‘I convinced my family to go on an intense diet. We lost 10st between us'

Telegraph

20-06-2025

Christine Shead, 60, her husband John, 65, and their daughter Emily, 25, live in Fleet, Hampshire. Christine and John are retired, whilst Emily works in law.
Christine's story
13st 8lbs to 10st (3st 8lbs weight loss)
We knew something needed to change. I was 57 – the same age my father was when he had colitis which led to deadly bowel cancer – and over 13.5st. John, my husband, was over 16st and my daughter, Emily, was almost 13st with severe endometriosis. She was devastated by the diagnosis. At 21, she underwent a laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) and was told by doctors that she had just two options to live pain-free: a lifetime of opioids, or sacrificing her career as a lawyer to work part-time.
It was terrible seeing her suffer, and I realised our family's health was in jeopardy. John had retired early so we could enjoy those extra years together, yet we were all overweight and eating our way to illness. I didn't regularly work out and John was a runner, but this hadn't helped him to lose weight and mainly killed his knees. Emily's diagnosis finally gave me the motivation I needed to do something about it.
We were a family of carbohydrate lovers. Spaghetti bolognese and chilli con carne were our staple meals. Before John retired, he was often away on business trips and ate almost exclusively at airport lounges and corporate lunches, filling his boots with English breakfast foods and French delicacies like cheese and pastries.
In the evening, we'd sit in front of the TV mindlessly eating crisps and chocolate. I never prepared meals in advance, so if the fridge was bare, we'd always opt for a takeaway. Breakfast didn't used to exist for me – I'd always have a couple of sugary lattes and a packet of crisps in the morning, before eating a ham or cheese sandwich for lunch.
Everything changed when I discovered the Human Being Diet (HBD). I'd be lying if I said it was easy from the start, however the results are absolutely worth the effort. It's a lifestyle overhaul. During a three-month period we completely re-educated ourselves on nutrition, swapping our spaghetti bolognaise, sugary lattes, and white bread sandwiches for spiralised courgettes and cauliflower rice.
John and I began the diet in the summer, three years ago. His son was getting married that Christmas, so my goal was to shed 2st, and John, 2.5st, by then. Emily was initially sceptical, and I didn't want to force her into anything, but once she saw the weight dropping off John and I, she began the diet. I'd read about other women with endometriosis going on the HBD and how it had dramatically improved their symptoms. So I hoped this would be the case for Emily.
In the first 16 days, I dropped over a stone and John lost almost 20 pounds. Once I put my mind to something, I'm incredibly dedicated and, although John initially found it harder, he completely committed too, and we helped each other through the difficult moments.
The first two weeks are so crucial as you cleanse your body in preparation for the diet. For the first two days, we took Epsom salts and only ate vegetables. Then, for the next two weeks, we reintroduced fresh protein sources, and an apple a day, whilst oils, gluten, grains, and sugars were all off the menu. The aim is to retrain the liver to burn fat instead of sugar, whilst discovering which foods don't agree with you.
Each day, we ate three meals with a five-hour fast between each. We tended to eat vegetable omelettes or fritters with carrot and courgette for breakfast, and salads for lunch and dinner, with fresh protein like chicken or fish. With so much off the menu, we became more creative with our food and experimented with different vegetables, proteins, herbs, and spices.
Next came 'the burn phase', which lasted for 10 weeks. During this time, we were retraining our bodies, and the biggest difference was the introduction of a weekly treat meal, plus black tea or coffee which had to be be drunk with food. The treat meal was incredibly motivating – it was something to look forward to after a week of no-nonsense dieting. We tended to have ours on a Saturday and would make the most of going out to a nice place, having a glass of wine, enjoying the food and spending time together.
Within three months, John and I had already exceeded our goal weights. I had dropped 50 pounds and John had dropped 55. Our neighbour was so impressed when she saw us that month, and demanded to know how we had done it. Now her, her husband, and his family are all doing the diet too!
During the menopause, I'd lost all my confidence and felt fat and frumpy. Clothes were a means to disguise myself. But at my stepson's wedding that Christmas, I felt better about myself than I had in years. I started to enjoy feeling glamorous, and whilst I used to squeeze into a size 14, now I'm a comfortable size 10.
Both John and I have a much healthier blood pressure and resting heart rate, and less aches and pains, too. It's only after you lose weight that you realise how much pressure you had been putting on your body. We haven't needed to go to the GP once since the weight loss, and I honestly don't think I've felt this fit since I left school.
After retraining our bodies over the course of the diet, we've found it easy to continue eating healthily and nutritiously. We don't even think about traditional carbohydrates, like pasta or rice any more. Our meals now closely resemble the Mediterranean diet – we eat lots of fresh meats and fish, salads, extra virgin olive oil, and grains.
