Karen Roles, one of our much loved HBD Club members, shared her uplifting story in the Telegraph in May. Over the course of 18 months, while following The Human Being Diet, she shed nearly six stone – she reduced her weight from 17’4 (242lbs) to 11’9 (163lbs).
But there is much more to her story than weight loss. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 11, Karen was prescribed steroids, which she took until she turned 16 by which point she felt so ill and so bloated that she decided to take matters into her own hands.
A search for healthy solutions (and years of yo-yo dieting) followed, until the happy day when she happened across Debbie Roper’s inspiring HBD story, which she had shared with the Telegraph in January 2025. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/d/da-de/debbie-roper/
Karen read The Human Being Diet from cover to cover and as she read it she knew, deep down, that this was the solution she’d been searching for. Having read the book twice she was ready to get going. Thanks to Debbie’s story Karen changed much more than her diet, she changed her life and her health, for the better.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/diet/weight-loss/dropped-three-dress-sizes-less-than-year-without-exercising/ Here are some excerpts from Karen’s article:
“At 56, I’m finally confident in my body again and feel stronger than ever – thanks to this refreshingly sensible diet plan.”
“After 12 weeks, I had lost more than 2st 5lb (15kg). Not only had the weight come off, but the relentless cravings that once dominated my days had finally subsided and I had tons of energy. I could breathe more easily, while the chronic inflammation and bloating that had plagued me for years had significantly eased. My asthma physiotherapist was blown away with the improvements, keen to know more about the diet plan to recommend to her other patients.”
“My skin feels smoother, my mind sharper and, for the first time in decades, I’m genuinely confident in myself again. Above all, the experience has given me back a sense of control. I no longer feel ruled by cravings or confusion around food – instead, I feel far more in tune with what my body actually needs.”
If you’re still thinking about embarking on HBD, here’s Karen’s advice:
“Just begin. So many of my friends talk about wanting to lose weight, but life gets busy and they keep putting it off. Often, taking that first step is the hardest part.”
“Be patient with yourself. One of the main reasons I failed in the past was because I became disheartened when the scales did not move quickly enough. Sustainable weight loss is about building habits you can maintain for life, rather than a short-term fix.”
Are you ready to turn your life around? Your first step is to read The Human Being Diet (the HBD book) and read it again! While you’re reading the book you’re communicating with your subconscious and literally explaining to your brain what you’re planning to do. As you read, your brain is already beginning to map your success.
Once you’ve read the HBD book you’re ready to add the cookbooks, The HBD Cookbook (recipes for all phases) and The HBD Reset Cookbook (with wonderful recipes by Elisabeth Whiting https://www.elisabethwhiting.co.uk) so that you can start planning and prepping for your success. Do also get yourself a copy of The HBD Journal to accompany you through the programme – this is where you can keep your shopping lists, record your meals and which helps keep you motivated, organised and on track through your first three months.
For community and support, including live clinics and Q&A, consider joining us in The HBD Club - we look forward to meeting you.