WORKING FOR HERSELF
WORDS Joshua Brosnahan PHOTOS Shayden Whipps
It’s not often you’d cross a lawyer with a budding chef – but Elle Chrisp, the face behind Elle Herself manages to juggle both with ease. Elle Herself is a platform brimming with free recipes and fitness content as well as tips and tricks, for an active lifestyle. Elle created her website and social media as a way to document and share what she was doing to restore herself to her optimum best.
“Entering into my 30s, I had fallen into some pretty bad habits, and my lifestyle choices meant that I was gaining weight, bloated all the time, and lacked energy. I didn’t want to start off a new decade feeling like rubbish.”
Elle set out on a journey of self- improvement and made it her mission to motivate and inspire others who feel like they can’t make a lasting change or reach their goals. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. In the beginning, she felt like all the odds were stacking against her. While working as a junior litigation lawyer, the demands of the job meant it was hard to fit in workouts in around her daily routine.
“I also found that I was using food as a mechanism for dealing with the stress and anxiety I felt. At the end of the day, all I wanted to do was sit on the couch and eat comfort food.”
By following a ketogenic diet, Elle has lost 18 kilos, has more energy, clearer skin, better sleeping habits, and no longer has the dreaded ‘3pm sugar-slump’.
You don’t have to buy expensive speciality products to follow keto. The majority of the items Elle buys are from the supermarket and are easily accessible.
“I always remind my audience that when it comes to weight loss, there isn’t anything particularly special about keto, other than because the food you’re eating is higher in fat, you feel full and more satisfied. This helps you maintain a moderate calorie deficit without feeling like you’re deprived or hungry – and if you maintain a calorie deficit for long enough, you lose weight.”
Typical keto foods for Elle include granola with yoghurt and berries, chicken salads, and even nachos, curry, or even pizza. Dessert is absolutely on the menu – chocolate mousse, or jelly and cream.
When quizzed about the future, Elle is excited. She hopes to start a family soon with her husband, Dave.
“We’ve both always struggled with our weight, and this is the first time neither of us considers our weight an issue. We used to visit our doctors and be reminded that we were in unhealthy ranges, but all of that has changed. We will never go back to our old habits, so the future for us will continue to be filled with delicious keto recipes and embracing an active lifestyle following our favourite workouts.
“You don’t have to be keto to enjoy my low- carb, keto-friendly recipes, like my peppermint slice! They work perfectly for those who want to cut back on their gluten and sugar intake without feeling like you are missing out. Who can resist a slice of gluten-free, sugar-free peppermint slice?! Definitely not me!”
Find Elle Herself on Instagram here