Blogger Leanne woont al een jaar naakt in de jungle

Vrije tijd door Laura

Een paar jaar geleden werd Leanne Ratcliffe beroemd en berucht met haar extreme fruitdieet. Ze viel 20 kilo af door elke dag 50 bananen te eten. Niets meer, niets minder. Het Amerikaanse 'bananenmeisje' zoekt altijd het randje op. Een jaar geleden liet ze alles achter zich om sindsdien naakt in de jungle te leven. 

 

Although it's seldom, I still feel the pressure to conform in society, to shave my legs and underarms, to paint my face and look a certain way to others. This western self-obsession is a powerful dis-ease to shake. Some days I strut confidently, other days I pick at my insecurities, but everyday I move forward with strong purpose. I sometimes see that look of disgust from certain others at my hairy armpits and legs but I always remind myself - that person is not part of my tribe. Would I really want to spend my valuable time with someone who feels that way? About body hair? A person who thinks I'm disgusting as my natural self? Heck no! 🤷‍♀️Girls, remember, your body hair is a gift, it's protective and part of your being, but maybe best of all it's also a powerful natural fuckboi repellent.😉#gofreeyourself

Een bericht gedeeld door #gofreeyourself #rawtill4 (@freelee_official) op

Roer omgegooid

"Ik werkte eerst in een concrete jungle, nu werk ik gewoon in de jungle", schrijft ze op Instagram bij een foto van haar in een woud met niets meer dan een laptop en geïmproviseerde tafel. "Op een ochtend werd ik wakker met tegenzin om aan het werk te gaan. Ik was uitgeput door de 9 tot 5-routine. Wakker worden door een alarm, een uur naar werk pendelen in een beperkend pak, mijn gezicht opsmeren, mijn voeten binden in hoge hakken en een neppe lach opzetten in het openbaar. Ik had er genoeg van om mijn leven lang te werken om iemand anders rijk te maken. En misschien het ergste: ik verveelde me. Ik wilde opgewonden worden en iets betekenisvol voelen, elke dag. Die ochtend besloot ik om mezelf te bevrijden van het slaaf zijn. Er was toen geen social media dus ik ben zelf overgestapt door personal trainer en ondernemer te worden. Kort daarna ontdekte ik veganisme en mijn echte passie in het leven." Dat was het begin van de extreme levensstijl van Leanne, die zichzelf 11 jaar geleden de naam Freelee heeft gegeven. 

 

I used to work in a concrete jungle, now I just work in the jungle.🐒 How did this happen? Well, I woke up one morning dreading the work day ahead. I was exhausted with the 9-5 grind. Waking to an alarm, commuting over a hour a day dressed in a restrictive suit, painting my face to 'look the part', binding my feet in high heels, and faking a smile to the public. I was sick of working my life away making someone else rich. Maybe the worst, I was bored. I wanted to be turned on and to FEEL something meaningful everyday. That morning I decided to free myself from being a slave. There wasn't any social media back then so I transitioned by becoming a personal trainer with my own business. Soon after I found veganism and my true passion in life.🤝 Don't be afraid, you CAN create this too. One day I will do a video on it. #gofreeyourself #jungleoffice

Een bericht gedeeld door #gofreeyourself #rawtill4 (@freelee_official) op

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#nomakeup

Inmiddels woont Freelee ongeveer een jaar in de jungle in Zuid-Amerika. Haar kleding, make-up en scheermesjes heeft ze aan de wilgen gehangen. Haar nieuwe au naturel levensstijl heeft haar verlost, zegt ze. Ik heb mezelf bevrijd van de 9-to-5 slavenmentaliteit. Ik voel me vrijer dan ooit tevoren."

 

Some say they don’t like the new me and the direction I’m taking. That they miss the ‘old me’. The truth is, I don’t really know ‘who I am’ exactly, or even who the ‘old me’ was. My head is a whirlwind of contradictions. I do know that whenever someone or society tries to puts me in a box, I always escape. I know I’m happiest being free in the jungle. I feel best when I eat only raw foods. I’m obsessed with rare exotic fruits. I tend to overthink things and edit my captions too much. I care deeply for animals. When I’m feeling really good, I often think of something bad. I don’t put enough effort into friendships but I'm working on it. I feel so much joy when other women are empowered. I can be a slow learner and get confused easily. I’m often playfully immature like a child. I can be soft and cuddly, yet fiery and cold.️ I chase the truth. This is just scratching the surface ofcourse. I’m not a robot. I’m always learning, changing, reinventing. I don’t know who I will be in the future but honestly, I’ve never been this excited.☀️ #gofreeyourself

Een bericht gedeeld door #gofreeyourself #rawtill4 (@freelee_official) op

Vloggen

De meeste technologische, moderne snufjes heeft ze vaarwel gezegd, maar haar laptop en smartphone blijft ze trouw. Ze deelt haar excentrieke levensstijl namelijk nog wel social media. Op Instagram trakteert ze haar volgers op kiekjes waarop ze exotische vruchten eet, zich drapeert over boomtakken en haar edele delen bedekt met halve kokosnoten.

