It was like being smacked in the face with a sack of bricks. Your jab life unfiltered

Anna-Louise Dearden | Last update: 18th October 2025

Why did you decide to start slimming jabs – and what was your turning point?

(We love a lightbulb moment – big or small.)

A little backstory first…I’m a bariatric patient. I had weight loss surgery (WLS) back in July 2021 — a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, or VSG, through the NHS. Basically, VSG surgery removes up to 90% of your stomach, leaving you with a cute little banana-shaped pouch designed to dramatically reduce how much food you can eat.

And honestly? It worked. My body physically lost weight, which was amazing… but, and it’s a big but, the support and education around the surgery were non-existent. I didn’t learn a single thing about nutrition, I ate all the wrong things, and I was still being fuelled by childhood trauma and years of poor coping mechanisms. My loss was good, but it wasn’t great.

Then, the whispers started. Little snippets of conversation about this revolutionary new drug. At first, it was just chatter. A friend mentioned it, then another, and before I knew it, my close friend Amber casually dropped, “Oh, Mounjaro? Been on it for weeks now!” And went on about how incredible it was.

I brushed it off, thinking, “Well, that’s probably not an option for me as a bariatric patient,” and I shoved it to the back of my mind…but then it kept popping up. Articles online. Social media posts. More and more conversations. And then one day, I overheard someone talking about it, and they said two little words that hit me harder than I ever expected:

Food noise.

It was like being smacked in the face with a sack of bricks.

I’ve always had food noise — I just never knew it had a name. I thought I was just “a foodie” or a “comfort eater” because of my childhood trauma. But no, this was different. It was constant, relentless noise in my head about food, and suddenly, I realised this might actually be the missing puzzle piece.

That moment was my tipping point.

I dove headfirst into research.

My boyfriend and I spent hours combing through articles, studies, forums — everything we could get our hands on. And after a lot of reading (and a little bit of soul-searching), we looked at each other and I basically said, “F**k it. I’m going to give this a try.”

What surprised you most when you started?

(Be honest. We’ve heard everything from burping air to crying over chips.)

Shockingly, the thing that surprised me most was the silence. No food noise! Who knew?!

For the first time in my entire (conscious) life, my brain wasn’t constantly

buzzing about food. It was surreal.

Freeing, yes, but also unexpectedly tough. I’d spent my whole life consumed by food thoughts, and suddenly, not only were they gone, but sometimes I even felt repulsed by food. Honestly, it felt a bit like betrayal.

I had to learn how to eat on purpose – choosing meals and making sure I was getting enough (and eating well) even when I wasn’t the slightest bit interested. That sounds simple, but when your desire for food disappears, or worse, flips into disgust – it’s a whole new challenge. Adjusting to that silence and finding balance took me the longest time to feel “normal.”

What’s your jab routine like now – pen, time, tricks?

(Do you set an alarm, use a Post-it, or just wing it?)

Honestly, my jab routine is pretty straightforward these days! I do my jab every Wednesday evening around 9pm. I’ll admit, there were a couple of times early on when I completely forgot and had that “oh no!” moment the next morning. Not me frantically jabbing first thing before work. Lesson learned! Now I’ve got Alexa reminding me at 9pm sharp, and she keeps me in line (not just with MJ either, haha!).

I started out as a belly jabber, but after about a month or so I started getting some stingy pains around the injection sites, which wasn’t fun. So I switched to my thighs, and that’s been working much better. The only downside? I’ve been building up muscle from weight training, so finding a soft spot to jab is getting tricky. Jabbing into muscle is the pits!

Who has been the most supportive person in your WLD journey?

(Mum, bf, total strangers?)

I’ll try not to turn this into my “thank you to my Mam and Dad” award speech, especially since my birthgiver (she’s been officially demoted from “mother”) was pretty much the root cause of my obesity. She will not be getting a shout-out in my memoirs, let me tell you that! 

My number one supporter is without a doubt my boyfriend, JD. At first, he was pretty nervous about me starting MJ — mostly because neither of us really knew much about it. But JD has this thing where he can see a situation from about a thousand different perspectives (it’s his superpower, honestly), so he threw himself into learning about it. That way, he could talk things through with me, help me process my thoughts, and support me every step of the way.

