Yes, I started in February 2022 after listening to a Zoe Food Science podcast that mentioned the latest research on the gut microbiome and chronic inflammation. At the time I'd been suffering from a fiendish flare up of rheumatoid arthritis since spring 2021, the slightest movement was agony. I'd hobble to the toilet cursing and crying as the pains stabbed, ground and grated. A researcher said that test subjects who'd eaten 6 small portions of fermented foods each day during a trial period had reduced the inflammation markers in their blood by 20% so I went online and ordered a supply of kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, miso and kefir and haven't looked back since.
Listening to all the other Zoe podcasts and following the recommendations have been life changing. Turns out the gut microbiome regulates all sorts of unexpected things, like circadian rhythms, the immune system, heart health, mood and sleep.
The initial massive weight loss while I was still eating more than 3000 kcals/day was totally unexpected, and so hard to believe that I bought new batteries for the bathroom scales because I didn't trust the numbers they were showing.
Since the mid 1980's I'd been unable to get to sleep before 3 or 5 every morning and couldn't drag myself out of bed before midday. Within 6 months of eating to pander to my gut microbiome and fasting for 14 hours I was falling asleep before midnight and waking naturally by 8am.
I'm just a bit sad that this information wasn't available in the 1980s when I was developing Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Metabolic Syndrome and Sjogren's syndrome, or in the 1990s when I was first diagnosed with Diabetes, 2001 when Psoriasis appeared from nowhere, or 2016 when I was diagnosed with both Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus. I ate constantly, snacking before bed, in the middle of the night and as soon as I got up in the morning. My poor guts never got the rest they needed for the beneficial bacteria to mend the gut lining, neutralise the inflammation causing by products of digestion, and churn out all the short chain fatty acids that are needed for healthy sleep, heart function and mood stability. I struggled to eat a healthy diet, and kept on losing and regaining the same 10 kgs, like Sisyphus pushing that boulder up the hill only for it to roll straight back down again.
Starting weight in February 2022 160kg (over 25kg)
Current weight 89kg (around 14 stone?)
Goal weight 67kg (10.5 stone?).
Dress size down from 34/36 to 18/20.
Blood pressure down from 150/88 to 100/64.
At first I fasted for 14 hours and it felt really difficult for the first week or so, then it started to feel restful so I extended to 16 hours, finally settling at eating between 10 and 4 and fasting for 18 hours. Black coffee in the mornings before breakfast, green, purple, mint and chamomile teas after 4pm.
I keep on listening to those Zoe podcasts, and keep getting new inspiration. Recently cut out all UPFs, which was hard to do because some of my favourite vegetarian foods have contain methyl cellulose, xanthan gum or processed starches. I'll still eat one of Mr Kiplings French Fancies if someone tempts me with it between 10 and 4, but I no longer put them into my online shopping trolley.