{"id":667629,"date":"2026-01-01T21:34:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T21:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/667629\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T21:34:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T21:34:33","slug":"my-doctor-calls-me-ozempics-poster-girl-this-is-what-most-people-do-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/667629\/","title":{"rendered":"My doctor calls me Ozempic’s poster girl \u2014 this is what most people do wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Ozempic
\n\t\tAisling McCarthy keeps a picture on her fridge of before taking weight loss medication to remind her of the journey (Picture: Andy Gibson)<\/p>\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>.\u00a0<\/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\u2026 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

\t\t\"My
\n\t\tShe didn\u2019t feel happy in her body (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\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<\/p>\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\u00a0that 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\u2019t 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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\t\t\"Carrigaline,
\n\t\tShe gained confidence through the process (Picture: Andy Gibson)<\/p>\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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What was most important was how she felt: \u2018I\u2019d gone from hating to loving myself, and that\u2019s 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.\u2019<\/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\u2019t have been able to do before.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"My
\n\t\t\u2018I\u2019d feel so low, and to deal with it all, I ate my feelings\u2019 (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

\u2018Being on holiday and even silly things, like being able to go down a slide with her, felt huge. Before, I wouldn\u2019t 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\u2019t 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\u2019t have to anymore,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"My
\n\t\tShe was able to take her daughter on holiday alone (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tWeight loss jabs side effects at a glance\t\t\t<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0NHS Inform<\/a>, common side effects of semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide include:<\/p>\n