I chose my username due to the major change I have had to make to my diet in recent months.  Last October I discovered I have a food allergy to dairy, egg and wheat.  I have always had weight problems, but last year was probably the worst, given that I was suffering from major irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms and fluid retention. I have had this (on and off) since I was about 15.... I am now 39!  Doctors failed to correctly diagnose it, and in desperation I went to a naturopath, who discovered the problem in 3 visits!  All it took was a simple blood test.   Suffice to say I have lost half a stone since Christmas  (114kg to 108kg), and it looks like it is finally the downward rather than the upward trend.  A friend who hadn't seen me for a while, stopped me in the street the other day and told me I look 10 years younger.