Latest / This Is My Journey | The GLP-1 Podcast / S1 E12: 7 Stone Gone & Surviving Gallstones on a GLP-1 (with Amie Moore)

Transcript

S1 E12: 7 Stone Gone & Surviving Gallstones on a GLP-1 (with Amie Moore) · This Is My Journey | The GLP-1 Podcast

• 0:00
  Today's episode is one a lot of listeners will really connect with. There's so much online conversation around GLP-1s and side effects and something that can leave people really worried and confused and in reality according to NHS guidance the most commonly reported side effects are temporary digestive symptoms such as nausea, reflux and constipation and most people find these are mild and manageable with
• 0:23
  pacing, hydration, and nutritional balance. Another topic though that often sparks debate is gallbladder issues and pancreatitis during weight loss. Rapid weight loss itself, regardless of whether it's from medication, dieting, or surgery, can increase the risk of gallstones. This is a known physiological process and not specific to GLP-1s. It is really important to talk about this openly and honestly, and with reassurance, because knowledge helps people feel calmer and more in control during their journey. And that's where my next guest,
• 0:53
  comes in so perfectly. So let's roll the intro and get into it. Welcome to This Is My Journey, the podcast where real people share real stories of transformation, resilience, and growth. I'm Mark and after navigating my own path through major lifestyle change, I created this space to open up honest conversations around identity,
• 1:18
  mindset and what it really takes to evolve. So along the way, we'll also hear from professionals, you know, from pharmacists to psychologists and fitness experts who help us make sense of the science and support behind these journeys. So whether you're just starting out deep in the process or you're finding your footing after big change, you are not alone. This is your place. This is my journey. Let's walk it together.
• 1:46
  Welcome back to This Is My Journey. My guest today is someone so many of you already know and follow. Amy Moore has began her journey in April at over 20 stone and is now sitting at just over 13 stone with an incredible transformation, not only physically, but emotionally. She's talked
• 2:02
  openly about confidence, toxic relationships, navigating public comments and online trolling and about really how real weight loss isn't just about food or the medication, it's mental strength, vulnerability and resilience. She's also experienced gallbladder complications due to her rapid weight loss and is now hopefully restarting her journey again in January at the lowest dose of Manjaro and I know so many listeners will relate to finding your balance
• 2:32
  Yeah, no, thank you so much for having me and very, very excited to be able to share my truths, the good, the bad, all of it and just be open and honest.
• 2:42
  Yeah, no, absolutely. You have an incredible story and I'm so excited for everyone to hear it. So really, I suppose to get started for anyone who maybe, you know, doesn't know your full background on your journey on how you even came to be on TikTok, Instagram, because everybody or a lot of people will know you from there. Could you maybe tell us a little bit about, you know, where it all began for you and kind of what led you to start?
• 3:06
  Yeah, so I started my journey in April this year. Something that I'd obviously sat on for quite a while. In regards to obviously going on TikTok, that was never, ever planned when I started my journey. Never something that I planned. Never kind of a path that I ever thought I would go down into content creation. But I saw a lot of people do it and thought I would log a few of my own videos. And from there, it just led and built up. A lot of people will know me as Amy the Mongobi Safe Space on TikTok. Yeah.
• 3:32
  And yeah, I love sharing my journey. I love supporting people on their journeys. It's just nice to have people because not everyone feels like they could necessarily do that. So it's nice to be able to kind of help the people that are a bit more quieter in the background. Maybe you don't want to share their journeys as much but need support. So yeah, that's kind of how I ended up on TikTok. And I'm now nearly seven stone down. Obviously, we'll get into the reasons why I am on a short pause at the moment. But yeah, that's a little bit about me.
• 3:59
  Yeah. Amazing. So really, I suppose when you look back to April, when you kind of started, what was that moment or, you know, the turning point really for you that made you decide to begin this journey? Like, where did it all start? How did you know or find out about Manjaro? Like, there's a lot of feelings there and a lot of different, you know, avenues you kind of have to go down at the very, very start of this journey to realize that this is the right step for you to take. What was that catalyst to start?
