In my recent blogs ( I Quit Sugar and I Quit Sugar for life?) I reviewed the books and went through the I Quit Sugar 8 Weeks Programme. Living without sugar and processed food (or very very little) is a way of life and as Sarah Wilson said herself: "Quitting sugar is about eating like your grandparents used to. Before the crap". This IQS approach resonated with me, recasting to a more natural way of eating without a prescriptive diet menu, a way to reconnect with your taste buds, your natural appetite, and portion control. During the 8 weeks I found that I feel at my best with a "paleo" approach, largely gluten- and grain-free, low-starch, low carbs, high fat, non-processed, and most organics. But life is for living and enjoying it and I eat out a lot both, for both business and pleasure.

As a businesswoman, I make my biggest contribution/s to work/business when I'm happy and living a good life and that's why as Management Consultant I write and advise about Lifestyle: we don't work in a vacuum, our work is part of our lives.

So you can't imagine how much I rejoiced when I came across Tom Kerridge (the Chef & Owner of the Hand & Flowers, the 2 Michelin starred restaurant/pub in Marlow) and his new book The Dopamine Diet ( if he can lose that much weight working in an industry all about good food and drink and maintain it then I know it is sustainable). Tom Kerridge shredded more than 70 kilograms from his previous 190 kilograms "beer-drinking, late-night burger-eating, cheese-loving bloke" frame to a very trim and fit silhouette; he knew anything fussy, repetitive or boring wouldn't work, low-calorie would not satisfy his big appetite and low-fat would strip his food of flavor. That left low-carb meaning he could still eat his steak minus the chips, and have greens instead; he specifically followed a no alcohol, a 90-gram limit on carbohydrates per day rule, never feeling deprived or missing out.

The Dopamine title thingy is all about increasing levels of the ‘happy hormone’ dopamine in the brain at the same time as shedding pounds. Dopamine is responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells in the brain, affecting reward and pleasure centers, which in turn affect mood. There is some evidence to show that people who are overweight may have impairments in dopamine pathways weakened through constant exposure to highly sugary foods. Foods that boost dopamine include (sounds like heaven to me):

• Dairy foods
• Unprocessed meats
• Omega-3 rich fish
• Eggs Fruit and vegetables, in particular bananas Nuts Dark chocolate