A change in diet led to a huge change in Lisa's life

In 2020, she was diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a silent condition in which fat builds up in the liver and causes a variety of symptoms. Estimates say that 10% to 20% of the population has this disease, although many might not know it.

After deciding that she did not want to go through weight loss surgery, Lisa discovered the UW Health Metabolic Weight Management Program while searching online.

“I had been trying to lose weight for decades, but whenever I’d lose anything, I’d just gain it back,” said Lisa, who lives in Madison, Wis. “I had recently turned 61, retired from work and thought the time was right to start eating healthier. Once I started the program, it all clicked in for me about how food affects your body. I wish I knew 30 years ago what I have learned in this program.”

Lisa joined the program in mid-2022 with a goal of losing 50 pounds by the time she travelled to Italy in May 2023. She lost the last few pounds to reach her goal while on the trip and recently established a new goal.

“Most of the changes I’ve made revolve around lowering my carbs,” Lisa said. “I was a big ‘carbaholic,' but this program, along with a carb-counting cell-phone app, have made a real difference for me.”

Lisa replaced many of her high-carb foods, such as bagels, muffins, breads and pastas with high-protein, low-carb staples like eggs, vegetables, cheese and occasionally bacon.

“I love making a breakfast burrito by scrambling ingredients and wrapping them into a low-carb tortilla wrap,” Lisa said. “That really sticks with me for a long time. When I make this for breakfast, I usually don’t feel hungry enough to eat lunch.”

Other changes Lisa has made include drinking plenty of water, snacking on almonds during the day and eating “keto” cereals and bread products that are much lower in carbs (and higher in protein) than their usual counterparts. She also makes a point of not eating everything she is served at restaurants and boxing up leftovers for extra meals at home.

Now 62, Lisa loves how much better she feels all around. “I’m not too late to the game,” she said proudly.