• 4:29
  Yeah, so apart from trying probably every single fad diet you could probably try out there. Brilliant. Yeah. Trying every single different option, weight loss plan, whatever it was that was there, and just nothing working. And even if it did work, it worked for a small amount and never maintained. Yeah.
• 4:46
  I sat actually on the idea of starting Mount Jaro for nearly a year. It was actually a dear friend of mine, Camilla. Some people may know her from TikTok. We used to work together and watching Camilla's transformation over the last year, it was just, that was my inspiration to want to start. I wasn't really a TikTok person. I never really went on TikTok. So I'm going to start with a little bit of a little bit.
• 5:06
  I thought, I sat on the idea back and forth for a while. January this year, I ordered it and it sat in my fridge until April. So I literally did not even think about it again. And I think it was more the health anxiety side of things because you see so much negativity on social media with, for example, what I'm going through now. It causes this, it causes that, and you just put two and two together and it can just put you off. So...
• 5:30
  But definitely the breaking point of actually saying I was going to start it, I think is just being so unhappy with how I looked. I had shared a couple of videos on social media prior and had quite nasty backlash from it. And they were just normal videos of me with friends and nothing to do with this journey at all. So I think it was just purely the way I looked, the way you get treated in society by people. I just had enough of it and just wanted to change. And it's also many people, including yourself, Mark, having great results on TikTok once
• 5:57
  I started to have a look at people's content and videos. I was like, wow, this really works if you put your mind to it. Yeah, you know what? You totally hit the nail on the head there. I think, you know, it is really about doing the research. And yes, you mentioned there about...
• 6:14
  sitting on it for a long, long time before you actually committed. And I think in a way that's kind of a good thing because sometimes I think people do rush into this without knowing the full consequences and how to do it properly. And I think, you know, having that inkling and that was very, very similar to me, you know, in terms of, you know, just doing that research, sort of having the knowledge before you actually started instead of sort of going into it all all guns blazing kind of thing. But, you know, you mentioned that you can set it up for nearly a year.
• 6:43
  before starting so I know you've touched on a little bit there but what held you back like what finally was that thing that made you you know I'm gonna do this
• 6:54
  Do you know what it was? I would say a lot of it is factoring now. It's so easy to get hold of, let's be real. There's places out there that will just send it to you and not even follow up. I know yourself, you're with a good trusted provider and I am as well. But there is many that are not. And I think that's the scary part of how easy you can just get it. And let's not even talk about the black market side of things either.
• 7:16
  But I would say it was, I was just petrified of side effects. I think I was petrified of maybe it not working because also it is, it's not the cheapest thing to get. And you, how do you have to commit? You can't just do it for a month or two. Do have to kind of commit if you're going to do it, you have to stick with it and do it until you're at your goal. Yeah.
• 7:34
  So definitely the health anxiety completely put me off at first, but it couldn't have fully put me off or I wouldn't have had it in my fridge. So it was half put off. But I think definitely the support of people on TikTok, which is probably what's inspired me the most to do content and stuff now, is watching when I started to get involved and watch people's videos and just seeing people's progress. It just...
• 7:55
  inspires and sparks something inside you this makes you think do you know what this could be my only chance I have gone down every single avenue and nothing has worked at all yeah I think you reached that point where I know for for me and I can relate to what you're saying there like you know you
• 8:12
  You try, you try everything. You have tried everything and, you know, all them different diets, all them different, you know, fads that kind of come around every year and all that. And I think we all have one thing that's in common, and I think it is that
• 8:27
  we all can relate to this thing called obesity. And I think it's funny because until, you know, we start talking about like food noise and things like that, like nobody actually knew what any of that was. And I think now that we know what this medication does and how it affects us, we actually realize now that
• 8:44
  food noise is a thing like I actually didn't know what that was but it makes total sense and we can all relate to it that we all have that thing up here that you know makes us want to eat even though we might not be hungry as such but um but yeah I know it's really interesting hearing how
• 9:00
  you sort of came to start because I think we're all very, very similar that way. You know, for you, losing seven stone is a massive, massive achievement. So well done. It's not just a physical thing, like it's a mental, the mental side of it too. When did you notice
• 9:15
  Or when did you first begin to notice, you know, a change in how Manjar was changing you in terms of your confidence, you know, losing that weight? Like when was, can you think of a particular moment or, you know, when was it really apparent to you that this is doing something and it's changing how I feel about myself?
