Memorable attempts include the week I only ate green food, and the one where I ended up with arrhythmia from too much exercise and not enough calories.<\/p>\n
So colour me sceptical of any new plan. Indeed, when I first heard about the Mylife Changer\u00ae Method at the fancy new medispa, Mount Med, in the Tyrolean Alps (mountmedresort.com), I rolled my eyes and heaved a sigh.<\/p>\n
Yet on closer inspection, this one did seem to have more substance. The six-week-long method was originally designed by Dr Alexander Papp, an aesthetics and reconstructive surgeon, to improve postoperative recovery for cancer patients.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, he soon realised its benefits reached much further: people lost weight, improved their health and were even turning back the clock on their biological age. I packed my bags and headed to Innsbruck.<\/p>\n
![\"Jane](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100471105-14923049-image-a-16_1753025548205.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Jane Alexander has tried many diets, including a memorable week when she only ate green food, and another where she ended up with arrhythmia from too much exercise and not enough calories<\/p>\n
\u2018Losing weight is tough,\u2019 says Dr Papp as we sit down for my first consultation. \u2018I get it, because I\u2019ve been there.\u2019<\/p>\n
It turns out he went through his own weight loss journey in his 20s. \u2018I went up to 115kg (just over 18st) during my time at university and during my first years as a doctor,\u2019 he says. Then he changed his diet.<\/p>\n
\u2018I started eating low carb, low fat and a normal amount of protein and I started exercising twice a week,\u2019 he says. \u2018It worked.\u2019<\/p>\n
It certainly did \u2013 he\u2019s enviably slim and clearly fit as a fiddle. \u2018Honestly, if I can do it, so can you,\u2019 he promises.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m still not convinced \u2013 men seem to be able to lose weight far more easily than women (and particularly post-menopausal women like me). Also, how does this diet differ from anything else out there?<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s unique because it combines the benefits of intermittent fasting, calorie restriction and the ketogenic diet,\u2019 Dr Papp insists.<\/p>\n
He explains that, unlike the popular keto diet (high fat, high protein), this is low fat with normal amounts of protein. What you do is eat five small portions of protein over a 12-hour period each day and then fast for the other 12.<\/p>\n
Effectively, you\u2019re eating five meals a day, which strikes me as a promising idea to tackle the hunger of dieting \u2013 but also too much food, surely, to lose weight?<\/p>\n
Dr Papp assures me it\u2019s not. \u2018This way of eating helps to prevent fermentation in the gut which causes inflammation,\u2019 he explains.<\/p>\n
\u2018It keeps you full, stabilises blood sugar levels, and promotes fat loss. It is also more sustainable and beneficial for long-term metabolic health and longevity.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"Mount](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100471617-14923049-Mount_Med_Resort_in_the_Tyrolean_Alps_where_Jane_tried_the_Mylif-a-19_17530457994.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Mount Med Resort\u00a0in the Tyrolean Alps where Jane tried the Mylife Changer\u00ae Method<\/p>\n
The method has been clinically tested on more than 4,000 people, and a recently published study in the journal Nutrients confirmed its effectiveness in reducing weight in obese patients preparing for bariatric surgery.<\/p>\n
\u2018Participants lost an average of 7.8kg (a whopping 17lb) within four weeks, primarily from fat mass,\u2019 says Dr Papp.<\/p>\n
The intensive phase of the plan can last up to two weeks. Carbohydrates are slashed and calories reduced to around 1,000 per day.<\/p>\n
During the first three to five days of eating this way, the body runs out of readily available carbohydrate stores, paving the way for a metabolic shift to ketosis, where you burn stored fat.<\/p>\n
So far, so keto, and yet: \u2018This plan is much lower in fat than the classic keto diet,\u2019 insists Dr Papp. \u2018It\u2019s also not a long-term diet. We re-introduce carbs within a few weeks.\u2019<\/p>\n
