Michael Donnelly-Boylen, a 51-year-old man, has experienced a life-changing transformation through the use of the weight loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro. On March 10, 2024, he gave himself his first shot of the medication, which he refers to as his "second birthday." For years, Donnelly-Boylen had struggled with his weight and had tried various diets, including the South Beach Diet and the cabbage soup diet. Despite his efforts, he had gained back the weight he had lost and more. By the time he was 50, he had given up on trying to lose weight and had even been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. "I knew I had to fight to lose weight," says Donnelly-Boylen. Despite being married to a doctor, getting his Mounjaro prescription was no easy feat due to insurance changes and shortages of the medication. But once he had the medication in hand, he threw out all the processed food in his house and "really started fresh." The Mounjaro has been a "tool that made the success stick," according to Donnelly-Boylen. It muted the food noise that had filled his mind and allowed him to realize what it was like to be somebody else, to be able to know when he was full and move away from food. With a GLP-1 and a lot more mental space, Donnelly-Boylen has gotten a new lease on life and his relationship. He has lost 100 pounds, from 360 to 260, and can now take the stairs to his third-floor walk-up without huffing and puffing. He can fully participate in his relationship and travel confidently, and he constantly wants to be moving. The food noise volume has gone from a 10 to a 3, and he still finds himself stress eating at work, but he keeps his drawer stocked with high-protein snacks such as meat sticks. The difference now is that he can control what he eats; he's not going to go running to the vending machine for Pop-Tarts and a sugar rush. In addition to his personal transformation, Donnelly-Boylen is using his social media and meeting with lawmakers to advocate for better access to the drugs that he says saved his life. He believes that more people should have access to these medications to help them lose weight and get healthy. In this day in the life of Michael Donnelly-Boylen, he rises early in the morning to do housecleaning and make his TikToks. He now brings a Fairlife Core Power shake with 42 grams of protein to work every other day, as well as a high-protein, high-fiber bagel with some cream cheese before leaving for work. It took him about 10 months before he could forgive the food and recognize that the food didn't cause the problem of his weight. Overall, Donnelly-Boylen's story is a testament to the power of medication and determination in overcoming obesity and diabetes. His journey has not only changed his life but also inspired others to seek help and find their own path to a healthier lifestyle.
