Rebeca Rodriguez, 38, from Elephant and Castle, London, endured years of relentless fatigue, agonising bloating and inexplicable weight gain. She put on around four stone over the past decade despite eating what she thought was a well-rounded diet, exercising consistently, and consulting three separate nutritionists.
Tests showed nothing abnormal
Blood tests repeatedly came back normal. 'I knew something wasn't right,' said Rebeca. 'I was exhausted all the time, but every test kept coming back saying everything was fine.' Her wellbeing hit rock bottom at the start of 2024, when even rising from bed became a challenge. 'There were days when I literally couldn't move,' she said.
Digestive distress accepted as normal
Alongside tiredness, she endured near-constant bloating and digestive distress. 'I genuinely believed it was normal to feel bloated after every meal,' she said. Doctors carried out investigations, including repeated blood tests. 'The only thing that ever really showed up was my white blood cell count,' Rebeca explained. 'I was always told I was probably fighting off a virus.'
A friend's recommendation led to answers
A friend recommended a food intolerance test through Supply Life. Rebeca was initially dubious but claims the findings were unexpected. Among the foods she reacted to were egg whites, potatoes, rice and yeast – everyday staples that had constituted a significant portion of her diet. 'I remember looking at the results thinking, "Well, there goes Spanish omelette... there goes paella,"' she said.
Diet changes brought relief
Within weeks of altering her diet, her bloating almost disappeared. 'I had my first meal and afterwards I remember thinking, "Is this what everyone else feels like?"' She now eats avocado on sourdough toast for breakfast, large salads for lunch, and lean protein with vegetables for dinner, using quinoa or couscous instead of rice.
Her energy gradually returned, and she has gone from a size 18 to a size 16. 'But for me, the biggest change isn't the weight – it's having my energy back,' she said. Friends and family say she has 'got her sparkle back'. Reflecting on her journey, she said: 'I spent such a long time thinking this was just my body. Now I realise you shouldn't ignore symptoms just because you've had them for years. I finally feel like myself again.'
