I grew up a chubby kid with skinny siblings, I was teased a lot due to my excess belly fat, and since I was only a teenager and didn’t know what I know about metabolism now, I ended up with eating disorders.
Starvation was the only way I knew how to reduce my weight, so the cycle of poor eating habits began. The tricky thing was that over one summer, I worked hard to change my appearance, and lost three dress sizes as I:
- exercised like mad
- didn’t eat much
- got my braces off
I entered into my third year of high school and became addicted to the praise due to my root issue: approval addiction.
My walk with obesity, eating disorders, insecurity and shame are why I am so passionate about this topic. These issues robbed me of half my childhood, feeling so embarrassed to secretly take food to my bedroom when my blood sugar regulation was low, and I had no “off-switch” of being full and couldn’t stop eating.
At Rejuv Wellness, we don’t offer a quick fix. We are here to fix your problems and support you with long term solutions to your health challenges. It’s all about wellness and freedom from any eating disorder, disease, pain or mental health challenge that keeps you locked in a cage, and it becomes hard to get out.
How COVID Lockdown Hit My Mental Health & Weight
In February 2020, when COVID hit and schools closed (ours still haven’t opened) I lost my way. I freaked out about homeschooling my three children whilst running an international wellness business. Now, I’ve treated patients online for 15 years, so COVID didn’t change our business as much as others.
What happened was that my body went back into emergency mode and my adrenaline, cortisol, sugar & carb cravings went up, thyroid function and metabolism went down. I gained 7 kg over six weeks for I defaulted back to cheese, wine, bread & sugar. I then lost this weight over the following six weeks (you’ll find me in “before & after” photos on our social media channels).
The point is, even as a naturopath and nutritionist for 23 years I can still go off-piste, but I can find my way back because I have the tools to reset my health, get back to my wellness flow and shift back into optimum mental & physical health.
We’re All Identically Different
Your brain needs glucose to function, but that doesn’t mean your need to carb load, quite the opposite – for the average adult who wants to reduce body fat you’ll get enough from the carbs in fruits and vegetables.
Creating this carb deficit from reducing complex carbs from rice, potato, pasta, gives your body the chance to use your fat as fuel instead and therefore reduces body fat.
It’s not about calorie counting but rather about optimum fuel mix of protein to fats to carb ratios.
If you eat more wild fish, more good fats like olives, avocado & seeds, you won’t be hungry, and you’ll balance your blood sugar levels – so no more cravings.
I’m cautious with nuts for some do well on nuts and others don’t, so take 7 per day and see how your fat burning journey progresses. My body prefers essential fats from oily fish, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, seeds & olives.
Since we are all identically different, your metabolic starting point is something we need to determine by doing the Rejuv 10 Point Wellness Urine Test.
The Cure for Eating Disorders
This philosophy is what I used to cure myself from eating disorders, live lean and not be a slave to food. The other side of the coin relates to function, for like a car you need optimum fuel and functional support.
This is my speciality, I love resetting clients metabolisms, and after my brutal hits, it was vital because as a teenager I ate the same as the rest of my siblings and did lots of sports each day. Still, I was very overweight, and they were super skinny!
So what was going on? This question catapulted me to university to study to become a nutritionist to get the answers for myself and all those who were suffering like me! The solution I found was blood sugar regulation.
I can’t eat carbs like others, my Dad is diabetic, and I’m prone to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).
I need more protein and fats to feel full, not binge, feel satisfied, and help break the power food had over me. I also had a slow metabolic rate, which I have now trained to be fast. It’s now hard for me to gain weight.
My Top 8 Insights To Change Your Metabolism
I’ve used the following tips for thousands of clients over the past 23 years, including Brian McFadden from Westlife who lost two stone (15kg) at the end of 2020! Good clean science and nutrition, no fad diets, a long-lasting lifestyle change was bringing long-term freedom. I call it for I was trapped, confused, ashamed and desperate to find a solution.
These tips can help you break free & stay free from this vicious cycle and shift into the real authentic you!
1. Use Thermogenic Herbs
Warm your system up to boost your metabolism by eating more hot and spicy food: chilli, cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger & green tea. If you find this tricky (like me), try my Rejuv Thermo Metabolic Support Capsules – the first-ever formula I invented to break my food addictions and get free of eating disorders.
