For years, Melissa Floro felt trapped. At 38 and living in New York City, she was a mother of two who struggled with weight gain, emotional eating, and the constant cycle of guilt that came with it. Despite trying every diet and fitness plan she could find, nothing stuck — and the more she failed, the more she withdrew from life.
Food had become her coping mechanism — not for hunger, but for stress, loneliness, and exhaustion. What started as comfort eating slowly turned into an addiction. “I was addicted to food,” she admitted. “I was an emotional eater.”
After having kids, she noticed a shift in her metabolism. The weight crept on, and with it came physical pain, fatigue, and a growing sense of shame. She avoided going out, stopped saying yes to family outings, and even skipped simple trips to the park because getting dressed felt like a battle.
“I hermited myself for so long because I was ashamed of how big I was,” she shared. Her confidence crumbled under the weight of judgment — both from herself and what she believed others were thinking.
Then, everything changed.
In May 2024, at 228 pounds, Melissa started weekly injections of Ozempic through Lenox Hill Hospital. Originally prescribed for type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has gained popularity for its off-label use in weight loss. For Melissa, it wasn’t just about shedding pounds — it was about reclaiming her life.
Within six months, she lost 70 pounds — but the real transformation went far beyond the scale.
The cravings that once controlled her began to fade. The emotional pull toward food weakened. It wasn’t willpower or discipline — something inside her brain had shifted. “Something in this medication changed the way my brain thought about and desired food,” she said.
As the weight dropped, so did her chronic back and knee pain. She found herself walking with her kids again, taking the stairs, cleaning the house, and engaging in daily life without effort or hesitation. Even her relationship with alcohol naturally evolved — the Friday night margaritas no longer called to her.
Melissa also learned how to manage side effects like nausea and constipation by staying hydrated and eating nutrient-rich foods. She focused less on restrictive dieting and more on nourishing her body.
Her husband eventually joined her on a similar GLP-1 medication, and together they built healthier routines. While she doesn’t plan to stay on Ozempic forever, she knows it’s been worth it.
“If giving myself a shot means I can stay healthy and present for my family, that’s a small sacrifice to make,” she said.
Ozempic, known generically as semaglutide, works by mimicking a hormone that affects appetite regulation in the brain. It slows digestion, improves insulin efficiency, and reduces cravings — all of which helped Melissa break free from emotional eating.
More than anything, the medication gave her clarity, energy, and confidence. It didn’t just change how she looked — it changed how she lived .
Today, Melissa no longer avoids life. She’s active, engaged, and present for her kids. Most importantly, she no longer feels like a bystander in her own life.
“I don’t want to waste any more time being stagnant,” she said. And now, she doesn’t have to be.