I've tried all sorts to lose weight - but my latest attempt is my most extreme
'I was one of the first ten-year-olds on the waitlist for gastric surgery for severe obesity,' the 22 year old content creator from Reading, Berkshire, tells Metro. ' I was referred to King's College Hospital in London and had regular appointments – however, in the end, my family and I decided not to push it due to the severity of the operation.'
Miah's decade-long battle to be at peace with her body – which she says is due to health concerns rather than body image – has seen her explore a rollercoaster of weightloss methods, from fad diets to supplements, and even a spell using semaglutide injections, which left her feeling like she was having a heart attack.
'I tried every diet you can think of from Slim Fast to Weight Watchers. I've bought fat metabolisers and weightloss pills, and even saw private dieticians in London,' she explains. 'We went back and forth with different approaches, but nothing helped. Being autistic, I don't absorb information the same way as others, so found it really hard to retain what the dietitians were telling me. Sticking to routines is also tough for me – that's part of why it didn't work.
'I did a lot of emotional eating – food gave me comfort and made me happy,' Miah adds. 'Because of the size of my stomach, I could eat and eat. My hormones also played a big role. I'd eat until I was full – or even sick – and 10 minutes later, I'd feel empty again. I'd keep eating until it became physically painful.'
By 16, Miah's weight was spiralling and she was desperate for a solution.
'I remember going into the chemist to buy weight-loss tablets – the kind advertised on TV. I can't recall the exact name, but they didn't do anything,' she says.
As years went by, she went on to make a name for herself as a body positivity influencer, calling herself 'your self love big sister', with posts reminding her followers about the importance of self-acceptance, while also being honest about her own struggles with her weight and body image.
As Miah continued to search for new ways to lose weight, she began to read about jabs, such as Mounjaro and Ozempic, that were originally created to treat diabetes.
Scrolling through Facebook groups, looking at miraculous before and after images, she began to feel hopeful. 'I was heavily influenced by people online who were taking it and seeing results,' Miah remembers. 'I thought 'this is the solution – I'm finally going to lose weight and change my life'.'
So she decided to try them.
24 hours after filling in an online form for the Saxenda injection, Miah went to a high street chemist to collect it. There, staff checked her eligibility and she was assessed by a doctor, then handed the drug, which she was told to inject daily and expect her appetite to reduce. 'I was quite gobsmacked at how simple it was,' she adds, pointing out that the chemist didn't offer any follow-up support.
With high hopes, Miah started her injections, however, like many who take weight loss jabs, she began to suffer from side effects. 'I had really bad pain in my heart and started to feel sick, like something wasn't right in my body. I felt so run down and it was just horrible,' she remembers.
Miah says that her heart would sometimes race so fast it felt like it was going to explode out of her chest. 'It would hit me out of nowhere, sometimes multiple times a day and each episode lasted minutes – but felt like hours.
'I'd be lying in bed or just standing in the kitchen and suddenly feel dizzy, short of breath, and completely overwhelmed. There were moments I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack.
'After a really severe episode, my first thought was, 'I bet it was the weight loss injections'. I had only been on them for a few weeks – less than a month -soI decided to stop. A few weeks after that, I was completely fine.'
After coming off the jabs, Miah realised it was time once again to reassess her weight loss plan.
This time, she finally made the bold decision to have gastric surgery last October – more than a decade after she had been put on the waiting list as a child.
'This was the biggest operation I've ever had – there is no going back,' she admits. 'You're essentially having part of your body removed and I now only have about 20% of my stomach left. It's a huge decision – but knowing what I know now, I should have done it earlier, as it's changed my life.'
Miah has documented her weight loss journey to her to her 3 million followers, including the surgery – which has seen her lose 11stone since getting the gastric sleeve. However some people have hit back at her decision to get surgery, deeming it contradictory to body positivity.
Miah disagrees: 'I did it for my health, not to change how I look. I was 32 stone and nearly on my deathbed at 20. My legs were hanging and I was struggling to walk. It was a massive decision, but one of the best I've made in my life.
'Every day, every hour, every minute I get hateful comments, but I don't care. I want people to see what I go through. Those sorts of comments used to hurt, but they don't touch me anymore. Now I just think – you're pushing up my views and paying my bills.'
