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Brits waste £915MILLION every year by running the shower for minutes before getting in, research shows

Brits waste £915MILLION every year by running the shower for minutes before getting in, research shows

The Irish Sun26-05-2025

BRITS are wasting up to £915 million per year – by leaving the shower running before getting in.
A poll of 2,000 adults found they spend an average of 11 minutes under the water each day, sometimes for the sole reason of enjoying time to themselves.
According to experts, running an 11-minute mixer shower means you will use around 132 litres of water, which typically requires 5.8 kWh of energy to heat it.
While running an electric shower for the same duration will use around 54 litres of water and requires 1.9 kWh of energy.
The study also revealed 43 per cent claim to regularly spend additional time in the shower – even though it only takes them a short amount of time
But while 28 per cent regularly consider water wastage when rinsing, 21 per cent admit they never do.
It also emerged taking shorter showers topped the list of tactics taken to reduce water usage while washing (44 per cent).
This was followed by not showering every day (27 per cent), turning it off when doing another activity like brushing teeth (27 per cent), and fixing drips and leaks immediately (19 per cent).
Daniel Lintell, sustainability manager at
'The feeling of getting clean after a long day can't be beaten – but it's important to think about the impact you're having when you're in the shower.
Most read in The Sun
'Finding alternative approaches to getting those few minutes of peace could be a valuable way to make sure you're doing your bit for the planet, your pocket, and yourself.
'If reducing your time spent in the shower isn't feasible – or you simply enjoy spending time there – then consider water-conserving tactics like fitting a flow regulator to a mixer shower, turning down the water flow when lathering, or using an electric shower.'
The study also found 25 per cent
While 11 per cent admitted enjoying the peace and quiet away from their busy household, and 16 per cent use their time in the shower to think something through.
The average person showers five times a week – with 12 per cent even claiming they shower more than once a day in a typical week.
But they run the shower for just under a minute and a half before getting in – which adds up to an average of seven minutes a week of wasted water.
Half (51 per cent) also claimed to
However, a forgetful 17 per cent even admitted to not always remembering to turn the shower off after they use it, according to
Despite this, 81 per cent see themselves as environmentally conscious, with 97 per cent partaking in other eco-friendly practices – such as recycling (72 per cent), taking their own bags to the shop (66 per cent) and using energy-saving lightbulbs (55 per cent).
And 61 per cent believe wasting water has a negative impact on the environment.
Although, a third only had a rough idea – or less – about the amount of money they are
But 48 per cent cited saving money as the main thing that could motivate them to take shorter showers.
Read more on the Irish Sun
Triton Showers' spokesperson added: 'As well as the environmental impact of water waste, I'd encourage shower users to think about the money they could be saving.
'The average shower currently costs the billpayer around 6p a minute – it all adds up over time, and by taking shorter showers and not leaving it running before or after you wash, you could be turning those pennies into precious pounds.'
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Some people are taking shorter showers to reduce water usage, a poll found
Credit: Getty

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Iran launched DELIBERATE missile blitz on Israeli hospital but patients were moved at the last minute, president reveals
Iran launched DELIBERATE missile blitz on Israeli hospital but patients were moved at the last minute, president reveals

The Irish Sun

timea day ago

  • The Irish Sun

Iran launched DELIBERATE missile blitz on Israeli hospital but patients were moved at the last minute, president reveals

