In an intriguing personal account published by The Wall Street Journal on March 17, 2025, writer Charlotte Cowles reveals a surprising outcome in her weight loss experience: a year after discontinuing the popular weight loss drug Ozempic, she managed to lose an additional 20 pounds. This revelation challenges the common narrative surrounding weight loss medications, which often suggest that ceasing their use leads to inevitable weight regain. Instead, Cowles' story offers a glimpse into how stepping away from pharmaceutical intervention sparked a sustainable shift in her lifestyle and relationship with her body.
Cowles begins by recounting her initial decision to try Ozempic, a drug originally developed to manage Type 2 diabetes but widely adopted for its weight loss effects. She started taking it in late 2022, prompted by a combination of postpartum weight gain and societal pressures to slim down quickly. "I didn't want to be the frumpy mom at preschool drop-off," she writes in The Wall Street Journal, capturing the emotional weight of her choice. Over the course of several months, she lost about 15 pounds, aligning with the drug's promise of appetite suppression and metabolic boosts. Yet, the experience came with downsides: persistent nausea, fatigue, and a growing unease about relying on a medication long-term.
By early 2024, Cowles decided to stop taking Ozempic, expecting the pounds to creep back as they often do for many users. Studies cited by The Wall Street Journal indicate that most people regain much of the weight lost after discontinuing such drugs, sometimes even surpassing their starting point. Initially, her appetite returned with a vengeance, and she braced herself for the reversal. But something unexpected happened. Instead of ballooning back to her pre-Ozempic weight, she began to lose more, dropping an additional 20 pounds over the next year. This brought her total weight loss to 35 pounds, a result she attributes not to the drug's lingering effects but to a profound shift in her habits.
What changed? Cowles credits a mix of practical adjustments and psychological reframing. Without Ozempic curbing her hunger, she had to confront her eating patterns head-on. "I started paying attention to what my body actually wanted, not just what I could get away with not eating," she explains in The Wall Street Journal. She swapped out mindless snacking for structured meals, prioritizing protein and vegetables over the carb-heavy convenience foods she once leaned on. Exercise, previously a chore, became a regular part of her routine, not as punishment but as a way to feel strong. Walking her kids to school or lifting weights at the gym replaced the sedentary habits of her pre-drug days.
This transformation wasn't without its struggles. Cowles admits to moments of doubt, especially when old cravings resurfaced or when the scale didn't budge for weeks. Yet, she found motivation in the autonomy of her progress. Unlike her time on Ozempic, where weight loss felt like a byproduct of the drug, this phase was entirely her own. "It's slower, messier, and harder, but it's mine," she writes in The Wall Street Journal, a sentiment that underscores the personal triumph of her journey. Experts quoted in the piece, like Dr. Robert Gabbay of the American Diabetes Association, note that such outcomes are rare but possible when lifestyle changes take root post-medication.
Cowles' story also touches on broader implications. Weight loss drugs like Ozempic have surged in popularity, with millions turning to them for quick results. But her experience raises questions about their role as a long-term solution. The Wall Street Journal reports that while these drugs can kickstart weight loss, maintaining it often hinges on behavior, not pharmacology. For Cowles, quitting the drug became the catalyst for a deeper, more enduring change, one that outstripped the scale's numbers and reshaped her self-image.
Reflecting on her journey, Cowles doesn't dismiss Ozempic's value – it worked for her when she needed it. But she's clear-eyed about its limits. "The real work started when I stopped," she concludes in The Wall Street Journal. A year later, at a size 6 and feeling healthier than ever, she's proof that sometimes the path to lasting change begins where the prescription ends.
