Testimonials

I’ve always been physically active - up until my early 40's. After injuring my knee, everything changed. My favourite sport involved a lot of running and jumping, so the injury was incredibly frustrating. I followed two physiotherapists' advice: ice, rest, etc. I was reassured I’d be able to get back to exercising eventually, but every time I tried, I paid for it in pain for days afterward. Eventually, I had to stop playing. Other activities became painful, too, so I stopped those as well.

As time went on, I noticed the weight creeping up. One day, my doctor told me I was prediabetic and recommended I lose about 5 kg. I tried a few things - calorie restriction and intermittent fasting - at first they worked, but they weren’t sustainable, and the weight came back. And let's be honest, I have a weakness for unhealthy snacks.

Before I spoke with Marilyn, I was sceptical about changing my eating habits enough to lose weight, keep it off, and - most importantly - not feel starved all the time. But Marilyn took the time to explain the impact that food and eating habits have on blood sugar, inflammation, overall health, and how large swings in blood sugar levels lead to feelings of hunger. She gave me simple, practical strategies to follow and kept me motivated with check-ins and encouragement. Her recipes are not only healthy but also super tasty, and I love the healthy snacks she recommended.

Ten weeks later, I’ve lost 4.5 kg, and I’m really happy with the progress. The best part? I haven’t felt deprived. The changes I made were easy to fit into my daily routine and meal planning. I feel confident I can stick with them for the long term. I still get cravings for sweet, salty, crunchy foods, but they’re happening less often, and Marilyn explained that’s part of the journey toward better nutrition.

An unexpected benefit since I started working with Marilyn is that my episodes of hives are less frequent and I don't have to take antihistamine tablets as often. Marilyn explained that the changes I made to my eating habits have likely decreased my intake of foods triggering allergies as well as the levels of inflammation in my body. Marilyn also recommended a continuous glucose monitor, which I wore for two weeks. During that time, it was very interesting to see how my blood sugar levels went up at every meal and the effect of different foods on how high or fast the levels rose, and how long before they came down. I am using this knowledge to inform my food choices.

And I have also noticed less knee pain as I go about my daily activities, particularly going up and down stairs, a result of the weight loss and lower inflammation. I’m looking forward to the HbA1c results on my next blood work. My doctor will be pleased with my progress, and I’m excited to keep going.

Shirley W.