The age-defying diet - It worked for me!

Thursday 4th January 2007

Food editor, Jane Curran, felt she was in need of some skin rejuvenation, so agreed to be our tester for the diet. Here's her progress report …

“I never eat convenience foods, desserts or unhealthy snacks, except salted peanuts … The results after three weeks? My skin is so much better, all over. It had become dehydrated and listless through a long period of personal stress which also prevented good sleep, the worst thing for your skin. Although I do drink gallons of water, the increased amount of fruit and veg had a really positive effect. And I have much more energy and am starting to sleep better. I didn't want to lose any weight and have just lost a bit of flab from the middle regions. I probably eat more than the diet says but I have a high metabolic rate. You would definitely lose weight if you wanted to, though.

High points?
- Managing to eat five portions of different fruit every day plus at least 4 veg, though so much celery has been a bit of a struggle!
- I realised how little fibre I was eating in my diet and trust me, eight portions is a big order. I got up earlier and had a proper high fibre breakfast with fruit. When I ran out of home-made muesli, Jordan's Superfoods Muesli, which has no added sugar, is delicious, especially when you add loads of fresh blueberries.
- Huge improvement in skin and a flatter stomach.
Hard bits?
- The pounding headaches from giving up caffeine which lasted for four days
- The odd glass of wine would be nice, but I very quickly got used to having no alcohol and feel better for it.
- Lunch at the desk when I didn't make extra soup. Thank goodness for M&S! Their ready-prepared pineapple, mango, salads with dressing on the side so you can avoid it, cooked turkey and chicken breast and their divine fresh pomegranate juice are lifesavers.
Hot tips
Having a tablespoon of lecithin and flaxseed oil every day may seem weird at first, but you just add them to soups, salads or veggies and you don't notice them at all. All the ingredients I found in Holland & Barrett though goji berries are in Tesco. Making up big batches of soup makes life much simpler. If you are going out to eat, either find a fish restaurant or go Japanese, Turkish or Thai. It's not the end of the world if you go a little bit off the wagon, but eat something before you go out to prevent picking.

And next?
I will stick to it for the eight weeks as much as I can and I am thrilled I am back into the habit of a healthy breakfast. There is no forbidden food in my fridge or cupboard so I can't be tempted, and the improvement in my skin has motivated me to keep going.

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