My name is Courtney Kleinebreil. I'm a 28 year old mom of 3 and a content creator living in Northwest Arkansas.
I have always struggled with my weight, on and off. At some point, I gave up on diet culture because I felt like I had tried every diet out there. I decided I was happy where I was.
But things have changed since I became a mother. I was pregnant twice in a row, the second time was with twins. When I was pregnant with twins in 2019, my doctor was really nice about my weight and didn't talk about it unless I brought it up. But when I went for an ultrasound, I had an embarrassing experience that changed my perspective on my weight.
I had a 9-month-old child at the time, and a friend came with me to hold my child while I was being scanned. During the ultrasound, some of my health information was displayed on the screen. Under “complications,” the words “morbidly obese” were written in large letters.
That was a tough moment for me. I knew my friend had seen it, but I felt so embarrassed. That was a big reality check. I didn't know that I had gained so much weight.
However, even after the twins were born, I did not lose any weight. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic and I had three children under 18 months old. I couldn't move my body actively. I often just sat and was with my baby.
When I stopped breastfeeding in 2021, I decided to make a big change.
At the time, I weighed over 300 pounds and was determined that no amount of change would change that.
At first, I considered weight loss surgery because of how much weight I needed to lose. I scheduled a consultation but got scared at the last minute. I know that weight loss surgery is good for some people, but I have no health complications other than my BMI being classified as “morbidly obese,” so I'm not sure if it's right for me. I did not know.
Still, I was disgusted with the way I lived, felt, and looked. I was ready to change my lifestyle. So I decided to spend six months getting healthy and vowed to do my best. If I don't reach my goal within six months, I will reconsider surgery.
First, I changed my eating habits. I went low carb and it was so easy for me. I was still able to eat plenty of cheese and felt I could realistically continue to do so. I also started moving and working out three days a week.
Courtney Kleinebraille shows the results of making healthy lifestyle changes and using weight loss drugs.
I lost 60 pounds in 6 months, but then I plateaued.
I maintained that weight for a little over a month until I saw my obstetrician. He noticed that I was losing weight and said the weight loss drug Wigoby would help me continue making progress. (I had previously considered taking weight loss medication, but my insurance coverage was denied. I still don't know why.)
I started taking Wegovy and started losing weight again. I had a really good experience with medication. There were no serious side effects. I felt like I was able to soothe my appetite and the sounds of food.
However, three months after starting the medication, my husband changed jobs and his insurance changed accordingly. Suddenly, Wegovy was no longer covered by my new insurance plan. That's when I started drinking Munjaro. This is an FDA-approved drug to treat patients with type 2 diabetes, but it is often used off-label for weight loss purposes.
I got a Mounjaro coupon and used it until early June 2023, when the coupon stopped. I've stopped doing it ever since. Overall, I lost 130 pounds during my weight loss period and about 70 pounds while on the medication.
I know that many people regain the weight they lost after stopping these drugs, and I noticed that when I stopped Munjaro. Still, I wasn't going to spend $1,000 a month on drugs. As a result, I have become more focused on a healthy lifestyle and more conscious of what I put into my body.
Since coming off medication, I have found a healthy balance.
It was easy for me to continue the habits I formed while on weight loss drugs, and I actually lost about 5 more pounds after quitting Munjaro.
I had a tummy tuck in July and had about 6 pounds of excess skin removed from my stomach.
I have also tried to stick to a healthy eating plan. I introduced carbohydrates back into my diet when I was eating Wegovy and Mounjaro. Now I don't count calories or restrict certain foods. Instead, I focus on putting healthy things into my body and making sure I get enough protein in my diet. I eat mindfully, but I don't track everything.
I also continue to exercise. I had so much fun attending fitness classes that I started playing tennis again. I started to like moving my body.
Courtney Kleinebreil playing tennis.
That doesn't mean I'm glad I stopped taking Munjaro. It's hard to quit what works for me, but I've learned to make the best of my situation.
I feel like I was successful in many ways on this journey. I can now take workout classes and achieve personal fitness goals that I wasn't able to achieve before. At the beginning of my exercise plan, I needed to take breaks during class, but now I don't have to. I can see that my body is getting stronger and I am proud of it. I'm very happy to see the progress.
I also feel more energized by being with my children, and I can now shop for clothes that didn't fit me before. I also noticed a change during a recent flight. The seatbelt buckle was securely fastened, and there was plenty of room for the belt. I remember being on a plane, barely able to buckle my seatbelt, and being conscious of the people sitting around me. This is a big change for me.
Despite my accomplishments, this was not a seamless process. Once you gain weight and the habit is established, it is difficult to change it. I also learned to let go of trying to create a perfect healthy lifestyle. No one can eat 100% perfectly and go to the gym every day. But by doing the best we can, we can make small positive changes.
It also takes a long time to see results. I also went through some really difficult times where I didn't see any changes in my body. Sometimes I felt so good and strong that I didn't think I looked any different the next day.
Overall, I am grateful for my situation. I know everyone has their own journey and I am on mine. I believe that focusing on how you feel is the key to success. And now I feel great.
