Elisabeth Clare of Cell Regeneration: 5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing
Stress is a huge factor. — Its impact on the mind and body clouds judgment and it can manifest itself physically, giving us aches and pain. Stress impacts us at cellular level, so if we can learn to manage it, everything else should become a little easier to cope with.
As a part of my series about “5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve One’s Wellbeing”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Elisabeth Clare.
Elisabeth runs Cell Regeneration, a business servicing physiotherapy clinics around the UK. It is the sole, dedicated UK importer of MBST machines; a non-invasive therapy that restores and rejuvenates cells. She set up the business which was a big career change for her, formerly working in media) after her dear friend and ex-boyfriend were murdered in Miami — it was her wake-up call if you like.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the story about how you first got involved in fitness and wellness?
I have always personally enjoyed fitness and wellness, and have always looked to food, nature and exercise for well-being purposes. When the opportunity arose to work with MBST — a technology that is stress and pain-free for the patient — it was a no brainer, really. The fact that it really gets results without the need of long-term medication and surgery just made it so appealing. Living with pain is an awful burden and MBST really does offer a reliable solution. I just found that very intriguing and exciting.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
The reason I started working with the technology in the first place is probably the most interesting story, albeit sad. Prior to championing MBST, I suffered a huge loss that really changed my life: in April 2011, two of my friends (one was a past boyfriend) were brutally murdered by a 16-year-old boy in the US.
Nothing makes you sit back and re-evaluate your life as much as grief. At that point I was working in digital marketing for a very big media company and I realised the role just wasn’t fulfilling, so the tragedy forced me to realise that I was ready for a change.
My mother had been working with medical technology within her private physio practice since 2007. I knew how great it was, and I also knew how much I wanted to create a life for myself where I could help people, so I went for it. Now here we are, 10 years on. I am incredibly proud of what we/ I have achieved and I think of both boys daily. I just desperately wish that inspiration hadn’t been born from such tragedy.
Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?
I often get to work with elite sportspeople, such as professional boxers, rugby players, show jumpers, footballers and golfers. In spite of that, my sports knowledge is not actually very good. There was one occasion when arguably one of the most famous football managers in the world was walking over to me and I had no idea who he was. I suddenly noticed the players’ behaviour towards him and figured he must be the ‘gaffer’. I had to do a hasty and slightly panicked google to be certain, and to make sure I wasn’t about to make an absolute fool of myself. Luckily, I was quick on the draw and just as he got to me I got the confirmation from my phone, and acted like I knew who he was all along. That definitely taught me that in order to save myself potential major embarrassment I had to do my research ahead of time so I was fully prepared for every situation. It seems so obvious now that I should know the name of the patient or key people in any professional situation that I am walking into. It also helped me to realise just how important it is to show clients and colleagues that I care and want to make people feel valued, no matter who they are.
Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the fitness and wellness field? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?
I suppose I am an authority as I am the licence holder for the MBST technology in the UK. Having worked with the tech for a decade it’s fair to say I’m pretty knowledgeable on the subject, and in my opinion, MBST will play a major role in the future of healthcare and sport.
Part of my job is connecting patients and healthcare professionals to the appropriate devices. We are very particular in who we work with and it is vital to us that any healthcare professional who takes on the technology, puts the patient’s wellbeing at the forefront of their concerns. They stand to make a lot of money from MBST, but I have never considered working with anyone who just sees it as a business opportunity. It’s all about having the right core values.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My mother — she’s a private physiotherapist who is utterly dedicated to her patients. She came across the technology at a physio conference, years ago. She gave me and my brother the gift of and passion for MBST. Our mum is a talented physio, but a bit naive when it comes to the business side of things, and what is really going on in the world. But she was, however, the first physio in the UK to discover MBST, and she immediately saw its potential. She held out hope that it delivered on its claims, as she had always dreamed of offering her patients an effective alternative to surgery-as-a-last-resort, or something that would do more than just mask their pain. If it was not for her, we wouldn’t be here and even at 65, she is still our Physio in the Rutland clinic and her patients adore her.
Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. We all know that it’s important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, exercise more, and get better sleep etc. But while we know it intellectually, it’s often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the 3 main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?
1- Stress is a huge factor.
Its impact on the mind and body clouds judgment and it can manifest itself physically, giving us aches and pain. Stress impacts us at cellular level, so if we can learn to manage it, everything else should become a little easier to cope with.
2- We genuinely enjoy the less healthy stuff!
I love a Chinese takeaway and an old fashioned (perhaps not at the same time). But it’s about saving the fun stuff for a treat, maybe once a week. And if we overdo the fun stuff, it’s always best to just be mindful of having a healthier day the next day. The fun stuff does tend to lead to more fun stuff, which is fine if it makes us feel good. But the feel-good high we get from sugar, alcohol and sitting around watching TV does not last forever. To actively avoid procrastination and stop making excuses is part of the journey when it comes to facing reality and being honest with ourselves. What I have learned is that there can be toxic positivity. You need to be kind to yourself, but still face the truth. Excuses and procrastination get you nowhere. It is very important to find the time to exercise and to pre-plan meals. It’s important to face up to the fact when you are being unhealthy, but also don’t be too hard on yourself. If you do have an ache or pain then seek a specialist in that field. Don’t procrastinate or make excuses that it’ll just go away, deal with it straight away. Your body is trying to tell you something, so listen!
