Four Years Later: Why I Started The Metabolic Kitchen Diaries
Four years and four months ago, my world collapsed in the space of a single week. I lost my dad, and three days before his funeral, I was told my cancer had returned, this time on my bones and ovaries, and that I had twelve months to live. Staying positive felt almost impossible. But here I am, four years later, feeling healthier, stronger, and more alive than I have in years. This is why I created The Metabolic Kitchen Diaries, and this is the story behind everything you'll find here.
The journey that followed was not a straight line. There was major surgery, recovery, endless research, doctors' appointments, and the slow, cautious work of finding a new normal, as a family, together. My wonderful family has been my greatest anchor through all of it. Alongside my oncologist, a psychologist, and a deeply thoughtful holistic GP, we pieced together an approach that works, not just for surviving, but for truly living. One of the surgeries meant my ovaries were removed, which brought on surgical menopause and, with it, an unexpected weight gain of around ten kilograms. At my age, in my situation, I couldn't simply "go on a diet." I needed strength. I needed energy. I needed food to work with me, not against me.
That's when I started paying close attention to how food actually moves through my body, specifically, how different meals affect my blood sugar. No extreme protocols. No restriction. Just curiosity, observation, and small, consistent changes. In five months, I lost six kilograms, organically, without obsession, and while still eating food I genuinely love. That experience changed everything for me.
The principles I live by are simple, but they matter deeply: I trust my medical treatment and work alongside it, not around it. I move my body every single day: fast-paced dog walks, Pilates four times a week, swimming when I can, yoga when I need stillness. I rest when my body asks me to. I meditate daily, about forty-five minutes with noise-cancelling headphones, practising healing meditation and loving kindness. And above all, I try to live one day at a time. With self-discipline, consistency, and genuine kindness toward myself.
My Austrian GP (primary care doctor) said something I carry with me always: you can have all the treatment in the world, but only you yourself can perform the magic of healing yourself.
The Metabolic Kitchen Diaries is my way of sharing what I've learned about food, about glucose, about eating in a way that supports the body through whatever it's facing. It is not medical advice. It is one woman's lived experience, shared openly, in the hope that something here helps you find what works for your body.
Welcome. I'm so glad you're here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The content shared by The Metabolic Kitchen Diaries is for general educational and informational purposes only. I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or medical professional. Everything shared here is based on personal experience, self-experimentation, and publicly available nutritional research. Nothing on this platform constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your GP, oncologist, or a qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you have a health condition, are undergoing treatment, or take regular medication. Every body is different. What works for one person may not work for another. The Metabolic Kitchen Diaries encourages individual experimentation, curiosity, and self-awareness — with professional guidance where appropriate.