![\"BEFORE:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/100888657-14966951-Last_summer_Claudia_Connell_weighed_in_at_13st_2lb_and_so_she_th-m-10_17542561576.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThis time last year if somebody had told me that I\u2019d be selling my size 12 clothes on Vinted because they swamped my slender body I\u2019d have assumed they\u2019d suffered a blow to the head.<\/p>\n
The very idea that in the near future I\u2019d have a cavernous thigh gap, a flattened stomach and upper arms the width of a baguette seemed laughably unthinkable.<\/p>\n
Yet, still somewhat in disbelief, that\u2019s exactly where I am today.<\/p>\n
Last summer was a very different story. I was a size 18, the heaviest I\u2019d ever been. At 5ft 5in and 13st 2lb I was officially obese, something I always swore I\u2019d never allow myself to become.<\/p>\n
As every overweight person knows, being heavy in hot weather is incredibly unpleasant.<\/p>\n
Last year I felt horribly self-conscious in sack-like cover ups. While everyone else seemed to be flashing their lithe limbs, I\u2019d have chafing from inner thigh chub rub.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d overheat in long-sleeved tops and dresses because I didn\u2019t want to flash my wobbly bingo wings, and I was so paranoid about under-boob sweat leaving stains on my clothes that I\u2019d insert tissues into my bra.<\/p>\n
By contrast I\u2019ve spent much of this summer swanning around in Daisy Duke denim cut-offs. Yes, I\u2019m far too old for them but I don\u2019t care, I love the fact my legs are so slim that my thighs are virtually the same thickness as my calves.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
BEFORE: Last summer\u00a0Claudia Connell weighed in at\u00a013st 2lb, and so she then began her weight-loss journey with Mounjaro jabs<\/p>\n
![\"DURING:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/100888653-14966951-After_six_months_of_jabbing_Claudia_lost_46lb_and_dropped_to_9st-m-11_17542561737.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
DURING: After six months of using the jabs, Claudia lost 46lb and dropped to 9st 12lb<\/p>\n
![\"AFTER:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/100888661-14966951-Not_only_have_I_kept_the_weight_off_I_ve_shed_another_8lb_and_no-m-12_17542561838.jpeg\")
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AFTER: And now, not only has she kept the weight off, she’s shed another 8lb and now weigh 9st 4lb<\/p>\n
On Saturday I wore a sleeveless halterneck dress to the races at Goodwood in Sussex, safe in the knowledge that my back fat is a thing of the past.<\/p>\n
Of course, my new slimmed down shape is all thanks to the marvel of Mounjaro. Three months ago I wrote about my experience of being on weight-loss injections for The Daily Mail, revealing how, after six months of jabbing, I\u2019d shed 46lb, dropped to 9st 12lb and was the trimmest I\u2019d been in decades. For me Mounjaro has been a miracle. On it, the pounds simply melted away and the food noise that had blighted my life was silenced.<\/p>\n
When I wrote that feature in May I was newly off the medication, and although my appetite was slowly returning, it was manageable.<\/p>\n
And since then, all anyone \u2013 friends, family and readers \u2013 have wanted to know is: have I kept it off?<\/p>\n
The answer to which is: I\u2019ll say! Not only have I kept the weight off, I\u2019ve shed another 8lb and now weigh 9st 4lb which gives me a body mass index (BMI) of 21.6 (anything between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered in the healthy range).<\/p>\n
When I wrote the first story, I said that although I could squeeze into a generous size 10, I was going to be sensible and not rush out and buy clothes in that size.<\/p>\n
After all, surely fitting into a size 10 would be a fleeting thing, so why waste money on clothes that would fit me for a fortnight?<\/p>\n
That all changed about a month ago when I popped into Whistles, one of my favourite high street clothes stores, and spotted a lovely dress in the sale. It was a size 10. I held it up. It looked tiny. A tight-fighting shirt style, I doubted I\u2019d get all the buttons done up, especially across my stomach \u2013 always my problem area.<\/p>\n
But it did do up. Then, as I was looking at my reflection in the mirror, I heard the sales assistant say: \u2018Oh that\u2019s a bit loose on you, isn\u2019t it? I\u2019ll fetch you a size eight.\u2019<\/p>\n
The incident triggered a memory \u2013 of being in the very same changing room about ten months earlier and feeling tearful because I couldn\u2019t fasten a pair of size 18 trousers. Now I was trying on clothes five sizes smaller and it all felt a little surreal.<\/p>\n