In the early days of the diet, we didn't exercise purely because we weren't eating enough calories to safely do so. But now, John and I both love strength training and I also do Pilates and yoga at my local fitness centre. Before losing the weight, I would've been too embarrassed to even enter a gym, but now I enjoy strengthening my muscles – which is vital as we get older.
Emily is now 25 and, as well as losing over two stone, her endometriosis symptoms including irregular periods, recurrent UTIs, and flare-ups, have dramatically improved. In fact, changing the way we eat has been life-changing for us all. In March, we visited my stepson in Australia and convinced him to try the diet too. Now, we all have a WhatsApp group chat where we share recipes and plans. It's brought us all together in an unexpected way.
Emily's story
12st 11lbs to 10st 7lbs (2st 4lbs weight loss)
Throughout my teenage years, my periods were so painful that I'd spend days bed-bound. My dad was concerned I'd never be able to sustain a full-time job because I was taking one or two sick days each month. At the age of 21, after years of back and forth between doctors and health professionals, I was diagnosed with endometriosis.
That year, my parents and I went on holiday to France and, whilst we were all eating and drinking to our heart's content, I distinctly remember how uncomfortable we all felt. Our clothes didn't fit, and I hated how I looked in every photograph. I'd put on a lot of weight and, in doing so, was worsening my endometriosis symptoms.
When my mum first told me about the Human Being Diet, I was sceptical. Whilst she likes holistic health remedies, I'm more scientifically-minded. However, when I saw how quickly my parents were both losing weight, I decided it was worth a try.
My dad and I initially struggled with the diet. I would say my dad is a sugar addict, so cutting out the sweet treats was hard for him. The meal-prepping and scheduled fasting was challenging for me because I was trying to balance it alongside working full-time at law school, and having some semblance of a social life. My friends were so supportive though, and always made sure to order me a soda in their rounds of pub pints.
The diet has been life-changing for us. I never used to have the energy to exercise, but now love going to the gym. My mum used to have bad back problems which have significantly eased, and we've all dropped at least two clothes sizes. I used to get by on packets of tortellini, breaded chicken, and white bread, and now I've ditched the booze, cut out a lot of gluten and dairy, and opt for fresh home-cooked meals instead.
John's story
16st 9lbs to 12st 10lbs (3st 9lbs weight loss)
I've always loved a pint and had a real sweet tooth. I was used to being around 16.5st and feeling slightly uncomfortable in my clothes. However, I really wanted to support Christine and, with my son's wedding coming up, I was aware that I needed to shed some weight to look and feel good on the day.
Once Christine puts her mind to something, she fully commits to it. I'm more prone to drifting off. But I wanted this to work, so we got rid of our bags of rice and spaghetti, and began planning our meals around protein and vegetables. It was difficult, but the effects were unexpected and better than we could've imagined.
Now, my weight remains around the 13st mark and, even though I do fall off the wagon now and again, I've got the skills and confidence to get back on track. Gone are the days of cooked English breakfasts at Heathrow Airport, and courses of cheese during business trips in Paris. Our meals are far more regimented, and we plan for the week which has actually made life much easier for Christine and I – whether we're batch-cooking soup or making 'rice' from a cauliflower.
Years ago, I used to love running and competed in half-marathons on a regular basis. It didn't do anything for my weight though and, after sustaining an injury during a badminton match, it was difficult for me to continue running, so I gave it up.
Now, I enjoy keeping fit using the rowing machines and bikes at the gym. Christine and I love a dog walk and, along with Emily, we're making the most of exploring new places, and enjoying the active retirement we always dreamed of.
The family's diet before
Breakfast: A bowl of cereal with a couple of sugary lattes
Morning snack: A packet of crisps or crackers and cheese
Lunch: Homemade sandwich with ham or cheese
Dinner: A large portion of rice or pasta with vegetables and processed meat
Alcohol: Wine for special occasions/ meals with friends
The family's diet now
Breakfast: Fruit and yogurt with homemade granola and seeds
Dinner: Fresh white fish with an avocado salad
Snacks: An apple a day
Alcohol: Drunk rarely
The family's exercise regime before
Christine and Emily did not exercise
John was a runner
The family's exercise regime after
Christine does strength training, Zumba, Pilates, and yoga at the local fitness centre
John does strength training, cycling, and rowing at the local fitness centre
Emily does strength training at the gym
The family's three top tips
1. Always have a goal. It can change over time, but always have one in place
2. Think seriously about why you're embarking on this journey. Write it down at the start to look back on during the difficult moments
3. Be kind to yourself. No journey is ever linear – we can all have a good day, then a shockingly bad day, but the important thing is to never give up