Being lighter

I am sure you can see I haven't posted in awhile. Alot has happened for me in the last 8 weeks.

While I write this I am sitting on a couch in aix en provence in France. I've visited Paris and Nice and tomorrow we return to Paris. My new favourite city....Sorry New York!

Iv also recently separated from my partner of 7.5 years and lost my goal weight of 15kgs.
And no, the two above are not linked. I worked very hard and was very disciplined on the skin renewal medical weight loss program to feel how I feel today.
And it's been 6weeks since I stoop d the program and I have maintained. And eaten bad food in France.

So my current state of affairs is bittersweet. I haven't felt or looked this good in years, I'm down 4 dress and pant sizes and I can run and climb stairs with ease as there is no extra weight making me unhealthy.
Yet I have lost my best friend and feel alone.
But I feel lighter than ever so perhaps all this change is what I needed.

They always say that the universe creates your path and what is meant to be will be. I have to trust in that and stay committed to my focus for 2018.
And that was all about me.
I don't mean that in a self centred way but I had forgotten that I needed to be number one.

My focus has to be turning resentment into wonder.

So thank you Paris for helping me with this and allowing me to start my year with focus on me.

3 weeks down and 3 weeks to go

I haven't posted in awhile.

Guess life has got in the way.
Interesting how the diet, injecting and prep is now part of my routine and I'm very happy to say I haven't let it slip once.

However with being back at work and planning our national company function made me neglect the blog.

I'm feeling great. And super healthy.
I am however starting to crave the "bad food" and going out for dinners. That's normal.
But there will be plenty of time for that from end of February.

The best or bittersweet thing is putting on new shorts I bought 5 weeks ago and they miles to big. I love them but I love my new butt and hips more...Guess I'll be going to the tailor more.

Anyways, will post again soon.

Lauren Leigh xxx to

The skin renewal medical weight loss has begun....let me explain

I'm not a dieter. I don't care what the scale says. And I love my food.

Ok so Iv gained a few kgs. Wait let's be open and honest....Iv gained 22KGs in 4 years.
Huh?

Ok so I have to buy bigger dress and pants size. That's ok. Plus sizes have cool stuff.
Um no, I'm not getting the sizes right...I need bigger?

Ok so I have to go for health checks. It's just vitality.

Ok so I have cysts and endometriosis. Its just a surgery.
P.s. worst experience ever!!!!

Ok so I have borderline inflamed gut or ulcer and insulin resistance which could become diabetes.
Oh and doing daily life is now really hard. And painful.

Ok so I have painting chest and my hearts sore. That's normal right?

WHAT????
No this is not ok for anyone.

It is not ok that I haven't listened to my body. I haven't looked at the warning signs.
I have convinced myself it's ok to push on...I'm young and will be fine.

I wasn't fine. And I'm not 20 anymore.

My lack of care for myself was impacting my relationships with people, my work, my happiness and my health.

So I started researching.

A lot of you have been so supportive of this journey I'm on. Thank you.
Thank you for knowing me well enough to know that for me to go this route....things were drastic.

Some of you don't agree with the plan I'm doing. That's ok, thank you for your support and criticism. It's all about learning for me.

As I mentioned, I believe quick fixes are bullshit and these diets are crazy.
But I have done close on 2 months research on the eating plan or diet, the injectable, the brand skin renewal and the lifestyle.

This included speaking to people who have done it...good and bad results and researching  endless medical papers.
I also watched a hoard of films on sugar, eating vegan etc.

I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the support I have got from skin renewal. The nurse is great and so attentive.
I don't feel alone.
I feel I can talk about my health openly and not hide hence the blogs and social media.

Everyone has opinions. Never stop that. Enjoy it and share.

This is my journey.

I'm on day 3 of the medical weight loss and feeling great.
I haven't been drinking enough water which is very naughty and have had the odd headache and hunger pang around 9pm every night.

The food is good, healthy and easy.
Although the washing up and dirty dishes is insane...see pic below.

I'm feeling lighter and as if this is becoming a routine.

I am even used to the million supplement (all natural ) that I'm taking.

I'm grateful I chose to start my focus on me in 2018.

If you have any questions, pop me a message.

Night night.

Lauren Leigh xxx

Day 3 and I'm feeling awesome

It's the end of day 3 of the detox or cleanse and prep.

