What a 70lb weight loss looks like on a 5'8" 54yr old female!

ABSOLUTELY! I believe the nutritional changes in my diet alone accounted for at least half of my health improvements. Doctors are at least a decade behind in the research for autoimmune disease treatments. Doctors may try to treat the damage that has already occurred with prescriptions, surgery and devices, but they know virtually nothing about how to prevent further damage. That leaves patients to investigate the research on our own. I'm now gluten-free, no added sugars or sweeteners, eat less than 40% carbs, eat lean meats and good fats, and minimize processed foods (including alcohol). I didn't do it all at once. Even if I had known all these changes would help me, it would have been too daunting. I started by using MFP. Once I became 100% gluten free for about a month, I saw huge changes (even a trace spirals me into severe flare ups for weeks). A light went off. I realized these changes were no longer a choice, but a medical necessity. Looking better is nice, but regaining and maintaining my health is priceless.