From Bloating & “Don’t Eat That” Lists… to Food Freedom & Feeling Fabulous
Let’s talk about one of my favourite client transformations to date, I think this is something many of you will be able to relate to. This post is for anyone who has ever stared at their plate and thought, ‘Am I going to be able to eat this without it upsetting my stomach…??’
A few months ago, I had a lovely lady who came to see me. For the purpose of this blog post, we will call her X (for anonymity!). X arrived with a list…and I don’t mean a cute little shopping list. I mean a full-blown, A4-sized booklet of all the foods she’d been told not to eat by another practitioner. Gluten? Out. Dairy? Gone. Eggs, nightshades, legumes, happiness? All crossed out. No wonder she was anxious, confused, and completely fed up.
What were her symptoms?
X had been suffering with many severe gastrointestinal symptoms for years. We’re talking about daily bloating (the kind that makes you want to unbutton your jeans by 10am), painful cramping, irregular bowel movements, lethargy, and a general feeling that her body was just not functioning the way it is ‘supposed’ to. She was exhausted, uncomfortable, and frustrated. Food had become the enemy.
So… What Actually Was Going On?
Without throwing too much scientific jargon your way (I save that for GP reports and impressing family members), here’s what we discovered: X had high levels of systemic inflammation, likely driven by a sensitivity to gluten.
I want to say here, that gluten isn’t the villain for everyone, but in this case, her immune system was reacting like gluten had personally offended it. When someone is sensitive to gluten, the immune system can go into overdrive, creating inflammation not just in the gut but throughout the entire body. This can damage the gut lining, mess with digestion, and leave you bloated, foggy, and feeling generally miserable.
The Transformation
Together, we rebuilt her plate and most importantly, her confidence. We didn’t just remove gluten and hope for the best. We replenished her gut with foods that heal, restored her trust in her body, and gently reintroduced some of the foods she’d previously been told were off-limits. No food fear. No unnecessary restrictions. Just personalised, evidence-based support.
By week six, she’d:
- Lost 1 stone (without dieting—just by reducing inflammation and improving digestion)
- Completely eliminated the bloating and digestive discomfort
- Reported having more energy, a clearer mind, and finally feeling like herself again
- Told me she felt like “a new woman” (her words, not mine… though I 100% agree)
Food is Now Her Friend Again
The best part? X no longer fears food. No more panicking before meals. No more food anxiety. Just a lady who finally loves her food again!
It’s not just about removing foods, it’s about replacing fear with empowerment and confusion with clarity.
As always, if you have made it this far, thank you for reading this blog and I hope you found it interesting or helpful. If this sounds like you, please know that there’s another way. You don’t have to live with daily discomfort, food anxiety, or a spreadsheet of things you “can’t eat.” I’m here to help you get back to feeling good in your body, with science-backed nutrition that will leave you feeling empowered and in control of your body again.
