For Heather Gay, Keeping Quiet About Her Weight Was Never On The Table

Heather Gay is not the type to turn down a good reinvention storyline. The reality star, businesswoman, and mother of three has lived through her fair share of eras, and has shed almost as many versions of herself in the process. If we’re keeping track, there’s: the “good time girl” turning heads at a conservative university, the pious Mormon wife who fit the mold with a smile, and eventually, the outspoken powerhouse who swore off shame and started living life out loud. It’s that version of herself — bold, confident, and unapologetically honest — that elevated her to true icon status.

The latest in a long list of touchy subjects Gay refuses to keep quiet about? Her recent weight loss. Her refreshed appearance has garnered inquiries (and opinions) from viewers, bloggers, and paparazzi alike. As the co-founder of Beauty Lab + Laser medspa (home to Salt Lake City’s most iconic parking lot — real fans know the lore), Gay’s entire business ethos is built on the idea that the pursuit of self-improvement is nothing to be ashamed of. And the same goes for her personal life: She’s known for her radical honesty about everything from surgical tweaks to how GLP-1s factor into her lifestyle. Gay even recently sat down with Bustle to itemize (literally) every nip, tuck, and treatment she’s done on the road to becoming who she is today.

On a blistery morning in Brooklyn a week before Christmas, Bustle joined Gay in partnership with Atkins — the trusted brand that’s committed to making their scientifically proven approach to weight loss easily accessible. Our conversation went deep about the star’s bare-it-all approach to wellness, how she weathers public discourse on her appearance, and the difference that Atkins can make when you’re determined to take back control of your health.

Every journey is different, but the first step to success is finding the right products to support you along the way. For Gay, that looks like Atkins grab-and-go bars and ready-to-drink shakes, high in protein and fiber to help drive weight loss while fitting seamlessly into her GLP-1 routine. Keep reading to learn about the health insights and reflections she’s taking with her into a brand new year — and what she’s more than happy to leave in the past.

When it comes to your health journey, you’re one of the most candid public figures in the game. What inspired this choice to live out loud?

I’ve always been an open person, and my weight has been something that I’ve struggled with for most of my adult life so it feels natural to talk about it and share what has worked for me and what hasn’t.

What kind of feedback have you gotten from fans since sharing your story so openly?

The love and support from the fans has been incredible. It feels so good to make changes for yourself and it feels even better to be cheered on by the people that have watched you along the way.

Empowerment is hard enough to achieve for the average person. How do you manage to maintain a positive self-image despite the pressures of your industry?

You don’t sign up for reality TV without having a delusional level of confidence that transcends everyone else’s opinion of you. I’ve always felt confident in who I am and the things that I’m accomplishing which makes it easier to ignore the criticism and trolling.

Can you share a little bit about your experience incorporating a GLP-1 into your routine?

When I started a GLP-1, I felt like I had control of my weight and my health and my body for the first time. I had felt powerless against the endless cycle of losing and gaining and I had learned to live with it and just accept it. When I began losing weight with GLP-1s, I was shocked that it actually worked and that it was possible to feel empowered when it came to my health.

Being on a GLP-1 is about so much more than just a daily or weekly injection — what day-to-day changes help you get the most out of your dose?

Finding GLP-1-friendly foods high in protein and fiber has become essential. Atkins shakes and bars are the perfect things for me to grab on the go to make sure I’m giving my body what it needs.

We’ve all witnessed the rollercoaster of diet culture through the years. What outdated rules, mindsets, and mentalities are you happy to leave in the rear-view mirror?

Lemon water, syrup, and cayenne pepper juice cleanses. Measuring tapes and weight charts. Thinking that it’s all about willpower. Thinking that it’s our fault.

How do you stay on track with your health journey when life gets crazy? Give us the receipts, proof, timeline, etc. of a typical day of eating well and staying active.

Easy-to-grab Atkins shakes are a great way for me to start out my morning — I typically wake up hungry and love to have something immediate and delicious to start my day. I recently started doing yoga and I'm loving it. I try to stay active and make sure I'm getting my body moving every day even if it's just speed walking when I'm shopping at the mall. Focusing on my nutrition and protein and fiber has helped me lose weight and keep my shape.