In addition, the precise distribution of protein throughout the day preserves lean muscle mass (one of the main criticisms of keto \u2013 and indeed of weight-loss jabs \u2013 is that it can cause our bodies to chomp on muscle as well as fat).<\/p>\n
While I\u2019m at the resort, I find it incredibly easy to follow. The meals are small but delicious and wholly satisfying.<\/p>\n
Breakfast comes in two stages \u2013 a bento box (with sprouts, cucumber batons, gluten-free biscuits and a portion of smoked salmon or ham) followed by an omelette.<\/p>\n
To my intense delight, we\u2019re allowed coffee.<\/p>\n
Mid-morning we help ourselves to a protein shake. Lunch is broth, a help-yourself salad from the buffet (very green with olive oil and vinegar dressing and a sprinkle of nuts), and a main course of fish or meat (or a vegetarian option).<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100471619-14923049-The_six_week_long_method_was_originally_designed_by_Dr_Alexander-a-20_17530457994.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
The six-week-long method was originally designed by Dr Alexander Papp, an aesthetics and reconstructive surgeon, to improve postoperative recovery for cancer patients<\/p>\n
Mid-afternoon is one or two protein cookies (a bit hard and bland), while dinner is a starter (grilled octopus, crab salad, tiny rolls of chicken), broth and salad (as for lunch) and a main course of protein with sublime sauces and vegetable accompaniments.<\/p>\n
Salmon on vegetable risotto, for example, braised veal cheeks on cauliflower cream, or entrecote steak with jus and vegetable strips.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m really not hungry and am tempted to skip the cookies and shake \u2013 which count as \u2018meals\u2019 \u2013 but am told not to by Dr Papp since they contain additional micronutrients: all the essential amino acids, 2g of collagen peptides (to support joints and connective tissue), as well as water-soluble fibre (which helps you feel full.<\/p>\n
What I do miss is carbohydrate \u2013my all-time comfort food is toast \u2013 and dairy.<\/p>\n
\u2018Dairy often contributes to inflammation,\u2019 warns Dr Papp. \u2018Lots of people have sensitivity to lactose or casein. Even yoghurt is not good for the gut.<\/p>\n
\u2018So we completely exclude dairy in the initial phase to allow the gut to re-set and reduce any hidden inflammatory triggers.<\/p>\n
\u2018Later on, our patients are allowed to eat 30-month aged cheese \u2013 ideally goat or sheep which are more easily digested.\u2019<\/p>\n
I am eating so much I honestly don\u2019t think I\u2019ll lose weight. I haven\u2019t even done that much exercise (just a few leisurely laps of the pool) so I am stunned when, on my last day, I have lost over 6lb in a week.<\/p>\n
Even more surprising is that my biological age \u2013 based on cardio-respiratory fitness, fat-burning efficiency and metabolic rate \u2013 has decreased by five years. Dr Papp explains that\u2019s mainly because of my weight loss.<\/p>\n
\u2018Excess weight accelerates biological ageing by promoting chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal imbalances,\u2019 he warns. \u2018There\u2019s a clear link: the closer your weight is to your optimal range, the younger your biological profile tends to be.\u2019<\/p>\n
I feel so much better, too. I have more energy, am sleeping better, the aches from my rheumatism have subsided and my nasal congestion has cleared entirely.<\/p>\n
But this is a six-week plan and I still have five to go \u2013 and I won\u2019t be spending them at the spa with a chef to measure calories precisely. Can I ignore the temptation of the toaster and keep up the good work at home?<\/p>\n
Week One net weight loss: 6.9lb<\/p>\n
![\"Breakfast](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100471637-14923049-Breakfast_is_straightforward_even_Jane_can_rustle_up_an_omelette-a-18_17530457994.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Breakfast is straightforward \u2013 even Jane can rustle up an omelette with spinach and mushrooms<\/p>\n
Week Two<\/p>\n
Well, it\u2019s instantly harder, especially when you work full-time and loathe cooking.<\/p>\n
