u/brownteethgarbagelad

27 F 178cm: I was diagnosed with PCOS and insulin resistance in mid-2020 at 21 years old. Before that, I had reached a point where I felt so desperate to “fix” myself that I even underwent full-body liposuction. The hardest part was that I had never always been overweight. Growing up, I played sports, ate well, and genuinely enjoyed being active. Then suddenly, despite dieting and exercising constantly, nothing seemed to work anymore. Around 2021–2022, I tried Ozempic and only lost around 7kg before it became restricted to diabetic patients in Australia. Not long after, I went through a very difficult period personally, alongside the ongoing hormonal and metabolic struggles I was already dealing with. I started binge eating and, honestly, I became exhausted from feeling uncomfortable in my own body all the time. Breaking my foot was a turning point for me. I realised the extra weight I was carrying would only make healing and recovery harder. I eventually consulted an online doctor, and that’s when my real journey began. Over time I trialled different doses, up to 10mg, and now only use around 5mg monthly for maintenance if needed. What truly changed things was also changing my lifestyle. I improved my eating habits and adopted a puppy, which meant walking 7–10km every day and constantly staying active playing with her. Today, I weigh 70kg a number I genuinely never thought I would see again, as I haven’t been this size since high school. Losing almost 100 pounds has changed my life in many ways, though not always in the ways people expect. Physically, I sometimes feel like my bones ache more now. Mentally, I no longer experience constant “food noise,” and I’m finally able to enjoy normal portions without overindulging. But being smaller doesn’t automatically make you happier. I still struggle with body dysmorphia and often see the old version of myself in the mirror. For a long time, I continued hiding behind oversized, baggy clothes and sometimes I still do. Only recently have I started feeling more comfortable wearing clothes that actually fit me, though I still instinctively reach for the oversized XXL shirt now and then. Shocking isn’t it.