Decide what you want. “No weight loss will stick if you aren’t willing to change your habits. I had no contraindications aside from being mindful of the side effects – but I decided it was worth a go. Now, I no longer worry about what people think of my appearance – they’ll always judge regardless – but what truly matters is my acceptance of how I look and feel. And that’s been a massive shift.”
