MY JOURNEY:
FROM STRUGGLES TO STRENGTHS
2010: Where it All Began.
My health optimisation journey began in 2010. I was weighing in at 55kg, and I was trapped in a cycle of a crippling eating disorder and relentless exercise addiction. I felt lost and isolated, struggling to find any balance in my life. Determined to change, I immersed myself in understanding my behaviour and relationship with food and exercise.
It started with cooking, and ironically, Masterchef was a lightbulb moment. From there, I explored cooking and bought recipe books. This led to me working in a prestigious London restaurant called Moro and then travelling to Lebanon to work in a kitchen for a taste of the food and culture experience for two weeks.
Diving into dietary research gave me a glimmer of hope, but my struggles persisted, and little did I know, my journey was far from over.
2015: The Unknown Pathogen
On what was supposed to be a dream holiday, I contracted a severe case of food poisoning from an unknown pathogen.
Not knowing about the alternatives at the time, I took a heavy course of antibiotics that disrupted my digestion and immune system, leaving me feeling vulnerable and frustrated.
My body just never felt the same after that.
2015: Protein-Rich Diet and Training
Secondly, 2015 was the year where I found a passion for resistance training and movement. Like any self-respecting bodybuilder, I devoured protein all day, every day.
For me, the protein of choice was vast quantities of raw bluefin tuna in sushi and sashimi (I wasn’t a dry chicken breast kind of guy). However, I was unaware of the high mercury content.
Little did I know that a year or two later, this would be another major problem for me.
2017: The Moldy Basement
For over seven years, I worked in my family's antique business, completely unaware of the mold lurking in the basement and its effects on my health. But in 2017, I was working with a nutritional therapist who asked me if I’d ever been exposed to damp conditions or musty smells. I’ll never forget the lightbulb moment I had when I was asked this question. It was like everything just clicked into place.
The realization that this toxic environment had been silently affecting my health was the final blow. I felt overwhelmed, but for the first time in years, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I started making small steps every day to get my health back on track and as the weeks rolled by I began to feel “human” for the first time in as long as I could remember.
2018: The Genetic Discovery
A year or two into my bodybuilding journey, I discovered I had several genetic predispositions that made it nearly impossible for my body to detoxify and I was devastated. It turns out I was incapable of efficiently detoxifying and methylating environmental toxins and natural metabolic by-products.
It felt like my body was betraying me at every turn, and I was now burdened by toxins I couldn't efficiently eliminate.
2018: Finding the Solutions
During 2018, I delved deeper into understanding the root causes of my physical and mental struggles, and I felt a profound sense of purpose. I found alternative solutions and identified areas in my diet, lifestyle, and mentality that needed change. This journey of self-discovery and healing ignited my vision to create Live Vitae, a health and lifestyle coaching platform dedicated to helping others through my personal experiences and knowledge gained along the way.
When I realised how many other people were suffering like I had, I began pouring everything into Live Vitae.
At this point - I knew I had to leave my family business. From my experience in the trenches with, working with 10+ clinicians and health professionals - I decided to train as a nutritionist and help others what I discovered. I embarked on my Nutritional Therapy Diploma, the first of many qualifications to start the journey of becoming a clinician.
2019: I’m Back
I achieved a significant milestone: becoming a qualified level 3 personal trainer and certified health coach. My transformation was incredible—I now weighed 100 kilograms, nearly double my previous body weight. I felt empowered, thriving with energy and ready to help others.
2020 - 2023: Levelling Up
In 2020, I proudly registered as a nutritional therapist (DipION), recognised by mBANT CNHC. I began working with clients both face-to-face at my Harley Street clinic and remotely around the world, fulfilling my dream of making a difference in people's lives.
I took the leap in leaving the UK and taking Live Vitae remotely online to practise what I preach and flex my health. This also brought opportunities to work with clients worldwide, from royalty in the UAE to soccer players in Mexico and Europe.
Over the next few years, I continued learning from and being mentored by leaders in the health optimization field, which has been a profound experience. Attending seminars and online courses continually expands my knowledge, fuels my passion and is something I will never stop doing. This continuous personal development means my clients are always receiving the latest advice and precision service within Live Vitae.
For a full list of my training, accreditations and qualifications, click here.
2024: Looking to the Future
My passion for health optimization is burning stronger than ever. I’m honoured to have worked with over 243 clients in 19 countries around the world.
In 2024, I launched Oath Foods Co as one of the co-founders bringing a nose to tail experience from all my cooking and nutrition wisdom to market
As a team, we’re dedicated to bringing health optimization to a global audience. To date, we have built a community of 430,000 people through social media channels. Every day, I strive to inspire and share knowledge through recipes, nutritional advice, and the latest health news.
This website is now my most comprehensive platform for communicating with this incredible community. It offers recipes, research, lifestyle optimizations, podcast appearances, press releases, and event updates.
If you’re struggling with poor health and want to live a healthier, happier, longer life - you’re in the right place.
With gratitude, kindness and good health.
Ryan Carter,
Founder Live Vitae
Registered Nutritionist mBANT CNHC DipION
