TV presenter and writer Susannah Constantine has revealed how she lost a stone in around 12 weeks by cutting out one food: chocolate. The former What Not to Wear star, known for her fashion advice alongside Trinny Woodall, detailed her struggle with chocolate addiction and the transformation that followed.
A Sweet Addiction Takes Over
Writing in the Sunday Times, Constantine explained how her craving for chocolate and sweets had spiraled out of control, affecting not just her weight and energy levels but also her social life. She admitted that choosing between going out for dinner or staying home with a box set and a stash of chocolate became an easy decision in favor of the latter.
Comparing her chocolate addiction to her past as a self-described "high-functioning" alcoholic, she noted that both habits involved seeking out like-minded individuals. "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," she wrote.
The Turning Point
Constantine's transformation began when her friend and former flatmate Lulu Hutley invited her to Portugal, accompanied by Lulu's nutritionist friend Edna. The nutritionist supervised a full detox, which Constantine described as being "thrown blindfolded into a nutritional abyss devoid of joy." However, she recognized it as "divine intervention."
After three months, Constantine was a stone lighter and no longer craved chocolate. Her new diet consists of plenty of vegetables, blueberries, apples, and nuts. "For someone who, before March 1, had never gone a single day without chocolate, that feels remarkable," she said.
Gut Health and Menopause
This is not the first time Constantine has spoken about her health. Last year, she discussed how improving her gut health helped reduce her menopausal anxiety. Speaking to Women's Health, she explained: "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."
Using an automotive metaphor, she 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."
Expert Insight on Diet and Menopause
Dr Sarah Berry, Lead Nutritional Scientist at ZOE, a personalised nutrition company, commented on the link between diet and menopause symptoms. "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," she said.
