The first thing Ashley O’Driscoll does when she wakes up each morning is step onto her bathroom scales and log her weight on her phone.
Throughout the day, the Dublin mother of one meticulously tracks every calorie she consumes—a habit formed after years of fluctuating weight that ultimately saw her lose half her body size.
Once a size 12, Ashley struggled to return to her pre-pregnancy weight after giving birth 16 years ago. Despite years of dieting and exercise, she found it impossible to sustain weight loss.
At her heaviest, the 5ft 11in Ashley weighed 22 stone. “The slightest thing would make me gain weight. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get it down and keep it down,” she says.
Her weight affected her confidence, limiting her to essential outings for work, school runs, or supermarket trips. Even an invitation to the cinema required persistent encouragement from her best friend. “I felt terrible. I’m nearly 40, and I haven’t lived my thirties because I’ve been in constant isolation due to my weight,” says Ashley, now 38.
After numerous failed diets and fitness regimens, Ashley turned to her doctor early last year. Gastric surgery was suggested but came with a five-year waiting list. In a last-ditch effort, Ashley tried Ozempic, a diabetes medication known to aid weight loss by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which helps control hunger.
Sceptical, Ashley obtained a prescription, picked up her first dose, and administered the injection at home. Almost immediately, she noticed the results. “The weight started to fall away within the first week,” she recalls. She experienced mild side effects such as headaches and nausea, but the most significant change was the disappearance of “food noise.”
“You’re not constantly thinking about your next meal,” she says. With her appetite curbed, Ashley’s daily intake shrank. A typical day might include porridge with honey for breakfast, a small lunch like soup, and a light dinner.
The weight loss allowed her to rediscover physical activity. “It felt amazing because I was sporty in my teens but spent so much of my adult life struggling with basic tasks like climbing stairs,” Ashley says.
By the spring of last year, she had shed 12 stone—nearly half her body weight—and could fit into jeans for the first time in years. Social media challenges, such as walking 10,000 extra steps daily for a week, kept her motivated.
However, significant weight loss brought its challenges. “When I was overweight, I had curves. Now my breasts are just loose skin,” Ashley says, noting similar issues with sagging skin on her arms, thighs, and stomach.
She hides these insecurities with bodysuits and carefully chosen clothing. Surgery to remove the excess skin is financially out of reach, though she estimates it could reduce her weight by another seven pounds.
Last summer, Ashley faced gallstones, a common side effect of rapid weight loss. Her gallbladder was removed in July, but she considers it a small price for the progress she’s made. By November, she had achieved her target weight of 10 stone.
Yet, the cost of Ozempic, at £147 a month, became an obstacle after Ashley was made redundant. Unable to maintain the injections consistently, her appetite returned, and she regained over two stone in six months. “I’d eat anything I could get my hands on,” she admits. When her partner helped her resume the medication two months ago, Ashley quickly began losing weight again and is nearing her goal.
“Ozempic was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but it’s not without challenges,” Ashley reflects. “Losing the weight is only part of the journey. Maintaining it requires constant vigilance.” She counts calories meticulously and fears developing an eating disorder due to her hyper-awareness of food.
In total, Ashley has spent over £5,000 on weight-loss injections. Her doctor believes she will need the medication indefinitely. Ashley has accepted this and remains grateful for the life-changing drug. “Obesity is a disease for which there is no cure. If you stop the medication, the risk of regaining weight is always there,” she explains. “For my health, staying on Ozempic is the best choice.”