I decided not to get the smaller size because I feel the same way about buying size eights as I did size 10s: they won\u2019t fit me for long, best not to tempt fate.<\/p>\n
However, the majority of my \u2018sensible\u2019 size 12 purchases had to be jettisoned due to a rather embarrassing incident. Walking home from the supermarket, my hands full of carrier bags, I became aware of a strange sensation. In horror I realised that the denim culottes I\u2019d purchased from Monsoon in the spring were falling down. They\u2019d slipped below my bum and I was exposing my underwear to the world.<\/p>\n
Luckily, I managed to grab them before they fell to the ground.<\/p>\n
Before that sounds like too sickening a \u2018poor me, I\u2019m so skinny my clothes literally fall off\u2019 boast, let me say that the reason I lost my culottes is that I now have the sorriest, saggiest backside you ever saw.<\/p>\n
Once full and bootylicious, it used to look great in jeans but now resembles an old, flattened cushion in desperate need of plumping up.<\/p>\n
I flogged the culottes on Vinted and bought a selection of new size 10 clothes (and a belt), giving my credit card yet another bashing.<\/p>\n
![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/100888651-14966951-For_the_past_three_months_I_ve_been_vowing_to_hit_the_gym_and_do-m-13_17542562012.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
For the past three months I\u2019ve been vowing to hit the gym and do something about my saggy behind and pathetically weedy arms, writes Claudia<\/p>\n
Mounjaro certainly hasn\u2019t been cheap for me. There was the outlay of around \u00a3150 a month for the six months I was on it and in the past three months I\u2019ve spent a whopping \u00a32,000 on clothes, a combination of necessity and relishing the fact that for the first time in years I can go into any shop, grab something off the rail and know it will fit.<\/p>\n
In fact, I used to dread clothes shopping and now love it (probably a bit too much). It\u2019s not my imagination; store assistants are definitely friendlier to thinner people.<\/p>\n
And the more high-end the shop, the nicer they are. They swarm to help me, offer suggestions and pay me compliments when I try the clothes on \u2013 something I never experienced as a fatty.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think they set out to ignore larger people, they just don\u2019t know what to say or what outfits to suggest.<\/p>\n
KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF: EXPERT GUIDE\u00a0 <\/p>\n
l decide what your ideal weight is as well as your acceptable weight range. If your ideal weight is 9 stone 7 pounds and your acceptable weight range is up to 9 stone 10 pounds, then agree that if you go over 9 stone 10 pounds you will address it.<\/p>\n
Eat mindfully, chew slowly and don\u2019t be distracted. Remember, your appetite was artificially suppressed by jabs, so recognise when you start to feel full and stop eating. Don\u2019t hoover up what\u2019s on your plate because it\u2019s there. Anything uneaten can be stored for the next day.Don\u2019t obsess over calories. Once you understand how to structure a healthy meal and listen to your body, you\u2019re less likely to over-consume. It\u2019s hard to eat too much whole foods (unprocessed) in comparison to ultra-processed ones.Allow one treat meal a week. Make it something you really enjoy and ensure it\u2019s good quality. If pizza, make it one using natural ingredients, not from a fast-food delivery place.Consider doing your food shop online. Supermarkets are designed to tempt you to put \u2018treats\u2019 in your trolley as you walk the aisles. There is far less temptation on a website.At your ideal weight you can add one moderate-sized portion of whole food carbohydrates to one meal a day. A few new potatoes to a meat dish; oat cakes or a slice of sourdough with a salad.Weigh yourself once a week, at the same time, and don\u2019t worry about fluctuations of a couple of pounds \u2013 that\u2019s normal. <!- – ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/us\/femail\/none\/article\/other\/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – -><\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
I suspect feeling so negatively about my shape showed in my body language, too, making me unapproachable. Now I bounce into shops.<\/p>\n
Most people put a little weight back on after coming off a diet, which is why I expected to regain around half a stone in the first three months \u2013 but it didn\u2019t happen because of my overwhelming fear of getting fat again.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve lost weight many times before but have always regained the lot within a year, ending up heavier than when I started.<\/p>\n
