As you may know, over the past 6 weeks, I have had several close friends from France visiting Australia and staying with us in Sydney. It has been great seeing them, sharing about our life in Australia, entertaining and cooking (although the extra drinking and multiple three course dinners have resulted in an unwanted 3 kilos weight gain).
It's been great getting up-to-date on what’s been happening in France recently…and I thought you might like to know about the latest French fad: Chrononutrition!
Personally, I'm already convinced and I haven't even tried it YET! Both my friend and her husband have lost 4kg each in just over one month of doing chrono-nutrition! Pretty good! They refuse to call it a diet, insisting that they eat cheese every morning and chocolate every afternoon! Personnally I hate to follow diet or plan, but this seems pretty simple, it's just a matter of eating food at the right time of the day. Here is how it works...
It's been great getting up-to-date on what’s been happening in France recently…and I thought you might like to know about the latest French fad: Chrononutrition!
Personally, I'm already convinced and I haven't even tried it YET! Both my friend and her husband have lost 4kg each in just over one month of doing chrono-nutrition! Pretty good! They refuse to call it a diet, insisting that they eat cheese every morning and chocolate every afternoon! Personnally I hate to follow diet or plan, but this seems pretty simple, it's just a matter of eating food at the right time of the day. Here is how it works...
What is Chrononutrition?
Created in 1986 by French nutritionist Dr Alain Delabos, chrononutrition is more than just a diet: it’s a whole new way of eating that follows the body's natural rhythm and enzymatic secretions.
In theory
Chrononutrition is eating foods at times of the day when they are most useful, to meet your body's energy requirements and prevent storage of food as fat in certain parts of the body.
According to Dr Delabos, humans' natural ancestral needs are predetermined in the body. The body secretes different substances (enzymes and hormones) to break down the different types of food we eat, in a calculated and organised way. Chrononutrition works by calculating the body's enzyme secretions and works out what foods to eat at certain times and what to cut out at other times.
According to Dr Delabos, humans' natural ancestral needs are predetermined in the body. The body secretes different substances (enzymes and hormones) to break down the different types of food we eat, in a calculated and organised way. Chrononutrition works by calculating the body's enzyme secretions and works out what foods to eat at certain times and what to cut out at other times.
The Good News
There are no forbidden foods, no calorie counting and no fat or sugar control. You lose weight the French way: without deprivation! :)
This method prioritises breakfast and lunch, which tend to be neglected. Lunch and dinner should consist of a single dish. Wine and desserts are allowed twice a week.
This method prioritises breakfast and lunch, which tend to be neglected. Lunch and dinner should consist of a single dish. Wine and desserts are allowed twice a week.
In practice
1. A big breakfast
- What to eat: Breakfast should be hearty and greasy (ie: 100g cheese, 70g bread, 20g butter and a hot drink without milk or sugar).
- Why: Every morning the body secretes 3 enzymes: insulin, to receive sugar the organs need to function from the moment we wake; lipases, to metabolise fats used for the production of cell walls; and proteases, to metabolise proteins used to produce cell content.
2. A good lunch
- What to eat: 200g meat (any) or 200g fish or 2 eggs (omelet, boiled, etc.), with 1 small portion of carbs (pasta, rice, mash or bread).
- Why: At midday, proteases are secreted to put in place cellular protein and to stock protein reserves.
3. Sweet afternoon tea
- What to eat: 20g dark chocolate, or 20g raw or dry roasted nuts, or 1 small bowl of olives, or one small bowl of dried fruit (raisins, apricots and prunes).
- Why: In the middle of the afternoon, you experience a peak in insulin which aims to use sugar in order to compensate for fatigue linked to organ function.
4. A light dinner
- What to eat: Lean fish or seafood, or 120g white meat without sauce and 1 small bowl of vegetables, dressing optional. NO CARBS.
- Why: In the evening, there are hardly any digestive secretions except those that slow down the breakdown of food.
Join me in November - #MSLIMchrono
Stay tuned because I'll be starting chrononutrition in November, and will document my journey on the blog! If you would like to join me and take part in the Chronutrition plan to get fit before Christmas, send me an email cyndie[at]mslimalicious[dot]com or leave a comment below. Alternatively, simply use the hashtag #MSLIMchrono on Twitter to share your updates!
Are you up for a challenge with a French twist?
Hi there, that sounds like a good idea, the big breakfast and lunch and light dinner, and it's definitely what dieticians here suggest. I do try to have a really light dinner - not last night though, great meal out!
ReplyDeleteOk going by the advice of 'don't be shy and leave a comment'...
ReplyDeleteGreasy breakfasts are bad! Yes, big brekky, medium lunch and smallish dinner are good, but advising somebody to eat cheese and butter for breakfast each day is silly. Chocolate or dried fruit in the afternoon is not going to be filling and, for the same amount of energy, one could eat nuts or hummus or something with some protein so they are not famished by the time they put the fish & (small bowl of??) vegetables on their table.
Not a fan of this at all and would never encourage!
But just my thoughts..
Hi Natalie, firstly it's lovely to see you here again! This eating plan was created by a French nutritionist in the mid 80's and I understand that it can sound a little controversial in Australia, in 2012. I guess the reason dark chocolate is allowed for afternoon tea is for people who are used to eat a lot of sweet/chocolaty foods to not feel deprived. The plan also suggests nuts in place of chocolate, I guess people can vary a little to not get bored of it. I agree that hummus makes an excellent snack! (I love hummus and have two recipes published on the blog). In regards to eating cheese for breakfast, I guess it doesn't have to be brie or creamy camembert everyday, but some nice cottage cheese or goat cheese. Maybe "greasy" is not the term I should have used here, English being my second language, I sometimes use the wrong words! Apologies! Be reassured that my intent is not to badly influence anybody here! I'm just talking about what French people are up to at the moment in France, saying that my friends told me it works for them and that I want to judge for myself next month. I thought some of my readers might want to try something that has worked for many in France and around the word, and it's up to each individual to control how much and how often they want to eat butter, cheese or chocolate, indeed.
Delete