16/10/2026
🩷🌸 MY STORY – 15 YEARS OF PAIN, 38 KILOS GAINED, 36 KILOS LOST & FINALLY FINDING MYSELF AGAIN 🌸🩷
This is probably one of the most personal things I’ve ever shared, but if my story helps just ONE person, then it’s worth telling. 💕
People see my photos today and see the weight I’ve lost, but what they don’t see is everything I’ve been through to get here.
They don’t see the years of pain, the tears, the depression, the anxiety, the medication, the sleepless nights or the times I felt like I’d completely lost myself.
This isn’t just a story about losing weight.
This is a story about losing myself for more than 15 years and finally finding the strength to start getting ME back. 🩷
🌸 2010 – THE DAY MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER
In 2010, the day before giving birth, I was involved in an accident in a shopping centre that changed my life forever.
I suffered serious back injuries and nerve damage in my right leg.
One day I was preparing to welcome my beautiful baby into the world, and the next I was facing a future filled with chronic pain, medical appointments, medication and physical limitations.
I had no idea how much that accident would change my life.
Over the years, I developed further health problems, including arthritis and a frozen shoulder.
Things that most people take for granted became difficult.
Some days, just getting out of bed and making it through the day was an achievement.
But life doesn’t stop because you’re in pain.
I was still a mum, a wife and someone with responsibilities and people depending on me.
So I kept going, even when I was struggling.
💔 2013 – WHEN THE PAIN FINALLY BROKE ME
In July 2013, I suffered a nervous breakdown.
For years, I’d been trying to cope with relentless pain.
Because I was breastfeeding, I wasn’t able to take the pain relief I needed at the time, and I struggled through an enormous amount of pain. 🥲💔
Eventually, it all became too much.
My mental health deteriorated, and I found myself battling depression, anxiety and panic attacks on top of my physical injuries.
At one stage, I was taking approximately 26 TABLETS EVERY SINGLE DAY, along with morphine patches to help manage my pain.
My short-term memory was affected.
My confidence disappeared.
And somewhere along the way, I stopped recognising the person looking back at me in the mirror.
Then came the weight gain.
38 KILOGRAMS IN JUST SIX MONTHS!
Can you imagine what that does to someone who is already struggling physically and emotionally?
I didn’t just gain weight.
I lost my confidence, my independence in so many areas of my life, and a huge part of who I used to be.
There were things I desperately wanted to do with my family, but my body simply wouldn’t allow me.
And while I tried to put on a brave face, inside I was struggling more than most people ever realised.
People can be so quick to judge someone who has gained weight.
But they don’t see the medications, the injuries, the illnesses, the depression or the battles being fought behind closed doors.
I DIDN’T CHOOSE CHRONIC PAIN.
I DIDN’T CHOOSE TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
AND I CERTAINLY DIDN’T CHOOSE TO LOSE THE PERSON I ONCE WAS.
But deep down, there was still a part of me that refused to give up.
🩷 JANUARY 2025 – I DECIDED SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE
My beautiful daughter Taylor was getting married in Bali in October 2025.
I wanted to feel confident standing beside her on one of the most important days of her life.
But more importantly, after years of putting everyone else first, I wanted to do something for MYSELF.
For so long, my life had revolved around pain, medication, doctors, hospitals and looking after other people.
Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten about looking after Nicole.
So I made a decision.
I WAS GOING TO TRY TO TAKE MY LIFE BACK, ONE DAY AT A TIME.
I began using Mounjaro, a prescription medication used for diabetes and weight management.
It was costing me more than $500 EVERY MONTH!
That’s an enormous amount of money, especially when you’re living with disabilities and ongoing medical expenses.
But I was determined to give myself a chance.
Over approximately 10 months, I lost around 16 KILOGRAMS! 🎉
By the time Taylor walked down the aisle in Bali in October 2025, I felt so proud of how far I’d come.
Not just because of the weight I’d lost, but because I’d finally started doing something for ME.
Unfortunately, at more than $500 a month, I simply couldn’t afford to continue with Mounjaro.
And that was heartbreaking because I didn’t want to lose the progress I’d worked so hard to achieve.