By day 5 I'll be sharing personal information as to why I'm doing this.
Yes I could have kept this private but I chose not to. I chose to share this because I'm not a dieter yet I needed help....I want to inspire others to be healthy and learn more.

And tonight I'm lying on the fatsak at 9pm without a migraine - yay! This is a huge win for me. I feel amazing.
Except for the bags under my eyes which are apparently part of the process.

I'm also really proud of myself for visiting kleinskys today in Sea point and not being tempted while Ryan ate his bagel, also drinking water and eating cucumber and hummus while the boys had chips and beers in the tree house for afternoon sundowners and.....cooking pork chops for Ryan and not eating any!

I had a visit to sister Serena at skin renewal Claremont today to collect my next lot of goodies (check my cool carrier and ice hand glove in the pics), check in, have a chat and take photos.
She's fantastic. Such a great support.
Oh and I got a vitamin b booster shot.

So here's to health and following what's right for you at this time in your life.

Night night

Lauren Leigh xxx

Day 1 of the 5 day Cleansing and preparation

It's nearly 8pm and I'm shattered. Maybe it's mental or maybe this detox works this quickly but I'm exhausted after my first day injecting and eating  clean for the 5 day prep and cleansing detox before the skin and body renewal medical weight loss program.

My day started with an injection of MIC....this is methionine, inositol and choline. A combination lipotropic injection ideal for fat metabolism, amino acid, vitamin b and detoxification of the liver.

The food throughout my day was tasty but I craved deep fried and sugary goodness. Which I obviously didn't do...it was hard but I said no.

Breakfast was oatmeal, almond milk and a peach.
Lunch was a potato and home made hummus.
Dinner was grilled trout, asparagus and a green leaf and pickled ginger salad.
Snacks were a few nuts and almond butter.

I'm so excited to see the change in my health. So for some of you these posts may be boring....Sorry for you.
For others I hope to inspire you.

Have a great evening

Lauren Leigh xxx

Happy New Years 2017

Right now people around the world have either celebrated New year's eve already and are well into there 1 January hang over eating pizza and ghost pop chips. Or they prepping to start celebrating the end of 2017 with friends, family,booze and yummy food.

For me, this has been a trying year. I guess a lot of people say that - I guess everyone has their own version of a good and bad year.

It's been a year of hard work, just missing goals set at the end of 2016, visits to doctors, health scares and anxious waiting for results, going up a dress size, feeling toxic and unhealthy and trying to convince myself that all of this was normal.
But it's not.
Driven by stress, my inner voice saying it will go away and laziness, I have turned into someone I also said I wouldn't become.

So unfortunately I have the cliche of a new years resolution.....lose weight, get healthy, remove toxins, stop drinking etc.
Well actually it'd going to be a year focused on me.

I'm not a diet person at all. In fact I'm the total opposite. I love good food and wine and trying to follow restricted eating plans or eating grilled chicken every meal sounds suicidal to me. I also don't believe in scales. I believe in feeling good in your body.

Yet, with the help of sister serena at skin renewal in Claremont I start a new journey to a healthy me on 2 January.
So for those of you who want to follow my journey please stay tuned.
It's going to be raw and unfiltered but that's what I want to share.

My new years resolution is to be a skinny sober bitch (well not the bitch part - I just liked this meme from my good friend steph)

Happy New year's everyone. Hope it's a good one

Love
Lauren Leigh xxx

Simplicity and made with love

I have been fortunate enough to recently travel to Italy and Spain. In fact, as I type this, I am lying on the couch in an airbnb in Bilbao, Spain.

This evening we had simple pintxos in a bar. Pintxos are a small snack eaten in bars traditional to northern Spain. There was nothing small about these but let's go with the dictionary definition for now.

Olives soaked in garlic olive oil, chorizo cooked in cider and anchovies on tomatoe soaked bread. All traditional. All simple. All delicious.

My partner and I were discussing how we (or people in general) complicate food. With spices and toppings and too much stuff.
Eating here has been simple. Pure, wholesome and raw flavours. The food has been prepared with love and mindfulness. And with intention.

We both noticed we feeling healthier (although this could be the average 20km we walking a day) but it has impacted us and our well-being.

So when we get home, back to cape town, food will be simple. Made with love and pure flavour.

Be grateful. We have a lot at our disposal.

Chat soon

Laurenleigh