The Sirt Diet and me

The reason I used to go to the Mayr Clinic in Austria for a hardcore detox was that you are more or less imprisoned and can’t do anything but eat what (little) they give you. Nowadays, I can’t afford to go there so, when I spotted the Sirt Diet, I thought it might suit me. Briefly, it’s a mix of green juice and recipes that are packed full of sirt-rich ingredients. Unfortunately, unlike the Mayr Clinic, you are not isolated and out of the way of temptation!

Sirt-rich foods activate powerful enzymes in the body which contribute to burning fat, reducing appetite, building muscle and improving one’s memory. They are found in every day foods such as kale, walnuts, olives, extra virgin olive oil and turmeric. You are supposed to make green juices made of kale, rocket, parsley, lovage, green celery, apple, lemon and Matcha tea. However, as I don’t have a juicer, I made a smoothie instead. I wouldn’t dance a jig about the flavour, but it wasn’t that bad and it definitely fills you up. Then you have a dinner from the recipe repertoire – most of them surprisingly tasty and filling.  As the days go on, you have less juice and more food… so hunger was definitely never an issue.

I did OK for the first three days then I veered off piste. Why? You are supposed to eat your dinner before 7pm. As Husband doesn’t get back from his commute until 8pm, I was cooking twice. So, I gave up on the pre-7am rule. It was no hardship to Husband as the sirt recipes are pretty delicious. After dinner I had my square of Lindt Excellence 85% dark chocolate (the only brand the authors of the Sirt Diet recommend). Well, OK, I had two squares. And did I mention you are allowed a few glasses of red wine?  Then, on day five, we went to see the film Carol and I couldn’t resist a Prawn Pad Thai beforehand and some sweets (quite a lot) during the film (plus a quick snooze as although a beautifully crafted film it just didn’t float my boat, although Husband loved it).

Not withstanding all that naughty off-roading, I still lost 5lbs in the first seven days. Did exactly the same exercise as usual – dog walking, yoga and a few miles cycling – and I do feel that my muffin top is receding (hurrah!). I didn’t lose any more weight during week 2 but I found I was sleeping better and feeling fitter. It is an inclusive diet – or should I say, lifestyle – so nothing is really off bounds, but we seem to be eating much more fruit and veg (especially kale – you can buy baby kale in Waitrose) than we did before which must be a good thing.

At the time of writing I am now seven weeks down the line and have gently lost a total of 11 lbs and my stomach is flatter than it has been in yonks. Thinking ‘sirt’ has put me on the right dietary track. I wholeheartedly recommend you give it a whirl if you like sirt-rich foods.