Breakfast is straightforward \u2013 even I can rustle up an omelette with spinach and mushrooms \u2013 but I don\u2019t have the time to cook the exquisite morsels of protein Mount Med serve up for lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n
Instead, I opt for ready-cooked chicken and salmon and stock up on the kind of green salad I ate in Austria. I also shove some veg in the air fryer.<\/p>\n
The snacks are more problematic. The system has its own proprietary shakes and snacks, perfectly calibrated to provide everything you need, but they\u2019re expensive and I figure I\u2019ll muddle along on my own.<\/p>\n
I buy a good-quality protein powder from the health shop and crack on with that once (and sometimes twice) a day.<\/p>\n
At the end of the week, I think I\u2019ve done pretty well \u2013 but when I weigh myself I\u2019ve put on 2lb.<\/p>\n
Looking back at the photos I\u2019d taken of my meals in Austria, I realise the problem is size. I am probably eating twice as much at lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n
\u2018Portion creep is very common!\u2019 says Dr Papp when I wail at him over email. \u2018It\u2019s often subconscious \u2013 our eyes and habits adjust to larger servings over time. That\u2019s why we say to eat five small meals a day, even if you\u2019re not hungry.<\/p>\n
\u2018This prevents excessive hunger and consequently overindulging in large portions.<\/p>\n
\u2018You also shouldn\u2019t go to the supermarket when you\u2019re hungry \u2013 you\u2019re likely to buy too much food.\u2019 Noted.<\/p>\n
Net weight loss: 4.7lb<\/p>\n
Week Three<\/p>\n
Technically, I\u2019m now at the point where I should be upping my calorie intake but still losing weight (everyone\u2019s will vary; Mount Med has worked out my personal level at this point is 1,170 calories a day) and increasing carbs. But I\u2019ve already veered off piste so I need to get back on track with a re-set.<\/p>\n
![\"Broth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100471635-14923049-Broth_is_a_regular_on_the_lunchtime_menu-a-21_1753045799473.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Broth is a regular on the lunchtime menu<\/p>\n
I start cutting my portions back \u2013 and though a snippet of Aldi chicken on a pile of salad doesn\u2019t have the same allure as the gorgeously pimped and preened duck or venison at Mount Med, I think I am doing well.<\/p>\n
Then real life kicks in. My dog Dan collapses and is diagnosed with vestibular disease (a condition that affects balance). He won\u2019t eat and I have to drizzle water into his mouth with a turkey baster. It\u2019s touch and go (he\u2019s 15 and the vet isn\u2019t hopeful).\u00a0<\/p>\n
My own diet is the last thing on my mind and I find myself scarfing bread slathered with butter. My inner critic is yelling (that I have no willpower; that I deserve to be fat) but Dr Papp is a steadying voice of reason.<\/p>\n
\u2018Emotional eating is incredibly common \u2013 it\u2019s a coping mechanism,\u2019 he soothes. \u2018The key is to recognise the trigger moments and develop alternative strategies: a brisk walk, journalling or even just pausing to breathe deeply before you reach for food.\u2019<\/p>\n
I could strangle him at this point \u2013 has anyone ever stopped and thought, \u2018I will journal rather than eat the toast?\u2019<\/p>\n
Sure enough I put on another pound by the end of the week. I\u2019m surprised it isn\u2019t more.<\/p>\n
Net weight loss: 3.8lb<\/p>\n
Week Four<\/p>\n
Dan turned a corner and started eating again \u2013 but will only countenance sausages (oh the irony!). I ditch the bread but by now am relying on my protein shakes to save time cooking.<\/p>\n
I have been in denial about this part of my modified diet and, when I look at the ingredients, realise I\u2019ve been taking in a lot of sugar and sweeteners. Sugar is pure catnip to me. I know I have a sugar addiction (yes, it\u2019s a real thing) and I\u2019m not doing myself any favours having a dose or two of ultra-processed food every day. My joint pain has returned, which I\u2019m sure isn\u2019t a coincidence.<\/p>\n
