A MUM-of-three who battled a chronic illness has been inspired to launch a new business based on her own personal experience.

Lorraine Cunningham, from Dirleton, struggled with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) while working in a high-stress management job in her late 20s.

Her condition was so debilitating it became clear she would have to make lifestyle changes.

Now Lorraine, who is known as Lolly to her friends, family and clients, has drawn on her hard times to launch her own company Nutritious Lolly, offering nutrition advice to people which can fit around busy lifestyles.

Lorraine 37, said: “I had a really stressful role in my previous career and slowly but surely it started to get to the point that it was making me incredibly unwell.

“IBS is an acute illness and very quickly it can have a profound effect on your life.

"The shocking thing is that one in five people in the UK will suffer from it at some stage in their lives, yet most people don’t like to talk about it, probably because of embarrassment.

“The traditional ways used to treat IBS didn’t really work for me and, from my own research, I discovered quite quickly just how incredibly important good nutrition is, in not only improving conditions like IBS, but in maintaining your general health.”

Lorraine’s company has already provided help for clients by providing a six-week plan to help them on the right track to feeling good.

And she has received endorsement from East Lothian amateur boxing champion Iain Trotter, who has just signed his first professional contract.

Iain credits Lorraine with much of his success.

He said: “My coach and I had to trust in Lolly that my weight would be spot on for every fight. I had more energy for training, better recovery and always felt I could go an extra round.

“I knew the importance of nutrition in my regime but some of the changes that Lolly made to my diet have made a huge difference.”

Now Lorraine is preparing to launch her first online course the Nutritious Lolly 6-week Whole-Body Plan with a new website.

The new course will feature weekly fitness videos and easy-to-follow recipes as well as handy tips.

She said: “In some ways, the actual nutrition and fitness part of the business is really the easy part. The thing that’s really taken the time is all the business-related matters. I’ve spent a long time ensuring that I have the proposition right, and that the branding and marketing is where it should be.

“I’ve been working with some very talented people and it’s both exciting and nerve-racking to finally be at the stage where we’re ready to launch.”

The Nutritious Lolly 6-Week Whole-Body Plan is an online course that incorporates weekly fitness videos and easy-to-follow recipes.