While the injections may have had an adverse effect on her health, Miah knows that they may work well for others. 'I'm not judging anyone or telling anyone not to take it—everyone's journey is different. If it works for you and improves your quality of life, I respect that.' More Trending
'But for me, it wasn't the right solution because when it comes to weight loss – there isn't one size fits all.'
In a statement to Metro, Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Saxenda wrote: 'At Novo Nordisk patient safety always comes first. An increased heart rate (tachycardia) is a known uncommon adverse reaction for Saxenda (liraglutide) and is listed in the medicine's official information.
If a patient experiences a sustained and clinically relevant rise in their resting heart rate, it is recommended they contact their healthcare professional. Any decision to start, stop, continue or change treatment should be together with a healthcare professional, based on their professional judgment of what's right for that individual.
View More »
If you are taking any medication and believe you might be experiencing a side effect, please speak to your healthcare provider and report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
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Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Unclench your jaw: Why everyone is grinding their teeth right now — including you
'You've worn your molars right down,' said my dentist, matter-of-factly, as she snapped the latex gloves from her hands. 'I can practically hear your jaw clicking.' I did my best not to feel offended. 'Sorry,' I mumbled, rubbing my aching massester muscles. I'm one of the 8 to 10% of the UK population that grinds their teeth in some way — and I'm betting, you are too. I'm not entirely sure when it started, but these days, I'm all-too-aware that I do it pretty much every night. I've woken myself up one-too-many times by accidentally biting down on my tongue (yes, it really hurts) and when my alarm goes off, I open my eyes with an aching jaw. The habit seeps into my waking hours too. I'll suddenly become aware that my jaw is clenched, as though that's its default position. I once heard (e.g. watched a TikTok video) that the three-finger test is a quick way to asses your jaw mobility. If you can fit three stacked fingers between your upper and lower reeth, you're in the normal range. I can only just about do it. But bruxism, the umbrella term for teeth-grinding or jaw clenching, does more than just make your jaw ache. In fact, it can cause a whole host of issues, from dental problems and headaches, to pain in the face, neck or shoulders, and TMJ disorders. To put it mildly, teeth grinding is no picnic — and it's even more annoying when you consider that you're most likely doing it subconciously. And while the current estimates would suggest that around 6.7 million Brits deal with condition, it seems to be on the rise. Post-pandemic, a USA-based 2021 survey among dentists found that 70% reported an increase in patients grinding and clenching their teeth. More recently, the hashtag #teethgrinding on TikTok has a staggering 262.9 million views, while #unclencyourjaw has 37.7 million. You can even buy tshirts and artwork on Etsy emblazoned with the phrase 'unclench your jaw'. And dentist Dr Sahil Patel, of London's Marylebone Smile Clinic, tells Metro that he's seeing an increasing number of patients displaying signs of bruxism. 'Well developed jaw muscles show as a squarer facial appearance or stronger jawline,' he explains. 'And, on the teeth themselves, bruxism causes accelerated tooth wear and breakage, making teeth look shorter, squarer and yellower. Tooth sensitivity and gum recession can also be a sign.' Why have we become a nation unable to relax our faces? While it's not always clear why people do it, stress and anxiety is a well-observed cause. 'Our patients are absoloutely more stressed than ever,' Dr Sahil says. 'They may not always disclose it to us, but we can sense when someone is stressed. We're seeing it more with younger people.' Mental Health UK's annual Burnout Report, released in January 2025, found that one in three adults either 'always or often' experience high or extreme levels of pressure or stress, while nine in 10 say they've experienced it at some point over the last year. Mind also found that women are more likely than men to experience common mental health problems (20.7% of women compared to 13.2% of men affected), with young women aged 16 to 24 at the highest risk. It's worth nothing that women are also more likely to experience bruxism, particularly when they're awake. Experts are pretty much in agreement that society is increasinly stressful. Chartered psychologist, Dr Manpreet Dhuffar-Pottiwal says we live an era of 'uncertainty and instability'. She tells Metro: 'Political unrest, economic fluctuations, and environmental crises result in an unpredictability which leaves people feeling out of control regarding their futures.' Our 'always-online' culture, particularly experienced by younger generations also doesn't help, as Dr Manpreet says we face 'technological overload.' 'Social media platforms promote curated representations of life, leading us to measure their worth against others. Additionally, urbanisation has contributed to a disconnection from nature. People confined to busy city lives miss out on the calming effects of the natural world.' Workplace pressures have changed too. 