From Size 16 to Size Six: The Simple Habit Behind Tammie's Transformation

Tammie Richards, 32, from Cumbernauld used to eat takeaways three times a week and hoover up her children's leftovers as well as her own meals. A once size 16 mum now slips into a size six after coming off Mounjaro and losing another stone by adopting one simple habit. Tammie Richards, 32, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, found herself tipping the scales at 15st 7lbs after having her third child, Miles, now two, in December 2023. The busy mum had gained the weight thanks to enjoying takeaways three times a week and hoovering up her children's leftovers as well as her own meals. When seeing a friend on Mounjaro she became tempted by the weight loss jabs. But Tammie didn't want to spend thousands on the jabs, so began losing weight going for walks before purchasing them. She was 13st 7lbs when she ordered her first weight loss jabs and slimmed down to 9st 11lbs in four months. She swapped takeaways for fakeaways, adopted a new healthy diet and started using an exercise bike so she could work out at home while looking after Miles and daughter Savannah, six. After just four months she came off Mounjaro at 9st 11lbs - a trim size 10 - in September. But by sticking to her diet and using her exercise bike five nights a week - a habit which transformed her post-jab life - she has lost a further stone since coming off Mounjaro. Now she slips into a tiny size six. Tammie, a sales assistant, said: "I said I'd get healthy after having my youngest but between him and my other two, I could never find the time. I wasn't moving, I was snacking and eating takeaways for convenience. "I made it my new year's resolution in January 2025 to get out walking and moving more and noticed some weight came off. Then I saw one of my friends was doing well on Mounjaro and decided to give it a go. "I didn't want to be on them long and set myself a goal of 10st 11lbs - but I reached that before even using my last pen. I was ecstatic - I finished the jabs at 9st 11lbs. Since coming off, I've continued eating healthily and getting on my exercise bike five times a week. I have now lost another stone and am now 8st 11lbs - I can fit into a size six!" Tammie struggled to maintain a healthy lifestyle after having her third child. She would snack in the day and not move much before having a huge meal in the evening, which was often a takeaway. She avoided photos and would focus on doing glam hair and makeup to detract from her weight. But in January 2025 she set a new year's resolution to become more active although still struggled with her diet. She managed to get her weight down to 13st 7lbs by May through walking more, which was when she was inspired by a friend to go onto Mounjaro. She paid £115 for her first month's supply and didn't experience any side effects. Tammie said: "I lost over a stone on my first pen. I didn't feel hungry which helped me stop snacking and I acknowledged my large portion sizes. I was happy not having as many sweet things, too. "I just grabbed an apple or a protein shake. I didn't want to be on the jabs for long, because they're so expensive. I was 9st 11lbs when I took my last jab. I could chase my kids at the park and sit on a swing without it hurting my hips." From then on, Tammie made it her mission to keep the weight off - and maybe even lose a bit more. She also began using an exercise bike gifted to her by partner TK O'Hare, 31, so she could work out while looking after her little ones. And thanks to her new healthier habits and regular use of her exercise bike, she slimmed down to a size six, weighing less than 9st. Tammie said: "Five times a week I'm on the bike. I started off going for walks but it got cold and dark so my partner got me the bike. My oldest, Alex, is 15 - he sees me on my bike and goes 'good job mum, keep it up!' "It makes you feel so good when your kids notice the effort you're making. I try and cycle 10km, whether that takes 40 minutes or 20. I still watch what I eat, it's all home-made and I cut out takeaways, too." Tammie said going on weight loss jabs helped her educate herself on healthy eating and portion sizes, and helped her "enjoy exercise" for the first time. She said: "If you're doing the jab for suppression but don't change how you live, you'll pile it back on when you go back to old habits after coming off. One of my friends has started the jabs now after seeing how I did on them. "If I went back to my old lifestyle, I'd put the weight straight back on. The jabs are a tool but not a solution - you need to change your lifestyle too." Before: Breakfast - two toasted croissants with Nutella Lunch - whatever was left over from the kids Dinner - large portion of whatever was made - could be cottage pie, pasta, Bolognese. Enough for two people. And takeaway two to three nights a week Snacks - chocolate out their treat drawer, mini Dutch pancakes with Nutella Drinks - three Monster energy cans a day, coffee up to three a day After: Breakfast - Belvita biscuit and a yoghurt, sometimes boiled eggs Lunch - Fruit Dinner - chicken wraps, pasta, lentil soup Snacks - toast and butter or Ryvita with Philidelphia cheese and ham Drinks - lots of water and two coffees a day. Three to four times a week, a medium 'Nutcracker' latte from Costa.