Susannah Constantine, 64, recently showcased the results of her significant weight loss in a swimsuit photograph shared on Instagram. The television presenter reported a weight of 10.5 stone, attributing the change to a disciplined diet that eliminated refined sugar.
Constantine, known for co-hosting the BBC's "What Not to Wear" with Trinny Woodall, emphasized that her weight loss was achieved without the use of any weight loss drugs. In her social media post, she described her current physique, noting the presence of stretch marks and a "muffin top," while highlighting her effort to present her body confidently.
The presenter revealed that cutting out sugar-based foods followed a 12-week period during which she initially dropped 14 pounds. This dietary change was prompted by a friend who enlisted a nutritionist to help Constantine break what she described as a "ruinous pattern of unhealthy eating."
Constantine, who has been sober for 13 years, compared the challenge of giving up sugar to relinquishing alcohol. She stated that abstaining from sugar proved more difficult than quitting drinking, as she found it easier to rationalize her consumption of sweets. She explained that sugar activates similar reward pathways in the brain as alcohol, releasing dopamine and opioids.
She recounted instances of hiding her chocolate consumption from her daughters, Esme and Cece, who commented on her eating habits. Constantine realized she had a problem when her passion for chocolate became a "dirty secret." She acknowledged that her sugar intake was approximately four times the recommended daily amount, based on NHS guidelines, which advise consuming no more than the equivalent of seven sugar cubes a day.
Constantine, whose mother also struggled with alcoholism, first disclosed her own issues with drinking in 2020, noting she had been in recovery for seven years at that point. She recalled an incident at a friend's 40th birthday party where it was suggested her husband take her home because she could barely stand. This experience, along with years of waking up with shame and guilt, led her to seek help. She found relief and solidarity in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, stating that the organization "saved my life."