The phrase “letting your self go” is usually dismissed as mere laziness, nevertheless it regularly signifies one thing extra profound—a consolation and quiet safety present in a dedicated relationship.
Beneath this sense of tranquility lies a extra intricate fact. It entails shedding contact with one’s id and the dynamics that shift when a relationship turns into extra of a protected haven than a spot for private development.
Such was the expertise of Jewel Thaung.
At 19, Jewel launched into her college journey and shortly moved out to stay along with her boyfriend.
Confronted with the accountability of cooking for herself for the primary time, she gravitated in the direction of carb-laden meals. This led to what she describes as “meals noise”—persistent ideas about consuming and relentless cravings.
These consuming habits marked the onset of Jewel’s struggles along with her weight, culminating in a 30kg achieve over the course of her seven-year relationship.
‘I had a really tumultuous upbringing and my dad and mom are divorced, so I needed a steady, protected relationship,’ the now 29-year-old, from Brisbane, instructed the Day by day Mail.
Regardless of getting married at 26, Jewel knew years prior she wasn’t with the suitable particular person – however didn’t need to admit it to herself on the time as a result of she was afraid of being on her personal.
Jewel Thaung (pictured in 2025) misplaced 43kg in two years. She shed 20kg with the assistance of Ozempic within the first 12 months, then one other 23kg on her personal, with out treatment
Shortly after beginning college at 19, Jewel determined to maneuver out and stay along with her boyfriend. Having to prepare dinner her personal meals for the primary time meant she selected carb-heavy dishes, which led to the event of ‘meals noise’ – persistent, intrusive ideas about meals (pictured, proper, with buddies earlier than taking Ozempic)
For many of her 20s, Jewel would get up eager about meals.
‘I’m an actual foodie and love cooking however my unhealthy habits received uncontrolled,’ Jewel mentioned.
‘Nigella Lawson is considered one of my favorite cooks too. I’d watch her reveals and there have been episodes the place she would eat pasta in mattress at 11pm.
‘It received to some extent the place I used to be like, screw it, I’m going to do the identical as a result of I can! I simply let it take over me. It’s like I used to be obsessive about meals.’
Jewel grew to become expert at utilizing consuming and meals as a method of dulling her feelings and never dealing with as much as the reality about her sad relationship.
‘It’s really easy to lose your self or let your self go in a relationship. While you’re not actively courting, your nervous system type of plateaus since you’re in a cushty, steady, protected, loving place,’ Jewel mentioned.
‘However later down the road, it might probably trigger issues. On the finish of the day, you solely have one physique and that you must maintain your self.’
At her heaviest, Jewel reached 110kg.
Her physique disgrace left her too self-conscious for a bikini; she prevented the seashore or lined up solely when she did go. Jewel squeezed into ill-fitting garments and closely edited her Instagram photographs to make her face seem slimmer.
Whereas she ready her meals at dwelling and loved cooking, her essential situation was portion management.
‘I might prepare dinner carb-heavy meals like pasta, roasted dishes with a lot of fats, and never a lot fibre, greens or greens,’ she mentioned. ‘I don’t assume I realised how a lot weight I had gained till a couple of years into the connection. Though I beloved skincare, make-up and style, I used to be avoidant.’
If Jewel went out for dinner with buddies, she might simply devour a complete pizza to herself even when she’s already eaten two carb-heavy meals earlier within the day.
Jewel had usually tried to drop extra pounds. She participated in intensive fitness center challenges, went on strict fad diets resembling low-carb and keto, and extremely restrictive meal plans.
She emphasises that ‘actually nothing labored,’ not as a result of she lacked willpower, however as a result of these approaches have been unsustainable.
A couple of months later, a buddy advisable Juniper – a web based medical weight-loss service that gives prescriptions for medication like Ozempic after a health care provider session.
‘I hadn’t heard of it earlier than and didn’t comprehend it was a factor. I signed up on-line, spoke to a health care provider and received accredited. The entire course of was tremendous straightforward,’ Jewel mentioned.
Inside the first few months on utilizing Ozempic, she misplaced 7kg and was amazed by the short outcomes.
In September that very same 12 months, Jewel lastly got here to phrases with the fact of how she was feeling and made the powerful determination to finish her marriage seven months in.
‘He didn’t need it to finish. It was one of many hardest decisions I’ve ever needed to make in my life. I knew for years he wasn’t proper for me. The connection was like a Band-Assist for lots of issues. However on the time I used to be so out of contact with who I used to be as an individual,’ Jewel mentioned.
Inside the first few months she misplaced 7kg and was amazed by the short outcomes (pictured within the early phases of utilizing Ozempic)
Now she’s single, weighs 75kg and is probably the most assured model of herself she has ever been. ‘I’ll by no means let myself return to that state once more,’ she mentioned.
When her accomplice moved out, it was the turning level she wanted.
Within the first 12 months on Ozempic she misplaced 20kg and didn’t expertise any unusual unintended effects.
‘Once I misplaced weight, the very first thing I seen was how my face form modified. My options have been extra distinguished and you might truly see my cheekbones. Beforehand, my face was a lot puffier,’ Jewel mentioned.
Step by step, she seen small wins: shopping for smaller denims, carrying a bikini on the seashore, and stepping out in miniskirts.
As Jewel started to really feel extra answerable for her eating regimen and train regime, she determined to wean off Ozempic to save cash – and after one other 12 months had managed to lose an additional 23kg with out the drug.
Now, having misplaced 43kg in two years, she’s single, weighs 75kg, and feels extra assured than ever.
‘I’ll by no means let myself return to that state once more,’ she mentioned.
Jewel credit Ozempic with serving to to heal her poisonous relationship with meals.
She says that over time cravings have been silenced and intuitive consuming and portion management grew to become second nature slightly than a aware battle.
‘Weight reduction treatment will change your life and it’s not “dishonest”. Until you’ve been within the place, you can’t remark. This treatment has been created to alter lives,’ Jewel mentioned.
‘Plus, it’s not as if that you must be on treatment for the remainder of your life. It’s used to kick-start your weight reduction. It doesn’t make you lazy or complacent. The most important half is the way it modified my mind with the meals noise.
‘If you happen to’re eager about weight reduction treatment, you don’t have anything to lose and every part to achieve. It really works and it’s life altering.’