BABIES were among hundreds of hospital patients who cheated death when an Iranian missile blitzed an Israeli hospital, the nation's president told The Sun. Isaac Herzog revealed that the chiefs decided to move critical care units into a basement bunker just hours before the terrorist regime 'deliberately targeted' the hospital. 14 Smoke rises from Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba, Israel Credit: Reuters 14 The hospital was damaged following a missile strike from Iran Credit: Reuters 14 Firefighters work in a building of the Soroka hospital complex after it was hit by a missile fired from Iran in Beersheba, Israel Credit: AP 14 A view of the damage is seen from the inside Credit: Getty 14 Sun Foreign Editor Nick Parker speaks to Israeli President Herzog at the Presidential Palace in Jerusalem Credit: Doug Seeburg And in an exclusive interview with The Sun, the embattled Israeli leader Appalled Mr Herzog, 64, vented his outrage at the presidential palace in Jerusalem after visiting shocked patients and staff at Soroka Hospital in the southern city of Beersheba. A huge explosion early today sent a mushroom cloud over the complex and set the roof on fire as terrified patients cowered in makeshift basement wards. They had been moved there just hours earlier by hospital chiefs as Tensions rise Middle East Mr Herzog told The Sun: 'I was there this morning following the destruction by an Iranian missile - straight on the hospital where people were in treatment. 'The director general of the hospital decided only last night to remove all the units above ground to underground. 'They would have been killed for sure, because you see the building was totally demolished.' Mr Herzog said Soroka tends to two million patients every year, treating Israelis, Palestinians and sick and injured people from nearby Gaza. Most read in The US Sun He paid tribute to the resilience of medics yesterday while revealing his shock at the scale of the damage. Mr Herzog said: 'Glass was strewn all over the place - windows and doors - total devastation, but I went underground and the hospital functions beautifully. Trump 'has APPROVED Iran attack plans & is ready to give orders' as Israel 'strikes reactor' & Tehran hits hospital 'Professor Mahmoud Abu Shakra, a great Israeli Muslim, was leading the emergency care unit underground. 'That's Israel for you. We have immense resilience. And we will recover, we will rebuild, and we will move on. 'It shows how cruel the Iranians are - the emergency care units full of babies were there, and this missile was aimed directly at the hospital. 'It was deliberate - we know it because we have intelligence. 'We know that they are carrying out crimes against humanity and war crimes all the time. 'They decided to harass us. They want to drive us crazy, so they send those missiles, but they get us wrong because we are a very strong nation, and we know how exposed they are. 'They are making a huge mistake.' 14 Herzog vented his outrage at the presidential palace in Jerusalem after visiting shocked patients and staff at Soroka Hospital Credit: Doug Seeburg 14 A view of the damage is seen at Soroka Medical Centre after it was hit by a missile launched from Iran during retaliatory strikes in Beersheba Credit: Getty 14 A view of the Soroka Medical Centre after the strike Credit: AP 14 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands amid debris outside the Soroka Hospital Credit: AFP 14 Mr Herzog rejected comparisons to Israeli attacks on hospitals in Gaza and insisted medical sites in the besieged enclave were targeted because terror bases were hidden beneath them. He said: 'All the aid that went into Gaza from Western countries, from us, by the way, too - all that money went to build a terror infrastructure of the worst kind. 'That was deployed on October 7th - and it's all in tunnels out there, which are full of ammunition and our hostages.' Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz raged that evil Iranian kingpin Ayatollah Ali Khamenei must die after the missile struck the hospital. He said: "Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed – he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. 