Beginning a GLP-1 wasn’t actually a selection for ShantaQuilette Carter-Williams. “My physician just about gave me an ultimatum and stated that if I didn’t lose the load, I used to be in all probability going to die within the subsequent 5 years,” she tells Yahoo. That was in 2023, and Carter-Williams had already survived a coronary heart assault and a stroke in her early 40s, and had been identified with kind 2 diabetes. Her physician prescribed her Ozempic, and Carter-Williams didn’t anticipate the drug to do a lot aside from management her insulin ranges.
However two years on and 160 kilos lighter, beginning the medicine has helped to open a brand new chapter in Carter-Williams’s life. “I grew to become extra acutely aware of how I eat and the way I respect my physique, and of really being an energetic participant in my rescue,” she says. She’s additionally had a reinvention; the previous accountant is now a speaker, content material creator, well being advocate and comic. Along with her physician’s steering, Carter-Williams weaned herself off of Mounjaro in February 2025. Whereas analysis reveals that some two-thirds of GLP-1 customers regain a lot of the weight they misplaced inside a yr, Carter-Williams has, remarkably, been in a position to preserve her dimension and improved well being. She credit the brand new habits she’s realized and her dedication to keep away from one other stroke or coronary heart assault. However Carter-Williams is aware of that she might not be capable of preserve her weight on her personal ceaselessly. “If I would like to return on the medicine, I’ll,” she says. “I hope that I haven’t got to try this, however I am not embarrassed to if it is necessary.”
On this installment of On My Weigh, Carter-Williams explains in her personal phrases how taking a GLP-1 helped her flip her well being round and study that “to really love your self is to maintain your self inside and outside.”
In about two years on GLP-1s, ShantaQuilette Carter-Williams misplaced 160 kilos and reversed her kind 2 diabetes and hypertension. (Picture illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Yahoo Information; picture: courtesy of Tavia Whitlowe)
The weigh-in
Identify: ShantaQuilette Carter-Williams
The tactic: Ozempic, 12.5 milligrams from February 2022 till October 2023, then Mounjaro, 15 milligrams till weaning off of GLP-1s in February 2025
The purpose: I had had a coronary heart assault and stroke, and I used to be identified with kind 2 diabetes, in addition to being overweight. My physician didn’t assume that was in my finest curiosity. So she put me on Ozempic to control my insulin however stated it may additionally assist me shed some pounds.
Progress report: The medicine put me in remission from my kind 2 diabetes. My blood stress is regulated, I’m down 160 kilos, and right here’s the largest factor: I went to my neurologist a few months in the past as a result of I’ve had a mind harm, and I’ve been having extreme mind fog. So I used to be like, “Is that this perimenopause or am I coming down with dementia?” I obtained a full blood workup executed. When the nurse got here to present me my outcomes, she stated, “That is the most effective bloodwork we’ve seen on this workplace — not only for you, not simply in your age or gender — however on this workplace all yr.”
Meals noise quantity: Scale of 1 to 10? My meals noise was a 25. However now I might say my meals noise is typically perhaps a 2.
Day within the life
Rise and shine
I get up between 5 and seven a.m., and I really feel good. I get up, and I select me. I’m a girl in perimenopause, so the bounce-back after a full day isn’t fairly the identical because it was once. However the distinction is that I used to be 160 kilos heavier and getting up and coping with well being points. I can’t think about being the place I used to be by way of my weight and well being 5 years in the past, and having to rise up within the morning and take care of all of the perimenopause signs that I’m now.
I’m extra of a morning particular person now, however I don’t rush it after I get up. I enable my nervous system to do what it’s presupposed to do. I begin the day with my affirmations and an excellent snort as a result of it decreases your stress hormone [cortisol] and provides you dopamine. Earlier than, it wasn’t like that, as a result of I used to be achy, groggy, obese, drained, not feeling effectively — all this stuff. Again then, I may keep in mattress till 10 or 11 a.m. simply mendacity there. I noticed that wasn’t all the time good; it was simply my physique telling me what it will possibly and can’t do.
