I spent years caught in a cycle of yo-yo dieting while living life at 100 miles an hour. In my 20s and 30s, working in high-pressure roles in London and Sydney, my days revolved around takeaways, eating out, and convenience foods and social drinking. Long hours and constant demands had me reaching for sugary snacks to keep going, only to fuel my cravings even more. Though I stayed fairly active, walking, running and attending weekly gym classes, my eating habits which included a reliance on sugar,  felt completely normal to me at the time. However, my energy levels and weight fluctuated constantly, and I didn’t realise how much my lifestyle was impacting my overall health.

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By my late 20s, I had experienced Shingles and Pneumonia but even these pretty serious set-backs didn't influence how I was continuing to live my life. In my late 30s I found out I had Lyme Disease and later into my 40s experienced emotional trauma and unexpected loss. I then discovered I had Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune thyroid condition. Two years ago, on the cusp of perimenopause and at my heaviest weight, I decided I had to make some changes. I realised I needed more than just another diet or fitness plan and had to stop relying on sugary snacks to get me through the days. I began focusing on implementing meaningful changes -  understanding what foods truly nourished me, discovering the right type of exercise for my body, learning how to balance my blood sugar levels to curb cravings, prioritising self-care and also addressing my emotional health.