• 9:34
  Yeah, so I would definitely say from the moment I actually decided to do it, mentally, I was fully committed. So in my head, after seeing everyone's progress, I knew that it was going to work. I just knew it. And I'd say the first month, obviously, nothing beats the first week's loss. And when you see that, that does just get you excited for the rest of your journey. Then I think that just keeps you going. Yeah.
• 9:57
  But I would say it was definitely a good six to eight weeks, probably, I've really started to notice. And it was more because I'd started doing the content. When you go back to like the first video you ever post and then you look at one and you don't notice until you look back on photos and stuff and you're like, wow, like that's still me. And yeah, I would just say comments off of people as well. I suppose people at my work that I work with that see me every day. And it's harder as well when someone does see you every day to kind of know it, especially
• 10:24
  For me, like the mental side of it, I just felt different. My confidence was growing. I would say the more I felt better, the more my content got better, the more I wanted to get involved with social media. Because at first I got some viral comments on some of my original videos, which is really bizarre because my content is about being overweight. And yet people still think by saying that is normal on your posts. But you have to just allow people like that. I've come to that conclusion now in my life. Yeah.
• 10:51
  But yeah, it's definitely a whole mental shift, this journey.
• 10:55
  Now, fast forward to where I am now, it's just crazy how the confidence is just completely different because I was so shy. I remember doing my first live and not even really like talking or people were coming in and I was waiting for them to say hello. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. I sit on there and don't even second guess it. Yeah, yeah. I know, I can totally relate. I think it is so funny because at the very start, you know, for me, just looking back at them first few videos that I posted, just as a way of
• 11:24
  I suppose, documenting my own journey at that very start. And looking back at them videos now, it's so funny because the amount of people that have said to me, and I'm sure you've had this too, it's like, oh my God, you sound so much happier now in your videos, just the way you talk. You're talking more upbeat, you're faster, you're...
• 11:41
  Like I look back at one of my old videos, like talking so slowly, talking really down and depressive almost. And that's just why it's such an epitome of where you are as a person, I think. And that point, because you've literally reached
• 11:57
  that point of no return where you're like, you know, I can just keep going the way I'm going, or I can actually do something about this. Yeah, it's so funny just hearing you talk, because I can completely relate, and do you know what you're saying there about the trolls and stuff and all that? You definitely learn. I think a lot of it at the very start for me was a case of I took a lot to heart, and I still do now from time to time, and I'm sure you do too, but I think, you know,
• 12:20
  You just have to let that, like, they're not happy in themselves to write down comments in the first place. So that's what I always tell myself. And I'm like, they're not worth it. I just block and move on. You definitely get to that mindset in the end. But I suppose when you're insecure, when you first, that will always affect you. I think more when you get naturally more confident, you're going to be less attacked by comments, I suppose.
• 12:40
  Yeah. And you know what? That's, you know, yes, we have something in common there because, you know, we have platforms, we talk about our journeys or whatever. But I suppose for the day to day person that might be listening to this, that's something that they can relate to, too, because people and, you know, everybody has a social media account these days. Everybody posts photos. You know, everybody's had them horrible comments come their way at some point, whether it's from somebody that supposedly loves them or doesn't love them or a friend or ex friend or whatever.
• 13:06
  Yeah, it's just really important, I think, just to not let that negativity spoil your happiness and longevity on trying to become the person that you have always wanted to be eventually. So, yeah, kind of leads me on to where you are now in this current phase of your journey. You know, yeah.
