Monique (48): “Suddenly my body was no longer my own”

Monique is a mum of two daughters and works as an administrative assistant at a construction firm. She has never been particularly slim; as a child, she was already a bit chubby and in her youth she often received comments about her weight. Her parents led an unhealthy lifestyle. The deep fat fryer was used regularly and meals were cooked without much enthusiasm. Years later, Monique learned to cook for herself and found a balance with healthy eating and exercise. She managed to keep her weight steady for years, but around the age of 45, everything changed.

My energy vanished, my mood was all over the place, and the number on the scales kept creeping up. No matter what I did, I just kept gaining weight.

It started with sleepless nights and sugar cravings

“Looking back, it probably started when I was about 45,” Monique says. “I wasn’t sleeping well and found myself getting irritable much more quickly. My body was constantly craving something sweet, which was never the case before. Because I was so tired, I started skipping the gym more and more. I thought it would sort itself out, but within a few months I noticed my clothes were getting tighter.” 

Monique remembers feeling ashamed in the fitting room. “Dresses that once made me feel so feminine suddenly exposed all my insecurities. I stopped looking at myself properly in the mirror.” 

Exercising, dieting, and still gaining weight

One day Monique had a wake-up call. “I’d just polished off the leftover cheesecake from my daughter’s birthday. I felt weak and angry at the same time. And suddenly I thought: this can’t go on. I started exercising again, watched my diet closely, and put the scales away. I wanted to give myself three months to see some results.” 

But after those months, her clothes only felt tighter. “I got the scales out and saw I’d put on three kilos. It felt like all my hard work had been for nothing.” 

“Maybe there’s something wrong with your thyroid”

On her daughter’s advice, who is a nurse, Monique had her bloods checked. “I thought: it must be my thyroid. But everything was fine.” 

Her GP suggested cutting down on carbohydrates and referred her to a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI programme). “I started with great enthusiasm and thought: this will make the difference. But despite all my effort and support, I kept putting on weight. Over the whole period, around 20 kilograms were gained.” 

I did everything right, but my body was working against me.

The step towards medication

When Monique read about medication such as GLP-1 injections (semaglutide), she decided to speak to her GP again. “She listened without judgement and looked into whether I was eligible. Because my BMI was over 30, I’d already completed a GLI programme, and the menopause was likely playing a big part, I was allowed to start.” 

The first few weeks took some getting used to. “I had less appetite and sometimes felt nauseous. For the first time in years, the number on the scales started to go down again. This was exactly what I needed.” 

A new beginning

Slowly but surely, Monique lost weight. “After months of hard work, medication, and the support of my GP, I started to recognise myself in the mirror again. My energy returned, I wanted to do fun things again and be close to my husband. Not because I wanted to look good for him, but because I felt beautiful for myself again.” 

Monique’s tip for other women

“Don’t be too hard on yourself and seek help if you’re struggling. You don’t have to do this on your own.” 

If, like Monique, you want to see if you’re eligible for a Combined Lifestyle Intervention (GLI), you can check that here. If this does not apply to your circumstances, there are alternative treatment options that you can request through us. 

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