Susannah Constantine (Image: ITV)
Writer and television presenter Susannah Constantine has disclosed how she succeeded in losing a stone in around three months, and how eliminating one particular food from her diet proved transformative. Susannah, who is also a journalist, has opened up about the severity of her addiction to chocolate and other sugary snacks. Yet through sheer determination, support and a powerful mantra, she persevered and dropped a stone in roughly three months.
Writing in the Sunday Times, the 2018 Strictly Come Dancing contestant detailed just how serious matters had become, the toll it was taking on her life, and what her diet consists of now. She said: “It got to the point where the choice between going out for dinner or staying home in bed with a box set and a stash of chocolate was no contest. Chocolate was affecting not only my weight and energy but also my social life.”
Trinny and Susannah (Image: Getty)
Drawing parallels between consuming chocolate and her past experiences as a self-described “high-functioning” alcoholic, she noted the latter had evolved into an unusual echo of the former.
She explained: “With alcohol, I sought out people who drank heavily, because it made my own drinking feel normal – safety in numbers. Chocolate had become my quieter equivalent.”
Nevertheless, the outcome proved worthwhile, she concluded: “Three months later, and a stone lighter, I no longer crave Lindt or Nestlé. For someone who, before March 1, had never gone a single day without chocolate, that feels remarkable. It is not rocket science, either. Loads of veg, blueberries, apples and nuts.”
Yet Susannah acknowledged that her remarkable transformation might not have been achievable without the support of her close friend and former flatmate Lulu Hutley.
She revealed that Lulu invited her to Portugal, where they were joined by Lulu’s nutritionist friend Edna, who “supervised a full detox”.
Susannah Constantine (Image: Getty)
Susannah added: “Lulu had effectively thrown me blindfolded into a nutritional abyss devoid of joy. Edna became the conductor of this drastic overhaul….But rather than complain, I recognised it for what it was: divine intervention.”
This is far from the first occasion Susannah has spoken openly about her wellbeing. Last year she discussed how improving her gut health had significantly helped ease her menopausal anxiety.
Speaking to Women’s Health, she said: “There was this whole buzz about gut health and I looked into it and found that so much of our serotonin is produced in our stomachs.”
Turning to a motoring analogy, Susannah confessed she cared little about her outward appearance, provided her body was functioning well on the inside.
Susannah added: “I think as long as my insides look like the engine of a Ferrari, I don’t care if my face looks like a battered Land Rover. If you take care of yourself it goes a long way – exercise and healthy eating have a huge impact on our bodies.”
The connection between gut health and the menopause has previously been explored by personalised nutrition company ZOE, founded by Professor Tim Spector.
Dr Sarah Berry, Lead Nutritional Scientist at ZOE, offered encouraging words for those seeking to alleviate symptoms through dietary changes.
She explained: “The good news is that what you eat may partially reduce the unfavourable health impacts of menopause, either directly by reducing inflammation and blood sugar spikes or indirectly by altering the microbiome to a more favourable composition.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
