My NAFLD Journey: Pregnancy, Mediterranean Diet, and, Eventually, GLP-1

When I was first diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), it felt like my world had stopped. I’d never heard of NAFLD before, and I had no idea that it was so closely connected to diet, inflammation, and metabolism.

Like many people, I had been doing my best—eating what I thought was “healthy,” staying busy, and trying to manage stress—but clearly, my body was signaling that something deeper needed attention.

My introduction to the Mediterranean diet

After reading research and talking with my provider, I began my NAFLD management journey by following a loosely structured Mediterranean diet focused on anti-inflammatory, whole foods. I wasn’t strict or obsessed with perfection; I simply aimed to crowd out the bad with more of the good.

I filled my plate with colorful vegetables, leafy greens, olive oil, avocados, fish, nuts, and whole grains. I minimized processed foods, sugary snacks, and refined carbs, but I didn’t cut anything out entirely. The goal wasn’t restriction; it was balance.

To my surprise, that balance worked wonders. Over the next year, I lost 65 pounds. But even more importantly, my liver enzymes normalized, my energy returned, and I felt like I had regained control of my body. I wasn’t just losing weight—I was reversing internal inflammation and giving my liver a chance to recover.

Navigating pregnancy and liver health

Not long after that, I became pregnant with my first child. Naturally, I worried about how pregnancy might affect my progress. But I made a decision early on to continue following the Mediterranean-style diet, adjusted to meet my prenatal nutritional needs.

I kept focusing on nutrient-dense foods: fresh produce, lean proteins, omega-3 fats, and fiber-rich carbohydrates. I stayed active in ways that felt safe, like walking and gentle prenatal workouts. To my surprise, I not only maintained my previous weight loss during pregnancy—I actually felt better than ever. After giving birth, I even lost a bit more weight naturally, and my postpartum labs showed that my liver and cholesterol markers were holding steady.

My second pregnancy was a different story

But then came my second pregnancy—and everything changed. My body responded completely differently this time. My metabolism slowed, my hunger increased, and no matter how closely I followed the same principles, the weight wouldn’t budge. My liver enzymes started creeping up again, and my cholesterol followed. I was exhausted and frustrated, feeling like I was doing everything “right” without seeing results.

That’s when my doctor and I revisited my options. Given my history of fatty liver disease, cholesterol elevation, and metabolic slowdown after pregnancy, she recommended trying a GLP-1 medication as part of my ongoing liver health strategy. GLP-1s (short for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) help regulate appetite, stabilize blood sugar, and support fat metabolism—all crucial factors for both weight management and liver health.

Combining the Mediterranean lifestyle with GLP-1 therapy

Starting a GLP-1 wasn’t an instant fix, but it was a major turning point in my NAFLD management journey. It allowed my appetite and cravings to normalize again, much like how I felt when I first changed my eating habits years before. I could return to focusing on quality food choices rather than constantly fighting hunger.

I continued following my Mediterranean-inspired, anti-inflammatory approach—emphasizing olive oil, salmon, eggs, legumes, leafy greens, berries, and nuts—and paired it with consistent movement and hydration. Within a few months, I began to notice improvements: better energy, improved digestion, and gradual weight loss.

But the most rewarding part was my lab results. My liver enzymes began to improve, my cholesterol began to drop, and my provider confirmed that the combination of diet, lifestyle, and GLP-1 therapy was effectively supporting both my metabolic and liver health.

Valuable lessons from my liver health journey

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this process, it’s that health is not linear. What works beautifully at one stage of life might need to be adjusted at another. Pregnancy, hormones, and stress all play a huge role in how the body responds to diet and metabolism.

For me, the Mediterranean diet laid the foundation for liver healing and sustainable wellness. But adding a GLP-1 later on helped me bridge the gap when my body needed extra support. It wasn’t about taking shortcuts—it was about giving my body the tools it needed to function properly again.

Final thoughts on living with NAFLD

Today, I continue to live by those Mediterranean principles—eating for nourishment, not perfection. My meals are colorful, flavorful, and full of foods that support my liver and overall health. GLP-1 has simply enhanced my ability to stay consistent and manage the metabolic shifts that followed two pregnancies.

Reversing fatty liver and regaining metabolic balance takes time, patience, and the right approach to your NAFLD management journey. Whether through nutrition, medication, or both, the goal is always the same: creating a lifestyle that supports healing, not just quick results.