• 13:25
  We need to talk about something. We kind of mentioned it at the start a little bit, but yes, your gallbladder complications and all that. So just kind of briefly, I suppose, can you kind of bring us up to speed with how you find out about all that? You know, what kind of happened? Like, what do you know about the situation and where you are now?
• 13:44
  Yeah, so we'll start. Firstly, I've had a fantastic journey. Very, very minimal side effects. Apart from my first week of 7.5, that was the highest I've been. Other than that, I've had very minimal side effects. So other than that, my journey's gone well. I've had great losses, done really well. I would say the end of August, beginning of September time, I started to get this
• 14:05
  It was intense pain just under my right rib. And I just put it down to being like really bad constipation or something. I just thought, oh, maybe I'm getting a side effect or something like that. Or trapped wind. But it slowly over the month of September just got progressively worse and worse and worse to the point...
• 14:22
  It would go on for like three hours sometimes and I would literally be on my hands and knees screaming and then into the hospital. So definitely if anyone experiences pain under their right rib or to the central, that can be related to your pancreas or your gallbladder. So it's always good to get it checked. Definitely.
• 14:38
  So yeah, I went to the hospital when I got told twice that it was gastritis. So I got sent home with antibiotics and told it was nothing to do with a gallbladder. Until the third time I went back and I told them what I thought it was. And they did a scan and then they saw it was in fact what I thought it was. Because I googled all the symptoms and I knew exactly what the pain was and it was getting worse. Yeah.
• 14:59
  So yeah, that's kind of that part of it. Since then, obviously, I have just had my gallbladder removed as an emergency case because I did get a chronic conocystitis from having the gallbladder. And I know a lot of people's concerns when they hear gallbladder on Monjaro is that it caused it. And I've had doctors, medical professionals, even my surgeon tell me this is not the case. There is...
• 15:26
  I suppose a side effect of Malndyra can be rapid weight loss. So I suppose you could say there's a connection there, but in regards to the actual medication itself, has no interference. In fact, I don't even need to be off of it now. That is my personal choice. So yeah, I've just had it out last week as an emergency case and will be obviously restarting my journey in January. I'm just giving myself a bit of an extended break just to let my body kind of catch up with what's missing and what's now not in it no more. Yeah, yeah.
• 15:56
  So yeah, that's kind of how I'm in the situation I am now. Well, you know, it's a really important story to tell, I think. And I suppose, again, just thank you for appearing here because you are only a few days post that operation. And it's, you know, it's a big operation. And I think...
• 16:13
  It's really important to tell that story because there is a real common misconception around GLP-1s in general and causing gallstones. So I suppose going into restarting your journey and, you know, picking up Majaho where you kind of left off, you know, you said there about wanting to start again on the lowest dose. What has made you want to restart again?
• 16:36
  I feel a little bit cheated because I feel like my journey was cut short without it being my fault or me being within control of it being cut short. But I've also wanted to allow my body time. So I am absolutely so excited to restart because I was enjoying my journey before and I know I'm going to enjoy it after. Yeah.
• 16:56
  And the one thing is I haven't also got that much weight to rapidly probably lose weight now either. So the chances of having a complication due to a rapid weight loss again is quite slim. Excuse the pun.
• 17:11
  So I would definitely say I'm very excited to restart because I did finish my journey on, I was on 7.5. I did come down to five for a month before coming off. But I'm just excited to have this washout period and just start again. And I do feel like my body is also going to be a bit of a reset for me because I did, my losses and stuff did start to slow a little bit. Probably because of stuff my body was going through with flare ups and attacks. Yeah.
• 17:34
  But I'm just, yeah, I am very much looking forward to restart and getting back on track. I'm still eating good. So nothing's changed there. I've built great habits in the months that I was on it every month. So yeah, it's just about restarting it now, just to have that extra guidance again, just so I can get to my goal. And I still do have a way to go. I've still got at least two stone that I want to lose to get to goal. So yeah, I'd say that's my excitement for 2026.
