Losing weight and getting healthy has always felt like an uphill battle and few men talk about it. I’m not sure why it’s taboo. We struggle just like women do.

For years, I quietly tried everything from restrictive diets, endless gym sessions, and “white knuckling” through hunger. No matter what I did, the weight would creep back on, and the constant cravings made it nearly impossible to maintain a calorie deficit. 

At my lowest point, I’d wake up in the night and eat half a freezer's worth of ice cream - four Cornettos and six Golden Gaytimes, to be exact.

I was grossly overweight, putting my heart health at risk and staring down a possible type two diabetes diagnosis if I didn’t get a handle on it.

One of the biggest barriers to seeking help is the stigma and awkwardness of face-to-face consultations. I knew I had a problem.

I contacted a GP through online health platform Mosh who eventually prescribed Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist commonly known as Ozempic. 

It’s long been associated with celebrities and women but rarely talked about by men. 

It didn’t just suppress my appetite; it gave me the mental clarity to make better food choices. Instead of reaching for junk, I started asking myself, What does my body need?

I’ve lost 20 kilograms with my waist-to-hip ratio, BMI, and cholesterol levels which were once all in the high-risk category are now normal and for the first time, I’m now considered low-risk for cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.

It’s not just about the physical changes either. It’s also improved my glycaemic control, keeping my blood sugar levels stable and reducing my risk of type 2 diabetes, a disease that runs in my family. 

Losing weight has also lifted a massive burden on my mental health. I’m more confident. I no longer hide my body under baggy clothes or dread taking my shirt off at the beach. For the first time in years, I can see the muscle definition from my gym efforts.

Of course, no treatment is without its challenges. Over time, the appetite suppression effects became less potent, a common occurrence with medications. The side effects, like mild nausea and short-term constipation, for me were manageable and quickly resolved.

But what I have learnt is eating better and more self control.

I’m healthier, happier, and more confident than I’ve been in years. 

I still enjoy the occasional ice cream, but now it’s one - not 10.