Shakira Henry

Loving the life changes.....

Self love is paramount, attracting unconditional love,

abundance and high vibrational experiences.

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Newly converted vegan, yogi and blogger!

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Passionate about feeling good on the inside and keeping it amazing on the outside too! 

Image and Design Consultant - www.maddisonstones.co.uk 

My gosh its all happening at once!! 

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Diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in 2009 following a series of completely unrelated blood test which provided an indication that I had an autoimmune disease. Between 2009 -2010 I undertook numerous trips to the rheumatologist, kinesiologist, nutritionist and acupuncturists. I was determined to fight this disease without becoming dependent on the medication I had been advised I would have to take for the rest of my life.

 

2011, saw an immense diet change – I began being a vegan for the first time! Whilst on this journey I had limited information, limited resources and absolutely no personal guidance from anyone as I didn't know anyone who was going through what I was or had  opted for a plant based diet. I literally resorted to gathering as much information as I could from the internet and a few books which has testimonies from people that swore that a vegan diet fully eradicated lupus from their lives. I was sold  and became a fully fledged vegan – unfortunately 3 months later, 1 stone lighter, with my body in agony on a daily basis and extremely miserable I went back to incorporating meat, fish and diary into my diet.

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I was devastated that I had failed to see the results that all of these people I had read about swore by. I started taking an arrange of med’s that year and every trip to see my consultant at the hospital was like a process of elimination more then a medical consultation– every time we would just go through which tablet wouldn’t make me feel sick, which one wouldn’t make my hair fall out, which one wouldn’t affect my eye sight, which one wouldn’t cause bone, kidney and liver damage etc etc. Ultimately it became apparent that I would have to continue to take the medication prescribed by the hospital to alleviate the pain I was experiencing on a daily basis and also continue to have a ‘rounded’ diet as encouraged by my consultant which he advised should include meat and fish. The med's were supposed to help with the pain  and that was it as there is no cure and I would just have to get used to it.

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With another 6 years under my belt – the ‘flair up’s continue to occur on a monthly basis despite the medication which according to my consultant ‘handcuffs’ the antibodies in my body preventing them from running rife. Funny that despite the medical practitioner’s assurance I still experience pain irrespective of the medication, irrespective of the weather, irrespective of the season or anything else they claim eliminates the symptoms or is known to be key triggers for flair ups.

 

Feeling like I have exhausted every possible option available to provide myself with a pain free existence – I didn’t mention earlier that I also did exercise, reiki, massage, hypnotherapy, novasonic therapy, took 23 supplements a day and took Chinese medicine – all setting me back hundreds of pounds …to no avail.

 

This year I found yoga!! I was encouraged to practice yoga years ago – but then I didn’t like it! The instructor was rude, the poses were too hard and it was just too slow for me ( I used to do dance when I was younger and was used to being stimulated by fast tempo and quick paces). I left it – as I did the diet – the motivational books and the other things I had heard, read and been advised that may help me. Only to return to the practice again this year and absolutely fall in love with it.

 

Doing yoga on a daily basis has completely transformed my emotional state and outlook on life. I have a sense of calm that I have never had before and I feel happier most days then I have for a very long time. Feeling in much better spirits it leads me to considering altering the diet once again because clearly the ‘rounded’ diet I had been encouraged to stick to by my consultant clearly had no benefits toward ridding me of the pain as 6 years later I still feel it. So one morning following a night of not being able to move whilst I slept without being woken by excruciating pains in both of my arms, shoulders and back, I decided to become a vegan!

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I emptied my cupboards, fridge and freezer of food items that I could not and would not consume. I completed a massive online grocery shop getting all cupboard basics, fully vegan and gluten free. I spent the next week gathering an abundance of recipes, more ingredients and basically educating myself on what’s beneficial from a health perspective and also what is tasty as I had no intention of living on lettuce.

 

With 2 months of being a vegan successfully accomplished I feel unstoppable. I’m loving the varied food options available online, in restaurants via app’s and also recommendation as so many people have converted now. I feel completely at ease and at home with my life changes, in fact I feel amazing! The lupus pains haven’t subsided yet however I am hopeful that they will in time and my body will be fully flushed of all of the harmful things I put in it for the last 40 years!

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I am positive, optimistic and actually excited about this new road I am going down and as my friends have been on my case to share what I eat – I have set up this blog! I hope you enjoy it and I can share enough lovely food options to get rid of the stigma that vegan food is bland and boring. I personally love seasonings spices and pepper – so they will be fully included in most dishes.

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Disclaimer: I’m using my faithful old dutch pot! It’s not pretty but it holds on to the flavor and that’s what’s important! So no judgment please!!

 

Peace & an abundance of love

Shakira x

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