From Shame to Strength – What My 9 Week GLP-1 Journey Taught Me About Body Recomposition
Updated: Jun 25
Written by Zeljka Cacic-Escalera, Transformation Coach
Zeljka is a transformation coach and founder of Day One with Zeljka. She coaches ambitious women through personal and professional change using mindset work, self-leadership, and the body-mind connection. Her mission is to help you take your power back and create a life that finally feels like yours.
Have you ever felt like you were doing everything right and still not getting the results you hoped for? For many people, weight loss is not just about discipline. It is a deeply emotional journey shaped by experiences, beliefs, and biology. For most of my life, I believed that if I just tried harder, I would finally succeed. Today, nine weeks into my GLP-1 journey, I see things very differently.
Where the story really began
My journey with dieting started at the age of 13. I have a twin sister who was always naturally slim, and people often pointed out the difference between us.
“How can it be that one twin is so slim and the other one bigger?”
At that age, I was completely normal. But comparison created something much heavier than weight. It created shame. That shame slowly turned into emotional eating, and emotional eating turned into a cycle that would follow me for decades. “What starts as comparison can quietly turn into a lifelong battle with yourself.”
The cycle of losing and regaining
At 13, I went on my first diet. I limited myself to 1,000 calories a day for 12 weeks and lost around 12 kilograms. I remember the feeling of control and success. But the moment I returned to eating more, the weight came back quickly.
This became my pattern. I would lose weight, regain it, feel frustrated, and start again. Over time, the gap between effort and results became harder to carry. By my early forties, I had reached a point where I believed this was simply my reality.
My honest thoughts about GLP-1 in the beginning
When I first heard about GLP-1 medications years ago, my reaction was not curiosity. It was judgment. I believed that people who used it lacked discipline. I thought they were taking the easy way out.
Looking back, I can see that this belief was shaped by my own experiences. I had spent nearly 30 years relying on willpower, so I assumed that was the only valid path. What I did not understand at the time was that weight regulation is not just about behavior. It is influenced by hormones, environment, stress, and life circumstances.
When life becomes overwhelming
The decade before I turned 40 was filled with major life challenges. I went through marriage and divorce, spent years in a toxic relationship, and moved across countries multiple times. From the outside, I was successful in my career. Internally, I was overwhelmed. Food and alcohol became a constant source of comfort. They were predictable in a life that often felt unstable.
Later, I met my now husband and moved from Austria to Colorado. It felt like a new beginning. But less than a year later, my mother became seriously ill, and we returned to Germany to take care of her.
I came back to a place I had already outgrown. I was there out of love, but emotionally, I felt broken. Once again, I turned to what had always helped me cope.
“We often judge behaviors without understanding the pain they are trying to soothe.”
A shift from judgment to curiosity
After my mother recovered, my husband and I moved to Bavaria to build a new chapter of our lives. It was there that something changed. Instead of rejecting GLP-1, I began to study it. I wanted to understand how it works and why it helps so many people.
For the first time, I allowed myself to look at this topic without judgment. That shift from judgment to curiosity changed everything.
My GLP-1 journey so far
Today, I am nine weeks into my GLP-1 journey, and the results reflect more than just weight loss. My total weight loss is 7 kilograms, while my fat loss is 8.5 kilograms. At the same time, I have gained 1 kilogram of muscle and reduced my body fat percentage by 5.8 points. This is what is known as body recomposition. It means losing fat while maintaining or even building muscle mass.
“This is not about becoming lighter. It is about becoming stronger and more aligned.”
GLP-1 is a tool, not a shortcut
It is important for me to say this clearly. GLP-1 is not magic, and it is not a shortcut. I am still doing the work. I prioritize protein, train four times per week, and support my body with the right supplements.
The difference is that, for the first time, my body feels supported rather than resistant. The constant food noise has quieted, and the internal struggle has softened.
“When your biology supports your efforts, everything changes.”
What this means for my coaching
As a transformation coach and the founder of dayonewithzeljka, this journey has deepened my understanding of what true transformation requires. I do not only teach strategies. I understand the emotional patterns, the setbacks, and the frustration that so many people experience.
Now, I also understand how to combine mindset, structure, and tools like GLP-1 into a sustainable approach. This is why I have expanded my work to include GLP-1 coaching. I support clients who are curious about this path and want to integrate it in a responsible and effective way.
You do not have to do this alone
If you have been struggling for years, if you feel stuck despite your efforts, or if you are simply curious about a different approach, there is another way forward. You do not have to rely on willpower alone.
Final thoughts
Transformation is not about forcing yourself into a smaller version of who you are. It is about creating alignment between your body, your mind, and your life.
If you feel ready to explore your next step and would like guidance on your journey, I invite you to book a discovery call. It would be an honor to support you.
Read more from Zeljka Cacic-Escalera
Zeljka Cacic-Escalera, Transformation Coach
Zeljka is a transformation coach and founder of Day One with Zeljka, with a professional background in international corporate and consulting environments. Years of working in high-performance, results-driven settings shaped her deep understanding of pressure, self-doubt, and identity loss behind outward success. Today, she bridges business acumen with mindset work, self-leadership, and the body-mind connection to support ambitious women through meaningful change. Her mission is to help you take your power back and create a life that finally feels like yours.
