From Burnout to a Gentle Weight-Loss Reset (Without Medication)

The last four months have been the hardest of my life. In September, I lost someone unexpectedly. Then came the burnout; real, physical burnout that showed up in my body before my mind caught up.

If you're reading this because you're in a similar place, I want you to know: you're not broken. Your body is just asking for something different.

The Breaking Point: When Your Body Stops Cooperating

September and October hit me hard. Here's what happened:

• Unexpected grief – I lost someone with no warning signs, no time to prepare.

• Severe burnout – Pushed to unrealistic targets at work, I burned out hard by the end of October.

• Physical symptoms – Brain fog so thick I could barely think. IBS flaring up constantly. Muscle fatigue so severe that walking up and down stairs felt excruciating.

• Weight loss plateau – My progress stalled completely.

• Seasonal shift – The autumn transition made everything worse. I went from bouncing out of bed ready to work out to barely being able to move.

I was trying to be a functional parent, a functional employee, a functional human. But my body had other plans. It was screaming for care, and I finally listened.

The Thyroid Plot Twist: When Medication Isn't the Answer

In August, I'd started taking Mounjaro to support my weight loss. It was working until it wasn't.

Within hours of starting, my thyroid gland flared up. I had to stop immediately. My body was telling me: not this way.

This was the turning point. Instead of looking for the next medication or the next intense workout program, I decided to listen.

Small Shifts, Big Impact: What I Actually Changed

I didn't overhaul my life. I made thoughtful, gentle adjustments:

Movement

• Ditched intense workouts and bought a walking pad (https://amzn.to/48YyJ9B)

• Gentle, manageable, low-pressure movement I could do even on low-energy days

• No punishment. No "earning" fitness through suffering

Nutrition

• Stopped intermittent fasting – my body needed consistent nourishment, not restriction

• Focused on satiety and steady energy instead of calorie counting

Thyroid Support

• Added selenium (https://amzn.to/457JW6E) to support thyroid function naturally

• Started a 7-minute YouTube lymphatic drainage routine for my face and neck – sounds simple, but it helped more than I expected

Supplements (The Failed Experiment) 

I tried: omega 3 (https://amzn.to/4pQdEph), Alpha GPC (https://amzn.to/4qidCpM), and Ashwaganda (https://amzn.to/4pME5fn).

The problem? They were tablets. My anxiety flared up, my digestion struggled, and I realised my body needed a different delivery method.

So I let them go. No guilt. Just listening.

The Game Changer: Day 6 (Not Week 12)

A week ago, I made one more shift. I switched to supplements in liquid or powder form—things my body could actually absorb and tolerate.

What I Added:

1. Symprove (pineapple flavour) – https://amzn.to/3KUoZW6

   • A liquid probiotic designed to restore gut health

   • The bottle says: "Results can take up to 12 weeks"

   • My experience: Day 6 and everything changed

2. Bulletproof MCT Oil C8 – https://amzn.to/45kthNh

   • For satiety and steady morning energy

   • No crashes, no afternoon slump

   • Mixes easily into coffee or water

3. Prebiotic powder – https://amzn.to/4qgZvRF

   • Mix with water, dissolves beautifully

   • No fuss, no tablets, no resistance from my body

What Changed in 6 Days:

• Daily bowel movements (no more IBS chaos)

• Sleep improved significantly

• Dark circles under my eyes are lighter (I'm not a panda anymore, even without makeup)

• Brain fog lifted – I have clarity and focus again

• Energy stabilised throughout the day

• My weight plateau broke – I've lost almost 1kg while still being gentle with myself

No punishment. No pushing. Just listening.

What This Actually Taught Me

My body didn't need more discipline. It needed care.

It didn't need me to earn rest through suffering. It needed me to listen.

It didn't need the "right" supplement in the wrong form. It needed me to pay attention to what actually works for my unique system.

Here's what I learnt works:

✓ Gentle, consistent movement over intense workouts

✓ Nourishment over restriction

✓ Listening to your body's signals over pushing through

✓ Liquid/powder supplements over tablets (for me)

✓ Patience over quick fixes

✓ Self-compassion over self-punishment

This Is What Sustainable Healing Looks Like

Not a 30-day transformation. Not a "new year, new you" narrative. Not earning rest through productivity.

Just the patient work of:

• Naming what's actually draining you

• Making one thoughtful shift at a time

• Trusting the process, even when progress feels slow

• Respecting your nervous system's capacity

• Choosing gentle over harsh, always

I'm not selling you a transformation story. I'm showing you what real recovery actually looks like: grief, burnout, physical breakdown, and then the slow, intentional work of rebuilding.

If This Resonates With You

If you're in a similar cycle; burned out, dealing with thyroid issues, weight plateau, wondering if you're broken - I want you to know: you're not broken. You're just asking for something different.

I'm here if you want to talk about what sustainable change actually feels like. What it means to rebuild without pushing. How to listen to your body when you've spent years ignoring it.

No pressure. Just clarity, compassion, and support that respects your capacity and your journey.

Affiliate Disclosure

I've included Amazon affiliate links for products I genuinely use and trust. I only recommend what's actually in my routine, and I'm transparent about it. Your support through these links helps me keep creating content like this.