HEARING the satisfying sound of the zip closing, Rebecca Johnson can’t help but smile.
Stood in the changing rooms of she has finally achieved her dream – she can fit into an XS in her favourite shop.
Rebecca Johnson tipped the scales at 22st before she began taking MounjaroCredit: Jam Press/Rebecca Johnson
She has now dropped six stone in just nine months and can fit into a Primark XSCredit: Jam Press/Rebecca Johnson
It’s a far cry from the girl she was just nine months earlier, admitting she struggled to breath while walking up a hill.
But thanks to she is now six stone lighter after spending most of her adult life battling with her weight.
She also suffered a slipped disc, that caused constant pain and was on antidepressants for her mental health.
Despite being on her feet all day, as a and trainer, the 29-year-old feared she might have a heart attack or stroke.
Mortified and humiliated, she vowed things had to change.
“Walking the dogs left me out of breath, and even small hills felt impossible,” Rebbeca from Staffordshire says..
“I honestly thought I was going to have a or a stroke.
“I couldn’t walk into a pub without worrying if everyone was staring at me.
“Even everyday things felt impossible, I felt like I was carrying extra weight everywhere.
“It affected my confidence, my mood, and even my relationships.”
Her true wake-up call came during a family trip to Spain when Rebecca sat down and realised her legs were stuck in a chair.
She’d already struggled through another embarrassing holiday moment prior to this, when she was forced to ask for a seatbelt extender on a flight to Northern Ireland.
She admits that her confidence plummeted.
In February 2025, after months of hesitation, Rebecca decided to start Mounjaro.
She was nervous at first but within two weeks, she’d already dropped a stone.
Now, from her starting weight of 22st, Rebecca has lost six and a half stone.
The dog walker says: “I can now wear XS Primark clothes and buy high street fashion.
“This is everything I needed.
Before her weight loss Rebecca was worried she was at risk of a strokeCredit: Jam Press/Rebecca Johnson
She is now more active than ever and can even manage burpeesCredit: Jam Press/Rebecca Johnson
She loves being able to shop on the high streetCredit: Jam Press/Rebecca Johnson
“The food noise is gone.
“I can eat three meals a day, make good food choices.
“It’s truly helped me take control of my appetite.”
Rebecca can now power through high-intensity workouts, including burpees – something she never imagined – and walking dogs is no longer a struggle.
Her old back problems have eased completely and she hasn’t had a single flare-up in five months.
She has also seen a positive change with her mental health and she’s come off her antidepressants.
She adds: “I can walk the dogs without getting out of breath and I don’t feel like everyone is staring at me anymore.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients’ sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of Wegovy is controlled through specialist weight loss clinics, while Mounjaro is available from GPs but only for the highest risk patients.
For Wegovy, a patient will typically have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. They will be expected to have tried diet and exercise already.
Mounjaro is available from NHS GPs for weight loss but only to a tiny group of patients, with the rollout starting with those with a BMI higher than 40 and with four weight-related health conditions.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients’ mental health.
“Even my partner [Rosie] has joined me on this journey, which has made weddings, holidays and meals less stressful.
“I wanted to feel my best for this next chapter.
“By the time I’m 30, I want to be a healthy weight, and this journey is helping me get there.
“Even my mental health has improved.”
Rebecca first got Mounjaro through her local pharmacy but after two months she switched to Voy, a support platform that pairs medication with one-to-one coaching and AI check-ins.
This isn’t just about weight loss, it’s about reclaiming my life
Rebecca Johnson
She is on a 15mg dose and her goal weight is between 13.5-14st.
Now Rebecca and Rosie are starting IVF and planning their wedding in 2027, and also plan to climb Snowdon for Rebecca’s 30th birthday next year.
She adds: “I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life.
“I can finally walk into a shop and buy clothes that fit without worrying, and I can take on activities I never thought possible.
“This isn’t just about weight loss, it’s about reclaiming my life.”
Rebecca says that her weight loss has also had a positive impact on her mental healthCredit: Jam Press/Rebecca Johnson
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
