Supermodel-turned-film producer Caprice Bourret shares why weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro weren’t the answer for her and how she’s sticking to healthy eating from now on – including at Christmas!
Words: Katy Sunnassee. Images: Vivienne Edge.
I’d never used a weight-loss drug before but I’d relaxed my usual routine and the weight crept on. I’d been having more takeaways, more sugar. I went from a size 8 to a 12. But for me, it wasn’t so much about how I looked, it was about how I felt: sluggish, tired and not my best.
Being in the public eye comes with pressure, sure, but I’m human, so I tried the jab, Mounjaro, out of curiosity and a desire to get back on track – but it was a mistake. I used it for just under two months and the side effects were no joke. I had constant nausea, dizziness and no appetite. I didn’t feel like me anymore.
It was effective, sure, as the weight came off, but I didn’t like how it made me feel. I couldn’t think straight some days. That’s when I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. Health has to be about balance and feeling good, not just looking a certain way. You can’t sacrifice your wellbeing for a number on the scales.
And why are people wanting to erase the enjoyment of craving and eating food anyway? Surely that’s one of life’s pleasures? I love food and I missed wanting to eat it. So, I stopped using the drug. I’d rather feel strong and healthy and do it the natural way by eating well and exercising.
I think weight-loss injections, when taken for the wrong reasons, have set us back decades in terms of body positivity.
Let’s be real, they were designed for people with serious health issues such as diabetes, not for women who are already a healthy weight but want to drop a few pounds. The psychological and physical implications are worrying, and we all know someone who’s used them who absolutely didn’t need to.
The real concern is: can people stop? Are they becoming dependent? And what’s the long-term effect on the body? We just don’t know. Promoting them as a quick fix or miracle jab to be thin is incredibly damaging. It’s pushed us back to that outdated, dangerous mindset from the 90s.
I’d say that stress 100 per cent caused my diet to slide and for me to gain weight. I was grabbing convenience foods, eating more sugar, and not being mindful. Stress most definitely played a role. When you’re juggling family, work and travel, it’s easy to grab whatever’s easy. But it catches up with you. And that’s what happened. It wasn’t about vanity, it was about feeling like myself again.
Read our weight-loss columnist Alice Dogruyol’s experience with Wegovy (and beyond)!
We all want to show our best side, me included. Yes, I love a good filter when it comes to social media – it’s human nature to want to enhance and elevate. But the problem comes when people start pretending it’s real life or they put out images that are completely distorted – that’s when it gets damaging. I think it’s so important to be honest.
Yes, I’ve had treatments. Yes, I use filters sometimes. But I don’t hide behind it; the key is owning it and telling the truth. And it’s not just young people feeling the pressure. I know women in their 50s, 60s and beyond who are affected too. We’re all being sold this idea of perfection. The real beauty is in owning what you’ve got and having the confidence to be yourself.
Everyone’s looking for a quick fix these days, whether it’s Botox or plastic surgery. I’ll be the first to put my hands up and say, Botox rocks! It definitely helps to soften the wrinkles, but what I’ve found to be the most impactful is looking after myself from the inside.
There’s no real quick fix in life… you look after yourself, you look after your body, and that’s what gives you longevity and a good quality of life. It’s about building healthy habits, not chasing quick fixes.
Right now, I’m taking about 20 supplements and I only take very high-quality ones. I swear by shilajit [a black-ish/brown mineral that develops in rocks] for boosting energy levels, even though it tastes so disgusting!
And I also use methylene blue [a dye previously used as an antiseptic, which is now being used off-label to purportedly slow ageing], but you have to be careful and make sure you get good quality. Longevity, for me, means looking after yourself from the inside, and, okay, maybe a little bit on the outside too, but mostly from within. I really believe in the saying “Health is wealth”.
