AFTER losing an incredible 9 stone with the help of the medication Mounjaro, life is looking dramatically different for Bailey.
But now she is facing a new reality: life after the drug.
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With the recent price increase coming up, staying on Mounjaro for maintenance simply isn’t an option.
Taking to her TikTok account ‘baylsse’, the young woman – who went from a UK size 20 to a size 8 – sat down with her followers to share how she’s doing six weeks off the medication.
She explained how the “food noise” has returned, and if she’s gained any weight.
But she’s quick to explain that it’s not as scary as it sounds.
For Bailey, Mounjaro never fully eliminated hunger; it simply changed her relationship with food.
It gave her satiety – the feeling of being full – after eating a much smaller portion.
“I could eat a kids meal and would feel just as full as if I’d eaten an adult starter, main, and dessert,” she explained.
Now, off the medication, she feels hungrier and the “food noise” – the constant thoughts about food – has returned.
While she admits her control isn’t as tight as it was on Mounjaro, she’s relying on her willpower.
She shared that when she gives in to a craving, like a Kit Kat from the fridge, she accepts it as a one-time thing.
“I’m not going to eat that Kit Kat later after dinner when I plan to eat it,” she says.
This discipline is what prevents her from overeating.
Bailey has gained a small amount of weight since stopping Mounjaro, which she attributes to a short-term course of Sertraline she took for her mental health.
She says the medication made her gain nine pounds of fluid, but she stopped taking it quickly.
So I know what to do. I know how to do it. I’m okay
Bailey
Now, she’s focusing on her health in a new way by hitting the gym more consistently.
“I’ve gained weight but I don’t think I’ve gained fat,” she says, noting that her muscle mass is increasing.
According to her scales app, her body fat hasn’t changed, and she is “not eating enough food to be gaining a substantial amount of fat.”
Since the price increase of Mounjaro makes it unaffordable for her, Bailey is committed to maintaining her weight through a healthy lifestyle.
She’s found a new love for the gym and is excited to exercise again.
“I love making new foods. I love making healthy foods… I love eating fresh healthy foods. So I know what to do. I know how to do it. I’m okay,” she says.
For others who might be in the same position, she offers a powerful and reassuring message: “It’s not as scary as you think.”
Willpower
She believes the key to success is a determined mindset, willpower, and discipline.
She’s so committed to staying at her new weight that she says she couldn’t face the embarrassment of telling her followers she’s regained the weight.
She feels the first six weeks were the hardest, as her body adjusted to the medication leaving her system and has learnt to “prioritise the healthier foods.”
Bailey’s video has gained 73.9k views and 182 comments after one day of being shared.
Many rushed to share their thoughts with her, with one writing: “Been off for eight weeks, no food noise, do feel hunger but it’s different to before.
“It’s so controllable that I gained just over a pound.
Portion sizes
“But… I am going to the gym and starting running again, and sticking to the same portion sizes. It takes hard work but defo worth it.”
Another added: “Well done you – you have done fantastically.”
And a third said: “Nice to hear from someone else who never felt the full suppression.
“I literally feel hunger before meals and I have some cravings like any normal person.
“I just find my meals fill me so I’m not looking for dessert after or to add a bigger portion.”
How I would have coped with Mounjaro price hike as a mum-of-two
Fabulous Senior Digital Writer Sarah Bull was on Mounjaro from October 2024 until July 2025, and lost 6 stone on the jabs. Here, she reveals her thoughts about how she would have coped with the higher prices had she still been taking the drug.
“It was never an easy decision for me to start Mounjaro. But given that I’ve been a yo-yo dieter for the majority of my adult life, I felt like the jabs were my last resort.
“I had gone to the GP to ask about the possibility of starting the injections on the NHS, but was told there was no chance until June 2025, and even that would be with stringent rules as to who would be approved for it for free.
“So, I decided to pay for the jabs myself. They weren’t cheap, but I justified the cost by telling myself that I would have spent the same amount – or even more – on junk food and takeaways every month.
“One thing I hadn’t realised though, is the fact that the injections get even more expensive if you’re on a higher dosage. So while the initial loading dose of 2.5mg was manageable monthly, getting up to 12.5mg – the highest dosage I reached on my Mounjaro journey – was costing an arm and a leg.
“Despite that, I was determined to stay on the jabs, as I was terrified of regaining the weight when I came off. I had actually intended to stay on the jabs for life, had I been allowed to, and could afford to do so.
“However, that’s not something I would have been able to do amid the price hike. Luckily (at least now I believe it was luckily), I had to stop Mounjaro for health reasons at the beginning of July.
“Had I still been on the jabs, I can safely say that news of the higher price would have had a massive effect on my mental health – as it has done for so many people. I wouldn’t have been able to afford the monthly injections, and the decision to come off them would have been taken out of my hands entirely.
“They also didn’t give much notice before the increased price comes into play on 1st September – certainly not enough notice for the majority of people to scrape together enough cash to be able to continue on their MJ journey.
“Mounjaro might be seen as the “cheats way out” for some, but it’s a “miracle drug” for others – and the decision to come off should be left up to the user, NOT the manufacturer.”
