It’s wild how life has a way of surprising you—especially when you’ve spent a huge chunk of it thinking you’ve done irreparable damage to your body.
I never imagined that after years of addiction, bad decisions, and living like there was no tomorrow, I’d get told—on a podcast, no less—that biologically, I’m 26. At 44. Yes, really.
Let’s rewind a little.
A Childhood Fueled by Sugar and Secrets
For most of my life, I treated my body like a human trash bin.
As a kid, I was already sneaking sweets I wasn’t allowed to have.
I’d steal pick’n’mix from Woolworths and scarf them down in secret, always chasing that sugar high.
By 14, I’d moved on to alcohol—me and a friend knocking back cider and cheap vodka behind railway arches. I woke up hours later in my own vomit.
Gross, right? But it didn’t stop me. In fact, it was just the beginning.
The Teenage Spiral: Cigarettes, Weed and Everything Else
At 15, I was already smoking a full pack of Marlboro Reds a day—those throat-burning ones that feel like sandpaper going down.
Weed was regular, and there was even a poppers phase during my GCSEs.
When I hit my 20s, I met my ultimate enabler: cocaine. It kept me upright when I wanted to keep drinking.
The damage it did to my nose cartilage? Just background noise at the time.
Alongside all this came the mental health fallout: eating disorders, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety.
Honestly, looking back, it’s a miracle I made it through.
Rehab, Rock Bottom and a Wake-Up Call
By the time I staggered into rehab eight years ago, I’d accepted I was an alcoholic and an addict.
The version of me that drank herself into blackouts and found herself in dangerous situations could easily not have made it out alive.
Most nights, I was walking a tightrope between survival and tragedy.
A Podcast Challenge I Couldn’t Resist
Fast-forward to now. When I was invited on a podcast—What’s My Age Again?—where they test your biological age and reveal the result mid-recording, I had serious doubts.
What if I found out I was biologically closer to 80 than 40? But of course, my impulsive, still-slightly-addict self agreed before my rational brain had a chance to object.
A few weeks before recording, a producer showed up at my house to do the GlycanAge test.
It measures inflammation markers in your blood.
I did the finger prick, dripped the blood on the card, and honestly figured they’d come back telling me I was biologically ancient.
The Big Reveal: My Body’s Age Is 26
At the recording studio months later, I sat with Katherine Ryan, nervously anticipating the result.
Forty minutes in, she opened the gold envelope… and told me I was biologically 26.
I burst out laughing. Surely this was a mistake? Maybe someone swapped my sample with an Olympic swimmer’s?
The Science Behind My Shocking Result
Enter Dr Nichola Conlon, a molecular biologist who studies cellular ageing. Surprisingly, she wasn’t shocked.
She explained how your cellular age can improve even if your chronological age can’t.
Basically, the way you live has a huge impact.
Alcohol, for example, makes your body work overtime just to get rid of it, leaving less energy for repairing itself.
Cocaine? Research shows it shortens telomeres, those little caps on your DNA, and that speeds up ageing.
If I’d taken this test at 26, Dr Conlon said, my biological age would probably have been closer to 90. Yikes.
Sobriety and Self-Care Changed Everything
What changed? Eight years of sobriety. That, and building a life that actually supports my body instead of sabotaging it.
Before the podcast, I filled out a survey detailing my lifestyle: diet, exercise, sleep, supplements.
Turns out, my habits now are ideal for slowing down ageing.
I work out five times a week—running about 100km a month—and do strength training to keep my bones and muscles strong.
I also stretch daily, use infrared saunas, and take cold plunges. Sounds intense, but I love it.
From Couch Potato to Wellness Devotee
I didn’t always love exercise. I barely moved until my mid-30s.
But now, I can’t imagine life without it.
As I inch closer to my 45th birthday, I honestly feel better in my body than I ever have.
I quit smoking two years ago. My worst habit now? Scrolling Instagram when I should be cooking dinner.
But I’m usually in bed by 9:30pm with a good book, not my phone.
I also stick to my 12-step meetings, meditate regularly, and get massages to stay grounded.
Supplements, HRT and Feeling Like Myself Again
I take omega-3 and vitamin D—both proven to help reverse biological ageing, according to Dr Conlon.
I’m also on HRT. A lot of people associate oestrogen with just fertility, but every cell in your body relies on it.
When it drops, everything feels off. HRT has been a game-changer.
Living Proof That Health Isn’t About Size
Now, here’s the twist: technically, at around 15 stone, I’m considered obese.
But my health markers tell a different story.
Dr Conlon explained that it’s not always about your size—it’s about your fat levels and how your body responds.
A slight fat reduction can help, but some people are genetically wired to carry more.
Back in my 20s, I looked “healthy” on paper but lived on Quavers and cocaine.
These days, I eat three proper meals, don’t deprive myself of treats, and fuel my workouts with real food—yes, even carbs.
I may be curvier, but I’ve never had more energy or felt better.
Younger in Every Way That Matters
After talking with Dr Conlon, I felt emotional. I still see myself sometimes as that reckless, self-destructive girl. But this result? This is proof that I’ve changed.
My body is literally younger now than it was when I was in my 20s.
Sure, now that I know it’s possible to reverse ageing, my obsessive brain might try to push for a biological age of 18 next.
But for now, as I gear up to celebrate 45, I’ll do so with cake, joy—and a huge amount of gratitude for how far I’ve come.
Because sometimes, the best thing you can give your body isn’t perfection. It’s care.