Laura D's Healthy Cooking Masterclass

Wbff Bikini Pro Laura D is a Force Majeure in the Global Fitness Industry. Her Fresh and Vibrant Look Is Hugely Aspirational, and Has Led to Widespread Success on the Competitive Stage, and as a Model and Businesswoman.

And her latest venture reveals the secret to that success – her diet. Following the launch of the first in a series of recipe ebooks, Laura D’s 20 Lean and Healthy Breakfasts (available soon for download at www.fitnessmag.co.za), we caught up with her to get the inside scoop on how she creates healthy yet tasty recipes that keep her in shape and looking vibrant.

DITCH THE DIET!

“My desire to find healthy alternatives was ignited after a terrible introduction to the competitive bikini industry,” recalls Laura. “My first coach put me on an extremely restrictive diet in an effort to drop weight and body fat before my first show. I ate nothing but chicken and fish every two hours – no fruit or veg, with hardly enough calories to get me through the day. It was horrible; a living hell, not to mention extremely unhealthy, but that is not uncommon in the industry.”

Understandably, Laura didn’t stick with that coach for her next show. “It wasn’t much better with the next one, either. It is one of the industry’s legacy issues that I hope to address with my ebook series, at least in some way”, says Laura.

She therefore decided to take to the internet to find a better way of getting her body ready to step on stage. “During my online research I came across a trainer from the US, who helped me find a healthier approach to contest prep, and helped me develop a training programme, too.”Despite these bad experiences, Laura doesn’t dwell on them, and has chosen to view the process as a learning curve. “I now know that under-eating is the worst thing you can do as it damages your metabolism, and it can take a long time to repair it. And the more you put your body through these extreme diets, the more you damage it.”

Bakers beware!