‘I lost my tum and my acne’

Alison Gurney, 34, is married to business consultant Paul. They live in north london. she says: WHEN I decided to switch careers from primary school teacher to working in the health industry, I immersed myself in research on nutrition — and found myself bamboozled by conflicting advice.

The most compelling health message that really appealed to me was cutting out sugar.

In my early 20s, I was a classic size 1 carbohydrate-lover. I drank beer and loved chips. Every meal was based on potatoes, rice or pasta, and I had a real weakness for cakes and chocolate.

Although I wasn’t particularly overweight, tests showed I carried quite a bit of harmful visceral fat around my organs. I was what you call TOFI (thin outside, fat inside) and I had a tummy that no amount of low-fat dieting seemed to be able to budge. I was also prone to bouts of adult acne.

But two years ago, I gave up sugar entirely. I honestly didn’t find it difficult, but the impact was enormous. My belly disappeared and my skin was transformed.

I thought I’d find it hard to exercise without ‘fuel’ but, in fact, my energy levels soared.

At the same time, I switched from refined carbohydrates to brown rice, pasta and bread.

But I found I was still affected by bloating after meals, so I went fully low-carb and now stick to a wholefood diet of leafy greens, protein and healthy fats.

I still enjoy cakes sometimes, but I’ll make my own using coconut or almond flour sweetened with xylitol. Instead of mashed potato, I have cauliflower mash and instead of rice it’s cauliflower rice. I never feel deprived.

When I talk about nutrition with my clients, sugar is the first thing we discuss: it’s THAT important. I’m now a size 8 and have never felt healthier.