'The rise of remote work and gig economies has introduced ambiguity about job security and increased workloads,' says Dr Manpreet. 'Many young employees, striving for stability in uncertain times, experience burnout and chronic stress as they juggle multiple responsibilities. 'Rigid schedules and the lack of work-life balance lead many to neglect self-care practices.' And finally, as ever, the global pandemic plays a part. Dr Manpreet says: 'It heightened health-related anxieties, with individuals increasingly focused on personal safety. 'This ongoing concern can create a cycle of stress that affects various facets of life. 'It's no surprise that there's a growing prevalence of conditions like bruxism.' What are the options for treating jaw clenching? So, aside from taking an indefinite holiday to escape the stressors of daily life, what can we do to relieve all this tension? According to Dr Sahil, your dentist can help. 'We can't manage your stress, but we can do a few things to manage the symptoms,' he says. 'Night guards can cushion the contact between the teeth during the night, or reainers, which are thinner, are designed to keep the teeth in their position and protect from night grinding. 'They come in many different forms and materials, but the ballpark cost for these is between £250 and £500.' Alternatively, nurse prescriber and aesthetic trainer, Natalja Andrejeva, says that Botox is an 'emerging go-to solution' for teeth-grinding. 'Over the past few years, I've seen a noticeable rise in clicents seeking relief from bruxism using Botox, especially post-pandemic,' she tells Metro. 'Botox is injected into the masseter muscles to relax them. This reduces the intensity of clenching and grinding without affecting your ability to chew or speak.' The result? 'Less jaw tension, fewer headaches, and better sleep and quality of life. You'll also get a slightly slimmer jawline,' adds Natalja, founder of Face Code Aesthetic, where she offers the treatment, starting at £290. 'Typically, treatment would be required every three to six months, depending on muscle strength and individual response. 'But over time, some clients find they can space out treatments more as the habit and symptoms lessen.' Of course, the ultimate — and almost impossible solution — is to live a stress-free life. But until then, be safe in the knowledge that you're far from the only one — and don't forget to unclench your jaw. Do you have a story to share?
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I lost seven stone WITHOUT Mounjaro – here's three very simple things I've done that have helped me slim down & tone up
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MOTHER has revealed that she lost seven stone without using Mounjaro. According to Lucy, instead of injecting herself with fat jabs, she swears by three very simple and straightforward things to slim down and tone up. 2 A savvy mum has shared the three healthy habits she followed which enabled her to lose seven stone Credit: TikTok/@lucy52915 2 Instead of using Mounjaro, Lucy, who is from the UK, swears by eating right and exercising to tone up Credit: TikTok/@lucy52915 Posting on social media, the mum, who is from the UK, gave her followers a before and after look at her weight loss, leaving many totally stunned. Rather than forking out the cash and travelling abroad for weight loss surgery, this mother swears by eating right and exercising to get a body of dreams. And not only does she look incredible, but people are struggling to believe she is the same person as the woman in her 'before' photos. The stunner, who has slimmed down and is now '7 stone lighter' attributes her weight loss to three healthy habits - eating in a calorie deficit, walking and weight lifting. Lucy explained that she is breastfeeding, so isn't able to use Mounjaro. As a result, she took matters into her own hands on a mission to slim down and when it comes to her diet, rather than eating nothing but fruit and vegetables, she swears by a big focus on protein. She confirmed that she consumes 180g of protein every day, as well as 27g to 30g of fiber. When it comes to walking, the savvy mum stressed the importance of doing 10,000 steps every single day, which she has been doing since 1st September 2024. And when she's not walking, she's exercising in the gym. According to this content creator, who believes strongly in being consistent, if you want to feel your best and lose weight, lifting weights is key. I'm a 'former fatty' who lost 12 stone WITHOUT jabs - being slim means I don't have to eat in the car to avoid judgement This mother confirmed that she goes to the gym four times a week and does two glute focused sessions, one catered to full body exercises and another on her upper body. After putting the effort in, less than a year since kicking off her health and fitness journey, Lucy has now reached her goal weight and doesn't want to lose any more. The NHS 12-step plan to help you lose weight FROM faddy diets to dodgy detoxes - most of us have heard it all before when it comes to weight loss. But burning fat can be easy and mostly free. In fact, the NHS has a whole load of medically-approved tips for weight loss and shedding body fat once and for all... Don't skip breakfast Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you feel hungry. Eat regular meals Eating at regular times during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar. Eat plenty of fruit and veg Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fibre – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. Get more active