He loves those quiet little moments no one else sees — like when I catch myself in the mirror, admiring the changes in my body and feeling proud of how far I’ve come.

He says watching the joy on my face in those moments is one of his favourite things.

And honestly, I’m beyond lucky to have such an amazing group of friends, too — some on MJ, some not — but every single one of them has had my back. I’m one very grateful (and very loved) gal.

What’s your go-to comfort food now – and what’s out?

(Pasta forever? Chicken ick? We want it all.)

Funny enough, since being on MJ, I don’t really take comfort from food anymore — and that’s been one of the biggest mental shifts.

Having the freedom to not be totally consumed by thoughts of food has given me space to actually learn about what I’m eating and why. It’s all part of preparing myself for life after I hit target — and, scarier still, life without MJ. Tackling the mental noise and managing without appetite suppression is going to be my next big challenge, so I’m using this time to get ready for it.

When it comes to food, my plate is pretty predictable now — protein and veggies are my holy grail combo. It’s become second nature at this point.

But let’s be real. I have a sweet tooth that could rival Willy Wonka’s entire factory, and no amount of GLP-1s or willpower is ripping that out of me. I will eat chocolate EVERY DAMN DAY — and that is a hill I will happily die on. The difference is, I’ve learned balance. I plan my day around my calories and macros so I can hit my goals and still have room for my daily sweet fix. Moderation might sound boring and cliché, but turns out… It actually works.

Best thing you’ve gained – besides weight loss?

(Confidence? Shoes you can finally lace up? Energy to argue with your partner again?)

Clarity. Knowledge. Understanding.

I’ve learned so much about myself — more than I ever expected when I started this journey. I’ve unpacked a lot of trauma, and realised just how deeply it was tied to food — probably always will be, if I’m honest. I’m working through that with therapy, education, and a healthy dose of stubborn determination not to be the “fat girl” my birthgiver conditioned me to believe I was for so many years.

I’ve also learned more about nutrition, my body, and what it actually needs — not just what my emotions used to demand. But the biggest thing I’ve gained? Self-love. Real, raw, unconditional love for myself. The kind I never got as a kid, but I’m giving it to myself now — every single day. Because if nothing else… I deserve this.

Anything you wish someone had told you at the start?

(Newbies, take notes.)

Honestly, the only thing I’ve said throughout my MJ journey is that I wish I’d known about it sooner.

When I first joined the amazing community of fellow jabbers, I saw people already 12 months into their journeys — glowing, thriving, living proof that this worked — and I couldn’t help but think, “Where was this when I needed it most?”

Still, I’m a big believer that everything happens when it’s meant to. So maybe I wasn’t late… maybe I just arrived fashionably on time. Better late than pregn — I mean, never! 🤭

What’s your take on the whole easy way out chat – and have you adjusted your lifestyle too – fitness/nutrition etc.?

(Be honest. It helps our readers cope.)

Honestly? I couldn’t give a f**k about the ‘easy way out’ chatter. Unless someone’s lugged around 200–300lbs and wrestled daily with food like it’s both a best friend and an enemy, they cannot possibly relate.

You don’t get to critique the route if you’ve never hiked the mountain — and so many of ours came with extra baggage, literally.

What’s your next goal?

(Could be to run for a bus or dance at my daughter’s wedding – or come off the drugs and carry on with a lifestyle change – whatever matters to you.)

I’ve got just 26lbs left to hit my ultimate target — a total loss of 166lbs! Once I reach that milestone, I’ll be stepping into Maintenance Mode (cue dramatic music). This phase is a big one — I need to maintain for six months before I can move forward with skin removal surgery. It’s the final stretch, and I’m determined to finish strong!

Finally – give us your one-liner SlimrChat wisdom?

(What would you write on a Post-it for the next person starting out?)

The glow hits differently when it’s powered by self-respect.

Are you inspired by Lozzii’s journey like we are? Have a look at Wendy, Laura, Emily, Katie and Jen’s journeys.