'He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal, 'Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist.' 14 Smoke billows from Soroka Hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel Credit: AFP 14 BEERSHEBA, ISRAEL – JUNE 19: A view of the destruction after an Iranian missile hits Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Tsafrir Abayov/Anadolu via Getty Images) Credit: Getty 14 Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz raged that evil Iranian kingpin Ayatollah Ali Khamenei must die Credit: AFP Katz's threat was echoed by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Israel was ready to "remove" the nuclear threat from Iran . Asked during a visit to bombed Soroka Hospital if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was a potential target , Netanyahu said: "No one is immune.' "By the end of this operation, there will be no nuclear threat to Israel, nor will there be a ballistic missile threat.' It comes as Iran warned the The US president is yet to say if he will directly launch an attack, but is reportedly considering striking Iran's key underground nuclear site in the coming days. Trump has become heavily involved in the conflict over the last 72 hours. When asked about US bombing Iran, he said: "I may do it, I may not do it." It is believed that the US may choose to back Israeli strikes on Iran's Fordow nuclear development area. Will Trump strike Iran? By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter DONALD Trump is all but poised to join Israel's campaign of bombing Iran as they both seek to obliterate Tehran's nuclear program. The White House said on Thursday that Trump will decide on whether the US will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks. It comes as Tel Aviv has been carrying out air strikes targeting various nuclear and military facilities in Tehran and other parts of Iran. The goal, as they say, is to thwart the Iranian regime's efforts to produce nuclear weapons. The Trump administration previously said it had no plans to join the conflict. However, winds in Washington began blowing the other way after Trump cut short his G7 visit in Canada and said he needed to focus on the Middle East. And has repeatedly insisted it was not to pursue peace talks with Iran "in any way, shape or form" - a stark shift in his previous policy of striking up a nuclear deal. Don also went on to share a slew of posts on Truth Social suggesting he may be considering strikes against Iran. He wrote: "Our patience is wearing thin," before calling out Tehran for an unconditional surrender. Trump also called for an emergency situation room meeting yesterday with his top Washington aides, though details of those meetings have not yet been revealed. But Trump's statements, coupled with America's military movements, suggest the US forces may soon strike Iran. As Trump rushed back to meet his National Security Council, he vowed he was chasing something "better than a ceasefire", which would force Iran into a "complete give up". He refused to specify the endgame, but ominously warned: "You're going to find out over the next few days." A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry said that a US intervention in the Middle East would be "a recipe for all-out war in the region. This would likely be done by a fearsome 15-ton mega bomb known as a Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office Trump did say the US is the only nation capable of blitzing the key nuke site. But he added: "That doesn't mean I'm going to do it - at all." Trump also gave a two-word warning to Iran's Supreme Leader after he revealed Tehran was trying to run back to the negotiating table since the conflict broke out. 14 When a Trump even stepped up his rhetoric towards Khamenei as he said the US knows where he is hiding but will not kill him 'for now'. Khamenei responded to the constant threats by saying: "The battle begins." He warned that the US will face hell if it enters the war and drops a single bomb on Tehran. 'This nation will never surrender,' Khamenei said in a speech read on state television. 'America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage.'

