When the Glow-Up Goes Sideways

Healing ain’t always cute—but it’s real, raw, and so damn worth it.

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How I’m Ditching the Inches Without the Injections: A Sober Woman’s Quest to Feel Herself Again (Without Losing Her Mind)

Hey friend — whether you’re sober-curious, deep in recovery, or just side-eyeing your jeans wondering who shrunk them in the wash (spoiler: it was life), this one’s for you. I’m Tina — aka The Wellness Blondie — and I’m going to get real about what happens when you stop drinking, start healing, and suddenly find yourself staring down a scale that doesn’t feel as celebratory as your sober milestone. This isn’t a sob story, and it’s definitely not a “just eat less and move more” kind of blog. This is the messy, honest, hormone-riddled, soul-searching truth about reclaiming your body without jumping on the latest injection trend.

Alright, gather 'round wellness warriors, sober sisters, and anyone who’s ever stared at their reflection and thought, "Who even IS this bloated woodland creature?" Hi, I’m Tina — aka The Wellness Blondie — and I’m about to get really honest (and probably a little too sassy) about this season of life. Buckle up. This one’s got hormones, cravings, side-eye at Big Pharma, and a whole lot of self-discovery.

Let’s rewind. I got sober — woo! Amazing. Huge win. I ditched the bottle and started healing my mind, body, and soul. Cue glitter cannon. But here’s the plot twist they don’t show in the Instagram highlight reels: I packed on a pretty noticeable amount of weight during my sober journey. Not a massive amount — but enough inches and pounds that my jeans are now emotionally abusive.

And no, it’s not because I suddenly discovered the joy of desserts in a mug (although… maybe). It’s because when I stopped drinking, I started eating again. And by eating, I mean nourishing myself properly for the first time in years. I wasn’t one of those eat-everything-while-you-drink people. I was the drink-instead-of-eating kinda gal. So once I quit, my body was like, "YASSS finally! FOOD! Let’s hoard it all for winter like a squirrel on Red Bull."

Now, here’s where it gets tricky: when you’re undernourished for a long time, your body kind of panics when it finally gets food again. Add in perimenopause (because God has jokes), and you get this magical formula of inflammation, bloating, weight gain, and a side of mood swings that could knock over a lumberjack.

All the while, I kept hearing the same song on repeat: “Have you thought about a GLP-1?”

GLP-1s — The Ozempic Era

Listen. I’m not here to bash GLP-1 medications. In fact, I think they can be an amazing tool for some people — especially those who are really struggling or have serious health issues. But personally, the idea of starting something that might be a lifelong commitment to maintain results? It didn’t sit right with me. I'm more of a root-cause-gal than a bandaid-fixer.

So I got curious. Could I support my body in a more natural way?