Why Weight Loss Drugs Failed Catelin — And What Worked

samuandmelfitness
Jul 9
3 min read

When Catelin first walked through our doors at The Pride, she was convinced something was wrong with her body.

She’d recently gained weight FAST.

Clothes that once felt comfortable no longer fit.

The thought of wearing a bikini made her feel ashamed.

And more than anything, she just wanted to feel like herself again—confident, strong, and proud when she looked in the mirror.

Two women lie exhausted on gym benches, surrounded by weights. One wears a brown shirt, the other black. Yellow mat in the background.

The Weight Loss Drugs, Diets, and Frustration

Like so many others, Catelin turned to weight loss drugs and supplements to try and fix the problem. She tried fat burners, metabolism boosters, detoxes—you name it. If a supplement promised rapid weight loss, she was either already on it or planning to try it.

But nothing worked. Not one pill. Not one diet.

She was barely eating, constantly second-guessing herself, and still getting nowhere.

Important note: When we say weight loss supplements & drugs, we are NOT talking about prescribed drugs like Ozempic etc. We're talking about over the counter supplements that you find at supplement stores, supermarkets and chemists. Caffeine pills, 'metabolism boosters' etc. These drugs are complete marketing scams. On the other hand, proper prescribed weight loss drugs like Ozempic are proven to help with weight loss, but also have their own risks and require careful application and support. But that's for another blog post.

What Actually Made a Difference.

Then Catelin signed up for our 6 Week Transformation Challenge.

One of the first steps in the challenge is a personal nutrition consultation with our in-house nutritionist, Mel. Within minutes of speaking with Catelin, Mel could tell she was relying heavily on weight loss supplements and drugs, hoping one of them would finally be the magic bullet. These weren't drugs prescribed by a doctor. They were over the counter supplements, promising weight loss but delivering nothing.

Mel asked Catelin to do something that she thought was radical.

“Put all the pills away. Just for six weeks. Let’s focus purely on eating real food, building strength, and showing up consistently.”

Catelin agreed.

They worked together to create a simple but personalized nutrition roadmap—one that fueled her body, instead of punishing it. No starving. No cutting out entire food groups. Just balance, structure, and support.

People in workout attire hold a plank position on gym mats. The room has black and yellow flooring, with gym equipment in the background.

After 6 Weeks of No Pills, No Gimmicks:

Six weeks later, Catelin was a completely different person.

Here’s what changed:

She started enjoying the gym, instead of dreading it. She joined our personal training pods.
She felt confident enough to wear the clothes she loved without embarrassment.
She lost 6.5cm around her waist and 5.5cm around her stomach.
She realized that she didn't need any of the BS weight loss supplements.
She got stronger in every single lift.
And—possibly best of all—she made amazing new friendships in our community.

All of this in just six weeks. No drugs. No extreme dieting. No fads.

So What’s the Lesson Here?

If you’re feeling stuck...If you’ve been tempted by weight loss drugs, pills, or miracle cures...Or if you’re frustrated because nothing seems to work...

Please know this:

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Weight loss drugs may promise fast results, but for many people, they don’t solve the actual problem. Worse, they can distract you from the real work that needs to be done: understanding your body, fueling it properly, building strength, and showing up consistently.

Your 3-Step Plan to Lose Weight Without Supplements:

Instead of chasing quick fixes, follow these 3 steps:

Get expert help with your nutrition — from someone you trust, who won’t just sell you another pill.
Find a supportive community — it’s a lot easier (and more fun) when you’re not doing it alone.
Keep showing up — consistently train, eat well, and take care of yourself.

That’s what Catelin did. And you can too.