Being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing lots of health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone. Drink lots of water People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need. Eat high fibre foods Foods containing lots of fibre can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fibre is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils. Read food labels Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan. Use a smaller plate Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you may be able to gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it's full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full. Don't ban foods Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There's no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. Don't stock junk food To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice. Cut down on alcohol A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain. Plan your meals Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list. Social media users gush Her TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @lucy52915, has clearly impressed many, as it has quickly racked up 844,000 views, 21,600 likes and 1,169 comments. Social media users were gobsmacked by Lucy's weight loss and many eagerly flocked to the comments to express this. Wow!! You look like a younger version of Jennifer Aniston now. Very well done TikTok user One person said: 'You can tell this is natural too. No Mounjaro and excuses here! Well done for creating new habits and not cheating. This will set you up for life.' Another added: 'That is an amazing achievement. You should be so proud of yourself.' How cutting out sugar can help you lose weight It might sound obvious, but cutting out sugar can help you lose weight - and this is why Reduced alorie intake: Sugar is calorie-dense but not nutrient-dense, meaning it provides a lot of calories without making you feel full. By cutting out sugar, you naturally reduce your overall caloric intake, which can create a calorie deficit and lead to weight loss. Lower Insulin Levels: Consuming sugar, especially in large amounts, causes spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to increased insulin production. Insulin is a hormone that promotes fat storage. By reducing sugar intake, you can help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, making it easier for your body to burn fat. Decreased Cravings: Sugar can be addictive and lead to cravings for more sugary foods. By cutting it out, you may find that your cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods decrease, making it easier to stick to a healthier diet. Improved Satiety: Foods high in sugar are often low in fiber and protein, which are essential for feeling full and satisfied. By replacing sugary foods with more nutrient-dense options like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, you can increase your satiety and reduce overall calorie consumption. Better Nutrient Intake: When you cut out sugary foods, you often make room for more nutritious foods. This can improve your overall diet quality, providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally, which can support weight loss efforts. Reduced Fat Storage: High sugar intake, particularly from fructose, can lead to increased fat production in the liver, contributing to weight gain and obesity. Cutting out sugar helps to reduce this effect. Enhanced Metabolism: Reducing sugar can improve metabolic health, including better insulin sensitivity and lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which can facilitate weight loss. By cutting out sugar and replacing it with healthier options, you can create a more balanced and sustainable diet that supports weight loss and overall well-being. A third commented: 'Wow you look amazing!! Well done.' At the same time, one user gushed: 'Wow!! You look like a younger version of Jennifer Aniston now. Very well done.' Meanwhile, someone else gasped: 'If that's the same person fair play.' To this, Lucy wrote back and confirmed: 'Yep it's me.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
Metro
5 hours ago
- Metro
I've tried all sorts to lose weight - but my latest attempt is my most extreme
Miah Carter was just 10 years old when she was put on a waiting list for gastric surgery. The schoolgirl had struggled with emotional eating and a hormone imbalance from an early age, both of which had left her clinically obese. 'I was one of the first ten-year-olds on the waitlist for gastric surgery for severe obesity,' the 22 year old content creator from Reading, Berkshire, tells Metro. ' I was referred to King's College Hospital in London and had regular appointments – however, in the end, my family and I decided not to push it due to the severity of the operation.' Miah's decade-long battle to be at peace with her body – which she says is due to health concerns rather than body image – has seen her explore a rollercoaster of weightloss methods, from fad diets to supplements, and even a spell using semaglutide injections, which left her feeling like she was having a heart attack. 'I tried every diet you can think of from Slim Fast to Weight Watchers. I've bought fat metabolisers and weightloss pills, and even saw private dieticians in London,' she explains. 'We went back and forth with different approaches, but nothing helped. Being autistic, I don't absorb information the same way as others, so found it really hard to retain what the dietitians were telling me. Sticking to routines is also tough for me – that's part of why it didn't work. 