Caroline Stanbury, 48, Used This Weight Loss Drug After 'Midlife Crisis' And IVF
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Caroline Stanbury has made a name for herself as a hard-working businesswoman on The Real Housewives of Dubai and Ladies of London. But recently, the 48-year-old has been getting a lot of attention for her recent weight loss—and now, she’s revealing the secrets behind her transformation.
After undergoing two rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the hopes of welcoming a fourth child, Caroline felt quite “sluggish,” “grumpy,” and “lethargic.”
“I put on 18 pounds,” she exclusively tells Women’s Health. “I had cellulite in places I didn’t even know was possible.”
So, the London native began taking weight loss medication Mounjaro, which she ultimately remained on for three months. Her goal was to fit back into the jeans she was wearing when she met husband Sergio Carrallo—an objective she quickly achieved.
“I’m so much more alive and alert,” she says. “This really feels like the new Caroline, and like I’m just getting started.”
This isn’t the first time Caroline has spoken up about using a weight loss drug. In September 2023, she first told listeners of her podcast, Uncut & Uncensored With Caroline Stanbury, that she went on Mounjaro after her IVF treatments caused her to gain weight.
During a May 22 episode of her podcast, Caroline shared that she used type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro to shed pounds amid a "midlife crisis" and IVF treatments.
"After 40, we all know, it’s very, very hard to lose weight. But I met so many 40-year-old women going, 'How have you done it?'" she said. "I don’t want to lie to you."
But that isn’t the only reason why Caroline has been feeling her best lately. Here’s everything to know about her health journey, from her Pilates routine to her journey with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Caroline Stanbury lost 18 pounds with Mounjaro.
Although her energy levels had shifted during IVF, Caroline tells Women’s Health that she didn’t realize she’d put on weight until she saw herself in a series of unflattering paparazzi photos.
“I turned to Sergio, and I’m like, ‘Why wouldn’t you tell me?’ and he’s like, ‘I genuinely didn’t notice!’” she says.
So Caroline started taking Mounjaro, which she continued for three months. She began eating smaller portions, ultimately getting to her goal of 18 pounds lighter.
Currently, she’s not taking Mounjaro, but she may use it again if she wants to maintain her weight loss. “If my appetite came back like crazy again,” she says.
Caroline has been public about she and Sergio’s journey to have a child together, including the fact that they have only have one egg from their two rounds of egg retrieval. Sergio wants her to do a third round, but she isn’t so sure—especially considering the side effects on her body. “It actually worries me, because it’s taken me so long to get back and feel good about myself again,” she says.
But she wanted to be transparent with her decision to use Mounjaro so her followers have accurate information.
“I find it ridiculous that you can be one size one day, and another size the other day and just say it's down to exercise. You're sending the wrong message,” she says. “I'm saying this is what worked for me, and I'm happy in my skin.”
She began hormone replacement therapy.
Getting back to her old weight isn’t the only reason why Caroline has been feeling better than ever. After consulting with a doctor in Los Angeles, she began hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to raise her testosterone levels.
“It increased my sex drive, my energy,” she says. “There’s a huge shift in your hormones in women who are 40-plus. You hate yourself. You don’t feel as good. You lose your hair. These are things that women don’t even know you can reverse.”
Now, Caroline says her energy levels are “amazing” and her hair is growing again, thanks to her increased testosterone levels.
“There is no reason to be tired,” she adds. “There's no reason to be lethargic. There's no reason that you can't keep up with life and have a very, very full life in your 40s.”
Usually taken as a pill, HRT replaces some of the hormones no longer made by your ovaries with artificial estrogen and progesterone, according to the Office on Women's Health.
It reduces menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, and vaginal dryness, but does come with an increased risk of stroke and blood clots in the legs and lungs. The FDA advises women who want to try menopausal hormone therapy to use the lowest dose that works for the shortest time needed.
She started intermittent fasting.
While she was on Mounjaro, Caroline began practicing intermittent fasting. She doesn’t eat until around noon—only having a coffee or a smoothie in the morning—then has a more carb-heavy lunch and a “lighter” dinner.
And during the meals, she eats whatever she likes, just having smaller portion sizes than she used to.
“I eat everything, but in moderation. For me, that works,” she says. “I don’t cut things out, because then I think you miss the joy of life, if you’re always scared of food.”
If Caroline has a “crappy” day, then the next, she tries to get back on track. “I have kids. I don’t want them to be scared of food,” she says.
To feed her family—which includes kids Yasmine, 18, and Zack and Aaron, 14, from her previous marriage—Caroline prefers to buy grass-fed meat and organic vegetables. But she doesn’t “stop them from eating anything,” including sugar.
She walks and does Pilates.
Every morning, Caroline says she and Sergio share a walk together around their Dubai neighborhood. She also does Pilates twice a week and occasionally uses arm weights.
“I really don’t need a lot,” she says.
She had plastic surgery to address Mounjaro's 'toll' on her face.
During a May 2024 podcast, Caroline also shared that she had her cheeks "rebuilt" to combat the effects of Ozempic face. (In case you’re not familiar with it, "Ozempic face" is a term referring to a patient's gaunt look after taking the medication.)
"It takes a toll on your body and on your face," she said. "And so you lose the youthfulness of a full cheek." Caroline said that her doctor "has built my cheeks up."
Sergio loves the look, too, telling his wife on the pod: "I look at you from here and I see this shiny little mountain under your eyes and it's like a cheek just built up, and it's so beautiful."
She’s putting herself first.
Caroline has a new mantra: “Selfish is the new black.”
“I really do believe that people who prioritize themselves are better parents, better wives,” she says. “If you feel good about yourself, you can perform at work and be happy at home.”
Last year, she underwent a face lift. (She’s super happy with it.) Now, her self-care routine involves opening her window first thing when she wakes up and listening to the running water. “It changes my whole day before it’s even started,” she says.
She’s also a fan of getting an afternoon nap in—even if she doesn’t sleep. If she’s not tired, she’ll watch television or just take a quiet moment to herself.
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