First bites
Earlier than beginning on a GLP-1, if we had fried rooster the evening earlier than, I’d get up and eat a chunk of fried rooster and a few eggs or simply no matter was within the fridge. It wasn’t like, “Oh, I’ll have a conventional breakfast.” If I wished some boudin from New Orleans within the morning, I used to be gonna have it.
Now, I’ll begin my day with a protein drink or one of many juices that my daughter makes. She and my husband are actually good assist. Generally, I’ll get up and go to my workplace with a protein drink and lemon water. Then, my husband will are available with some eggs and potatoes to ensure I eat.
Prepare with me
One factor that ShantaQuilette goes to do is placed on some garments to be ok with herself. She goes to like herself. Any time I used to be trying within the mirror, I’ve all the time seen me and felt good. Preparing just isn’t a luxurious to me — it’s a requirement to really feel good, and that’s the final pleasure. And it’s about being free. However, after my stroke, there was a time after I had actually simply let myself go and was going by way of this massive, deep melancholy.
Since beginning a GLP-1, I really feel good, like I all the time did, however there’s one thing totally different. It’s a glow, and I feel that comes from my mindset and figuring out that I’m getting higher and never getting worse. However I did go from a dimension 22 to a dimension 4. For some time, I used to be nonetheless attempting to purchase my garments too massive, like, OK, I do not know my dimension. I hung onto my outdated garments for some time, in case I obtained massive once more. However I noticed, that’s not the mindset. I informed myself, “Why are you speaking about shifting backwards if you’re going to be shifting ahead?” Now I really feel assured to put on the issues I wish to.
I went to Style Week in February, and I used to frown on these designers like, “Why can’t I put on this in a dimension 22, I’d nonetheless look good?” I’ll nonetheless all the time struggle for that as a result of the woman I used to be will all the time be there. Nevertheless it feels good to know that I can truly purchase one thing that’s on the runway.
Make a transfer
Nowadays, I like Pilates, my strolling pad and calisthenics. However the fact of the matter is that, on account of my coronary heart situation and age, I’m now extra restricted in a few of the workout routines that I can do than I as soon as was. I used to like lifting heavy weights, however as a result of I’ve had a stroke and different well being points, I can’t do these issues.
So, a few occasions per week, I rise up and go for a stroll outdoors, very first thing. I’ve a weighted hula hoop. It’s so essential that all of us get a minimum of three days of train per week, a minimum of 45 minutes every day, particularly if you’re at an age when osteoporosis begins. It makes for a greater high quality of life. Like preparing, train just isn’t a luxurious, it’s a requirement.
Carter-Williams says that taking a GLP-1 taught her to be an “energetic participant in my very own rescue.” (Picture illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Yahoo Information; picture: courtesy of Tavia Whitlowe)
Let’s do lunch
Earlier than: Give me some Popeyes, give me some Williams Rooster, some fried rooster fried within the hardest, hottest grease. Now, I’m not strict with myself, however I attempt to not eat stuff that’s actually unhealthy, and I do attempt to restrict my sugar to 25 milligrams a day, and I’m acutely aware of my sodium ranges.
Now, I like to stage up on my fruits and veggies. I take pleasure in consuming what I wish to eat, however I do it in a more healthy approach. I typically have a sandwich or a salad for lunch. I like to have cucumber and pineapple combined along with some low-sodium Tajin on them, or an excellent tomato and cucumber salad.
Dose time
I ended taking Mounjaro in February of 2025, as a result of even when my physician and I attempted to stretch the time between doses and I used to be on a decrease upkeep dose, I used to be nonetheless shedding weight. I didn’t wish to lose any extra weight as a result of I obtained to some extent the place I used to be like, “I’m going to be invisible in a minute.” However after I was taking a GLP-1, I didn’t actually even give it some thought. When it was weekly, I’d take my GLP-1 shot each Tuesday or each Thursday. However I used to be fairly inconsistent with the times, and typically I’d take it within the morning, and typically within the night.