• 18:01
  yeah, well, that's, you know, it's nice that you are going to be able to pick up kind of where you left off and you were having so much success on the medication that it's such a shame that that would have been cut short. So it is nice to hear that you are going to be able to get back on it. And I think, I think that's a game where being with, you know, GPHC registered provider is going to really come in to play for you because, you know, they're going to be able to offer you guidance and, you know, the advice that,
• 18:30
  some places wouldn't be able to give. And I think because of your situation, and I think that's what's really good about, you know, certain providers and things like that, that I think, you know,
• 18:40
  you're going to rely on that information because your needs are very different now to maybe what they would have been before. So it's, yes, I suppose that's a massive positive to being with a provider that does offer all that kind of support and things like that too. So I know you've talked very openly about, you know, the trolling, just the online negativity, you know,
• 19:04
  in a very honest and candid way. So emotionally for you, what has been that hardest part of dealing with that? You know, how do you protect that mindset? Because you're already going through a lot, I think, as somebody who's bigger and you're going through the emotions of, you know,
• 19:22
  being that size, confidence issues and stuff. So when people are saying these things, I know we kind of touched on that a little bit earlier there, but like, what is it you do to protect yourself and your mindset that way? Because it is so delicate, I think, because the mental part of this journey is definitely just as important as the physical side.
• 19:41
  Yeah, so I would definitely say it did affect me at the start, I suppose. When you're starting out on any platform, people don't know you, you're going to have a mixture of people coming in because nothing's kind of set in regards to like your algorithms. They're going to all different kinds of people, people that are maybe not even interested in what you're doing content on.
• 20:00
  And I think it's always been, like, for as many years as I can remember, it's always been fat this or weight this or looks wise. It's never, like, ever been an attack on my personality. It's always been an attack on my appearance. And I think that is a hard pill to swallow because you can be such a nice person. But yet, if someone doesn't agree with your appearance, then that's it. They just make this whole...
• 20:24
  thing of you and just will attack you in any way possible, which is cruel. And I mean, I've had some foul things even in the last six months of sharing stuff, being called Fat This and all different names under the sun, even from, unfortunately, other creators in our community, which is sad. But I would definitely say
• 20:42
  The confidence helps massively with being able to shrug it off. As you build the confidence and you kind of are losing and you're feeling better and stuff, you kind of, it's like you're putting this barrier over you each month that goes by. It's really weird feeling. I'm sure you feel it as well. Yeah.
• 20:57
  And it's just about realizing actually people that are doing this just must be really, really unhappy or something in their life that they're really unhappy with. But as you're getting happy, you'll get out of that situation and that mindset that they're in. So you'll see the other side of it. It's really weird to understand that. I probably haven't thought about it too much. But you just end up, there's just something that just puts a barrier there and it just makes it easier to think. I don't even really look at any bad comments now. Yeah.
• 21:25
  I used to go through and delete them all because I wouldn't want anyone else to see them. And now I'll just leave them because I'll think, you know what? You're the only people that are looking bad because you're commenting out of nice comments, a horrible comment on someone's looks or all of this kind of stuff, someone's body size or shape. Yeah. So people are mean sometimes, aren't they?
• 21:45
  That's it. They're, you know, it's something that they lack within themselves, I think, and an insecurity there, you know, for me, I do exactly, you know, what you say. I, the majority of them I do leave. I, it shows them up for the people that they are, regardless of, you know, who they are or, or whatever, but.
• 22:00
  you know, at the same time, I was just looking at the positive. I'm like, well, you're giving me engagement here. So, you know, you're showing yourself up, but actually you're doing it the best possible way you can, because that's another comment for me, another push up in the algorithm. So, you know, I I've tried myself to try and reframe things in a more positive mindset now in terms of, you know, there is always going to be that negativity there. And it's one of them things, you know, I myself have went through
• 22:24
  multiple different experiences like what you have just said. And I think, you know, at the end of the day, we always come, it makes us stronger people and being able to, you shouldn't have to push through them comments, but it shows them more for the people that they are as opposed to you. And, you know, I was put down to jealousy at the end of the day because, you know, there's something like I've said, they're lacking in their own self-esteem or whatever.
