A former Weight Watchers leader who was “fed up with fad diets” invested £2,000 in prescribed weight loss injections and shed an impressive five-and-a-half stone. Now, she’s getting compliments on her youthful appearance and said that she has rekindled her love for life.
Tipping the scales at 15st 7lbs and barely fitting into a size 20, Dianne Carr confessed to having “tried everything” in her battle to slim down. The 39-year-old experimented with intermittent fasting, shake and soup diets and detox plans and even led a Weight Watchers group after losing five stone on its programme.
However, after leaving the job, she regained the weight plus an additional half stone – prompting a life-changing moment. Motivated by a video of herself from 2019, she vowed to permanently lose her extra weight.
In April, driven by “desperation”, the mum-of-two bought Mounjaro after speaking to a doctor. The treatment is an injectable weight loss drug that increases satiety and reduces hunger, as per NHS guidelines. Mounjaro boosts insulin production and decelerates food digestion.
Initially intended for type-2 diabetes patients, it is now also prescribed by the NHS for those battling obesity with BMIs above 35, reports the Mirror. However, it is only prescribed to patients on a strict basis.
(Image: Dianne Carr | SWNS)
Within a year, through self-administered injections costing £175 each, Dianne managed to lose five-and-a-half stone. Currently weighing 10st 2lbs and comfortably wearing a size 12, Dianne feels as though she’s been liberated and “like [she’s] had a fat suit taken off”.
Dianne, a TV marketer from Teesside in North Yorkshire, has gone on to write a £3.95 guide titled ‘Mounjaro Mastery’ to help others researching the weight loss drug, emphasising that the injections are “medicine” for those with larger builds. The guide is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and in it Dianne shares her own journey with the medication.
She expressed her newfound confidence, saying: “I’m slimmer than I was when I was 21. People think I’m younger than I am and it feels really nice. I felt like I was trapped in my own body and now I realise that I am free.”
Battling with her weight since childhood, Dianne found herself at size 20 and 16st by 18 years old, having just had her first child and falling into the trap of “eating for two”. She joined Weight Watchers when her baby was six weeks old, successfully dropping down to a size 14 after losing five stone.
Despite becoming a group leader, she left the role after five months. Dianne and her husband, Aaron, a 39-year-old lecturer, welcomed their second child in 2014, which saw her weight climb back up to 17st and a size 20.
(Image: Dianne Carr | SWNS)
In her ambition for weight loss, Dianne experimented with various diets including Dr Michael Mosley’s The Fast 800, the Cambridge Weight Plan’s 1:1 shake and soup diet and nine-day detox programmes. Despite her efforts, Dianne felt frustrated, noting that she “tried absolutely everything” but still seemed to gain weight while eating the same amount as someone of a slimmer build.
Last April, she purchased her first dose of Mounjaro following a doctor’s appointment, administering it outside a hospital in case of an adverse reaction. She has since invested roughly £2,000 to date and believes it’s been “100 per cent worth every penny”.
She said: “I immediately noticed how my appetite went down massively as well as the amount I could eat. Surprisingly, I stopped drinking alcohol – suddenly I just didn’t crave it on a night out. The medication just made it easier to cut out things that aren’t beneficial.”
Dianne considers herself “really lucky” as she experienced few side effects, with hair shedding and constipation being the only issues. However, others have reported nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea while on the drug.
In just two weeks, Dianne shed 9lbs and by the end of the month, she was nearly a stone lighter. The injections turned her off some of her favourite snacks, like salt and vinegar crisps, and she found herself feeling full much sooner, leading to smaller meal portions.
(Image: Dianne Carr | SWNS)
Dianne shared: “I had gotten down to a size 16 and I didn’t have to shop at the plus size sections anymore – a lot opened up for me. When I lost the first stone it gave me the confidence to swim again. I haven’t swam since I was 15 and I didn’t think I’d be able to swim again but I gave it a go and now I can do 60 lengths. Losing the weight made me fall back in love with being in the water.”
Weight loss for Dianne slowed down after initial success, and she now loses around 1lb per week. Nevertheless, she found the outcome “great” as it previously took her two years to lose five stone through dieting.
Forgoing calorie counting and strict diets in favour of the injections, she focused on healthier eating choices like swapping chips for sweet potatoes and opting for low-carb bread. Now tipping the scales at 10st, Dianne has set a goal to reach 9st before discontinuing the jabs and maintaining her weight solely through nutritious eating habits.
As of March 2025, the NHS offers tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management purposes. A specialist weight management consultant will determine if you’re suited for the treatment based on whether you have a BMI over 30 or a BMI above 27 with related health conditions, such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes, when conventional methods have been insufficient.
Before taking tirzepatide (Mounjaro), patients can expect detailed discussions about its advantages and potential side effects with their healthcare provider. For the best results from Mounjaro, adherence to a balanced diet with fewer calories and regular physical activity is essential.
Common side effects of taking Mounjaro include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation, often occurring when starting or increasing the dose. More serious side effects, though rare, can include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, and a potential risk of thyroid tumours.