2. Interval Training and Metabolism
Use interval training to kick your metabolism for it is not enough to go for a walk if you want to boost your metabolism. Instead, try doing intervals from medium to very hard such as walk for 4 minutes & sprint for 1 minute & sustain this for 30-45 minutes. You can use this principle on your bike or any exercise where you shift from medium to hard.
Supporting your lymphatic system is also crucial. I recommend at least 200 bounces per day on a trampoline or mini rebounder. If you are prone to water retention, try our Water Flo Capsules and take two each night before dinner.
3. Cut The Sugar
Sugar is more addictive than most drugs, so you need to lay this down. One treat meal a week is fine, but you need to keep your weeks clean and then maybe have a treat on weekends.
If you are a little all or nothing like me, then give it up for 100 days & take one day at a time and tell yourself ‘just for today’ and you will reset your metabolism to kill candida, fungus, heal your gut and become a fat-burning machine.
Cloudy apple cider vinegar is also brilliant to support your digestion so that you can absorb your protein to reduce cravings. Many are eating enough protein but are not absorbing it, which is vital. If you don’t like the taste or concern about your teeth’ enamel take 1-2 capsules of my NEW Apple Cider Burn Capsules – a game-changer when it comes to fat burning.
4. Go Pesca-Vegan to Keep Metabolism in Check
Eat clean and increase your fish protein & good fats such as avocado, seeds, olives, coconut, hemp, avocado & nut oils. Fresh eating will keep your metabolism in check and allow you to psychologically stay healthy during the week knowing that you will reward yourself on the weekend.
Since we win the game in our mind, the best is balance over abstinence. By getting your good fat to protein ratios right, you’ll also balance your blood sugar levels and reduce cravings. If you feel you need a little help into this area like I did to break my food addictions, take 2 of our Blood Sugar Support Capsules 30 minutes before lunch and maybe even dinner with a glass of water.
We win the game in our mind!
5. Reduce Inflammation
By keeping your acid wastes in check, all of the 11 systems of your body will be functioning correctly, having a wonderfully positive effect on your metabolism.
Eat more plants & fewer animals and fast track your life, add in a Super Greens Powder. Super Greens will alkalise and supports all the 11 systems of your body. The digestive, nervous, endocrine, skeletal, muscular, cardiac, respiratory, circulatory, immune, integumentary (hair, skin & nails) & excretory systems all benefit from you taking super greens.
Try my Rejuv Super Greens Powder or the formula I invented for Elle Macpherson The Super Elixir. You only need two teaspoons per day.
6. Hydrate to Boost Your Metabolism
Start Your Day With Detox Water. Mix 500ml of filtered water with the juice of half a lemon, half teaspoon of grated ginger, 1-2 pinches of cayenne pepper and one teaspoon of fresh aloe vera inner leaf or 30ml aloe vera juice.
You consist of around 100 trillion cells. If you drink 2-3L filtered water per day, your cells will be like big fat healthy grapes instead of shrivelled up raisins, allowing goodness to flow in & junk to be removed. This takes the pressure off all the systems of the body, thus boosting your metabolism. You will also be less hungry as your brain won’t confuse thirst for hunger.
7. Chew Properly to Support Your Digestion
Help your gut – sounds obvious but chew your food around 20 times per mouthful to support digestion & reduce stagnation. Thorough chewing will also help you feel full as it takes about 20 minutes for your gut to speak to your brain to say you are full. Many overeat by not giving their brain enough time to read how full they are. Limit liquids to maximum 200ml per meal to not dilute your stomach acids. I also recommend taking my Digestive Complex Powder.
It takes about 20 minutes for your gut to speak to your brain to say you are full!
8. Do a Liver Flush & Parasite Full Moon Cleanse
Twice a year as part of my bi-annual seasonal cleanse, I do a liver flush, and parasite cleanse, loading over the full moon. The liver is vital if you want to reset your metabolism. See our blogs below on how to do the liver flush.
We’re also running a detox retreat here in Dubai in a few weeks, from the 12-16th of February if anyone can travel, and wants to join us. It allows you to reset your metabolism and overall health once and for all. Click here for more details about the retreat.
You can choose to do our Liver Flush Essentials Pack or any of our packs for all cleanse your liver, and all of our packs come with the Rejuv Para Cleanse Capsules at no cost if you buy before January 31 2021.
Now is the time to prepare for the ultimate health reset!