• 22:47
  But yeah, I know we spoke before and, you know, you've mentioned before that, you know, how your weight gain sort of started. So you have mentioned before that it was linked to a bad relationship and things like that. So if you are comfortable, how has that really affected your sort of emotional well-being, you know, in terms of impacting your weight?
• 23:08
  Yeah, well, if he's watching, sorry, not sorry. So, yeah, I was in a relationship for many, many years, and I would, in my head, class myself as probably in my prime with probably the nicest figure and stuff, what you probably, the happiest I probably was when I met my ex-partner.
• 23:26
  But things happen. Sometimes things turn sour and sometimes you can get very, very stuck in something that you just can't climb out of. And it sometimes can take months, years, many, many years. And in this case, it was unfortunately many, many years. And I put on a lot of weight very, very quickly. And it was purely just, at this time of my life, I worked at home. I also had a very unhappy relationship at home. Yeah.
• 23:50
  I never left the house, so my comfort was food. And that was where I found my comfort, whether it was like a takeaway often or for my lunch, a takeaway. And that was my happy place was when I was eating. That was when I had no other worries in the world. And he was very, my ex-partner was very like emotionally, so he would also put me down a lot about, so any bit of weight that I'd put on, he'd put me down about it and it just made me feel worse. So if anything, he was saying these things, whether his goal was to make me bigger, I don't know, but...
• 24:20
  It's just one of them situations that I just couldn't get out of. I kind of got into it very, very rushed and very, very young. And the situation kind of trapped from there onwards until a couple of years ago when I finally broke free. But I suppose this has been the stage where I then tried all the other diets as soon as I didn't break free and nothing worked. So I've just gone past that point of kind of easily returning. So yeah, it's one of them things. I don't want to obviously bad mouth him or anything like that, but...
• 24:49
  It's felt so nice you're watching us. Sorry about that. Well, do you know what? Like, you know, it's in a way, sometimes them experiences, I think really, and we all have that catalyst that really, I suppose, led us to this path. You know, it's about turning something, you know, it's all them. Realistically, for everybody, there's a negative experience or a negative situation that kind of has inspired all of us really to experience.
• 25:15
  go this journey and you know in a way you know it's credit to you for flipping a bad negative situation into something that's been super positive for you yeah well done for for kind of pulling yourself out of that and and pushing pushing forward because it is
• 25:35
  I think for a lot of people, it can be, it can be quite tough to re-motivate yourself after you've been kind of, I suppose, brought down or, or just that confidence level is just really in the gutter and just trying to bring yourself back up. So I think, yeah, credit to you for, for doing it and you should be super proud of where you are now in this journey. And, you know, that is your past and whatever, you know, we can't get rid of our past, but yeah, we can look forward to the futures. And.
• 26:00
  hopefully it's a it's a bright future at that with many more positive enlightened relationships and you know all the other things that go along with that too so that leads me nicely on to this next question so really in terms of the lessons that you've learned about you know your relationship with your body now compared to when you really first started the journey so where are you now in terms of you know feeling
• 26:28
  I suppose, good about yourself and all that? This is the way I always say to people that I speak to, obviously, in my little Mon Gobi support group as well, and I say to them, I say there's three ways I think of this. Before my journey started, I despised my body. I absolutely hated my body.
• 26:45
  Now, would I say I love my body? No way, because I'm not there yet. But I like my body now. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? So I'm getting there. It's turning. And I love my actual self, but actually how I'm... Look, I'm not a goal and I'm not the happiest yet, but I'm definitely on a massive way there and much happier than I would say I've ever been.
• 27:03
  It's just simple things, isn't it? Just you can wear, you've got more options of things you can wear and being able to get a new wardrobe and stuff like that, even though I suppose they don't warn you that when you start. No, definitely. You're going to need some money in the bank, guys, to be able to fund a new wardrobe. That's one thing that's not necessarily spoke about as much.