When it comes to staying fit and healthy, it all starts with good nutrition. It’s not about how much food you eat, it’s about the nutritional value of that food. That’s what I live by. I eat pomegranate every single day, melon, cottage cheese, eggs, avocado, celery juice (celery juice on an empty stomach is great!).
I’m vegetarian, so for lunch I love a big plate of purple sprouting broccoli, sweet potato and other organic veggies. I snack on nuts – you must eat five Brazil nuts a day as it’s great for your thyroid, I swear by it. And no carbs after 5pm: that rule changed everything for me.
I really love to exercise, although don’t get me wrong, there are mornings when it’s tough to get out of bed, especially in winter! But once I’ve done the school run – aka the chaos of getting the kids out the door – I’ve already got the momentum going.
One thing about me is I’m disciplined. That’s what keeps me going, not only with fitness, but with everything in my life. It’s how I’ve built my businesses, kept my routine and stayed on track.
I aim to do three sessions a week, but I mix it up. It keeps my body guessing and prevents plateaus. I run while the boys play tennis – I’ll play too in summer – and I do a weekly group class with the school mums and our PT. He pushes us hard for both strength and cardio – it’s a killer, but so worth it.
Strength training is important as we mature. And meditation is a must. It took me years to get into it, but it changed my mindset and helps me in business too. The hardest part isn’t getting started, but staying motivated to challenge yourself. I see a real difference with the PT work as he pushes us hard with cardio and strength training. It’s brutal but it works. I feel so good afterwards.
I do take care of my skin and love a good treatment. I recently had a CO2 fractional laser treatment under my eyes; it’s a skin resurfacing procedure that boosts collagen and smooths out fine lines and texture. I did loads of research and found one of the best specialists in Frankfurt.
I flew in and out the same day, although I got a few funny looks on the plane home because the skin around my eyes was bright red – my eyes were two bright red massive circles! But once the redness calmed down, which took about six weeks, the results were incredible.
My skin feels so smooth now. Honestly, it was one of the best treatments I’ve ever had. I also recently had permanent make-up done by Laura Kay London, which I love – it was a brow treatment called microblading.
I’ve been really open about my health, from my benign meningioma, which thankfully was fully removed almost 10 years ago. That experience spurred me into wanting to create something really meaningful within the health and wellness space: a retreat that’s about education, healing, support and growth.
It’ll be a place where people can feel uplifted and truly focus on themselves. It will be next year on the beautiful island of Ibiza. We are hoping to run 3-4 retreats a year and it will be called Salud Health.
Over the years, I’ve built amazing relationships with the best health experts, so this isn’t my first rodeo: I once hosted a retreat at my Ibiza home and it sold out. That experience showed me the demand is there, and I know I can deliver something special.
The offering will be holistic, evidence-based and empowering. I want guests to leave feeling as though they’ve had a real breakthrough and made special lifelong friends with people that share the same interest and support.
I’m looking forward to Christmas as I have my new film coming out! It’s called A Scottish Christmas Secret, and I star in it alongside Alex Trumble. I play a publisher who heads to Scotland to convince her author to finish his series, but there’s a twist: he’s the heir to a Scottish castle.
It’s got romance, festive magic, the works. It’ll be on Channel 5 and My5 this winter, then launching on major streamers. It’s a real pinch-me moment as it’s currently the number one movie on My5.
On Christmas Day we all wear our festive jumpers and some years we even play tennis on Christmas morning! Most of my family lives in America, so this Christmas we’ll be travelling from East Coast to West Coast.
My kids really miss my mom during the year as she absolutely dotes on them. It’s a special time and will be a fun-filled and hectic few weeks off. I won’t be indulging in mince pies though as I’m feeling in a great place food-wise.
However, if I’m going to treat myself, it’ll be with a triple cheese pizza with jalapeños – that’s my guilty pleasure! Not a mince pie in sight for me!
Caprice stars in A Scottish Christmas Secret on Channel 5 and My5 during December. To find out more about her 2026 health retreats, visit saludwellnessretreat.com.
