SUCCESS STORIES
Transcript
I was a little bit in shock and a little bit scared. I didn’t really understand how I was living my life and I didn’t realise that the things I was doing were so dangerous to my health.
I’ve been working as a mechanic for probably the last 25 years. It wasn’t really something I ever wanted to do, but kind of fell into it and loved the kind of environment that I found myself in with the people, the kind of workshop vibe.
Growing up in western suburbs, of course, soccer was my number one. I’m a big A.S. Roma fan. Dedicated most of my time to watching games at four in the morning.
I remember the day I was diagnosed with fatty liver. My local GP gave me a call, told me to come in and he showed me that my liver numbers were a little bit too high.
So GP sent me for a couple of other tests and we sat down. I didn’t really know what fatty liver was or how serious it was. He helped me understand that this was actually good news. It was reversible with a couple of simple changes to my lifestyle.
I worked in the music industry, performing live since the early 2000s, where it was an industry that we smoked and we drank a lot. And I thought quitting smoking, replacing that with eating sweets, was a healthier option. And it just gave me a different type of health concern which could potentially be even more dangerous.
I needed to change and I’d had a severe back injury which kept me off work for a year and a half. And at its worst point, I was ordering a lot of fast food.
I decided to change my diet, get to real foods, preparing my meals at home, simplified it. Lots of veggies, lots of good lean proteins, lots of healthy fish, olive oils. I decided to exercise, a lot of resistance training and I focused on healthy relationships in my life and I just took care of myself a little more than I had for the past few years.
With the right support at work, all my workmates, we’ve made some changes, we prepare real foods, lean proteins, healthy vegetables and we enjoy it all together.
So after three months, I went back and did the next round of blood tests with the doctor and he gave me a high five. And he said that the numbers were right within the regular zone that he liked and he was really, really happy and he couldn’t believe that I’d done it so easily.
I was pretty lucky, I found it pretty early. I got really strict, I cut out refined carbs and cut out sugars completely and I felt like the exercise and the training helped me more than anything.
The advice I’d give to anybody who’s been diagnosed with fatty liver is don’t be embarrassed. Like one in three Australians struggle with some form of liver disease.
It’s really normal, it’s not your fault.
Make changes, do it for yourself. Do it for you. You’ll enjoy the changes you make and you’ll be really proud of yourself.
And this time in a week, I’m going to be standing in the middle of the Stadio Olimpico, cheering on Roma instead of being in the hospital somewhere.
ROB’S STORY
The diagnosis was a shock, but instead of ignoring it, Rob took action. He started eating more whole foods like vegetables, fruit, legumes and wholegrains, and balanced his portions so half his plate was colourful vegetables, with smaller serves of wholegrains and lean protein.
He swapped some meat meals for fish or plant-based options, replaced heavy fats with olive oil, and cut back on foods and drinks that strain the liver, like fried takeaway, sugary snacks, and alcohol. As his back improved, he added walks and resistance training to his week.
After just three months of sticking to these steps, Rob’s follow-up tests showed his fatty liver had completely reversed. He’s back at work, feeling stronger, and says the key was “starting small and staying consistent.”
PETER’S STORY
In 2016, a sudden hospital visit for gallstone pain became his wake-up call. A doctor warned he was close to liver failure, and Peter decided to act.
With support from a new gastroenterologist and a dietitian, he focused on healthier eating and gradual, steady weight loss. After 37 years at work he stepped back, continued the changes, and later used weight-loss medication. From around 105–110kg, Peter is now 85kg. At the footy he still enjoys a pie — but as a treat — and he finds walking is easier and he’s less breathless.
His liver tests, which once showed fibrosis close to cirrhosis, have stabilised in the past two years, and his blood sugar numbers have improved too. He feels better than ever.
“I’ve started to look after myself – and I’ve never felt better.”
WAYNE’S STORY
The shock hit home when his youngest daughter lay beside him and asked, “Do you want to die?” That moment gave Wayne the push he needed to turn things around.
He stopped drinking immediately and followed the Mediterranean diet his doctor recommended — lean protein, fruit, vegetables, nuts, oats, and fresh foods without added salt or sugar. Slowly his strength returned. He started walking, cycling, and doing light weights, building up his energy again.
Today Wayne has lost over 60kg, his blood tests are back to normal, and his FibroScan® score has more than halved. A surgeon recently told him his liver now looks pink and healthy.
“My physical and mental health are better than they’ve been in 20 years,” Wayne says. “I’ve been given a second chance — and I’m so grateful.”