Miranda Edmonds, 30, battled with low self-esteem and began hiding in oversized clothes, and avoiding social situations but it wasn’t until her health started to deteriorate that she realised how serious it was.
A young mum has opened up about her weight loss journey that took a worrying turn when she was surviving on a mere 900 calories per day.
Miranda Edmonds, 30, found herself struggling with low self-esteem, often concealing her figure in baggy clothing and shunning social events. It wasn’t until her health began to decline that the severity of the situation hit home.
“I was pre-diabetic, constantly exhausted, and inflamed. My doctor warned me I was on the path to fatty liver disease,” said Miranda.
The fear for her wellbeing as a mother spurred her into action. At 15st (95kg), Miranda delved into research on GLP-1 medications, an emerging type of injectable drug designed to curb appetite and help control blood sugar levels.
Having tried every other method available, she decided to take a chance on this new treatment, reports the Mirror US.
Admitting her apprehension, Miranda said, “It was expensive, and I wasn’t sure it would work. But I was desperate. I’d tried everything – counting calories, gym memberships, restrictive diets-and nothing lasted.”
At first, the results seemed miraculous. She was eating much less, shedding pounds rapidly, and feeling full.
However, unexpected side effects soon emerged.
“I started feeling weak and irritable,” said Miranda. “I was nauseous, drained, and in bed by 7pm every night. My hair began thinning. I knew something wasn’t right.”
The revelation hit her when she documented a “What I Eat in a Day” video on TikTok and added up her daily calories. “I was eating about 900 calories a day-less than my toddlers,” she revealed.
“I felt full, but my body was starving. I’m an active mum, constantly on my feet. I couldn’t survive like that.”
She noticed the lack of discussion about the risks of not eating enough while on GLP-1s and decided to share her own experience transparently.
“I talk about everything now-the progress, the setbacks, the hard days, because I know someone out there needs to hear it.”
To recover, Miranda reintroduced structured, protein-centric meals and snacks.
“Protein is my foundation,” she says. “I drink a shake in the morning, eat beef sticks, bars-anything to fuel my body, even when I’m not hungry. I set reminders to eat, not out of obsession, but necessity.”
Though she’s made strides, calorie counting is no longer part of her routine. “Counting calories wrecked my mental health,” she admits.
“I’d panic if I didn’t know the macros of a restaurant meal. I’d lose 10lbs and gain it all back. I just couldn’t live that way anymore.”
Now, seven months into her weight loss journey, Miranda has shed 46lbs (20.8kg), going from 15st to 11st 7lb (74kg), and transitioning from a US size 18 to a size 8. However, her transformation extends beyond the physical.
“Mentally, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been,” she declares. “I love working out, I’m building muscle, and for the first time in my life-I actually love my body.”
Miranda has come to cherish her stretch marks and loose skin, seeing them as emblems of her resilience. “This body grew two children,” she declares with pride.
“It’s strong. It’s powerful. And now, it’s finally nourished.”
Her honest updates have fostered a community of support online, with many followers on their own weight loss journeys. However, not all feedback has been positive.
“Some say using a GLP-1 is cheating, that I didn’t earn it,” Miranda reveals. “But there’s nothing easy about this. The medication is just one tool-it’s not a magic wand. I still had to do the work.”
Family remains her driving force—her husband Caleb and their two young sons. “I have a goal weight, but more than that, I want freedom. To eat without guilt. To go places with my kids without worrying if I’ll fit in the seat or hate every photo. I just want to live without my weight hanging over everything.”
To her former self, the one who wept in fitting rooms and loathed shopping trips, Miranda offers words of comfort: “It wasn’t your fault. You weren’t lazy or weak. You just needed help. And there’s no shame in that.”