• 27:21
  But I suppose, yeah, it's just the whole confidence and the goal as well. Knowing that you've got this far and that there is an end goal there and it makes it more realistic to know you're going to be there one day. And I look at people like yourself and other people on TikTok and Instagram that look so fantastic now compared to where they started. And a lot of people maybe started before me. So in my head, I'll think, oh, well, in another six months, I could be even closer to my goal and it's not at my goal already. Mm-hmm.
• 27:49
  So yeah, it's just exciting and it's something my only regret is that I didn't start sooner. A whole year that I sat on the idea, scared about health anxiety, about side effects, but now I just wish I'd had that whole year because I'd be where I want to be now and I'd still be doing what I'm doing, but completely there. But I mean, I'm enjoying my journey. I'm even
• 28:10
  weirdly enjoying the hiccups because not every journey is perfect and it's something that I've been able to as a content creator document to the community is that hold on a minute not everything runs perfectly all the time sometimes we have bumps in the road sometimes things are going to jump in the way and stop us but it's how we all come back and how much we want it will determined how we go and get it again so
• 28:32
  Yeah, that's why I think you're such a perfect fit for this podcast. This is my journey because everybody's journey is so different. And I always say this every single like don't compare yourself to anybody else because everybody has their own path that they need to go down. And there will be hiccups. There will be them moments. And, you know, I think you said something that really resonated with me and it was about
• 28:57
  you're enjoying the journey. For me, that is such a key thing because I say this all the time too, I wish, and it was my biggest regret, that I had enjoyed it a lot more than what I did. I wanted to rush to get to goal so quickly, but actually I never appreciated the small wins. I did, obviously, you know, there were certain moments that I appreciated for myself in terms of documenting that, but...
• 29:22
  Actually, there was probably so much more that I really could have, you know, appreciated about where I have come from. And it's so nice to hear you say that you're appreciating them moments because...
• 29:34
  you know, for me, that is my biggest regret. So to have somebody else that's saying that they are appreciating them is just amazing. So yes, like, well done on what you've done. And I also just want to say you've done, you have done so amazing. And, you know, you said there about, you know, you're not a goal and you can appreciate yourself more now, but yeah,
• 29:53
  I think you should like your befores and where you are now are so drastic as they are. And you look amazing now. So I can only imagine where you're going to go from now. But yeah, like really for yourself, really appreciate, you know, who you've become now, because I've followed you for a while. I see what you post. I think.
• 30:16
  you know, for me, you're such a great ambassador for this community because you're so honest and caring and just want to.
• 30:27
  the community to be a community. And I think that should be really admired. So because there is so much negativity and stuff and there can't be on this journey. And I think to have that positive light that you're giving off in the midst of that is something that should really be celebrated. So you should really pat yourself in the back for that. I suppose just a couple more questions before you go off. But for somebody, I suppose that's listening to this, that. Is just considering maybe starting this journey or maybe just at the beginning,
• 30:55
  and they're feeling scared and overwhelmed and just the way we both were at the very start of our journeys, what would you tell them? I would say, make sure you do your research. Your personal research is going to be important to you. There's going to be things that you want from this journey that maybe not everyone wants from this journey. So researching, making sure you go with a registered provider that offers support as well. You want to have a level of support. You don't just want to basically...
• 31:22
  had nothing there or no one you can go to if you need anything. And get involved in the community. I think the community side of it is fantastic. There is some amazing people, whether they're creators or not even creators in the community. And there's many different people's lives you can join daily or content videos you can go have a look at to get advice. Maybe not all good, but most of them, a good 90% is great advice and just real experiences. Yeah.
• 31:49
  I would say don't sit on it as long as I did, but do make sure it's the right thing for you because it shouldn't be a decision that's just taken lightly without the knowledge. Be prepared as well to change your diet up and build new healthy habits and create a new lifestyle because it's not a miracle potion. You're not going to use it and just melt the fat away. It's going to require some work as well and...