Now in my late 50s I know I can\u2019t let that happen again. Yes, in theory I could go back to Mounjaro (I still have an emergency stash), but I\u2019ve been determined to go it alone.<\/p>\n
I want to prove to myself I can, but mostly I want to show the people gleefully waiting for me to chunk up again that I won\u2019t let it happen.<\/p>\n
Helpfully, and I still don\u2019t quite understand what kind of witchcraft is at play here, my appetite has still not fully returned.<\/p>\n
I get hungry, but it\u2019s not the stomach-rumbling ravenous feeling I\u2019d experienced before that led to me falling off the diet wagon so many times and I want to keep it that way.<\/p>\n
For the past three months I\u2019ve been vowing to hit the gym and do something about my saggy behind and pathetically weedy arms.<\/p>\n
But I\u2019ve been swerving exercise because I also know a strenuous workout will make me feel starving afterwards, and with starving hunger comes temptation and, frankly, I want to stay thin more than I want a pert bum and biceps.<\/p>\n
As for the food noise, that has crept back in \u2013 although, along with the appetite, it\u2019s nothing like as bad as it was pre-Mounjaro.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t mindlessly scroll the internet looking at recipes and supermarket websites like I used to. But I do sometimes, when hungry, drool at the thought of a plate of loaded nachos.<\/p>\n
I miss how the injections meant I never thought about food. Ever.<\/p>\n
However, in recent weeks I\u2019ve become worried that my fear of regaining weight is making me too restrictive with my diet and the two meals a day I\u2019ve been eating.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been getting by on several cups of coffee until lunchtime when I\u2019ll usually have something like a tuna salad. In the evening I have chicken or more fish with vegetables. If I want a snack, it\u2019s a small Greek yogurt, some watermelon or a couple of squares of dark chocolate.<\/p>\n
Mounjaro killed my desire for alcohol stone dead, but I will now have a small G&T in front of the telly or a glass of wine when I eat out.<\/p>\n
Truth be told, I\u2019ve been getting bored with what I\u2019m eating. But I know if I return to my old carb-heavy diet of pasta and rice-based dishes it will be lethal.<\/p>\n
I want to enjoy food but not if it means piling on the pounds. Nutritionist Kim Pearson is someone I\u2019ve worked with many times in the last few years, and so I turned to her for help and advice.<\/p>\n
As someone who has helped many people lose weight, she knows that coming off a diet plan can be scary.<\/p>\n
\u2018Being conscious of regain is not a bad thing,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n
\u2018Research shows that the majority of people who lose weight do regain in a short space of time, but it\u2019s important to not let that fear cause you to eat too little.\u2019 Kim\u2019s advice to anyone taking Mounjaro and transitioning off it is to aim for at least 90 grams of protein per day and clearly I\u2019ve been getting nothing like that from my meals \u2013 leading to a worrying muscle loss.<\/p>\n
\u2018Muscle burns calories, even at rest,\u2019 says Kim<\/p>\n
\u2018The more muscle you have the more calories you burn. The less you have the fewer calories you\u2019ll burn. In other words, by losing muscle you\u2019ve reduced your natural calorie-burning capacity.\u2019<\/p>\n
Kim recommends that I structure a meal routine \u2013 meals spaced four to five hours apart \u2013 with dishes that contain the right amount of protein, healthy fats and fibre-rich vegetables.<\/p>\n
The trouble is, like most people, I\u2019m not that clued in on nutritional compositions.<\/p>\n
To help me, she has shared recipes she gives her clients doing her Metabolic Reset Programme (see above for a selection). They\u2019re designed to be balanced, healthy and filling.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, although I\u2019ll be eating more, it won\u2019t lead to weight gain.<\/p>\n
She recommends a weekly treat meal, too, but the idea makes me nervous. I don\u2019t want it to be a stepping stone back to old eating habits.<\/p>\n
\u2018There\u2019s a lot to be said for giving yourself permission in advance,\u2019 says Kim. \u2018Psychologically, you might eat something you consider forbidden, feel like you\u2019ve failed and that sets off a pattern of overindulgence.<\/p>\n
