Emma Skeates also known as Menopausal Mayhem Mother, shares her weight journey exclusively with DR.VEGAN®. Emma explains how she unexpectedly gained weight as a result of medication she was prescribed for her mental health. The medication dramatically altered her appetite and metabolism, resulting in her gaining almost three stone and her cholesterol soaring to an 'extremely high' 9.2. Unable to access weight-loss medications via the NHS or private healthcare professionals, Emma felt frustrated and unsure where to turn for weight loss support. Discover what helped her.
After years of caring for her elderly parents through their final illnesses, Emma experienced a severe mental health breakdown that required emergency psychiatric assessment. She was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and prescribed medication that helped save her mental health.
While the medication helped support her mental health, it came with an unexpected side effect: increased appetite. "The hunger was relentless," she recalls. "This wasn't normal hunger. I felt hungry all the time, and if I didn't eat, I actually felt quite unwell."
She was constantly craving sugary foods and carbohydrates; she said it seemed to settle the nausea. She found myself eating things I wouldn't normally touch and snacking far more often than ever before.
Within months she'd gained close to three stone, "I was buying bigger clothes, all the weight had settled around my middle and I felt permanently tired," she explains. "It genuinely felt as though my body had become a fat-storing machine."
The weight gain came as a complete shock to Emma. Emma first experienced significant weight gain after undergoing a full hysterectomy aged 44, which triggered an immediate surgical menopause. She had previously managed her weight through regular exercise and healthy eating.
Concerned about the rapid changes in weight, Emma booked an appointment with her GP. The results came as a huge shock. Emma's doctor explained that the medication she was on was well known for increasing appetite and causing weight gain. But what really worried her was her cholesterol result. It came back at 9.2, placing her in the 'extremely high' territory and well above the threshold linked to the risk of stroke.
"I have never had a cholesterol problem in my life, so seeing a number that high genuinely terrified me. I knew it wasn't just about my weight anymore. This was about my long-term health."
Determined to take action, she began researching ways to improve her health and quickly became interested in weight-loss medications. However, Emma soon discovered that rules at that time meant she was unable to access treatment. "My GP told me I wasn't eligible because I didn't have diabetes," she explains. "So I looked at private providers instead, only to be told that my BMI wasn't high enough."
"On one hand I was being told my cholesterol was dangerously high and that I needed to lose weight, but on the other hand I couldn't access the treatment that everybody seemed to be talking about."
With options running out, Emma came across DR.VEGAN's Weight Management Support. She says, "I had used DR.VEGAN supplements before and trusted the brand, so I decided to give it a try alongside the changes I was already making."
Within days, Emma says she began noticing a difference. The first thing she noticed was that she wasn't constantly thinking about food anymore. "The intense food noise and hunger started to ease, and I no longer felt as though I needed to eat every couple of hours."
Combined with a high-fibre, low-GI diet and daily walks, Emma says the changes quickly began to show. Within a couple of months she had lost a stone and more than four inches from her waist. "I could fit back into my favourite jeans, and, more importantly, I felt healthier and more energetic."
Emma checked her cholesterol levels again using a home testing kit, and she couldn't believe the result. Her cholesterol had fallen from 9.2 to 4.9. Emma's new result placed her back within the healthy range. "That was the moment I realised I'd taken back control of my health," she says.
Today, Emma says she feels healthier than she has in years, "The biggest victory isn't the weight I've lost. It's knowing that I've dramatically improved my health and reduced a risk factor that genuinely frightened me."
Reflecting on her experience, Emma hopes her story will encourage others who may feel stuck between wanting support and being unable to access weight-loss medications. "What I've learned is that there isn't just one route to improving your health. Three months ago, I felt frightened, frustrated and completely stuck. Today I feel healthier, more energetic and back in control of my future."
Unfortunately there’s no silver bullet. Medication, hormones, stress, sleep, gut health, and genetics all influence how your body responds to diet and lifestyle changes. What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to adopt a plan that supports your overall health, is sustainable, and is tailored to your unique needs.
If you are struggling with weight gain, we would recommend a free consultation with one of our qualified nutritionist, who will be able to give bespoke support and advice for your specific needs.
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