But I wasn’t ready to give up.
🌺 JANUARY 2026 – A NEW CHAPTER WITH PEPTIDES
In January 2026, I began another chapter of my journey. I needed to lose more additional weight as my arthritis and nerve damage had increased and the less I weighed the less I put my body on.
PEPTIDES.
Now, before I go any further, I know peptides can be a controversial subject.
Some people support their use, others strongly disagree, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.
But this is MY personal story, MY body and MY experience.
I’m sharing this because I want to be open about my journey, not because I’m asking anyone else to make the same choices.
So please, if you don’t agree with my decisions, that’s absolutely fine. But I ask that you respect my experience and refrain from nasty or judgmental comments. 🩷
There has been a lot of discussion about peptides over the years, including their use in gyms, research and medicine.
We’ve all seen how divided people can become over medical decisions, including during COVID-19.
But I believe it’s important to distinguish between approved medications and experimental substances, because their evidence and safety profiles aren’t necessarily the same.
During my journey, I began exploring peptides, including retatrutide, commonly called RETA and KLOW
And for me personally, I began noticing changes that went beyond the number on the scales.
Yes, I was losing more weight.
But I also felt that some of my chronic back pain, nerve pain and frozen shoulder symptoms were becoming a little more manageable.
My mood seemed better.
I felt more motivated.
I started feeling more positive about life.
And after years of battling depression, anxiety and chronic pain, those changes meant an enormous amount to me.
One of my biggest personal milestones was reducing my Endep medication from 140 mg to 70 mg nightly over time.
That was something I was incredibly proud of.
Of course, I cannot say that peptides alone caused these improvements. My weight, lifestyle, medications and other circumstances were changing too.
And I want to be clear that retatrutide and KLOW are still investigational, isn’t TGA-approved in Australia and has potential risks, including unknown long-term effects.
I’m not telling anyone to use it.
I’m not claiming it’s a miracle cure.
I’M SIMPLY SHARING MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND HOW I HAVE FELT THROUGHOUT MY JOURNEY.
After spending so many years feeling as though my body was working against me, experiencing even small improvements in my quality of life felt enormous.
💕 36 KILOGRAMS LOST – BUT I’VE GAINED SO MUCH MORE
Today, at 55 years old, I’ve lost approximately…
🎉 36 KILOGRAMS! 🎉
When I think about the fact that I gained 38 kilograms in just six months all those years ago, it’s incredibly emotional to realise how far I’ve come.
But here’s what I want people to understand.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE HASN’T BEEN ON THE SCALES.
It’s been within ME.
I’ve started finding confidence I thought was gone forever.
I’ve started feeling proud of myself again.
I’ve learned that even with disabilities, chronic pain and physical limitations, I can still make positive changes.
I still have bad days.
I still experience pain.
There are still things my body simply won’t allow me to do.
And losing weight certainly hasn’t cured my disabilities.
But I finally feel like I’m taking back some control over my life.
And after everything I’ve been through, that feeling is absolutely priceless.
🍫 AND YES, I STILL EAT CHOCOLATE!
One thing I refuse to do is spend the rest of my life feeling guilty about every mouthful of food.
I LOVE my chocolate! 🍫😂
I still enjoy lollies, treats, going out for meals and having something naughty occasionally.
Because life is meant to be enjoyed.
I’ve learned about portion sizes, protein, hydration and making better food choices.
I’ve learned that one treat doesn’t undo all your hard work.
And I’ve learned that consistency is far more important than perfection.
THIS ISN’T ABOUT STARVING YOURSELF.
THIS ISN’T ABOUT NEVER EATING CHOCOLATE AGAIN.
AND THIS CERTAINLY ISN’T ABOUT BEING PERFECT.
It’s about finding a balance that works for YOU.
I didn’t want another temporary diet.
I WANTED A LIFESTYLE I COULD MAINTAIN FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
🌸 WHY I CREATED “YOU DO YOU – BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF YOU”
After everything I’ve been through, I started thinking about how many other people might be feeling the way I once did.
How many women have completely lost their confidence?
How many people struggle with weight because of illness, injury, medication menopause or mental health?
