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.
Toula Phillips’s weight journey
Growing up in Buffalo, New York, with her brother and sister, food was the focal point of daily life for Toula Phillips and her family. “We’re Greek — my mother is a great cook and everything was about eating in our house,” she recalls. Everyone sat down for dinner together. “But I never finished everything on my plate,” says Toula. “I wasn’t a big eater.”
Toula’s father had diabetes and both parents were health-conscious. “We didn’t have candies or any sugar at home.” As a teenager, she sometimes ate ice cream and fast food with friends, but she never worried about her weight. Slim and athletic, she enjoyed running and played on the racquetball team at school.
As an adult, Toula became more self-conscious about her appearance. At 22, when she met Matthew, the man she would soon marry, she remembers thinking she was overweight. Over the years, the couple had four children (now all adults) and Toula’s weight fluctuated. With the onset of perimenopause, managing her weight became more difficult. She recalls trying a variety of diets. “I remember eating a lot of eggs and protein bars and drinking protein shakes.”
Why Toula started a GLP-1
Toula, now 60, was diagnosed with high blood pressure, which runs in her family. She also had fatty liver disease, joint pain, and sleep apnea. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t lose weight.
She describes having constant “food noise” and thinking about snacking all the time. “It was easier to grab a handful of chips than an apple. In about eight years, I put on 50 pounds. I was so frustrated with the cycle of dieting, exercising, and not losing weight.” she says.
Toula’s doctors suggested she try a GLP-1, and her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, supported the idea. And after doing her own research, she decided to get started.
Toula’s early experiences on a GLP-1
Toula lost her appetite right away. “To begin with, I felt like I couldn’t eat a thing,” she says. But she knew it was important to get the right nutrients, so she made protein shakes with banana and powdered peanut butter, and ate small, protein-rich snacks and meals.
During the first few weeks, she experienced nausea and constipation. Ginger chews and staying hydrated helped. She also stopped eating late in the evening.
As her GLP-1 journey progressed and the side effects eased, Toula found eating more satisfying again. Cooking remains central to her life, especially the Greek dishes she learned growing up. “I make a yummy dish called Yemista — stuffed peppers with ground beef, tomatoes, and rice. Or I’ll make Greek Avgolemono soup with chicken and rice. But my husband will have bread with it, and I won’t.”
Eating out with Matthew is still enjoyable, but often she can’t finish her meal. “I’ll split a steak and salad with my husband, or take food home with me.” She also lost her taste for alcohol. “We used to share a bottle of wine, but now I might have one glass.”
Losing weight — about a pound a week — Toula began to feel better physically and mentally. She was motivated to exercise more too. “My husband and I go for power walks in the park, then we go out again with our dogs because they can’t keep up on our long walks!”
She did experience a plateau after a few months, but moved to a higher GLP-1 dose and lost more weight.
How life feels today
Over about 18 months, Toula has lost 50 pounds. “The other day, I picked up a 40-pound bag of dog food and said to my husband, ‘I lost more than this!’ I feel proud of my accomplishments. It wasn’t easy, but the GLP-1 really helped me.”
She feels healthy and rejuvenated. “Where do I begin with the benefits? My fatty liver disease has gone, my joint pain went away, and my blood pressure is normal. My doctors are so proud of me.” Her sleep apnea has improved as well: “I don’t need to use a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure machine) anymore.”
Toula still enjoys the occasional treat, but doesn’t crave sugar. In her kitchen there’s a bag of her favorite cookies — she’s only eaten one. “My old self would have eaten them all,” she says.
She’s happier with her appearance too. Two of her sons recently got married, and for the first time in years, Toula liked the way she looked in family photos. “I’m not embarrassed anymore.” At her daughter-in-law’s suggestion, she bought a strapless leather dress for her son’s birthday dinner. “It’s fitted, but I felt comfortable wearing it,” she says.
Toula smiles. “If I hear music, I just start dancing now. I have so much energy. I don’t feel 60 at all; it’s just a number to me. I act like I’m 40.”
What Toula wants others to know
Along with taking the GLP-1, small lifestyle shifts are important, says Toula: “Eat more protein, drink more water, and get regular exercise. GLP-1 is a tool that helps you, but you have to put in the effort,” she says.
Encouragement from family and friends is also essential, she says. Toula finds online GLP-1 support groups helpful, too — where people share experiences and practical tips.
She recommends acknowledging and celebrating the progress you make along the way. At first, Toula was embarrassed to tell people she was on a GLP-1. “I thought they would think I was a failure and say, why can’t you just lose weight with diet and exercise?”
Now she’s enthusiastic about sharing her story. “I realized people take medication for all kinds of health conditions so why not for obesity? You shouldn’t be ashamed of taking a GLP-1; it’s a life-changer.”