I am about to turn 51 and each decade, I marvel (and sometimes despair) at the changes in my body, appetite, confidence, needs and capabilities. It seems as though keeping a single pound off requires so much more effort than losing a few kilos did in your 20s, as things slow down and hormones seem to work against you. Finding a lifestyle that works for you becomes more critical. Many of my pals are on HRT and seem to thrive on it, but the advice from my oncologist is that this isn’t an option for me, so I look at dietary and lifestyle supports. I am a big fan of the low-carb way of life, which includes quite a lot of intermittent fasting and a focus on exercise, sleep and foods that support bone health and keep blood glucose regulated.

It also means “listening” to your body. When I am on a really good eating trajectory (no nights out or disruptions) and yet am really craving sweet things, I try to “listen” to that. Instead of heading for the biscuit tin, I will look at protein, some dark chocolate and slightly starchier vegetables, like sweet potatoes, legumes and pulses, that though not part of a low-carb diet per se, sometimes feel like the right foods to eat.

My breakfast is full-fat live or Greek yoghurt with some berries, maybe a spoonful of homemade apple sauce, some bee pollen, plus “sprinkles” – usually chia, hemp and lots and lots of flax seeds. If I am doing a 24-hour fast, eating just one meal a day – dinner – then I will have filtered coffee with a splash of cream, for breakfast. Cream knocks the edge off hunger. I also drink lots of herbal tea throughout the day. This sounds very extreme, but it’s very do-able when you’ve achieved metabolic flexibility. We have at least 100,000 calories of energy we can tap into when we are “fat-adapted”, but when our body primarily runs off glucose (by eating a diet with a lot of carbohydrates – especially processed ones) fasting is harder. That hangry rollercoaster of craving thanks to glucose dysregulation ends up hijacking your intentions.

The old adage “breakfast like a king, dine like a pauper” is a really good way to eat – your digestive system gets a well-deserved break in the evening which leaves your system time to “repair” by avoiding insulin spikes which in turn cause you to store fat and disrupt sleep. The day after I have done a 24-hour fast, I find myself waking up pretty hungry. Scrambled egg with sautéed onion, tomato and spinach packs a nutritional punch that means a light soup or salad lunch or even some lowsugar fruits and some nuts, mid-afternoon, will suffice until that evening.

I think most women benefit from low-inflammatory foods, focusing on a variety of plants, including herbs, spices, nuts and seeds, moderate amounts of good quality protein and healthy fats (especially avocados, eggs, oily fish and coldpressed oils). Say goodbye to processed carbohydrates and beige food and focus on a nutrient-dense diet, and you will feel a whole lot better.