Amy Carding, a 38-year-old mother of three from Manchester, has lost 5st 10lbs (approximately 70 pounds), transforming her size from a 22 to a 12 over 18 months. Carding attributes her weight loss to Mounjaro, a prescription medication containing tirzepatide, and uses her social media presence to fund the injections.
After giving birth to her youngest daughter three years ago, Carding reached her heaviest weight of 17st 7lb (approximately 245 pounds), which she states began to affect her confidence. She reported avoiding social outings and family photos and struggling with physical activities like playing with her newborn.
Carding began taking Mounjaro in October 2024. Within four weeks of starting the medication, she lost one stone (approximately 14 pounds). She began documenting her progress on TikTok under the handle @amy_lisa29, where she shares before-and-after photos, daily food logs, and weekly weigh-ins. Her account has garnered over 5,000 followers.
She currently weighs 11st 11lb (approximately 165 pounds), with a BMI of 30.2, which is classified as obese by the NHS. Carding has noted some loose skin but is attempting to combat this with home exercises. Her current diet consists of fruit for breakfast, vegetables as snacks, and meals like chicken, rice, and vegetables for dinner, with occasional takeaways on weekends. She also aims for 15,000 steps daily.
The cost of the Mounjaro injections is approximately £300 per month, which Carding funds through the income generated from her TikTok account. She has connected with other individuals on Mounjaro through the platform, attending social events she previously would have avoided.
Carding reported initial nervousness about self-injecting but found the process manageable with minimal nausea. She noted that the medication reduced her appetite, sometimes requiring her to remind herself to eat. She experienced some side effects resembling pregnancy sickness but found relief using acupressure bands. Her GP approved her use of the medication obtained through an online pharmacy.
Carding plans to continue the medication to maintain her weight loss and hopes to lose an additional stone. She encourages others seeking to lose weight to take action.