A woman who came off Ozempic two years ago has opened up about her new found confidence from being able to keep six stone off.
Aisling McCarthy, dubbed as the 'Ozempic poster girl', weighed 17 and a half stone at her heaviest.
The mum, from Cork, struggled with her weight in her teens due to having large breasts, body image issues and later chronic pain conditions. including fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Limited mobility and emotional eating led to rapid weight gain, affecting her health, marriage, and sex life.
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After years of trying unsustainable diets, Aisling’s turning point came in 2022 when her doctor prescribed Ozempic, a GLP-1 medicine intended for adults with Type-2 diabetes, and not for weight-loss, according to its manufacturer Novo Nordisk.
However, one of Ozempic's main side effects is weight loss, which is why many - including celebrities - have been using it for this very purpose.
She started off on a low 0.25mg weekly dose, which increased to 1mg following her £121 per month privately-paid prescription.
After losing 5lbs in the first week, Aisling then lost a steady 1–2lbs weekly.
While she experienced nausea, fatigue, and appetite loss, she adapted by eating small, balanced meals every two hours and switching up her takeaway orders.
Over a year later, Aisling lost around 5st 5lbs and ended up quitting the drug due to a global shortage.
"So when ordering a takeaway, like pizza, I'd order the small pizza as that would fill me," Aisling told LADbible.
"I didn't give up fizzy drinks, but cut down and found the only fizzy drink I could drink was the Aldi version of Diet Coke.
"I'd have a can with dinner, but never, ever could finish a can, it would just be a few sips.
"I also never gave up chocolate, but when on Ozempic or GLP-1, for a lot of people, it curbs the cravings for sugars. So when I was having a bit of chocolate, I'd have a Freddo or small skinny Dairy Milk or Curly Wurly."
She said she is 'no longer freaked out about what I eat anymore and it feels amazing'.
From 2023 to 2025, she has maintained a weight of 10st 9lbs, and the confidence she has gained has improved her sex life with her husband, Jonathan.
“It was non-existent. I was just more conscious about myself. I’m the type of person who likes to role-play and dress up a little, but I wasn’t wearing any of it because I felt like I was huge,” she admitted while speaking to The Sun.
“Oh yeah! I’m more confident in myself. If I go on top now I don’t feel like a pig on top of him, or if I do any other position all you’re looking at is your faults and now I’m like, ‘yep, I look fantastic!’ It’s so much better now.”
She said the whole experience 'has totally changed how I feel about myself, never mind the amount of weight I’ve lost – the feeling inside for me matters more than that'.
“I’m really happy with my weight now. If I went lower I’d look sick,” Aisling added. “I do like having my curves, I’ve always had big hips.
“People in the comments point out, ‘Oh you took the jabs but you’re not a size 8. I’m like, ‘why would I want to be?’
“That doesn’t suit me. It suits other people but it wouldn’t suit me. I’d look like I’m 90, it’d age me so much I wouldn’t want all the loose skin and losing the elasticity in your face.”
LADbible has contacted Novo Nordisk for comment.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Food And Drink, Ozempic
Anish Vij