A woman who turned to Ozempic to lose weight says it has not only helped her drop more than six stone – it’s taken 10 years off her appearance too.
Chanel Robinson first started using the once-weekly injection with the goal of slimming down.
The 29-year-old had gained weight during the pandemic and found herself struggling with low confidence at nearly 18 stone.
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But things took a turn when a routine health check revealed she was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol.
The discovery was the wake-up call she needed to finally take control of her health.
“Physically, just walking around doing miles was hard,” Chanel, from Atlanta, Georgia, told What’s The Jam.
“I just felt very sluggish and I think I slept a lot more. I had low confidence. I wasn’t happy with myself and I was super critical.
“I didn’t feel comfortable wearing certain things. I felt like going out was a task.”
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Due to her pre-diabetes and high cholesterol, Chanel says she was able to get a prescription for the weight loss injectable “pretty easily”.
However, her medical insurance does not cover the expenses, meaning she has to fork out around $1,500 for a month’s worth.
But having shed 6.5 stone, Chanel says the hefty cost is more than worth it.
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The content creator posted her transformation on TikTok where it racked up an incredible 7.8m views, 609,000 likes and 6,620 comments.
She said: “I started taking them 100% for weight loss.
“I was unhappy with my weight and how I looked. I was 246lbs then – I’m like 5ft, too.
“I felt like my life was heading in the wrong direction so I decided to start taking them then.
“I went to the doctor and I found out I was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol.
“I needed to be on them for reasons other than weight loss.
“Weight has not always been something I’ve struggled with, but I did put on 60 to 70lbs during Covid.
“I know being sedentary during that time didn’t help and I continued those bad habits I developed during those times.”
Chanel says having polycystic ovary syndrome (PSOS), a condition where you have few, unusual or very long periods, also contributed to her weight gain.
Along with having an inactive lifestyle, the condition meant she found it difficult to slim down.
But having taken the medication since June 2023, Chanel says there’s been an unexpected benefit to the treatment – her youthful glow.
She said: “It was a nice bonus.
“I’m extremely happy with how I look. My confidence has grown so much in the way I present myself, the way I dress.
“It’s just changed so much. It’s definitely helped my dermatitis and PCOS and my cholesterol has lowered; I’m no longer pre-diabetic.
“I’m doing physical activities and I genuinely wanted to go out and move more.”
Chanel says she saw the effects of Ozempic quickly – losing more than two stone in the first few months.
She says she eats the same as before but now has smaller portions and she doesn’t feel hungry as often.
And although the medication has been a success, Chanel says she has experienced some side effects like nausea, fatigue, constipation, diarrhoea and migraines.
She said: “You’re not eating as much food and stay fuller for a lot longer.
“I remember the day after I took it, I didn’t eat until 7pm because I genuinely had no desire for food.
“That was something I had to learn how to deal with.
“I wasn’t hungry, but I had headaches and fatigue.
“Now I’ll eat pretty late at like 12pm in the afternoon.
“I don’t eat until around this time and then I’ll have a snack and something smaller for dinner.
“The only side effect I was warned about was not to overeat as I might projectile vomit.
“I’ve probably overeaten a handful of times, but I’ve felt extremely uncomfortable.
“That’s the worst feeling.
“On Thanksgiving and Christmas you’re eating all day – it’s that kind of full. The food sits on you for twice as long.
“I have experienced nausea, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea and migraines.
“But it has only happened a few times – they aren’t consistent side effects.”
Chanel says despite always being open and honest about her weight loss journey, she has been judged by others online.
She added: “I always tell people how I’ve lost weight.
“I’ve never had judgment in person but definitely online.
“I think so many of us have struggled with weight for so long and we didn’t have options. People work out and diet and it doesn’t seem to stick.
“But people come in and have something negative to say – ‘You’re lazy, you’re stealing medication from people who need it.’
“Honestly, it’s just entertaining. I get some comments like that but I’m a pretty strong person.
“It doesn’t bother me. I just think, wow, there are people out here who want to see people continue to stay overweight and struggle.
“They’re basically saying, ‘I don’t respect the fact you did this and didn’t put blood, sweat and tears into the gym and didn’t count calories.’
“They think if they struggled to lose weight, I should as well.”
