NOURISH

My 21 Days to Remission

I am the woman who put my 7 years of suffering with a chronic disease into remission after just 21 days.

So what’s happened to the caffeine guzzling, chocolate-bar munching, gin and fizz swigging friend /colleague you used to know??

Well, the answer is for the last 7 years I’ve been living behind a mask of “I’m fine”, taking a cocktail of 60+ tablets a week, but struggling with simple daily tasks such as unscrewing the milk bottle lid, pulling on socks or doing up my bra as I had been suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic auto immune disease when your own immune system turns against you and attacks your joints, causing pain and inflammation, for 8 years… in relative silence?

Every morning became a real struggle to haul my swollen limbs out of bed and I regularly needed a long soak in a hot bath to get my hand and shoulder joints functioning, before I could get ready for work, sort the families breakfast, pack the school lunches and do the school drop off before getting to work for 9am !!!

In the last 5 years I annually succumbed to 3 to 4 months of steroids, on top of my daily meds, to alleviate my increasing flare ups, which thankfully reduced my inflammation, but the long term side effects which included acid reflux, reduction in calcium and hence brittle bones, weight gain, poor sleep and irritable mood swings ALL became a constant threat and worry for me.

Reynard’s and chapped swollen joints for winter

I felt old before my time and used to live in fear that, having sat in many a hospital waiting room for my biannual RA check-up, noting the breadth of age and severity of how Rheumatoid Arthritis prays on you around me, that if I didn’t keep active, healthy and free from anxiety I could also be wheelchair bound and on oxygen tank at under 50?

All of which is easier said than done when you’re at the height of your career, focussing on your 9-7pm Dream Job and juggling the demands of the family, plus enjoying the downtime of socializing with friends… I knew the meds were keeping my head above water so I could show up at work but I wasn’t able to prioritise my, or the family’s, health !!.

But turning 50 was a hugely pivotal point for me and having asked for a White piano for my birthday, I started weekly lessons again to keep my hands mobile, made a considered effort to build in relaxation ‘ me time’ in the form of art courses in Cornwall, plus we bought a family paddle board to build up my inner core (as well as having lots of holiday fun on it?)

"I wish I wasn’t so healthy..."~ said no-one EVER!

However, in the lockdown of 2020 three life-changing incidents caused me to pause, take stock and re-prioritise my, and my family’s, future health and happiness…

I sadly lost my beloved father after a brave fight in 2019, to cancer, ending his days in a hospice.
I decided to take voluntary redundancy from Sainsbury’s after 25 years in the Fashion retail industry, to pursue my passion for art.
During lockdown my mother had a heart attack and, despite being classified as vulnerable, I had no choice but to move in for 3 months and nurse her back to full health!

So, when someone offered me the gift of a pain free life with reduced reliance on my weekly medication last year I jumped at the opportunity… what had I got to lose?

No joint pain or significant flare up for 3 months
Nov /Dec 2020 – My RA consultant reported my Disease Acceleration Score had reduced from 5.17 in March 20 to 1.46 and hence put me into remission and by Dec I came off my Steroids FOREVER !!
Dietary changes – gluten free, caffeine free, no pasta or rice, soya or almond milk, daily fruit and veg and no dairy chocolate (only dark for a treat!)
Improved energy levels due to deeper sleep pattern resulting in regular exercising – running 2 x week, Pilates 2 x week and walking daily
Easy regime to follow with a bonus Weight loss of 5lbs to 11stone 5lbs

Would you like these results too? Then click below to find out how I can help you?

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It was pure fate when I met Trisha Quinn – a fitness instructor, Synergy Worldwide Team member and biochemist on a charity Pilates zoom event that she organised during lockdown to support fundraising for the hospice where my father had passed away.

Little did I know that, in contacting her with the ambition to enquire about joining her Pilates classes, she would become my Florence Nightingale and catalyst for transforming my own health and wellbeing as well as encouraging me to consider starting my own business in the industry to support others with their health.

After completing a health questionnaire together , it was apparent from my results that my gut was under significant pressure and she strongly recommended I tried a 21 day Purify gut detox programme, and although hugely cynical about supplements, I embarked on the supported programme in August 2020 with the main ambition of reducing my weekly medication.

I was absolutely blown away by the results and the family really enjoyed the new nutritious diet I was knocking up! The real bonus was that in November 2020 my RA consultant put me into remission and reduced my reliance on steroids completely!!!

I know that I would struggle to value anything higher than my health right now, be it physical or mental…especially with the back drop of a recent pandemic!

My new lifestyle, along with my improved nutrition and Synergy supplements have become my Private Health Insurance.

So since kick starting my new health regime in 2020 with Synergy , and reducing my RA meds, I have maintained this new lifestyle for 2 years by creating 5 Healthy Habits focussing on…

Detoxing my Gut, 3 times a year.
Adjusting my diet , to caffeine and gluten free., cooking from fresh with limited sugar, dairy and processed carbs, increasing my protein, leafy greens and fruit .
Maintaining and supporting my nutrition with natural food supplements
Regular weekly exercise
Creating mindful relaxation me time

Plus the good news is in listening to my gut I know I can still have the odd decaf latte, dark chocolate and glass of fizz because its all about BALANCE!

Detoxing my Gut, three times a year.

Adjusting my diet following a Synergy DNA test that highlighted my intolerances to caffeine and gluten free. Cooking from fresh with limited sugar, dairy and processed carbs, increasing my protein, leafy greens and fruit

Regular weekly exercise & Maintaining and supporting
my nutrition with natural food supplements

So, as you can see from these recent photos, by prioritising my health and nutrition, I have regained my Zest for life, rediscovered Bags of Energy for exercise and family time and reduced my reliance on my medication, so that I can be around longer to make more memories with my daughter and hopefully my grandchildren too!!

Hopefully I’m proof that in my 50’s it’s never too late to prioritise and invest in your health and that’s why I’ve launched my business committed to helping you do just that !

So if the time is right and you have 21 days to kick start your gut health, please click here to find out more ?

21 days to detox