Heather Gay reveals her cosmetic work done by the numbers: GLP-1s, Atkins & $200K spent
Heather Gay is done gatekeeping. The “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star is opening up about her dramatic physical transformation — from GLP-1 medications and Atkins nutrition to the estimated $200,000 she’s spent on cosmetic work over the past three decades.
The 51-year-old reality TV favorite, who has appeared on Bravo’s “RHOSLC” since its 2020 debut, reflected on the intense scrutiny she faced from the moment she joined the franchise, and how it shaped her relationship with her body.
“When I first came on the show, I knew people were going to comment on my weight, like they’d been commenting on my weight my whole life,” Gay told entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno. “Everyone was like, ‘Lose weight before you go on the show.’ And I was thinking, ‘Honey, if I could lose weight, I would’ve done it 20 years ago.’”
Gay said she spent years embracing self-love publicly while privately feeling frustrated by her inability to manage her weight, despite relentless effort. That changed when she incorporated GLP-1 medications into her wellness routine, something she initially doubted would work.
“I thought it would be the same song and dance a promise wrapped in science,” she admitted. “I was as shocked as anybody that it worked.”
She credits pairing GLP-1s with Atkins products for helping her achieve her goals without sacrificing her sense of self. “I’d rather be heavier and keep my personality,” Gay said. “But this allowed me to have the body I wanted without changing who I was.”
Along the way, Gay has also been candid about the money she spent trying to “fix” her appearance long before the weight loss. She estimates she has spent roughly $200,000 on cosmetic procedures and upkeep since age 18, including laser hair removal, Botox, fillers, facials, hair extensions, nails, and plastic surgery — most of it before she lost weight.
“The most shocking thing is that losing weight transformed my appearance more than any med spa treatment or surgery ever did,” she said. Her biggest regret? A tummy tuck she had before her weight loss. “If I’d had these tools before, I probably could’ve avoided a lot of surgeries.”
Now an empty nester and founder of Beauty Lab, Gay prioritizes convenience and protein to stay on track. Her go-to staples include Atkins milk chocolate protein shakes and protein bars she can toss in her purse between meetings.
“I’m going to be loud about it,” she said. “I'm going to not gatekeep what's going on. And if that, you know, works for some people, then that's the only people that matter to me.”
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