HOME-MADE MAYONNAISE
MAKES 20 SERVINGS
KEEP ON TRACK per serving
FAT 11G CARBS 0G PROTEIN 0G
2 tsp vinegar 2 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard salt and pepper 1 cup olive oil or avocado oil 1 egg yolk
1. Place vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper in a jug or jar that fits your stick blender. 2. Add the oil. 3. Break the egg in a cup, making sure to keep the yolk whole. Drop the yolk into the jug and let it settle at the bottom. 4. Position the head of a stick blender over the egg yolk and blitz for at least 20 seconds. You will see the oil emulsify. After 20 seconds, start moving the blender around until all the oil is mixed in. The mayo can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks. TIP: Add some garlic, garlic powder or even some chilli flakes for extra flavour.
“I’ll do it with you”. And that was the start of it all.’
Two years before that, Howard was told that his blood sugar levels were dangerously high. The dietician had told him that his sugar was a bit high, but to exercise more and eat less and he’d be fine.’ But Natalie wasn’t satisfied. ‘We went to the centre for diabetics and they told him to watch his carb intake. He dropped sugar completely and replaced it with xylitol, but we still didn’t understand the carb aspect.’
Once their low-carb lifestyle was in full swing, Howard started shedding kilos at an incredible rate. ‘He’s lost 45kg and even completed the Cape Town Cycle Tour a few times,’ says Natalie. ‘A few months ago, a doctor said to him, “Howard, you no longer have diabetes!”’
Howard underwent bypass surgery to repair his damaged arteries (caused by diabetes) and shocked the doctors with his turnaround. ‘Every single doctor – the cardiologist, the cardiac surgeon, the anaesthetist – all separately said to us that if he hadn’t changed his lifestyle four years ago, he would have died.’
Natalie has lost a total of 65kg and couldn’t be happier. She’s become passionate about sharing her journey with others and qualified as a certified Banting and keto coach. Her Facebook page ‘Living Keto With Nat’ is home to a community of more than 1 000 members who share recipes, advice and queries. ‘I’m fanatically in love with this way of eating. Many people in my community see my transformation and also want to do it – that’s why I did the courses, because you want to learn more about what you are doing,’ she explains.
Natalie says she’ll never return to her previous lifestyle. ‘This is normal to me now,’ she says. ‘I battled with my weight for so long; I never thought I’d see myself reach these amazing goals. The same goes for Howard.’
Despite her commitment to low-carb, Natalie encourages her new members not to be too hard on themselves. ‘If you’re going to stick to something, you need to feel comfortable. If you’ve eaten something wrong, pick yourself up and move on. We’ve been brought up to believe, “You’re so fat, you’re such a bad person,” and we have to change that mentality. Eating doesn’t make you a bad person. Once you’ve figured that out, you’re on your way. That’s why I’m very lucky that my husband does it with me.’
For Natalie, the perks go far beyond the weight loss. ‘I no longer have arthritis pain and I don’t feel tired any more,’ she says. ‘I don’t feel that exhaustion. And I can sit on the plane and tie the seatbelt without spilling over the seat. It’s the little things. I can now walk into a shop and buy a dress from the rack. I can’t explain how that feels for someone who used to have custom clothing made! Banting has improved my quality of life so dramatically, and it’s saved my husband’s life. I recommend it to everyone!’