Raleigh is belly happy

LIFESTYLE and wellness expert Lisa Raleigh has been an exercise specialist for more than 15 years, with her specialities including wellness, digestion, stress management, obesity and, more recently, fitness technology.

When she gave birth to her first child this year, Raleigh embraced motherhood with all the enthusiasm she puts into everything else.

She’s definitely our poster mom for Christmas.

The TV trainer, who has worked on The Biggest Loser, co-presented Doctor’s Orders and regularly appears as the health and wellness consultant on SABC3’s daily morning show Expresso, isn’t just South Africa’s face of wellness but also of motherhood.

She did a special shoot with baby Bella Sky and husband Stafford Masie for us, before heading on holiday.

Raleigh says: “I’m thrilled to be starting some new traditions as a family – always featuring a real Christmas tree and stockings. Our usual December overseas trip is obviously out of the question, so we’re looking forward to a lot of R&R at our farm in Dargle, in the Midlands.

“Stafford is also father to two wonderful teenage girls, and this will be my first Christmas as their stepmom. There is always a fun early Christmas we hold with them in Johannesburg ahead of the 25th but with all the usual festivities – and I can’t wait for baby Bella to be a part of it this year.”

Raleigh’s next book is due for release in March and is titled The Belly Book, which is in line with her new role as a mom.

She has also launched a new online initiative titled Mumentoes (www.mumentoes.wordpress.com), which brings new families and parents-to-be wellness-related content across various mediums.

For more info, visit www. lisaraleigh.co.za or visit the official Facebook or Twitter page.