We've spent thousands on ‘Mounjaro makeovers' – it's the king of fat jabs but it left us with shocking side effect
We've spent thousands on ‘Mounjaro makeovers' – it's the king of fat jabs but it left us with shocking side effect

The Irish Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

We've spent thousands on ‘Mounjaro makeovers' – it's the king of fat jabs but it left us with shocking side effect

WITH Mounjaro users shedding nearly double the amount of weight compared to its other counterparts, it's no wonder the injection is being dubbed the 'king' of fat jabs. But with such drastic results, it's becoming all too common for users to experience side effects they may never have expected - and when that happens, you get yourself booked in for a £10,000 'Mounjaro makeover'. 8 Abbie Rose, 28, started taking Mounjaro in December but was stunned at the shocking side effect 8 Abbie says the fat jab helped her achieve her dream body - but she still had to go under the knife 8 Claire Wilson, stomach pictured, was left with an abundance of loose skin after losing three stone on Mounjaro After injecting the wonder drug for mere months and watching the weight drop off stone by stone, Brits up and down the country are feeling healthier and sexier. But when the fat is gone and all but stretched skin remains, many will feel disheartened at not having achieved their dream body with a quick fix. Mounjaro users are more likely to experience saggy, excess skin compared to those using other brands of fat jabs because of rapid weight loss, according to cosmetic surgeons. Mum-of-three Claire Wilson was one of them - shedding three stone on Mounjaro, she was left with an abundance of READ MORE IN FABULOUS She told The Sun how the fat jab completely changed her life when she hit 13st after turning 40. But it wasn't the end of her weight loss journey as she'd hoped - and she decided to go under the knife for a £10,000 'Mounjaro makeover' to achieve her dream figure. The makeover is a combination of cosmetic procedures sought by patients to remove excess skin after rapid weight loss. Claire had four pounds of flabby skin removed, finally hit her goal weight of 9st and cried with joy when she looked in the mirror for the first time. Most read in Fabulous The 43-year-old from Swansea told Fabulous: 'I've spent decades hating my body. 'But I burst into tears the second I saw my new, flat stomach. Mounjaro Weight Loss injection from Ozeias Se Silva Known As Ozzy Tudo 'I used to hate my reflection and looking at myself but the second I had the surgery and saw how different I looked, I just couldn't believe it. It's changed my life.' 'King' of fat jabs Mounjaro - dubbed the - helped people shed significantly more weight than it's rival , research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found. Though both drugs were effective for weight loss , Mounjaro not only helped people shed more pounds, but they also lost more inches around their waist. Mounjaro's active ingredient is tirzepatide, while Wegovy's is semaglutide - the same active drug in diabetes jab . One study, by weight loss programme I've had three children so like lots of mums I ended up with loose skin but losing weight on Mounjaro it became even more evident. Claire Wilson Dr Darren Smith, a New York cosmetic surgeon, explained how the rapid weight loss from Mounjaro can contribute to excess skin laxity. Explaining the trend, which is rising in popularity in the US, he told his Instagram followers: 'The term 'Mounjaro Makeover' is increasingly popular, and this is a term I use to describe any combination of operations that we're performing to help you get rid of extra skin that you're seeing after weight loss with Mounjaro. 'In many cases, patients that are using Mounjaro and losing a significant amount of weight over a very short period of time might experience even more significant skin laxity than patients that are doing it with Ozempic. 'Patients on Mounjaro are often achieving nearly bariatric surgical levels of weight loss, and these patients are having operations similar to those patients after 'I hated my excess skin' Claire weighed 13st at her heaviest and while she would have liked to work off her weight gain in the gym, like she had done in the past, she noticed her metabolism slowed down when she hit 40. She says: 'I've gained and lost around three stone three or four times in my life. 'I'd ended up around 13st but I'm only 5ft 2in and when I tried to exercise and diet the weight off this time around, I simply couldn't.' Claire began researching She added: 'I saw so many people on social media losing over 9lbs a week. I was keen to try it for myself.' Claire started using the jabs in May 2024 and the weight began to drop away at a rapid rate. 8 Mum-of-three Claire, stomach pictured, spent thousands on a 'Mounjaro Makeover' and had four pounds of flabby skin chopped off 8 Like Claire, Abbie also had a makeover which consisted of a tummy tuck, muscle repair and liposuction 8 Abbie reveals she was 'over the moon' after seeing the results of her makeover She says: 'It was amazing. It totally changed my appetite. I was on a 2.5mg dose to begin with, which went up to 5mg. That was my maximum dose which I'm still on now. It's a maintenance dose I take every two weeks to keep my appetite low." But by September of that year, she noticed that her excess skin was becoming an issue. 'I've had three children so like lots of mums I ended up with loose skin but losing weight on Mounjaro it became even more evident,' she says. 'I absolutely hated it, which is when I started thinking about a Mounjaro makeover. 'I spent over £1,000 on Mounjaro and then saved £10,000 to have tummy tuck surgery. 