Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has shared the secret behind his remarkable 12 stone weight loss over the past two and a half years. The 47-year-old credited his transformation to the 'dopamine diet', which focuses on boosting levels of the 'happy hormone' to make sticking to a diet plan easier.
Kerridge, who weighed nearly 30 stone at his heaviest, now weighs a healthier 18 stone. He ditched his former lifestyle of beer, takeaways and junk food, and now follows a largely carb-free diet with the occasional flapjack as a treat. The dopamine diet includes unprocessed meat, dairy and dark chocolate, and does not overly restrict what you can eat.
Speaking to GQ, Kerridge explained that as a chef, he used to graze and snack throughout service, often eating cheese on toast and crisps. Cutting out these quick and easy meals was key to his weight loss, and he now enjoys prepping his meals. He also emphasised the importance of eating breakfast, which he used to skip.
The NHS recommends a calorie-controlled diet for healthy weight loss, and the dopamine diet can be effective for those wanting to lose weight slowly but sustainably. Most versions of the diet advise avoiding alcohol, caffeine and processed sugar, which can cause weight gain.
