Oluchi’s journey: balancing motherhood, PCOS, and weight with Numan’s support

A few weeks ago, Oluchi joined us for a video shoot to share her story about managing her weight with two young children. Since then, we caught up with her for a follow-up interview to dive deeper into her experience with Numan’s Weight Loss Programme.

We chatted to her about her progress and how she’s balancing the demands of motherhood, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and her weight.

How did you find the video shoot a few weeks ago?

It was amazing. Everyone was so friendly, and there was a fun surprise—I got to meet Millie, my health coach! I honestly didn’t even realise she was a real person at first. I thought she was just a face in the app.

Yes, all of our health coaches are real! To start off, could you tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to join Numan’s Weight Loss Programme?

I live in London now, but I grew up in Nigeria. I work from home for a bank in a contact centre, doing long 10-hour shifts. I’m also juggling a professional development course. On top of that, I have two kids—a three-year-old and a one-year-old—so life is always busy and pretty stressful.

I found out about the programme through my brother-in-law. He used to be quite big—he was practically a tank! But now he’s lost a lot of weight. When he told me he was with Numan, I knew I had to try it too.

What made you decide to try it for yourself?

I had been struggling with my weight for a while. My last visit to the hospital was a wake-up call. The doctor told me I needed to lose weight before they could prescribe a certain medication I wanted. That was the tipping point. I knew I had to do something about it.

So, that was your main motivation?

Yes, exactly. Plus, after having kids, it’s been hard to find time for myself. When I lived in Nigeria, I had help from my mum and sisters, but here in England, I don’t. So, I wasn’t exercising or doing anything to lose weight. 

I went through the online consultation, and Numan started me on the programme. I started on the lowest dose in June. I didn’t expect to lose much weight on that dose, but surprisingly, I did. Even though most people don’t report significant weight loss on the starting dose, I saw results almost immediately. 

Were you tracking your weight from the beginning?

Not at first. I didn’t have a scale, but I could tell I was losing weight because my clothes were fitting better. After two weeks, I bought a scale and started tracking my weight through the Numan app.

You mentioned trying other weight loss methods before. What made you turn to Numan after trying those?

I’ve tried a lot of things - teas, diets like keto - but none of them were sustainable. I’d lose weight, but then gain it all back once I stopped. Numan was different because I don’t feel like I’ll gain the weight back.

How has your health coach helped you with your weight loss journey?

Millie has been amazing. She checks in regularly and helps me with both my diet and exercise routines. She introduced me to the Mediterranean diet, which has been a game-changer. Now, I also walk my child to school instead of driving, which has added some exercise to my day.

Have you noticed any other positive changes besides the weight loss?

Losing weight has meant my mood has improved and my confidence is super. I used to avoid social gatherings because I felt so out of shape. But now I’m jumping at new plans. I find myself staring at myself in the mirror now and I'm no longer scared of the scale. I also used to have acne issues, but ever since I lost the weight my face has been a lot clearer.

That’s fantastic. Have you faced any challenges or moments where you thought about giving up?

I used to have reservations about weight management medications. At first, I didn’t know much about them, and I thought using them was like cutting corners. Even when I started, people would ask me, "What are you doing?" Some supported me, but others would say, "I don’t want to do anything like that," or, "Those things make it seem like you're lazy or taking the easy way out." And I’d think, "Okay, whatever works for you." But that was the main thing holding me back initially - worrying about what people would say. 

Can you explain more about how that stigma around getting help affected you at first?

I didn’t want people to think I wasn’t putting in the effort. But in the end, if something is helping you - improving your health, boosting your confidence - why not do it? It doesn’t matter what people say. 

People are often just curious, not judging. Even those who are sceptical may eventually come around to using it themselves. So for me, when the time came, I decided I didn’t care anymore. I went ahead with it and honestly, it’s been the best decision so far.