Ellen Ogley dropped five dress sizes, going from a size 18 to a size six after spending months on the weight loss jab – but has a stark warning for others using it
A woman who hit 16st 12lb and a size 18 at her heaviest has managed to drop five dress sizes after going on weight loss drug Mounjaro – but explains where people go wrong after ditching jab.
Ellen Ogley, 42, now shows off her slim figure as she hits the gym and maintains a healthy lifestyle following her stint on the jab. But while she credits the drug for silencing her “food noise” that would consume her day to day life, she insists she’s not reliant on Mounjaro when it comes to maintaining her new weight.
“I wanted to make sure I wasn’t reliant on Mounjaro,” Ellen explains. “I used this as a tool. I’ve done so much work on damage limitation. I want to give others hope they can keep it off. I feel incredible.”
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The mum-of-three and nursery manager from Ilkley, Yorkshire, started piling on weight during a tough period of illness. Diagnosed with cervical and ovarian cancer, Ellen turned to food and wine to cope.
“I had blow-outs. We’d have two or three takeaways a week,” she recalls. “My husband and I would go through three bottles of wine in a weekend – it numbed everything.”
At her heaviest, Ellen had a BMI of 36.5. Doctors warned her she was at higher risk during surgery, so after undergoing a hysterectomy, she made herself a promise:
“I said to myself, ‘If I come out the other side, I will try and take control of my health.'”
By September 2023, Ellen was desperate for a shortcut. She went to a surgeon hoping to get a tummy tuck and liposuction.
“But I needed to lose three stone first. I started intermittent fasting and extreme calorie restriction,” she admits. “I was almost starving myself. It wasn’t sustainable.”
She dropped down to 13st 10lbs and had a £10,000 tummy tuck in February 2024 – but the results were underwhelming.
“I only lost 4lbs more after the surgery. I was devastated,” she says. “I became obsessed with my body – pulling at it, and I had huge hang-ups over my arms.”
Ellen turned to Mounjaro, a weight loss jab designed to help manage appetite. She began taking it in May 2024, combining it with cardio – and says the effects were immediate.
“I thought it was going to be another diet trend, but the food noises got switched off,” she says.
“Before, I’d raid the cupboard when my husband took our daughter to gymnastics. But I suddenly realised, ‘I’ve not touched the snack cupboard.'”
In just 22 weeks, Ellen weaned herself off the jab, replacing old habits with healthier ones. But her success came with unexpected scrutiny.
“I lost my focus. I became obsessed with getting as skinny as possible. I got trolled – they called me Skeletor. People told me I looked like a 60-year-old.”
It was her husband Phil, 53, who gave her the wake-up call she needed.
“He told me I looked ill. That’s when I refocused. I started weight training and fuelling my body properly.”
Today, Ellen weighs 10st, stable at a size six, and maintains her physique without medication. Instead of extreme dieting, she now lifts weights, enjoys balanced meals, and allows herself the occasional treat – but on her own terms.
“I still have takeaways – but I exercise portion control. We make chicken kebabs at home instead of ordering in. If I crave sweets, I have Greek yoghurt, berries and granola instead.
“I have abs at 42 – it blows my mind. But the biggest change isn’t just physical. I feel healthy and strong and I know I’m doing it for the right reasons now.”
Ellen wants to encourage others using Mounjaro to work on changing habits instead of relying solely on the drug.
“If you’re using Mounjaro, don’t expect it to do the work for you. It’s not a cure – it’s a kick-start. You still have to change your habits, your mindset, and how you treat your body. That’s what makes it last.”
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