My diet details – Caroline Labouchere

You asked for more details.

(I am neither a dietician nor a nutritionist and make no recommendations for you!)

What I am about to tell you has worked for me for years. I have tried most diets during my 56 years and I always concentrate on consistency as my weight is incredibly important to me.

As a teenager, I used to jog to work and ate whatever appealed to me.

In my 20’s and 30’s, I did the ‘Jane Fonda’ thing (lots of lycra) and also jogged.

In my 40’s I joined a Military Bootcamp and cycled.

In my 50’s it got tougher but still doable. Ultra Marathons, long slow runs. This is the best way for me to burn fat. I also swim 1km every day.

I don’t drink alcohol, mainly because my husband doesn’t. Having said that my poison of choice would be a Mescal Margarita or a glass of good champagne.

I am strict with my food intake from Monday to Friday. I don’t beat myself up if we go out for the evening, that’s life. At the weekend I eat a little of whatever I fancy. I don’t binge, but I relax ‘the rules. This has worked well for the last few years.

The most common question I get when this is viewed is ‘Don’t you get hungry?’

The answer is: “Not often but if I do I eat”.

Food Diary (a normal week – a snapshot)

Saturday

Bacon

Chili crisps (potato chips)

Diet Pepsi and sparkling water

Coffee and liquorice tea

6 Twizzlers (red liquorice)

Nachos

Homemade chicken soup

I lived on Diet Pepsi for most of my life. From breakfast time to bedtime, no other liquid at all. When I stopped it cold turkey in 2019 I replaced it with coffee (through Hypnotism). I felt no different other than the withdrawal headaches. My running stayed the same, my skin, no change.

It has been a year and I am back to diet drinks now but in moderation. I know it’s bad but I like it.

If I’m burning calories I can eat calories. Simple.

I know that I would be shot down in flames if I publicly said anyone can lose weight. But it’s what I believe. If one doesn’t eat and expends energy, then how do you put on weight (other than being on a medication that causes you to retain water, etc.)? If you are healthy and exercise consistently there is no excuse. It is a mindset, however; you have to want it more than cake! I am reminded of the famous Kate Moss quote: Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!

DR SOPHIE RACKTOO

Consultant Family Medicine at Kings College Hospital London in Dubai

MBChB, BSc, CCT (RCGP, UK)

Caroline came to see me for general health screening blood.

Screening is done to detect diseases in people who may not have any symptoms of the disease. We can prevent disease this way or detect it early enough to treat it effectively.

We ran a diabetes test and cholesterol check. Raised cholesterol and Pre diabetes/diabetes are conditions we know we can treat with lifestyle change initially.

I worked out Caroline’s cardiovascular risk based on lots of parameters including weight, age, and cholesterol levels. This calculation is useful when we are deciding about starting medication to lower cholesterol.

It gives us an idea about the risk of developing a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years. Caroline had a low cardiovascular risk score. Her score actually came back lower than the score we would expect from a healthy person of the same age, sex, and ethnicity.

Additionally, we ran some vitamin/bone health tests, liver tests, kidney tests.

Health checks for adults need to be tailored for the age and medical history. Unnecessary tests such as whole-body scans might pick up things that don’t necessarily need treatment and could then cause major stress. So it’s very important to check your screening tests are evidenced-based and that you understand what they might pick up before proceeding.

Emma Bardwell: Nutritionist

⁃ Think about adding into your diet rather than taking away.

⁃ What you eat over weeks, months, years is more important than what you eat in 24 hours, so don’t stress over one day’s intake.

⁃ Bone health is critical for women at all ages but especially perimenopausal women (we reach peak bone mass in our late 20s).

⁃ Food intake is just one part of the ‘health puzzle’. Genetics, environment, medical history, and economic status play a role too.

⁃ Food isn’t just fuel, it’s for enjoyment and for socialising too.

⁃ Try to avoid terms like ‘cheat days’ or ‘guilty pleasures’. Enjoy all your food all the time as much as possible.

⁃ A multivitamin can be useful if you don’t think your diet hits all your nutrient targets.

⁃ Heart disease is the biggest killer of women post 50. Watch your intake of saturated fat (red meat, cheese, coconut oil) and salt.

⁃ Swap coffee for green tea sometimes. It still contains caffeine but also L-theanine which provides energy without the jitters

⁃ The single biggest thing you can do improve your health is to eat more plant-based foods (but you do not need to go vegan).

⁃ There’s too much fear-mongering around food. We need to try to stop demonising certain foods.

⁃ Get your nutrition info from evidence-based sources, rather than influencers on Instagram or Netflix docs. (Irony! – Caroline)

⁃ Caffeine has been shown to decrease calcium stores but as long as you’re hitting your calcium target daily (1200mg if you’re over 50) the caffeine won’t have a detrimental effect.

⁃ The best diet is one that you can stick to; one that fuels your day and works around your family, job, and lifestyle.

⁃ As a general rule, most of us need to eat proper, satiating meals and graze/snack less.

⁃ Our brain shrinks 1% every year as we age. Exercise can not only halt this but reverse it.

⁃ Low carb means low fibre which can impact gut health/bowel movements.

⁃ There’s no such thing as a perfect diet.

⁃ We’re all unique and have individual energy and diet demands.

For a personalised nutrition plan, get in touch with @emma.bardwell

Registered Nutritionist and Health writer is known as the @menopausenutritionist