'I hated the excess skin and what I looked like, my self-esteem was terrible and it affected every area of my life.' Claire's surgery last month - after she hit her target weight of nine stone - was the culmination of 13 months of weight loss. I'm so happy with the new body I have, getting rid of my flabby tummy has changed my life Claire Wilson Her surgeon, Iain Whitaker; professor of Plastic Surgery, and The Welsh Representative on BAAPS Council, performed a 'fleur de lys' surgery with a horizontal and vertical incision before removing around 4lbs(1.75kg) of Claire's excess skin. She says: 'I couldn't believe the amount of skin they removed, there was so much, the video (taken by the medical team) was incredible when I first saw it, around 1.75kg of skin was removed. 'I've been in a bit of discomfort but the recovery has been incredible. I'm still bound at the moment to help reduce scarring but then the surgery was only recently. 'My recovery is ongoing but I'm so happy with the new body I have, getting rid of my flabby tummy has changed my life.' Claire says she can't wait to get into a bikini this summer. She adds: 'It's incredible how much my confidence has changed. 'Having a Mounjaro makeover has completely changed how I feel about myself. I feel sexier than I have in years and have had loads of compliments from friends.' 'Easy way out' Meanwhile, Abbie Rose, 28, started taking Mounjaro in December and credits it with helping her achieve her dream body. The mum of three from 'I think there can be some negativity around weight loss injections but they're amazing. 'I think if they help people and give them their confidence back, that's amazing.' But, like Claire, she was left with extra skin around her stomach, so she booked in with Professor Whitaker to help her hit her ideal weight of 9st 7lbs. She says: 'My Mounjaro makeover consisted of a tummy tuck, muscle repair and liposuction, it was £9,000. 'It was uncomfortable but manageable when it came to the pain and the recovery. I was over the moon when I first saw my results. The Mounjaro Makeover can remove skin from anywhere with the most common areas being the abdomen, arms, breasts, or thighs – or a combination Professor Whitaker 'I spent £300 on Mounjaro injections and the Mounjaro makeover isn't something I went into with my eyes closed. 'I spoke to lots of friends and family about it and they were supportive of my decision and knew it was something I had wanted for a long time, around seven years.' Claire agrees - despite having received negativity, she says she simply couldn't have achieved the body she has now by exercise and diet alone. She told The Sun: 'It's easy for people to say Mounjaro and Mounjaro makeovers are cheating and are the easy way out. 'But I've battled with my weight for years and, thanks to the injections and Professor Whitaker, I'm at the exact weight I want to be, and I have a body I've always dreamed of having.' Professor Whitaker says a patient should be at or near their target weight, with a BMI around 25 or lower, before considering surgery. He says: 'That ensures the skin is looser and the fat thickness is reduced, which reduces tension on the closure, better blood supply, reduced complications and leads to better results. 8 She took the plunge once she hit her ideal weight of 9st 7lbs 8 Abbie says her friends and family were supportive of her choice to get the makeover 'Surgery is most successful when the weight is stable. Some people may still have a bit to lose post-surgery, but they've already done the hard work.' He adds: 'The hashtag #mounjaromakeover started in the US but like a lot of trends , it's come to the UK. Now dozens of women have shared their Moujaro makeovers online." Mounjaro is approved for weight loss in the UK, while Ozempic is only approved for type 2 diabetes. Gemma Collins and Jeremy Clarkson are two of the Brit stars who have admitted using Mounjaro, while Sharon Osbourne, Amy Schumer and Prof Whitaker adds: 'The Mounjaro Makeover can remove skin from anywhere with the most common areas being the abdomen, arms, breasts, or thighs – or a combination. 'Each has its pros and cons, but the abdomen is by far the most common and the area I'm asked for when it comes to Mounjaro Makeovers the most.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. Prof Whitaker says surgery after large weight loss on Mounjaro is honestly the only option. 'The reality is, once you've lost that kind of weight, no matter what anyone says, it's unlikely you can bring the abdominal muscles back together through physio or exercise alone. And you certainly can't remove the excess skin without surgery. 'The idea that injections, lasers, suction, or radiofrequency devices can meaningfully tighten that skin after this volume of weight loss is, frankly, complete nonsense. 'None of those approaches are effective for the kind of skin laxity we're talking about here. The only real solution is surgery.' Iain Whitaker is a Professor of Plastic Surgery , and The Welsh Representative on BAAPS Council Instagram @profiainwhitaker

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
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

The Irish Sun

time3 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

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 6 Mark appeared on Operation Transformation 15 years ago 6 Mark is happier than ever since dropping the pounds 6 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." 6 Mounjaro was Mark's last resort to help him lose the weight 6 He documents his journey on his TikTok account 6 Mark is also working hard at the gym

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