I was vegan for five years, originally for ethical reasons. Over time, my perspective shifted. I began to see my beliefs—and my own thought processes, differently, and I reached a point where my health had to come first. That didn’t mean I stopped caring about suffering; ideally, I’d still prefer to hunt my own food. But my body was asking for something different, and I decided to listen.

When I first started this way of eating, I didn’t track my weight. I’m 5’9” and have always carried my weight fairly well, so I didn’t think much of it. What I didn’t realise was how unhappy I actually was with my body until I took a “before” photo and sent it as part of the process. At that point, I weighed 11 stone 11. I wasn’t big, but I carried stomach fat. I wasn’t comfortable with, despite having been vegan for five years.

I began with Phase 1: removing processed foods, sugar, and certain vegetables. I moved into Phase 2 gradually, at my own pace, which is where I am now, primarily eating meat and dairy. I haven’t followed the plan perfectly, I haven’t done fasting, and I still drink coffee. Even so, six months later, I now weigh 10 stone 10. That’s a significant change for my height, and it’s very noticeable. My face is no longer puffy, my stomach fat has reduced drastically, and for the first time since my early 20s, I can see my stomach muscles again.

Given my medical history, this feels especially significant. I’ve lived with Crohn’s disease for many years and have been on a wide range of medications, including repeated courses of steroids. One major improvement I’ve noticed is that I no longer experience the stomach cramping I used to have. Alongside that, when I stay properly hydrated, my energy levels are far more stable. Bone broth, in particular, has been incredibly supportive for fatigue.

My sugar cravings have disappeared completely. I don’t snack throughout the day anymore. I feel satisfied and content, and when I’m hungry, I eat good quality, fatty meat. I’m no longer riding the highs and crashes I used to experience, I feel steady.

There have been other unexpected benefits, too. My hair and nails are stronger, and my mental clarity has improved dramatically. My anxiety is much calmer, and there’s a grounded sense of ease in my nervous system that’s hard to put into words. It feels like I’m sitting back and observing reality rather than being constantly pulled into the mess of it. That calm has made me a better parent, I’m less reactive, more present, and more regulated.

I haven’t come off my medication yet, but my intention is to reassess after a full year of eating this way. I believe healing isn’t just about food, it’s also about creating safety in the body. Nervous system regulation, trauma work, therapy, and education have all been essential alongside nutritional changes. One without the other doesn’t work.

I genuinely believe sugar and chronic stress play a major role in many modern health issues. While I don’t claim to have all the answers, I’ve come to see food, lifestyle, and long term stress as key environmental factors in anxiety, energy crashes, autoimmune disease, and overall wellbeing. How we eat, how we live, and who and what we allow access to us truly matter.

I’m incredibly grateful for the support, knowledge, and willingness to explore not just menopausal health but also autoimmune conditions. This journey has reminded me that healing isn’t about perfection, it’s about listening to the body and responding with care.

Thank you, Andrea, for listening to your calling and following it, to help so many people, by bringing us back to the wild way 
Xx