'I did a lot of emotional eating – food gave me comfort and made me happy,' Miah adds. 'Because of the size of my stomach, I could eat and eat. My hormones also played a big role. I'd eat until I was full – or even sick – and 10 minutes later, I'd feel empty again. I'd keep eating until it became physically painful.' By 16, Miah's weight was spiralling and she was desperate for a solution. 'I remember going into the chemist to buy weight-loss tablets – the kind advertised on TV. I can't recall the exact name, but they didn't do anything,' she says. As years went by, she went on to make a name for herself as a body positivity influencer, calling herself 'your self love big sister', with posts reminding her followers about the importance of self-acceptance, while also being honest about her own struggles with her weight and body image. As Miah continued to search for new ways to lose weight, she began to read about jabs, such as Mounjaro and Ozempic, that were originally created to treat diabetes. Scrolling through Facebook groups, looking at miraculous before and after images, she began to feel hopeful. 'I was heavily influenced by people online who were taking it and seeing results,' Miah remembers. 'I thought 'this is the solution – I'm finally going to lose weight and change my life'.' So she decided to try them. 24 hours after filling in an online form for the Saxenda injection, Miah went to a high street chemist to collect it. There, staff checked her eligibility and she was assessed by a doctor, then handed the drug, which she was told to inject daily and expect her appetite to reduce. 'I was quite gobsmacked at how simple it was,' she adds, pointing out that the chemist didn't offer any follow-up support. With high hopes, Miah started her injections, however, like many who take weight loss jabs, she began to suffer from side effects. 'I had really bad pain in my heart and started to feel sick, like something wasn't right in my body. I felt so run down and it was just horrible,' she remembers. Miah says that her heart would sometimes race so fast it felt like it was going to explode out of her chest. 'It would hit me out of nowhere, sometimes multiple times a day and each episode lasted minutes – but felt like hours. 'I'd be lying in bed or just standing in the kitchen and suddenly feel dizzy, short of breath, and completely overwhelmed. There were moments I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack. 'After a really severe episode, my first thought was, 'I bet it was the weight loss injections'. I had only been on them for a few weeks – less than a month -soI decided to stop. A few weeks after that, I was completely fine.' After coming off the jabs, Miah realised it was time once again to reassess her weight loss plan. This time, she finally made the bold decision to have gastric surgery last October – more than a decade after she had been put on the waiting list as a child. 'This was the biggest operation I've ever had – there is no going back,' she admits. 'You're essentially having part of your body removed and I now only have about 20% of my stomach left. It's a huge decision – but knowing what I know now, I should have done it earlier, as it's changed my life.' Miah has documented her weight loss journey to her to her 3 million followers, including the surgery – which has seen her lose 11stone since getting the gastric sleeve. However some people have hit back at her decision to get surgery, deeming it contradictory to body positivity. Miah disagrees: 'I did it for my health, not to change how I look. I was 32 stone and nearly on my deathbed at 20. My legs were hanging and I was struggling to walk. It was a massive decision, but one of the best I've made in my life. 'Every day, every hour, every minute I get hateful comments, but I don't care. I want people to see what I go through. Those sorts of comments used to hurt, but they don't touch me anymore. Now I just think – you're pushing up my views and paying my bills.' While the injections may have had an adverse effect on her health, Miah knows that they may work well for others. 'I'm not judging anyone or telling anyone not to take it—everyone's journey is different. If it works for you and improves your quality of life, I respect that.' More Trending 'But for me, it wasn't the right solution because when it comes to weight loss – there isn't one size fits all.' In a statement to Metro, Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Saxenda wrote: 'At Novo Nordisk patient safety always comes first. An increased heart rate (tachycardia) is a known uncommon adverse reaction for Saxenda (liraglutide) and is listed in the medicine's official information. If a patient experiences a sustained and clinically relevant rise in their resting heart rate, it is recommended they contact their healthcare professional. Any decision to start, stop, continue or change treatment should be together with a healthcare professional, based on their professional judgment of what's right for that individual. View More » If you are taking any medication and believe you might be experiencing a side effect, please speak to your healthcare provider and report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. MORE: 'I used a fake profile to hunt my aunt's murderer' MORE: Vogue has started using AI models — what does it mean for beauty standards? MORE: Chloe Ayling: 'I can't believe I'm still talking about being kidnapped eight years later' Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
