{"id":10756,"date":"2026-01-01T13:44:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=10756"},"modified":"2026-01-07T21:34:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T21:34:21","slug":"my-doctor-calls-me-ozempics-poster-girl-this-is-what-most-people-do-wrong-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/01\/my-doctor-calls-me-ozempics-poster-girl-this-is-what-most-people-do-wrong-2\/","title":{"rendered":"My doctor calls me Ozempic\u2019s poster girl \u2014 this is what most people do wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Ozempic\t<\/div>
Aisling McCarthy keeps a picture on her fridge of before taking weight loss medication to remind her of the journey (Picture: Andy Gibson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was a time in Aisling McCarthy\u2019s life when she was in agony and couldn\u2019t look at herself in the mirror.<\/p>\n

After being diagnosed with arthritis<\/a> and fibromyalgia<\/a> in her early thirties, the mum-of-one struggled with searing pain that would shoot through her back, hips and hands, which left her feeling depressed<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2018I was exhausted and sometimes, it felt like my whole body was on fire,\u2019 the 43-year-old tells Metro. \u2018I\u2019d feel so low, and to deal with it, I ate my feelings. It was constant toffee popcorn, chocolate bars, muffins and ice cream… Then I started to lose mobility, which caused me to gain even more weight.\u2019<\/p>\n

When Aisling was pregnant with her daughter in 2014, she was often using crutches or a wheelchair, and after Bethany, now 10, was born, the new mum couldn\u2019t lift her.<\/p>\n

Aisling weighed 17 and a half stone, and was determined to feel healthy, while still maintaining her curves, so she tried \u2018every diet under the sun\u2019, including Slimming World<\/a> and Slimfast shakes. Although she had some success, it never lasted. \u2018I gained it all back because I was starving,\u2019 Aisling remembers. <\/p>\n

Then, on one visit to her GP in early 2022, the word \u2018Ozempic<\/a>\u2019 was mentioned. The prescription semaglutide drug had only been approved by the EMA [European Medicines Agency] <\/strong>for weight loss in November 2021; previously, it was primarily used as a treatment for diabetes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"My\t<\/div>
She didn’t feel happy in her body (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018There weren\u2019t many people talking about using Ozempic specifically for weight loss at the time, so I was a little anxious about injecting something into my body that I didn\u2019t know a lot about. It wasn\u2019t like it is now, with everyone aware of exactly what it is,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

To ease her concerns, Aisling contacted the makers, Novo Nordisk, who talked her through the ins and outs. She learnt that it mimics the hormone GLP-1, which regulates appetite and slows down digestion, meaning users feel fuller after eating less. \u2018I was still nervous, but I started to believe it could work, so I was willing to try,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n

Once she received her prescription, Aisling began injecting herself with a 0.25mg dose <\/strong>every week, which doubled after four weeks, and rose to 1mg after another two months.<\/p>\n

Taking Ozempic<\/h2>\n

It wasn\u2019t the easiest of starts; Aisling struggled with nausea and fatigue for the first six weeks. \u2018I went to my GP about it and he asked: \u201cAre you eating?\u201d\u2019 she says. \u2018The issue was Ozempic was so effective at turning off any food noise \u2014 the little voice nagging me to go into the cupboard \u2014 that I was having one meal per day. I started setting an alarm every two hours to remind myself to have some food.<\/p>\n

\u2018The weight started coming off straight away, but I didn’t see it myself until around three months, even though my clothes were hanging off me.\u2019<\/p>\n

Aisling also noticed that she had more energy and confidence, which had many benefits, including a healthier sex life with her husband, Jonathan. \u2018He was supportive from the start, but then he was very happy,\u2019 she says with a smile. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Carrigaline,\t<\/div>
She gained confidence through the process (Picture: Andy Gibson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Her friends in Cork also began to notice changes. Never secretive about how she achieved it, Aisling says the most common reaction was \u2018you jammy b***h\u2019. <\/p>\n

What was most important was how she felt: \u2018I\u2019d gone from hating to loving myself, and that’s a hard thing to do. I\u2019m in less pain, which means I\u2019m able to do things I haven\u2019t done since my twenties.’<\/p>\n

Recalling a holiday to France during the summer of 2023, a disastrous error demonstrated how far she\u2019d come: \u2018Jonathan realised the day before that his passport had expired. I took Bethany alone, which I wouldn’t have been able to do before.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"My\t<\/div>
\u2018I\u2019d feel so low, and to deal with it all, I ate my feelings’ (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Being on holiday and even silly things, like being able to go down a slide with her, felt huge. Before, I wouldn’t have been able to walk up the steps to get to the top.\u2019<\/p>\n

Within a year, Aisling had reached her goal weight of 11st and stopped taking Ozempic<\/a>. The decision was down to a combination of \u2018being happy with her curves\u2019 and supply shortage issues<\/a> due to growing demand. \u2018It was a bit late one month, and then again, and then I couldn’t get it at all. I thought if I didn\u2019t choose to come off it, I would start to struggle mentally,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

Since then, Aisling has had a breast reduction and an apronectomy to remove loose skin, and now weighs 10st and 9lbs. \u2018I used to put talcum powder under my breast to stop infections and smells. I don’t have to anymore,’ she says.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"My\t<\/div>
She was able to take her daughter on holiday alone (Picture: Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tWeight loss jabs side effects at a glance\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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According to NHS Inform<\/a>, common side effects of semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide include:<\/p>\n