\u2018Instead tell yourself if it\u2019s just one evening, you deserve it and can allow yourself some flexibility And a \u201ctreat\u201d meal doesn\u2019t have to be unhealthy. It could be a delicious steak or a seafood platter.\u2019<\/p>\n
The most urgent thing for me to focus on is building my muscle and only strength training is going to achieve that.<\/p>\n
Kim advises. \u2018A useful thing to do would be to get a fully body composition analysis done so you can see how much muscle you have and how much you need to build.\u2019<\/p>\n
For the past two weeks I\u2019ve been eating Kim\u2019s recommended meals. I\u2019ve started having protein smoothies at breakfast and more substantial lunches and dinners.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not snacking and I\u2019ve yet to build up to my treat meal, but my weight has remained stable.<\/p>\n
Now to hit that gym…<\/p>\n
YOUR POST-JAB MEAL PLAN ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/100888633-14966951-image-a-8_1754256138175.jpg\")
BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES Vanilla MochaServes 1\u00a0200ml unsweetened almond milk\u00a050ml coffee (brewed)1 scoop vanilla protein powder (or equivalent to 30g protein)100g frozen cauliflower\u00a01 tsp cacao powder\u00a01 tsp natural vanilla extract\u00a01 tbsp coconut oilPlace all ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth\u00a0Berry AvocadoServes 1\u00a0200ml unsweetened almond milk\u00a0100g frozen cauliflower\u00a080g frozen berries\u00bd avocado\u00a01 scoop berry or vanilla protein powder (or equivalent to 30g protein)\u00a0Blitz all ingredients in a blender until smooth.LUNCHSalsa and Spinach OmeletteServes 1\u00a02tsp extra-virgin olive oil (divided)\u00a0100g baby spinach\u00a03 eggs\u00a0Sea salt and black pepper\u00a060g salsa1. HEAT half the oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Transfer the cooked spinach to a plate and set aside.\u00a02. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the remaining oil to the pan. Add the eggs and cook until almost set. Place salsa and cooked spinach on one half of the omelette and fold the other half over top.\u00a0Tuna Salad \u2018Wraps\u2019Serves 1\u00a01 140g can tuna (drained)\u00a01 \u00bd tsp lemon juice\u00a02 tbsps quality mayonnaise (e.g. Hunter & Gather)\u00a02 tbsp pitted Kalamata olives (chopped)\u00a02 tsp capers (chopped)Sea salt and black pepper1 tbsp fresh dill (chopped)1 butterhead lettuce (leaves separated)1. In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients except the lettuce together until combined.\u00a02. Top the lettuce leaves with the tuna mixture.DINNEROne Pan Prawn, Peppers and Broccoli\u00a0Serves 2\u00a02 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil\u00a03 garlic gloves (sliced)\u00a02 cups broccoli (chopped into florets)\u00a01 red pepper (sliced)\u00a03 tbsp water\u00a0Sea salt and black pepper300g peeled prawns1 tsp lemon juice15g parsley (chopped)1. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until softened.\u00a02. Add the broccoli, pepper, and water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for two to three minutes until the vegetables are tender.\u00a03. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the prawns and season with salt and pepper. Cook for three to four minutes until the prawns are cooked through.\u00a04. Add the lemon juice and parsley. Serve over cauliflower rice.\u00a0Spicy Greek style meatballs\u00a0Serves 4\u00a0600g ground lamb\u00a015g coriander (finely chopped)\u00a01 \u00bd tsp cumin\u00a01 \u00bd tsp turmeric\u00a01 \u00bd tsp paprika1 tsp coriander\u00bd tsp cinnamon\u00bd tsp cayenne pepper\u00bd tsp sea salt1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground lamb, coriander, cumin, turmeric, paprika, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and sea salt. Mix and roll into 1.5in balls.\u00a02. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the pan and cook for six to eight minutes. Flip meatballs and continue to cook for six to eight minutes or until cooked through. Serve with veg or a side salad. <!- – ad: https:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v8\/us\/femail\/none\/article\/other\/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_2 – -><\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This time last year if somebody had told me that I\u2019d be selling my size 12 clothes on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42411,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[97,519,59,102,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-42410","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-dailymail","9":"tag-femail","10":"tag-gb","11":"tag-health","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42410\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}