I was on RTE's OT but I've lost 27lbs in weeks with €235 jabs and still eat burgers and pizza, it's changed my life
FROM appearing on Operation Transformation at 27 stone to trying brutal low-calorie diets, Mark Fearon has struggled with his weight for the past 15 years.
But the
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Mark appeared on Operation Transformation 15 years ago
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Mark is happier than ever since dropping the pounds
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Mark can still enjoy pizza and a drink
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has been growing in popularity in Ireland over the last few months.
By activating GIP and GLP-1 receptors, Mounjaro slows down the emptying of the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer and reducing appetite.
And Mark, from Stepaside, told how while his weight has "crept" up over the years, he's starting to see real results with the drug.
Now weighing 19 stone, 47-year-old told the Irish Sun: "Ever since then I have been trying to lose 10 stone and I have gotten the weight down but never the 10.
"The weight kept creeping back and ever since then I decided I had to do something about it.
"Weight loss is obviously one of the main side effects of Mounjaro, as I lost 27lbs in just six weeks.
"I've lost weight quickly before but this is different, I'm actually eating loads of calories.
"I am having around 2,500 calories a day so I am not starving myself."
Mark, who appeared on hit
He said: "When I tried to lose weight before, I would eat very few calories, but this resulted in me having very little energy.
I went from 27 lbs in six weeks with Mounjaro after 15 years of trying to lose weight it has completely changed my life
"So this time I am actually eating enough calories to keep active, so I am actually in the gym all the time.
"For the first time losing weight, I am actually feeling great doing it, I'm not feeling deprived.
"I'd eat well during the week and then at the weekends I'd love takeaways.
"Pizza and burgers being the favourite but there isn't much I wouldn't enjoy eating.
"It's amazing, but the urges for these foods are just gone being on Mounjaro.
"Without Mounjaro I'd be saying, 'Well I had a burger so there's no point eating well for the rest of the day' and would throw in ice cream and chocolate. Now I eat without any urges of a binge.
"In the past six weeks I have eaten out a few times where I had a pizza and a burger but the difference is that I had them and that satisfied me."
Speaking about the side effects, he said: "I get heartburn a bit more but I just pop two Rennies and it's gone.
"Obviously, there is the risk of stopping taking it and putting the weight back on but is that not the case with every single diet?"
'BIG DIFFERENCE'
And Mark hit back at the haters calling it the "lazy way out" as he revealed he has so much energy that he does not even watch television anymore.
He said: "I'm up at 5am every morning before work so I can go to the gym and this is while I'm losing serious amounts of weight.
"The big difference with Mounjaro is I am still able to eat, but I eat what I need, no more, as the desire to overeat is gone.
"I have so much energy now and it has made me so active that I don't even watch TV anymore, as when I sit down all I want to do is get up and be active."
When asked on the financial aspects of the weight loss jab, Mark said he was "just swapping one thing he spent money on for another" in relation to takeaways, dinners and drinks.
He said: "I'd spend easily €50 per week on takeaways, plus throw in tubs of Ben and Jerry's.
"Mounjaro costs me €250 per month from the North. This includes the monthly consultation, the Mounjaro and the tracked delivery to my home.
"The greatest thing about the price is that no matter the higher dosage you go on, the cost stays the same.
"And that cost is easily what I spent on food I didn't need to eat and no longer do on Mounjaro."
Mark said he has full support from his doctor, adding: "I do get my Mounjaro from the North but my GP is fully aware of it and is also very supportive of me being on it."
SUPPORT SYSTEM
Mark has been sharing his weight loss journey for more than 15 years on Facebook, Instagram and more recently on TikTok.
He said: "I get a lot of private messages from people asking questions especially about Mounjaro.
"Some people want to do it, but really do not want anyone to know."
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LOSS JABS?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections include:
Nausea
: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting
: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea
: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation
: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort
: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite
: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion
: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Pancreatitis
: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems
: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors
: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems
: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
: Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
But Mark has no shame or secrecy when it comes to his journey and said his family have been "very supportive of him".
He said: "I have been trying for 15 years to get my weight to a place I'd be happy with.
"I set myself a target of losing 10 stone, then I've never accomplished it, I'm now 19st 13lbs and I've lost 27lbs in six weeks on Mounjaro.
"I know I will get to my goal of that 10 stone down now with the help of Mounjaro.
"My friends and family know how important that is to me, and they are very supportive of me being on Mounjaro."
The latest weight loss drug was only approved for use in Ireland in early 2025, being licenced for use as a treatment for both type 2 diabetes and obesity.
And Mark is not the only Irish person seeing big health changes since trying the fat jab.
EATING 'ADDICTION'
Irish mum Sandra Keogh spent hundreds of euros every month on Doritos as her
The former weight loss consultant, 37, said she needed to urgently make a change but had already tried all of the usual routes.
She said: "I felt unable to find the will to care what I was shoving in my mouth.
"It was compounded by the fact that I knew what I should be doing I just felt useless. I had to try something else."
But she had a light bulb moment one day after sitting down to watch a bit of reality TV.
The
"So after a while when I heard about availability here, I went and spoke to my doctor because I haven't had diabetes but I just needed something.
"I knew what had to be done, but I didn't have the willpower or the motivation to do anything.
"I started Ozempic in November 2023 after the doctor thought it was a great idea.
"I was on it until February this year and when I heard Mounjaro was coming in, I was eager to swap because I had lost 33 pounds on Ozempic and I kind of had stalled.
"When I heard that Mounjaro was going to be approved for weight loss here in Ireland, I thought, 'Right, I'm going to try and get it'.
"I started taking it on the 25th of March and I began losing weight again."
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Mounjaro was Mark's last resort to help him lose the weight
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He documents his journey on his TikTok account
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Mark is also working hard at the gym
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