- Age: 34
- From: Leeds, UK
- Occupation: Writer/editor
- Goal: “Recovering my health”
- Lost: 11lbs in six weeks
I first met Carly in 2015 after watching Unsupersize Me and doing an interview with him for an article I was writing for a food website. My curiosity didn’t stop after the article, however, and after watching the film I began researching whole food plant-based and vegan diets and wondering if this was what I might be missing in terms of my own health. Before Unsupersize Us, I’d been suffering for several years with multiple health problems, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease. In 2014, I was diagnosed with post-viral fatigue after a series of illnesses due to the impact of immune-suppressing medications such as prednisone, which affected my ability to be active. I also had long-term issues with depression and anxiety, for which I took the antidepressant Lexapro (Cipralex). I’m a food writer, so I loved learning new ways to cook and develop recipes, which eventually led to working on the upcoming Eating the Unsupersize Me Way cookbook. Exercise wasn’t as easy, especially running, which I dreaded at first, but now I run most days and I’ve signed up for the Leeds 10k. Although weight loss wasn’t my primary goal, losing the weight I gained when I was ill has made me happier and more confident. I lost 11lb and 25mm in body fat on the program and went on to lose a few pounds more in the month after. I now lives an active lifestyle, including climbing, mountain biking and hiking, some of the activities I enjoyed before I became ill. Best of all, I’m now medication free, including getting off the Lexapro – running and exercise is how I manage my mental health now. Although I was pushed out of her comfort zone many times during Unsupersize Us, I learned that I’m capable of more than I thought and I’m now less anxious about taking on new challenges. The benefits for me have mainly been mental and emotional - everything I did during that time showed me that it was possible to change my life for the better and I’m grateful to Carly for always pushing me to go that little bit further.