How many people feel embarrassed about their bodies?
How many people are physically unable to exercise but desperately want to make changes?
And how many people spend their lives looking after everyone else while forgetting about themselves?
I KNOW THAT FEELING BECAUSE I’VE LIVED IT.
And that’s why I created my 16-week lifestyle support program.
🩷 YOU DO YOU – BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF YOU. 🩷
I wanted to create something personal.
Something where people feel supported, encouraged and understood rather than judged.
My focus is on one-on-one encouragement, accountability, sharing what I’ve learned and helping people develop healthier everyday habits.
I’m not a doctor, dietitian or medical professional.
I don’t prescribe or supply peptides as part of my program.
What I can offer is my personal experience, understanding, encouragement and support.
Because I know how overwhelming it can feel when you don’t know where to begin.
And I know how important it is to have someone who genuinely understands what you’re going through.
Not everyone can go to the gym.
Not everyone can walk kilometres every day.
Not everyone has perfect health.
And not everyone will achieve the same results.
YOUR JOURNEY DOESN’T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE ANYONE ELSE’S.
That’s why I called it YOU DO YOU.
💗 TO ANYONE WHO FEELS LIKE THEY’VE LOST THEMSELVES…
I want you to know something.
I understand what it’s like to feel defeated.
I understand what it’s like to look in the mirror and wish you could see the person you used to be.
I understand what it’s like to live with pain that other people cannot see.
I understand what it’s like to struggle with your mental health while trying to appear strong for everyone around you.
And I understand how hard it can be to put yourself first when you’ve spent years looking after everybody else.
But please don’t give up on yourself.
I’m 55 years old.
I’ve lived with chronic pain for more than 15 years.
I’ve battled depression, anxiety, panic attacks, physical disabilities and enormous changes to my body.
I’ve gained 38 kilograms in six months.
And today, I’ve lost 36 KILOGRAMS.
If someone had told me years ago that I’d be sharing my story publicly and creating something to encourage others, I probably wouldn’t have believed them.
But here I am.
Still learning.
Still dealing with challenges.
Still making mistakes.
Still enjoying my chocolate! 🍫😂
And most importantly…
STILL MOVING FORWARD.
🌺 THIS ISN’T JUST A WEIGHT-LOSS STORY
It’s a story about resilience.
It’s about surviving some of the hardest years of my life.
It’s about learning to respect and love myself again.
It’s about realising that living with a disability doesn’t mean I have to stop setting goals for myself.
And it’s about finally understanding that after years of looking after everyone else…
I DESERVE TO LOOK AFTER ME, TOO.
I’m incredibly proud of the 36 kilograms I’ve lost.
But do you know what I’m even prouder of?
THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP, EVEN WHEN LIFE KNOCKED HER DOWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I may never have the body I had before my accident.
I may always live with chronic pain and physical limitations.
But I’m learning to love the woman I am today.
Not because she’s thinner.
But because she’s stronger in ways that can’t be measured on a set of scales. 🩷
If sharing my story gives just ONE person the courage to start believing in themselves again, then opening up about something so personal has been worth it.
To everyone who has supported me, encouraged me and believed in me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
And to anyone who feels like they’ve lost themselves along the way, please remember…
🌸 YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO MAKE A CHANGE.
🌸 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.
🌸 YOU DON’T HAVE TO COMPARE YOURSELF TO ANYONE ELSE.
🌸 YOU DESERVE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.
🌸 AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU ARE WORTH THE EFFORT.
I LOST 36 KILOGRAMS, BUT WHAT I’VE GAINED IN CONFIDENCE, HOPE AND SELF-BELIEF MEANS SO MUCH MORE.
🩷🌸 YOU DO YOU – BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF YOU! 🌸🩷
With love,
Nicole 💕🌸🥰🙏🏻
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience, not medical advice. I am not a doctor, dietitian or qualified healthcare professional. Retatrutide remains an investigational peptide and is not TGA-approved in Australia. Its safety, particularly with long-term use, is not fully established. Anyone considering weight-loss medication or changes to prescribed medication should consult a qualified healthcare professional.
© 2026 Nicole Murko. All Rights Reserved.
