Top Santé weight-loss columnist and type 1 diabetic, Alice Dogruyol, finds that as she drops dress sizes, her skin isn’t fitting so well. But help is at hand both from within and without with the latest shapewear, shoes and supplements.
Words: Alice Dogruyol. Images: David Venni for image of Alice & Shutterstock.
Thanks to Mounjaro, I’m on track to lose around 30 kilos (4.7 stone), a number that still astonishes me when I say it out loud. I feel lighter, healthier, and more energised than I have in years. But there’s also a new softness to me, quite literally.
My arms, tummy, and inner thighs now have a gentle sagginess that wasn’t there before. It’s not awful, not tragic, just… different. There’s a part of me that wants to celebrate it: proof that I’ve changed, that I’ve worked hard, that I’m no longer stuck in the old version of myself. But then there’s the mirror. The truth is, I often catch sight of my bingo wings and wonder what on earth I can do about them. I’ve seen people lose incredible amounts of weight and need surgery because the excess skin physically stopped them living normally. For them, surgery is a brilliant and necessary option.
But for me, it’s not that extreme. I’m not at the point where my skin folds into itself or causes discomfort, apart from the occasional thigh chafe. Mine is more of a mild “melting” – a soft, squishy sagginess that’s particularly noticeable under my arms, my boobs, midriff and inner thighs… and yes, I’m starting to notice my lower face and neck too, the so-called Ozempic face. I don’t want to go under the knife for something that’s mostly cosmetic.
I’m not comfortable signing up for a general anaesthetic unless it’s medically essential. So, I’ve decided the best thing I can do is build muscle. I’ve realised that muscle is probably the best natural remedy for my saggy skin. I can’t pretend I’m looking forward to it – I’m naturally a bit lazy and spectacularly undisciplined when it comes to consistent workouts, but I know this is the only real way through.
It doesn’t replace elasticity, but it fills out some of the empty space underneath. I think of it as adding supportive scaffolding from the inside out. Plus, muscle makes you feel strong and powerful, and it’s also one of the best natural ways to stabilise blood sugar, and super important for type 1 diabetics like myself.
On a muscle mission!
So yes, I’m officially on my muscle mission! I’ve made a deal with myself: if I get into a routine and start to see muscle definition and progress happening, then I’ll look into some non-surgical skin-tightening treatments as a reward. I’ll choose a doctor from the BCAM website (British College of Aesthetic Medicine), as I’m a stickler for safety. Of course, muscle building isn’t just about lifting weights, it depends on what you eat.
Protein is essential for supporting muscle repair and growth, which in turn helps firm and fill the skin from underneath. I’m making a real effort to prioritise it at every meal, along with plenty of water and foods rich in vitamin C, zinc, and other collagen-supporting nutrients that keep skin supple. Some people swear by collagen or hyaluronic acid supplements; the research is still emerging, but I’m intrigued enough to try.
I’m also making friends with my body brush and cold showers, anything that wakes up circulation and reminds my skin we’re in this together. To help get me in the zone, I’ve treated myself to a few new essentials: some motivating trainers, clever shapewear, and a scoop of collagen in my morning coffee.
Clever trainers
There’s nothing like a new pair of trainers to make you want to move, even before you’ve had your first coffee. I’ve always found tying laces such a faff: the bending, the fiddling, the inevitable moment one lace unravels mid-walk. I’ve tried countless slip-on styles over the years, but none were quite “proper” enough to actually exercise in, until now.
A friend first introduced me to QLVR Trainers (£165, qlvr.com; above) pronounced “clever” as everyone who tried them said ‘How clever!’ The first time I slipped my feet into them, I genuinely felt a little thrill! A mix of comfort, support and ‘Ooh, I might actually fancy a squat.’ I’ve worn them every day since. They glide on in a second, no bending, no tying, no excuses. Somehow, just sliding my feet into them puts me in motion.
And they’re not just clever, they’re beautifully made. The secret is the patented QLVR Wing Fit system, inspired by the aerodynamics of bird wings, which wraps your foot in 360-degree support, no laces required. They’re also engineered specifically for women’s biomechanics (most trainers are just smaller versions of men’s shoes), so the alignment and stability feel spot-on. Even better, they’re 100 per cent vegan, crafted from natural materials such as castor beans, dandelions, corn cobs and eucalyptus.
They’re designed for cross-training, gym workouts, running or just living, but honestly, I think they’re designed for motivation. Because when a shoe makes you want to move, you know you’ve found the right one.
New Shapewear
As my skin has become softer and a little saggier, shapewear has quietly become one of my wardrobe staples. There’s a fine line between shapewear that holds you together and shapewear that’s out to ruin your day, and I’ve learnt the difference the hard way. The trick is finding pieces that smooth and lift without cutting off circulation; the kind that lets you move, breathe and get on with your life.
The less you wobble and bounce, the more you can do – it’s strangely liberating. I recently discovered a shapewear brand called Shapermint (shapermint.com), and I’ve become completely obsessed. I ended up ordering half the website: camis, leggings, shorts and bras, and I’ve genuinely worn something from the range almost every day since. I’ve always had mixed feelings about shapewear; it so often feels like punishment: digging in, rolling down, or leaving you gasping for breath by lunchtime. But this is different.
Shapermint has somehow cracked the code – it smooths, sculpts and supports without sacrificing comfort. The Essentials High-Waisted Active Shaping Leggings (£68) are my absolute favourite: beautifully high-waisted, sleek and sculpting enough to hold you in while still feeling like your favourite everyday pair. The Essentials All Day Every Day Scoop Neck Cami (£40) is another game-changer as it smooths the torso, layers perfectly under anything, and makes every outfit look that bit more pulled together.
And the Essentials High Waisted Shaper Shorts are brilliant under dresses or skirts, keeping hips and thighs smooth and stopping that dreaded summer chafing. What I love most is that every piece feels like part of your real wardrobe, not armour – just the most comfortable shaping essentials that make you feel secure, streamlined and confident.
Supporting skin from within
I’ve recently started adding a scoop of high-protein Functional Future Organic Bone Broth Collagen with Hyaluronic Acid (£48, functionalfuture.co.uk) into my morning coffee. I met the founders last year at a health conference and was instantly struck by their passion for purity, sustainability and scientific integrity, which, for me, is everything. I’ve always been a little sceptical about collagen powders; so many brands feel vague about their sourcing and claims. But this one is different.
The collagen comes from grass-fed cattle raised exclusively on Nordic organic regenerative pastures in pristine air, and the formulation is 100 per cent organic, additive-free and backed by independent GMP testing.
What I love is that it delivers a full spectrum of collagen types I, II and III, along with naturally occurring hyaluronic acid and the key amino acids glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, all essential for healthy connective tissue, joint support and skin elasticity. What I hadn’t realised until recently is that as we lose weight and rebuild body composition, our collagen stores naturally decline.
That affects not just the firmness of our skin but also how efficiently our muscles repair after exercise. By combining strength training with collagen and adequate protein, you’re essentially supporting both the scaffolding and the structure: the muscle underneath as well as the skin that sits on top of it. This collagen is beautifully neutral-tasting, no odd aftertaste or chalkiness, just a gentle richness that disappears into my coffee. It’s simple, clean, effective and feels like a product built with real integrity in an increasingly crowded market.
Connect with Alice Dogruyol at instagram.com/Alice_Dogruyol, or read her weight loss columns here
