Let’s get straight to it: I never thought I’d be “that woman” — the one who tries weight loss medication.
For years, I told myself I just needed to push harder. Eat cleaner. Move more. “Discipline, Maya,” I’d whisper like a life coach trapped in my own head. I had to admit something. It happened somewhere between the 6 am workouts, expired flax seeds, and endlessly adjusting my fasting window. I juggled my daughter’s school schedule and my full-time job. I was doing everything I. It still wasn’t enough.
And it wasn’t for lack of trying. I was up at the crack of dawn, panting through Mr. London’s workouts (hello, motivation with a smile). I was making intentional food choices, eating mindfully, skipping those indulgent late-night snacks. But my body — lovely, perimenopausal, hormonal roller coaster that it is — wasn’t responding the way it used to. It was holding on, stubborn and unmoved.
Then, as if the universe were reading my thoughts, the YouTube ads started popping up: Juniper. Mounjaro. Women who looked like me, sounded like me, and were clearly done with trying to out-discipline their biology. I watched. I clicked. I researched.
This wasn’t a shortcut. This was a tool. And like any good coach, I know that tools only work if you use them with intention. They are not a magic wand. Instead, they serve as a support system.
What really pushed me over the edge was this: I realised I was holding myself to a double standard. I mentor and coach people through their hardest seasons, giving them strategies, structure, and encouragement. But when it came to myself? I was white-knuckling everything alone, trying to prove something to no one.
The truth is, I needed help. Not advice from strangers online telling me to eat steamed cod and kale, but real, tangible support. I needed something that would allow me to continue working out. I wanted to keep eating better and showing up for myself. I desired to see results that didn’t feel like chasing mist.
So I took the plunge. I started Mounjaro.
And no, the scale hasn’t magically plummeted overnight — I’m still doing the work. But my clothes fit better. My cravings are quieter. My energy feels more stable. Most importantly, I don’t feel like I’m in a fight with my own body anymore. It feels like we’re finally, finally, on the same team.
This isn’t about promoting medication. It’s about normalising choice. If you’ve tried everything and your body is still saying “Nope”, maybe it’s not you. Maybe it’s time to give yourself permission to try something new. Choose something tailored for this stage of life. Not the one you left behind.
Because here’s the truth no one tells you: taking the plunge isn’t giving up. It’s refusing to stay stuck.
