An Arizona mom who lost 180lsb with Mounjaro says her extreme transformation has left her husband "jealous" as she "puts herself out there more"."

Samantha Thurber, 36, weighed 325lbs at her heaviest and started the weight loss jabs to cut out "food noise" helping her to reach 150lbs in just under three years."

Now a size four to six, it's given the mom-of-two a new found confidence and she now socialises more and has a stricter routine.

Despite being supportive of her transformation, husband, Dave, 42, admits he feels occasional envy over the new social opportunities she's embraced.

Dave, a gas company dispatcher, said: "[I'm not jealous] regarding her weight but more so because she has lost the weight she puts herself out there more and has made a lot more friends with more opportunities to do things."

"So I'm jealous she has more free time to go do those kinds of things than I do."

"It's changed our lives," he added, noting, "which in turn made life better for our entire family."

Thurber says her husband feels "very stagnant" in the way he looks, and added: "It created this kind of need to want to better himself as well."

"And we're kind of navigating through those stages, but I think it's really easy to watch someone go through a big change and feel self-conscious about it."

Thurber who has daughter, seven and son, four, struggled with her weight after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her second pregnancy.

She said: "I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy with my son, and I was heavily insulin dependent during that pregnancy," she said."

Before her transformation, Thurber relied on convenience food and "unhealthy habits of not eating all day and then binging a huge amount on a big meal at dinner," she said."

She reached 325lbs and a size 22 to 24 in December 2021 and decided to try the jabs - she found they cut out "food noise" and helped her make better nutritional choices. "

Now, she follows a protein-focused diet, starting her mornings with "a protein coffee instead of going to Starbucks" by making "espresso at home and mixing it into a protein shake."

By August 2024, she had reached her goal weight of 145 lbs, though she currently maintains around 150.

Thurber says that while GLP-1s can be powerful, maintaining results requires significant mental effort, lifestyle changes, and conscious effort in relationships.

"It's kind of created insecurities in my husband as I've really worked on myself and my physical wellbeing," Thurber said, noting she's "come out of it a different person" than when she met Dave 14 years ago."

"I don't know anybody that has gone through an extreme life-changing event such as weight loss and hasn't had a personality shift in there," she said, noting she's gained more confidence."

She added that her husband's inability to relate to her weight struggles — he had never faced them — was a challenge.

"I have a much more strict routine, and I think having to adjust that in terms of family life has been a bit of a challenge," she said, referencing her gym schedule, dietary changes, and other lifestyle adjustments."

Dave said: "Our relationship is stronger than that and definitely not rooted in physical appearance."

Her husband has been supportive, though she stresses how extreme weight loss can strain relationships.

"The divorce rate is very, very high in these extreme weight loss stories," she said."

"You have to change so many things mentally and physically that I think people probably grow apart a little from their partners."

Thurber says she's now in "the best shape of my life."

Her transformation has dramatically improved her life as a mother.

"We just went to Disneyland a couple of months ago," she said. "I can do the 25,000 steps a day and not be stressed about fitting on the rides with my kids. "

"You don't realize how much your physical state affects your day-to-day life until that's no longer a factor."

Thurber also underwent loose skin removal surgery in April, describing the procedure as "life-changing" despite removing eight pounds of excess skin."

Thurber advocates for GLP-1 medications while emphasizing the mental component.

"GLP-1s get a lot of bad press, but they can be a really great tool to change your life."

"You really have to focus on the mental side of managing everything in terms of being committed to the changes to see it through."

Meals before weight loss

Breakfast:

Was not a big breakfast eater

Relied heavily on sugary Starbucks drinks instead of actual food

Lunch and Dinner:

A lot of convenience foods

Frequently went out to dinner at restaurants

Had unhealthy eating patterns where she "didn't eat all day and then binged a huge amount on a big meal at dinner"

Late-night snacking from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM after the kids went to bed

Meals after weight loss:

Breakfast

Drinks a protein coffee made with home espresso and protein shake
Eats protein yogurt and other protein-rich foods

Lunch and Dinner

Focuses on protein-heavy meals, including shrimp

Uses protein bars and powders to supplement since she eats little meat

Minimizes fried foods