Mom of 4 Lost 55 Pounds on Semaglutide "Now I Finally See Myself in the Mirror"
Standing in front of the mirror and seeing a stranger stare back – that's how Karli Sine felt after having four boys in quick succession. Between multiple pregnancies and PCOS, this Utah mom watched her weight climb to 195 pounds despite trying everything from keto to crash diets. Then she discovered semaglutide. In just five months, Karli lost 55 pounds and, more importantly, found herself again. Whether you're considering semaglutide or just starting your journey, her candid story reveals what doctors might not tell you about life on a GLP-1.
The Breaking Point: Why Another Diet Wasn't the Answer
"When I met my husband, I had just lost 16 pounds doing keto and weighed 180 at 5'9"," Karli shares in her post. But four pregnancies changed everything. "I had my first baby in 2017, did keto again, and lost 15 pounds. Then, I got pregnant with my second, third, and fourth. I never lost the weight – it just kept piling on."
The struggle became overwhelming. "I started just wearing tents for clothing. There was no other option for me. At least it didn't feel like there was," she recalls. "Even when I would get ready, I didn't feel like I looked like myself. It was a really hard time."
RELATED: 20 Things You Need to Know About Ozempic and Weight Loss
Starting Semaglutide: The First Month Truth
Finding reliable information wasn't easy. "I had heard about it from a friend, but there wasn't really anyone talking about it online," Karli explains. Even her doctor seemed uncertain: "When I asked him, he was kind of like, 'Yeah, I've heard about it, don't know much about it.' It made me not feel very confident."
She started cautiously: "I began with 10 units for two weeks, then 20 units for six weeks," she details. The journey wasn't smooth. "The first week, I felt nothing. Then, the second week, two days after my shot, I got really sick. But it wasn't like pregnancy sickness – I could take a Zofran and the nausea would go away."
The Adjustment Period: What Nobody Tells You
"Week two to week five, I was wildly tired," Karli admits. "It was really hard for me to take care of my kids just because I wanted to sleep all day long." But she persevered, gradually increasing her dose: "I went up slowly – 25, 30, 35, and then 40 for a minute, then hit 50, before starting to go backwards."
The key was finding a sustainable routine. "Semaglutide can slow your gastric system," she explains. "When I would wake up, I would have a protein shake or eggs – something that was going to sustain me. I was drinking water wildly, which isn't like me. I'm a soda girl, but I couldn't even get myself to drink soda while on this."
Beyond the Scale: Unexpected Changes
The medication's impact went far beyond weight loss. "It helped so much with my PCOS," Karli shares. "My period ended up different, but better. A lot of my inflammation went down in my joints." Even her habits changed: "My online shopping plummeted. I just had no desire. There are studies showing that once people start semaglutide, some of their bad habits kind of go away."
RELATED: 20 Possible Ozempic Side Effects
Finding Your Support System
The journey highlighted the importance of community. "In a weight loss journey, it's hard to find someone you're comfortable with, someone who can hold you accountable," Karli reflects. "This scenario with medication is different – it's more of an adjustment period."
She encourages openness: "There's a whole group of people who are like, 'Oh, I don't really want to tell people that I'm on it.' You don't have to tell anyone, but telling people helped me with my support."
The Maintenance Strategy That Works
After reaching 139 pounds – surpassing her goal of 140 – Karli focused on sustainability. "I went from weekly to biweekly, and then after a few months, to monthly," she explains. "While I don't want to be on it forever, it's really changed my life. I'm at a super tiny dose right now, and monthly has been great for me."
Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter
Success with semaglutide opened new possibilities. "Now for 2024, I'm onto a whole new journey of building muscle," Karli shares. "Finally, I feel that I'm at the capacity to take this on."
The transformation went deeper than physical changes. "Looking in the mirror and saying, 'That's how I have viewed myself my whole life, but it's not what other people were seeing' – that's been the best part," she reflects. "I know that my body and image isn't what's most important, but it's really nice to feel that it reflects what's in my head. I've gained so much more confidence back and feel like a different person."
RELATED: What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Taking Ozempic
Final Advice
Her final advice remains encouraging: "Whether the decision is to do it or not, do what's best for you. Hopefully, this will make you feel more like you. I'm proud of you." And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 20 Incredible Ozempic Success Stories of All Time.
