‘I lost 10st in two years without Ozempic – doing one thing every day’
Hannah Mai, 37, from Coventry, Warwickshire, was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease – a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol – in October 2020
08:55, 23 Jun 2025
(Image: Hannah Mai / SWNS)
A Midland woman who packed on 10 stone due to a rare hormonal disorder has triumphed over the bulge without resorting to trendy medications like Ozempic, opting instead for a daily dose of pilates.
Hannah Mai, aged 37, from Coventry, found herself contending with Cushing’s disease after her weight ballooned by 10 stone in a mere two and a half years, hitting a peak of 20 stone 5lbs and a dress size of 26 by October 2020.
Only five months post-diagnosis, Hannah courageously faced brain surgery to excise a pituitary tumour that was to blame, subsequently managing her condition with steroid therapy.
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By April 2023, having been weaned off steroid treatment, Hannah bore an unwavering resolve to reverse the weight gain attributed to her illness.
Over two transformative years, Hannah embraced high-protein cuisine and a steadfast commitment to daily pilates sessions, resulting in a drop to a svelte 10 stone 4lbs and comfortably slipping into size 10 attire.
Hannah, presently without employment and hailing from Coventry, shared: “I think Ozempic is great for people who need it, and for medical reasons.”
She further reflected on her journey, emphasising self-belief and tenacity: “It is really helping some people, but I feel if you give yourself a chance, you can really push yourself.”
(Image: Hannah Mai / SWNS)
Speaking on her own success, she revealed: “Once I started losing the weight, I just kept going.”
Hannah expounded on the rigorous path to weight loss: “It isn’t easy, you really have to push yourself, and focus on who you want to be and think about who you want to be.”
Her battle with the bulge began six years ago, when a startling and rapid weight gain saw her shoot from a slender nine stone to 16 stone in just a few months.
Hannah detailed her frustrating medical journey, recounting how frequent doctor visits ended in questions about pregnancy or misguided suggestions that hormones were to blame for her weight gain.
(Image: Hannah Mai / SWNS)
She recalled: “I was always around nine stone, but I noticed how I started to gain a bit of weight.”
The uncertainty took its toll as Hannah knew something was amiss despite others speculating she had altered her diet or was indulging more, saying: “I knew there was something wrong with me, but people around me thought I had changed my diet and asked if I was eating more.”
The unwelcome queries persisted, with Hannah sharing: “I was asked if I was pregnant six times, and told that my weight gain could be caused by hormones.”
At her peak, she reached a distressing milestone, revealing: “I went up to 20 stone at my heaviest.”
It was a stark awakening one morning in October 2020, with her back alarmingly curved, that propelled Hannah to search online, leading to a potential explanation—Cushing’s disease—that resonated with her symptoms, including her unexplained weight gain.
(Image: Hannah Mai / SWNS)
Determined, Hannah went straight to her GP after her self-research: “I printed off the list of symptoms and took them to my doctor, who then referred me to the hospital.”
Her proactive approach led to further investigations at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire, where conclusive tests ensued, as she recounted: “There, I had an MRI scan and blood tests, which confirmed that I had Cushing’s disease.”
The diagnosis brought mixed emotions, with relief mingling with fear, as Hannah admitted: “I was relieved but scared when I got the diagnosis. I had been saying for years that there was something wrong with me.”
Following the diagnosis, Hannah underwent critical brain surgery in February 2021 to excise the pituitary tumour responsible for her condition, coupled with steroid treatment to manage her Cushing’s disease.
Hannah, after enduring two years on steroids to manage her health scare, was finally given the all-clear and resolved to shed the extra pounds.
Upon halting her steroid treatment, Hannah expressed an immediate sense of optimism: “It wasn’t easy to lose weight whilst I was still on steroids, as soon as I came off them, I knew this was my body and I was a lot better.”
She described her intense fitness and dietary regimen saying, “I really pushed myself, I worked super hard, cut out all sugar, cut out dairy, and gluten after I was diagnosed with celiac disease”.
Emphasising her new lifestyle, she added: “I have a low-carb, high-protein diet with lots of vegetables, and I do pilates every day.”
(Image: Hannah Mai / SWNS)
Over two years, Hannah’s efforts saw her weight plummet from a hefty 20 stone to a svelte 10 stone.
Celebrating her remarkable transformation, she went from a size 26 to a trim size 10, mirroring her pre-illness figure before being struck by Cushing’s disease.
Reflecting on her journey, Hannah shared: “I am super proud of myself, I am always worried that the weight will come back.”
Elated by her newfound wellbeing, she confessed: “I feel so much happier. When I look back at myself, I just can’t believe I was that size.”
The experience, although fraught with challenges, has left her grateful: “When I look back at old photos, I feel very sad about what happened to me, but it makes me think that I need to be proud about how far I have come.”
Hannah is channeling her gratitude into action by fundraising for The Pituitary Foundation.
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