• 32:11
  some nutrition tips and things that you're probably not used to but saying that the actual this is going to help you stick to them and keep your mind focused while you're building these habits it does make it a hell of a lot easier yeah yeah just just be happy and do it for you regardless of doing it for anyone else really really positive advice for anybody and totally you know for me i agree with everything you said there
• 32:36
  ultimately do it for you, make sure it's the best thing and the best decision for you. And yeah, do that research because, you know, it might not be the option that's going to suit everybody, because like you said before, there's cost there. There's, you know, whether somebody wants to actually inject themselves or whatever, you know, there's multiple different reasons people want to do it or not want to do it. But yeah, just ultimately make sure it's right for you. So yeah, no, I think that's really, really good advice for anybody.
• 33:02
  Also for anyone that also is considering and maybe too scared to get behind the camera and also document their journey. Don't be scared. Pick up the camera and don't look back. Honestly, I was so scared of that as well alone. And I know there's a lot of people on TikTok that are just too frightened to do it, but would love to. Don't let it put you off because that's also another great decision and can really help you on your journey as well.
• 33:25
  I think that, you know, I suppose that ties into the whole, you know, I know that's well known in the community of secret jabbers and all that. There's a lot of people don't want to talk about it or whatever, but ultimately you've said it. I've said it. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You should be proud of where you are and where, you know, you potentially want to get to because making the decision to go on to this medication, it's prescription medication. It's a big decision and...
• 33:52
  you know, like you said, the community and things on TikTok and people can be inspired by other people. And if you can be that one person that has inspired somebody else, I think that is a great legacy just for doing one video. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, I would say exactly the same thing. Get yourself out there and just hold yourself accountable, document it, stick a camera in your face and, you know, you'll really appreciate it down the line when you start to see the before and afters as a result of that, because it is incredible when you start to see the differences.
• 34:22
  A hundred percent. But yes. So just to wrap up then, thank you so much again, Amy, for sharing your story. I know there was some, you've had some dark moments, I think it would be fair to say in terms of my past, but you've channeled so much, you know, of that darkness into light and positivity. And I think it's really, really
• 34:42
  inspiring and anybody listening, I'm sure will feel inspired and take away a lot of what you've said. Yeah, I suppose just really to finish up on really, I just want to kind of ask what is next for Amy now? Now the gallbladder is gone. What's next? What's next for Amy?
• 34:58
  Obviously, first up would be restarting my journey in January, getting myself back on track first because we are the most important beings to us as ourselves. Yeah, 100%. And then obviously due to all of TikTok and all of the confidence growth, I am actually releasing late February, early March next year.
• 35:16
  more for people on a journey. So it's going to cater up to plus size to low size, actually the Amy Collection gym wear. So very, very exciting. I have collabed with brands, so it's a collection within a brand already. Brilliant. Yes, that will be a launch that does happen early next year, which is exciting because although there's a lot of gym wear out there, there's not a lot of gym wear that cater for people that are maybe mid-journey or beginning of their journey, but also want to wear that kind of stuff. So...
• 35:44
  yeah, very exciting things coming. Other than that, just more TikTok, more content, more community spirit. Yeah, no, well, that sounds very exciting times for you. And obviously, I, as always, wish you all the best for all that future projects because it is, do you know what, it's so nice that I like to see
• 36:07
  nice people that are winning and I think it's you know things like that are real opportunities and yeah it's it's it's nice to see that them opportunities are coming in to people that actually put work in or are putting themselves out there because you do put the work in you know you are such a lovely human being and I think like I've said before your positivity shines you'll be an absolute
• 36:34
  firehouse once this launches and you get that all on the go, I think. Yeah. Everybody watch out for, for Amy come quarter one of 2026. But all that is left for me to do is thank you again, Amy, for coming on, sharing your story. Yes. If anybody wants to follow you on any of them social channels, like I said, I'll drop them in below and yes, every day.
• 36:57
  that is listening go following me because yes you will be so glad you did if you do not already so thank you again thank you so much for having me