Is hunger forcing you to fall off the healthy-food wagon? Nutritionist Lowri Turner reveals how to channel the rogue hormone that controls your appetite.
Craving chocolate when you’re trying to lose weight isn’t purely psychological. There is a hidden hormonal trigger, leptin, that switches hunger on and off.
Leptin is manufactured by fat cells to tell our brains when to stop eating. As such, it’s a natural appetite suppressant.
The trouble is, as our love handles expand, we become “leptin resistant” and our brains are less able to recognise leptin’s message that we don’t need to eat. So hunger kicks in. But before you dive into a tub of ice-cream, read on.
We’ve developed a diet plan to boost leptin production and improve your body’s ability to recognise its signals, so you lose weight without feeling hungry. It’s not a quick fix, but it will help you lose a kilo a week. You should feel full after meals, so you’re not tempted to eat junk. And best of all, you’ll learn to control your eating and your weight for life.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 7 DAY DIET PLAN AND RECIPES
THE RULES
1. Never go more than four waking hours without eating.
2. Avoid white flour, processed or sugary foods, caffeinated drinks and alcohol, as they can disrupt your hormone balance.
3. Have as much white fish, chicken breast, vegetables, organic fat-free yoghurt, whey protein, eggwhites and mineral water as you like.
4. Eat organic meat and dairy, as non-organic may contain chemicals that disrupt hormones.
5. Try to do 30 minutes of exercise or more a day, as it improves the function of all hormones.
6. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep a night – sleep deprivation inhibits leptin production.
*This weight-loss plan is not suitable if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Words: Lowri Turner. Photos in slideshow: Amanda Heywood. Food Stylist: Jayne Cross Plates and bowls courtesy of Anthropologie and Skandium.
More detoxes:
The Detox Diaries: Radiance Program
The Detox Diaries: We're in it to Gwyn it
The Detox Diaries: Juice Fast
Also see:
Get a fab body FAST!
The Circus Workout
Dr Nicholas Perricone's Three-Day Nutritional Face-lift
The Tan Commandments
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