3- Having a purpose
If you can’t see why you want to be healthy, then you don’t have a purpose to do it. It’s easier for an athlete because being healthy and fit is their job. But for a typical person who has a job, children, pets, etc, it is hard to fit it into our day. I ran the London Marathon in 2015, but by the end of that year I was hospitalised with an infection in my abdomen, causing sepsis. I was very poorly and the doctors said the only reason I survived was because I was so fit. I also notice the difference in how I value myself when I don’t eat as healthy and don’t exercise.
But someone’s purpose for exercising can be because they want to look good, or stay healthy for their kids or grandkids, that kind of thing. Some may set themselves targets, such as running a marathon, or increasing their steps every day. To recognise our purpose helps with motivation, and getting into a routine helps us to stay motivated. Routine does not have to be stagnant. As long as your routine every day consists of vital things such as exercise once a day, having at least one meat free meal a week, etc, the rest can be moved about. If you have more of a routine you don’t tend to make excuses, it just becomes a habit.
Can you please share your “5 Non-Intuitive Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve One’s Wellbeing”? (Please share a story or an example for each, and feel free to share ideas for mental, emotional and physical health.)
1- Quality of water that you drink — I have never been fond of tap water. People like to call me a snob, but it has been treated and, in some places, it just tastes gross. I invested in a top filter and it has made the world of difference.
2- Get up extra early and enjoy that time in the shower — I love having time in the shower. Some people opt for a freezing cold shower but I just love a nice hot shower far too much to give that up. It’s also a bonus for me because the shower is one of the few places in my house my dogs don’t follow me.
3- Buy organic food — pesticides are awful for your body and the environment!
4- See the right people — If you start to get a niggling ache or pain, source a professional musculoskeletal specialist. Don’t run off to your GP at first call.
5- Microbiome tests vs generic nutrition tests. Use science to find out precisely what your body does and doesn’t need. I took an ‘Omnos Microbiome’ test and found out I have too much iron and should avoid fermented foods. For a lot of people, they are told in ‘healthy eating plans’ to have leafier veg and drink kombucha and kefir. But not me! My health has seen an incredible change since I took that test!
As an expert, this might be obvious to you, but I think it would be instructive to articulate this for the public. Aside from weight loss, what are 3 benefits of daily exercise? Can you explain?
1- For physical and mental benefits — we look better, we feel better, and it helps get the endorphins going. You feel that you have done something good with your day and you naturally feel better about yourself. Also, weight-training can make you feel empowered. Getting the heart rate up makes you feel good. There’s also the social element to it, and we shouldn’t neglect our social instincts, it’s who we are as beings. Whether on Zoom or in the gym, seeing people, having a conversation or some kind of interaction is so important. We thrive on interaction and inspiration. Also, if our activity gets us out in nature, that is good for the soul.
2- Musculoskeletal health — The body loves movement, it’s good for joints and bones. The old saying is true: if you don’t use it, you lose it!
3- It helps prevent problems later on in life — it drastically reduces the risk of OA, diabetes and heart disease.
For someone who is looking to add exercise to their daily routine, which 3 exercises would you recommend that are absolutely critical?
Walking — Being out in the fresh air is good for mind, body and soul, and most people can do it wherever they are.
Yoga or Pilates — stretching and natural body movement helps our joints with natural strength and flexibility.
Strength training — anything to help your strength is great. Do weight training for strength and bone density. It can also be mentally empowering.
I am going to cheat and add an extra:
Doing something that you enjoy is critical — team sports or interactive exercises in the fresh air, such as walking, horse riding, running — you don’t want your activity to be a chore!
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story?
The 12-week Year, by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. It helped me to put my goals in a time frame of 12 weeks rather than one year. I read it last year and my life has become much more productive without feeling like I have to put in much more effort!
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I have spent 10 years spearheading my chosen movement: bringing the MBST technology to the forefront in musculoskeletal care. A technology which is non-invasive, pain free, drug free and turns out can be used even during a pandemic. The ethics around it are what’s important. I took the tech and built it up around the UK without compromising my vision and integrity. Yes, it was a much slower process initially, but has led to fast sustainable growth further down the line.
People want instant results and that’s not healthcare, to get results in healthcare, it takes time and dedication. A lot of money can buy you quick fixes but the reason why the MBST movement is important to me is because we are so clear with who we want to work with and the health professionals MBST attracts are genuinely interested in the best possible care for the patient. If someone approaches me with a sole focus on making money, it won’t work out for them the way they wish, or for their patients. In healthcare, it’s all about the separate parts coming together to create a successful outcome.
The MBST technology can help maintain the body, which is particularly wonderful for an athlete. Sometimes athletes will be push to their limits without much long-term consideration. MBST can help an athlete but maintain their musculoskeletal health for the future.
Can you please give us your favourite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
“People are in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.” It helps you keep the right people in your life and let go of those that can’t, won’t or don’t really need to be in your life any more. I think the fact that people are so important to me is a natural trait; that’s why I am so passionate about healthcare. A stranger is important to me. You never know what impact any person can have on your life, whether it is bad or good, there is always a lesson worth learning. I always hope that my impact on the world will leave people feeling better whether it’s a friend, family, health professional or stranger.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
Elle MacPherson — I admire her! She is a natural beauty but she works hard to be the best version of herself that she is. She does not look her age at all because she practices what she preaches! She has a health company and seems to stand by her own values in everything that she does and family is so important to her. She’s a business woman in the health industry, she is invested in others’ health as much as her own. She seems to have found balance in her life, which I feel I am yet to find! I would love to be her friend as I find her so inspirational.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
Website — www.mbst-therapy.co.uk
Instagram — @elisabethclare11
Instagram — @MBSTUK
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Elisabeth Clare of Cell Regeneration: 5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Dramatically Improve Your… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.