Pantry Founder Kate Lawley talks Clean Eating

"I once counted how many diets I had been on. I think I got into the mid thirties! The Goldilocks Diet, and The Cabbage Soup Diet were up there with my worst top 3! 

I have always battled with weight. I only had to look at food and I would put it on and I was 4 stone heavier.  Like so many women and men, I'd yo-yoed my way through so many punishing diets. Things got worse when at a certain point in my life I lost a lot of weight, and I became paranoid to eat for fear of putting it back on. My relationship with food got progressively worse.

I then met Master Trainer Sue Taylor from Isle Lose It, who introduced me to what I thought was another diet, to go alongside her famous Bootcamps. But something was different. I didnt count calories, omit carbs, eat less or weigh myself 3 times a day like I had done for a very long time. In fact scales were banned from the house. Eat natural food for two weeks she said, and with her guidance I did just that.

​What was this magic? Why did I feel so strong and energised...like I had been given the body of a 12 year old and all I wanted to do was run and jump and climb trees?

​The penny dropped, my lightbulb moment. Food isn't a bad thing, It's medicine. It's renewal. It's energy. All my fears of food seem to melt away and I saw it as a powerful fuel that had a direct impact on my body. And guess what, I maintained a healthy weight, I could almost say...easily.

It's true what our parents and grand parents always said..."As long as you have your health and happiness thats all that matters."

You may be wealthy, you may be talented, you may have the love of an amazing family or spouse. But we need to look after ourselves so that we can enjoy the things that make us happy. Your health, and the health of those you care about is EVERYTHING."

And guess what? I still have treats! I still love a curry or a slice of carrot cake (not together obviously). I live by the 80/20 rule which I will talk more about in our next blog.

We are so excited to be opening our very own clean eating restaurant The Pantry 8020 for our community, in Misterton Nottinghamshire in late June. This will enable us to share more wonderfully delicious healthy food with more and more people.

​Kate Lawley - Founder The Pantry 8020