\u2018Food addiction \u2013 especially to sugar and processed carbs \u2013 is more common than we think,\u2019 says Dr Papp. \u2018It hijacks the brain\u2019s reward system [just as drugs like cocaine and heroin do].\u2019<\/p>\n
His advice is simple: \u2018If you don\u2019t buy it, you can\u2019t eat it.\u2019<\/p>\n
But by the end of the week, I\u2019ve put on weight again.<\/p>\n
Net weight loss: 1.2lb<\/p>\n
Week Five<\/p>\n
The scales don\u2019t lie. Once again, I have tried to follow a diet and ended up pretty much back where I began. The difference is that, this time, I can easily see where I went wrong and I haven\u2019t thrown in the towel.<\/p>\n
Life (children, work, partners, pets) gets in the way of most good intentions and if you have been programmed since childhood to equate food with reward, comfort or love, it\u2019s tough to unpick.<\/p>\n
Portion creep is real but for me, replacing meals with shakes was my major mistake. They\u2019re very sweet which triggered my sugar cravings and, before I knew it, I was having several a day, in addition to my meals. So they had to go. With Dan on the mend, I got back to going to the gym four times a week.<\/p>\n
Net weight loss: 2.4lb<\/p>\n
Week Six and beyond<\/p>\n
I\u2019m back on track. Because of my blips I kept on the plan for an extra two weeks and after eight weeks I have lost 9lb in total. Not as much as I\u2019d hoped, but it\u2019s heading in the right direction. I\u2019m not returning to my previous self-sabotage, so hopefully the pounds will continue to slip away.<\/p>\n
The lesson is not to give up after mishaps. Diets aren\u2019t a quick fix \u2013 they\u2019re the start of a long slow slog to better habits.<\/p>\n
I do think the Mount Med programme is sound (though I don\u2019t like the reliance on the brand\u2019s expensive processed snacks and have swapped those out moving forwards).<\/p>\n
Net weight loss: 9.2lb<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100472081-14923049-image-a-32_1753030061238.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The scales don\u2019t lie. Once again, Jane tried to follow a diet and ended up pretty much back where she began. The difference is that, this time, she can easily see where I went wrong and doesn\u2019t thrown in the towel<\/p>\n
Secrets of the super spa diet<\/p>\n
(Ideally eat within a 12-hour window.)<\/p>\n
Breakfast: Two eggs (boiled, fried, poached, or an omelette). A slice of smoked salmon or good quality cured meat. Spinach, mushrooms, sprouts. 1-2 cups of black tea or coffee.<\/p>\n
Morning snack: Two wafer thin slices of cooked turkey\/chicken\/smoked salmon. OR a small portion of almonds and\/or walnuts. OR one hard-boiled egg.<\/p>\n
Lunch:\u00a0Vegetable or beef broth. Salad (keep it green for the first two weeks and add in grilled green vegetables and mushrooms).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Use a home-made dressing of extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil with cider vinegar, salt and pepper. A small portion of protein (ie, lamb chop, small steak, seared tuna, grilled fish or chicken, grilled tofu, handful of prawns or other seafood).<\/p>\n
Afternoon snack: As for morning.<\/p>\n
Dinner: Vegetable or beef broth and salad (as for lunch). Small portion of protein (as for lunch).<\/p>\n
Note: The plan should be followed for a maximum of two weeks. After that you can introduce a little more carbohydrate (root veg, pasta or rice) Keep portions small and avoid inflammatory foods (such as ultra-processed foods and most dairy).<\/p>\n
Generally, this programme is safe for most people however if you have any medical condition, are on medications, pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the age of 65, I have reached crunch point. I\u2019m sick to the back teeth of weird…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19348,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[64,63,100,7179,137,20251,20252,532],"class_list":{"0":"post-19347","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-dailymail","11":"tag-femail","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-liz-hurley","14":"tag-naomi-campbell","15":"tag-nutrition"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19347"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19347\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}