WHAT HAPPENED?
On my first appointment, I was given blood and urine tests and my body composition, blood pressure and blood-sugar levels were all measured.

My dietician, Stephanie Karl, said I would start the programme with a two-week detox so I could begin with a clean slate. For two weeks, I ate mainly fruit, vegetables and nuts, but there were a few days where I was allowed soup or bananas and yoghurt. I thought I was going to be weak and tired, but I felt better than I had in a long time.
After two weeks, the results of my tests were in and Stephanie and Sam designed my programme. My results showed I had some minor inflammation (basically bloating) and a metabolic imbalance that was negatively affecting my energy levels, my ability to cope with stress and my weight. They determined that my afternoon cravings weren’t due to a penchant for chocolates, but to flagging energy levels – my body wasn’t using energy for fuel, it was just storing it as fat. Specifically, it was not metabolising carbohydrates (oddly, complex carbs) the way it should (luckily, my body was great with fat and protein). The diet they gave me was designed to help correct this.
For the duration of the two-month programme, I ate lots of salad, fish, eggs, beans, chicken, beef, soups, nuts, vegetables, fruits and, yes, from time to time, even cake and falafel. They told me not to be too restrictive or too hard on myself if I slipped up. The idea is not to starve, or cut out your favourite foods, but rather to correct your metabolic imbalance with small changes to your diet. They also recommended vitamins to take daily.

I had a lot of autonomy over my food choices and this made it easier to maintain, even after the programme ended. The approach helped me form new healthier habits. I went for a weekly weigh-in and chat with Stephanie. She was very encouraging and talked me through the changes my body was making... beyond just looser fitting jeans.

By Anna AbouZid, Aquarius magazine

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