 

In my eyes you are successful in life when you have the courage to embrace who you really are, however strange or peculiar that may be. Regardless of whether it fits with societies expectations or cultural norms. Growing up I often said the wrong things, didn't have the right clothing, or the right look, and was laughed at or excluded for being "a bit weird". I never felt fully accepted. Over time I learned to keep my "uncool" thoughts to myself and adapt my appearance so others would feel comfortable being around me. This only left me feeling internally suppressed and frustrated, (certainly not free) until one day when I reached my threshold and thought - ahh fuuuck it, this is boring! And this isn't me! - From then on I decided to just let the TRUE me flow, to be my rawself, to act impulsively, to own that embarrassed look from others and to be the awkward freak I'm born to be. 😅The result? Goodbye fake friendships, hello soul mates ☀️#gofreeyourself

Een bericht gedeeld door #gofreeyourself #rawtill4 (@freelee_official) op

Jungle dieet

Ook houdt ze er nog een extreem dieet op na. Hoe kan het ook anders in de jungle? Vanwege haar veganistische levensstijl zit jagen op dieren er niet in. Freelee drinkt dagelijks 1,5 à 2,5 liter sinaasappelsap en ze vermijdt gekookt voedsel. Haar jungle life is in ieder geval wel goed voor de portemonnee. In één jaar bespaarde ze 4.500 dollar. Daarnaast verdient ze nog bij met de verkoop van haar dieetboeken. 

 

So how do ya like ma coconuts? 😸...I just love seeing my DIY coconut bowl collection growing 😍It feels really empowering to make things myself rather than pay others. You might think "Oh I could never learn to do that, I'm just not good at that stuff" and that's where you are wrong. I grew up without a shred of do-it-yourself experience, I was taught by this consumerist society that it's better to just buy something rather than attempt to create it yourself. Sure, it may be quicker and easier but where is the personal satisfaction in that? Everytime I use the bowls I feel a sense of purpose and pride. You try, make mistakes (eg. hole in bottom of one bowl) but you learn and become more skilled, confident and powerful each time. Save money and become a stronger, freer woman with each project. 💪 Remember - If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you, if you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. #gofreeyourself

Een bericht gedeeld door #gofreeyourself #rawtill4 (@freelee_official) op

 

Just looking into the canopy thinking back. 🌿Many of you don't know this but I grew up on a farm until I was 16. I always felt closer to animals than humans. I spent many happy hours with pet chickens. I loved them, cuddled them, they were my friends. One day however, it was time for my friends, to become my meal. No! I felt like my heart was being ripped out. Why did it have to be like this?? There MUST be another option??...Not today. Dad made me watch as he killed them. It was part of ‘living off the land’. Was he a terrible person for doing so? No, he did the right thing, he showed me the gruesome reality of my meal. The chickens didn’t die immediately and made painful blood gurgling sounds as they desperately tried to cling to life. It was devastating to see my friends killed that day, I remember that moment like it was yesterday. In fact, no one in the family liked the “process” so we put the blinders back on and paid for plastic-wrapped chicken from the supermarket. This is just one of the reasons I eat the way I do today. I now largely live off the land but these days my food gives itself freely to me. No trauma. No screaming. No bleeding. No suffering for my meals. #gofreeyourself

Een bericht gedeeld door #gofreeyourself #rawtill4 (@freelee_official) op

 

In my early teens and most of my twenties I had serious digestive issues. I was often curled up in pain, this picture is symbolic of that. I took courses of strong antibiotics, they only intensified my issues. I was losing my sanity. I decided to book in with the 'best gastroenterologist in Australia'. The 15 min consult cost $215. He looked ill himself but he was the "expert" after all, so I trusted him. I was sent for an endoscopy. $430 later he diagnosed me with "an inflamed gut". Well no shit Sherlock! I could FEEL it was inflamed...but why?? He said I need not worry as there was a special medication coming from the USA soon which would heal me, in the meantime there was another drug he recommended. I knew this was a lie, I'd been there before. As he was writing the script I stood up and pushed the chair away "NO✋️I do NOT want anymore drugs!" and stormed out. Long story short, I decided to take my health into my own hands. I found the raw vegan and raw till 4 lifestyle (most importantly fruit) and finally got out of my bodies way and let my body heal itself. Freedom from your digestive distress is closer than you think. #gofreeyourself Btw - We built this composting toilet, link will be in bio.

Een bericht gedeeld door #gofreeyourself #rawtill4 (@freelee_official) op

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