In this Thrive Global series, we hear directly from people sharing stories of transformation after using GLP-1 medications, a new class of drugs for diabetes and weight management.
My weight journey
Growing up in Los Angeles, realtor Nili Hudson, 62, doesn’t recall sitting down for regular meals. “I had granola for breakfast, granola for lunch, and granola for dinner,” she says.
Nili remembers being self-conscious about her appearance from an early age. By the time she reached her teens, she weighed 175 pounds. In an image-obsessed LA where her mother ran a glamorous West Hollywood boutique, Nili began restricting her diet. “I’d take salads to school in Tupperware; I was disciplined and lost a big chunk of weight,” she says.
Nili left school in her late teens, and started working for her mother. After losing her mother to addiction and the collapse of their family business, Nili spent her young adulthood in survival mode — moving homes repeatedly, struggling without a safety net, and turning to food to cope with the chaos around her. Despite her challenges, Nili went on to get her realtor’s license and built an impressive career. But while her professional life was thriving, her relationship with food remained troubled. She describes a 30-year challenge of “bulimia, dieting, and fear of food.”
Why I started a GLP-1
In 2020 amidst the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, Nili gained 20 pounds when her gym closed down. Her self-esteem suffered. “I felt horrible, my clothes didn’t fit. I looked in the mirror and I didn’t like my reflection.”
In 2023, she scheduled an appointment with her doctor and got started on her own GLP-1 journey. “I took a leap of faith and decided to give it a try.”
Early experiences on a GLP-1
There were early side effects: fatigue and heartburn, which she learned to manage by avoiding eating late at night and cutting out acidic food. To keep up her energy levels, Nili drinks green protein smoothies during the day and a nutritious meal in the evening, like chicken or salmon with a salad and veggies.
Another change, her taste for alcohol diminished: “I’m not a big drinker, but I used to love opening a bottle of wine at home and having a glass or two. Now, I hardly ever want it. l occasionally have pasta or a cheeseburger, but I usually choose salad with my burger instead of fries. I make good choices,” says Nili.
“I’d always feared food,” she says. “In the past, if I consumed a few extra calories, I thought I’d gain weight the next day, I don’t have that fear now.” She also makes time for daily workouts.
How life feels today
During her GLP-1 journey, Nili says she learned to stop blaming herself. She used to believe that her “thin friends had stronger willpower.” That changed when she watched the 2024 Oprah Winfrey special “Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution,” which explored the use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss, including Oprah’s experience with the drugs. Nili says she learned that people who struggle losing weight often have different hormonal responses, such as lower natural GLP-1 levels or more resistant satiety signaling.
“People used to say if you want to be thin, just stop eating bad food, go on a diet. So I would diet and work out like my life depended on it, but I couldn’t get the weight off. Now I know some of us can’t lose weight no matter how hard we try. I cried watching the special,” she says. “It was the first time I felt seen.”
She’s feeling happy about her appearance. “I feel pretty again,” she says. “There’s a spring in my step when I go out — I feel good about myself.”
The most surprising part of Nili’s GLP-1 journey has been the new sense of peace she experiences now. “For me, being on a GLP-1 drug has been like a miracle,” Nili says.
What I want others to know
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is that it’s okay to have this support from a GLP-1 drug.” Her relationship with food has changed too. “Food has been my enemy my entire life. That’s no longer true. For those of us who struggle immensely with weight, this is a miracle drug — it’s beyond words.”
Her advice for others considering GLP-1s? “You have to participate in the journey by taking care of yourself. Eat well, move your body, and be mindful. Work closely with your doctor. Don’t go into this thinking it’s a magic elixir. It’s about overall health and wellbeing. You have to want to not just drop the pounds, but enhance your quality of life.”