I knew I had to do something about my health, but I didn’t feel ready. Even with all the trips to the hospital, I couldn’t bring myself to commit to changing my life. It seemed so hard.

After I nearly lost my finger, I got the wake-up call I needed. Thankfully, my father-in-law is a GP and has gone low carb himself, so I knew I’d have the right support around me, which was the most important thing.

Life changed almost immediately after going low carb. I was sleeping through the night when usually I would wake multiple times. My reflux disappeared completely, my energy was amazing, I felt less bloated and my joints didn’t ache as much.

I also felt less grumpy and irritated, which was massive for me, as this was a huge source of my chronic depression. Once my blood sugars were under control, I found the mood swings stopped, and my depression is so much more manageable.

The thing I didn’t expect was how good the food would taste. Low carb food is actually so delicious, and I could still have all the things I love, I just have to find an alternate way of making them, like low carb brioche and focaccia.

What I’ve learned from the journey is it’s not always straightforward. It’s a struggle at times, but the benefits are so worth it. And if you fall off the wagon, don’t give up. Keep going and be kind to yourself. Be patient, changes don’t happen overnight.

But also, don’t do it alone. Have a support system and people you can talk to, like other people in your position who have had success, or your dietitian. These people will motivate you when you’re feeling down.

Low carb really has changed my life, even though it might have taken me a few tries to do it!