The Day I Learned My Liver Wasn’t Invincible

In 2018, I was 48 years old, living life at full speed, and never thought much about my health. I ran a small business, had three teenage kids, and lived what I thought was a balanced life. Sure, I didn’t always eat the healthiest, and my idea of exercise was walking from my desk to the kitchen for snacks, but I felt fine. Or so I thought.

That year, everything changed. I started noticing a weird, dull pain on my right side, right after meals. At first, I chalked it up to bad digestion or maybe stress. But it got worse, and my energy levels dropped dramatically. I was always tired, feeling sluggish even after a full night’s sleep. When the pain didn’t go away, I finally went to see my doctor. That’s when I got the diagnosis: fatty liver disease.

“Fatty liver disease isn’t just for people who drink.”

When I heard the words “fatty liver,” I was confused. I wasn’t much of a drinker—an occasional beer here and there but nothing excessive. I had always associated liver problems with alcohol, so how could this be happening to me? My doctor explained that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is incredibly common in people with poor diets, especially those high in processed foods and sugar. Looking back, it made sense. My quick lunches, sugary snacks, and lack of physical activity had caught up with me.

The diagnosis hit me hard. I wasn’t in denial, but it was tough to accept that I had been slowly damaging my liver without even knowing it. The scariest part? My liver had been suffering in silence for years, giving me no obvious signs until it was already struggling.

“I was treating my body like a machine, expecting it to run without maintenance.”

At first, I didn’t take it seriously enough. Sure, I cut back on the worst offenders—no more sugary drinks, less junk food—but my heart wasn’t really in it. It wasn’t until my next check-up that I got a wake-up call. My doctor told me the fatty deposits in my liver had increased, and if I didn’t make real changes, I could be facing serious health problems down the road, including cirrhosis.

That hit me like a ton of bricks. I had kids to think about, a business to run, and a future to look forward to. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about losing weight or feeling better—it was about survival. That’s when I made a promise to myself to take control of my health for real.

“The moment I decided to take charge, everything changed.”

I started by changing my diet. I didn’t do anything extreme at first—just small, manageable steps. I cut out processed carbs, ditched the fast food, and embraced vegetables like they were my new best friends. One of the hardest things to give up was my daily sugar fix. I loved sweets, but I knew they were killing me slowly.

Exercise was the next challenge. I wasn’t the kind of guy who hit the gym regularly, but I began walking every day. At first, it was just 15 minutes around the block, but I built up to 30 minutes, then an hour. The more I moved, the better I felt. It wasn’t long before I added in some light strength training. To my surprise, the routine became addictive—in a good way. I started looking forward to my walks, and the weight began to drop.

“You don’t realize how much your body can heal until you give it the chance.”

The changes didn’t happen overnight. There were days when I wanted to throw in the towel and go back to my old habits. But slowly, things improved. I started to feel better, not just physically but mentally. The pain in my side went away, my energy levels soared, and I lost around 10kg in the first six months.

When I went back for my next round of tests, the results were better than I could have imagined. My liver enzymes had improved, and the fatty deposits had decreased. My doctor was as shocked as I was, and for the first time in years, I felt hopeful.

Now, two years later, I’m in the best shape of my life. I’ve lost over 20kg, and my liver is back in healthy range. My diet is still a work in progress, but I’ve found balance. I focus on whole foods, lots of veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats. I even make my own fermented foods like kefir and kimchi, something I never thought I’d do, but it’s been a game changer for my gut health.

“Fatty liver doesn’t have to define your future.”

Looking back, I realize how lucky I was to catch it early. I’m sharing my story because I want people to know that fatty liver isn’t a death sentence. Yes, it’s serious, but with the right changes, you can turn things around. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Your liver is an amazing organ that can heal if you give it the chance.

If you’re reading this and struggling with your own fatty liver diagnosis, don’t wait until it’s too late. Start small, make consistent changes, and be kind to yourself along the way. Trust me—your future self will thank you.