Sometimes the best way to know if something is right for you is to hear from real people who have been through it. So when my lovely client Erin emailed me a beautifully detailed account of her experience working with me, I asked if I could share it here. If you’ve found your way to this page, I hope her story gives you hope, and helps you decide whether working together might be right for you too.
MB and Me
I can't recall a time when my weight or my body wasn't on my mind for most of the day. The way my legs looked when I sat down, the rolls on my stomach, how I imagined others might view me. Clothes shopping felt loaded with anxiety, checking sizes, avoiding shorts, refusing full‑body photos, picking myself apart in every mirror. Even as I reassured myself that bodies come in different shapes, just as mine differed from others, the self‑monitoring never stopped.
As a millennial woman, I grew up in an era where movies, magazines, newspaper headlines and television relentlessly tied a woman's worth to her appearance, her size, her beauty, how well she conformed to a narrow standard. Fast forward to the rise of social media, and those standards became even more extreme. Filters, editing apps, cosmetic surgery, hyper‑sexualised activewear and unrealistic "gym girl" imagery flooded my feed. Somewhere along the way, I developed a disordered relationship with food, cycling between restriction, prolonged fasting, bingeing and emotional eating. The constant highs and lows of chasing an unattainable ideal took their toll.
In early 2021, after watching friends undergo breast augmentation and speak openly about their renewed confidence, ease of recovery and improved body image, I decided surgery might finally give me the confidence I had been searching for. I remember the first time I looked in the mirror as my body healed, excited to try on clothes, to feel sexy, confident and comfortable in my skin. And in some ways, I did. But alongside that confidence was an undercurrent of fear: that people could "see through" it or judge me for having something artificial inside my body. While my clothes fit better and intimacy felt easier, my self‑worth was still being monitored daily. The attention my body attracted also felt uncomfortable at times, and despite the changes, the internal scrutiny never truly stopped.
About five months after surgery, my health began to decline. I developed aching joints during my daily runs, unexplained weight gain, thinning hair and persistent brain fog. My periods became irregular, swinging from light to heavy. I reduced running, increased strength training, ate what I believed was a balanced diet, yet nothing made sense. I sought answers through dietitians, podiatrists, general practitioners, gynaecologists and countless pathology tests. Despite my growing list of symptoms, I was repeatedly dismissed and gaslit.
Breast Implant Illness was never raised. At the time, it was widely dismissed or labelled as controversial. So, I pushed on for another two years, exercising relentlessly with no weight loss, managing joint pain, reacting to gluten, alcohol and caffeine, needing daily naps, struggling with memory, hormonal instability and emotional volatility.
One day, while scrolling Instagram, I saw a mutual friend who looked radiant. She shared that she had lost weight and regained her health through Metabolic Balance, guided by her naturopath, Carolyn Allen, using whole foods aligned to her bloodwork. Something clicked. My first consultation with Carolyn was unlike anything I had experienced, a deep, thorough exploration of my health history and the timeline of my symptoms. It became clear that everything had started only months after my breast implant surgery.
Follow‑up blood tests revealed significant inflammatory and allergen markers. I made the decision to have my implants removed via a complete capsulectomy, removing both the implants and the surrounding capsule tissue, eliminating any trace of what my body had been fighting for three years. Importantly, the implants themselves were intact; my body was simply rejecting a foreign object, forcing my thyroid and immune system into overdrive and impacting my overall health.
Carolyn and I agreed it was best to remove the implants before beginning Metabolic Balance, a full system reset. I am grateful to my surgeon for supporting my decision. Within five to six days post‑surgery, the brain fog began lifting. The relief was almost immediate. I cut my hair into a short bob after significant thinning, knowing that while the physical changes mattered, restoring my internal health would be the real work.
I began Metabolic Balance with a fresh set of blood tests used to create an eating plan designed specifically for my body. The first two weeks were tough, fatigue and cravings hit hard, but I stayed committed. Soon, nourishing my body with whole foods felt intuitive and grounding. I lost five kilograms in the first week, but weight loss was never the true goal. Reducing inflammation, calming my nervous system and finally understanding my body were what I had been searching for.
During this time, I was also working remotely in the Northern Territory, with limited access to resources and fresh food options. Rather than seeing this as a barrier, I planned ahead, packing my cooking scales, preparing meals where I could, and improvising when needed. I refused to give up on my health simply because the conditions weren't ideal. What surprised me most was how far my food went. Even with smaller, measured meals, I felt genuinely satisfied and full, and I noticed my groceries lasting longer than ever before. It reinforced that this wasn't about deprivation, but about giving my body exactly what it needed.
Over twelve weeks, the transformation was profound. I lost ten kilograms, my joint pain resolved, my hair regrew rapidly, my energy returned and my cravings disappeared. I ate smaller meals yet felt consistently satisfied. I no longer needed daytime naps. Through the reintroduction phase, I became deeply attuned to how foods affected me. Movement shifted from punishment to pleasure, guided by what felt supportive and regulating for my nervous system.
The gratitude I developed for my body was overwhelming. I realised how many years I had spent fighting, judging and punishing it. Metabolic Balance helped me end that war. I began to respect my body, trust it and allow it to thrive.
Metabolic Balance changed my life. It gave me a sense of safety and trust in my body that no surgery ever could. It showed me that commitment to self‑care leads to genuine healing, and that whole, natural foods have the power to restore balance. I am endlessly grateful to Carolyn Allen for her guidance, care and unwavering support throughout this journey.
Written by Erin Lynham
If this article sounds like it could be describing you, it might be time to find out what's really going on underneath the surface. I welcome you to book a discovery call HERE, or if you're like, "No Carolyn, I already know this is what's happening and I need to get this sorted ASAP book your Initial Naturopathic Consultation HERE.
I see clients from all over Australia online via Zoom. And if you're in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast and prefer a face to face appointment, I practice out of the Noosa Wellness Collective every single Friday.
So book HEREor reach out with questions. This is the kind of work I find most meaningful because understanding changes everything.
Carolyn Allen is a naturopath and yoga therapist specialising in women's hormonal health in perimenopause and beyond. She works with women across Australia via online consultations from her practice in Maleny, Queensland. She also sees clients in Noosa at the Noosa Wellness Collective. To enquire about comprehensive functional testing like gut, DNA or hormone testing, results interpretation, and personalised support, visit carolynallenhealth.com or email hello@carolynallenhealth.com
This article is written for educational purposes and does not constitute individual medical advice. Please work with a qualified practitioner for personalised assessment and treatment.