Behind the Business: Urban Green Cuisine

Urban Green Cuisine is a niche vegetarian and vegan food company based in Swindon, offering a number of services that include Meal Plans, Veggie Food Nights, Catering and 1 to 1 Coaching. Keep reading to find out why the founder, Lorna, established the company!

Where It Started

Urban Green Cuisine was born out of the founder’s own life changing journey; establishing a consistent active lifestyle and prioritising health over faddy diets and weight loss to achieve a sustainable way of living. Lorna had been struggling with her weight since her late teens and throughout adulthood; she had been unable to maintain weight loss and was in complete denial of her shape and size. When Lorna began to lie to friends and family about her weight, she knew enough was enough. She felt it was time to regain control over her life. This is where her journey really began.

4 Years Ago

Embarking on her personal journey, Lorna began power walking, joined spinning and danced her way through Zumba classes, all whilst being on a very restrictive diet. Lorna managed to complete two powerwalking marathons, gaining a positive sense of achievement and direction. This fuelled her, and over the course of a year, Lorna lost nearly 4 stone. However, her weight plateaued. Lorna remained the same weight for a year, which was confusing considering she was exercising and eating at a calorie deficit.

In response to this Lorna upped her exercise, reduced her calorie intake further and started putting weight on. This was both frustrating and upsetting but she was determined and decided to seek expert help and support. This is when she met Jamie Honour at Honour Health and Wellness. Jamie, a personal coach and trainer offering a full well-being package which was specifically designed to meet her goals. Jamie was and still is a tower of strength, support and motivation to Lorna.

Jamie changed the way Lorna trained, and opened her mind to a new way of eating; and a new way of consuming food. Lorna was no longer focussed on how much she weighed or how much weight she lost each week. Jamie’s training routine was in the first instance to ensure that Lorna’s body was ready for training. There was no boot camp exercising; training focussed on increasing flexibility, mobility and strength. Jamie encouraged Lorna to look after her joints and muscles; something she didn’t account for when previously pounding the pavements, or pushing through spinning classes. Lorna was encouraged to prepare her body to become stronger to enable her to complete more intense workouts in the future.

30 months later Lorna is nearly 7 1/2 stone lighter, leaner and stronger. She has combined strength, conditioning and cardio exercise along with a realistic sustainable eating regime. She is no longer on a diet and is able to make choices and live her life without fear of weight gain.

The Present Day

Supported by Jamie and her own friend network Lorna set up Urban Green Cuisine to support people with their own journey. In her words ''I’m no Instagram fitness model, I still have my wobbly bits.’’ She wants to share her experience of the realities of weight loss, the cooking methods she uses and the expertise that has helped her to transform.

Lorna says a focussed plan and a consistent approach is key to sustainable, long-term weight loss and achievement of fitness orientated goals. Lorna believes setting small goals which are achievable, manageable and realistic is the best form of motivation. She encourages people to gain and seek support from family and friends; being honest about your goals, what you want to change, and seeking guidance on how to achieve this. With a strong support network and defined goals, you can develop strength to transform old habits and sustain new change.

Longevity is the ultimate goal. Waking up every day knowing what you’re eating and the activities you’re going to do to support you on a new healthier journey – who doesn’t want this?