Blissful hour
I ended consuming lengthy earlier than I obtained on a GLP-1, simply as a protocol for higher well being. Once I began shedding weight, I inspired plenty of my pals to consider doing a GLP-1. At first, plenty of them had been like, “I’m not doing that, it’s gonna make you blind, it’s gonna make you lifeless.” Nicely, that’s the place I used to be on my technique to if I didn’t attempt Ozempic. I obtained some encouragement sharing my story on-line, and it was nice seeing that I used to be inspiring different folks to be the CEOs of their very own well being. However at occasions I felt damage or misunderstood. Not one particular person ever walked as much as me and stated, “Woman, you appear to be you’re getting too massive.” However as quickly as I misplaced weight, folks had been like, “Oh my God, don’t lose any extra.” Nicely, you’d by no means inform me to raw-dog my coronary heart situation, or my pancreas, and never take insulin.
However I additionally determined I might begin doing issues that I had by no means executed. In 2023, I went on a retreat in Costa Rica. I used to be in a position to canyon 300 toes down the facet of a cliff; I went white-water rafting and ziplining (I might by no means do this once more, however I did it). I did all of this stuff that I didn’t have the power or braveness to do earlier than as a result of I didn’t assume I used to be in adequate form. I’m glad I obtained these issues off my bucket record. And actually simply having the ability to take pleasure in life and other people. My glad hour is that this expertise gave me goal. And I noticed that goal just isn’t what you do, it’s who you do it for. I wish to stay, I wish to be higher, I wish to be right here for my grandchildren. And I’m sharing my story as a result of my testimony is for another person, to allow them to change their lives as effectively.
Dinner bell
In my household, meals is fellowship. Meals has all the time introduced me pleasure, however it obtained to the purpose the place I used to be not in a position to management it and management my weight. With a GLP-1, my urge for food is suppressed, so I’m in a position to take pleasure in it sparsely.
Now, my husband, daughter (who lives with us) and I are very acutely aware of consuming the issues we take pleasure in, however doing it in a more healthy approach. So, if we’re consuming spaghetti, we use floor turkey as a substitute of beef. When we’ve got stuffed bell peppers, we use floor rooster. The opposite evening, my daughter made scorching honey lemon salmon with broccoli, zucchini and cilantro lime brown rice. She makes actually good fried and baked rooster, and he or she makes positive to make smaller items for me.
My daughter does a extremely good job of meal prepping and making juices. My husband does his finest, however he has a candy tooth. However all people in my life is part of this course of. I’ve come to comprehend how my decisions have an effect on my household. They don’t wish to see me sick; they don’t wish to see me die. They don’t wish to see me die. If I’m not right here, that’s trauma that they must take care of too. In order that they preserve me accountable, and we’re all energetic members in my rescue.
Let’s get the invoice
Earlier than I obtained on Ozempic, my physician had tried to place me on Wegovy or Saxenda. It was going to be $1,600 a month. I used to be like, “I’m gonna die as a result of I can’t afford that.” It’s onerous to be in a rustic the place we should always all have free well being care, and issues like Ozempic must be like a bottle of Tylenol. Lastly, after I came upon I had kind 2 diabetes, I used to be in a position to get Ozempic, after which Mounjaro, for $25 a month. Nevertheless it’s so unhappy that so many individuals want these drugs, and the one factor that’s holding them again is cash.
In the case of meals bills, everyone knows it’s cheaper to go get a cheeseburger at McDonald’s than it’s to go to Complete Meals and get a salad. However it’s a must to resolve what you need and price range for it. We do not wish to preserve folks sick, and one of the best ways to be wholesome is to eat wholesome. I feel we fail as a result of we attempt to go massive. It doesn’t must be the fanciest salad. So simply purchase some lettuce and tomatoes and make some lemon and olive oil dressing and begin there.
This has been edited for size and readability.