GP: I was a fashion model for 15 years and had always been told about different diets to stay fresh faced and fit. These suggestions never contained nutritional advice and were often biased or unhealthy suggestions. So, when I decided to begin studies the choice was obvious, nutrition!

S: YOU ALWAYS LOOK FRESH FACED AND FIT, WHAT IS YOUR SECRET?

GP: Healthy balanced diet of fresh and organic produce, active lifestyle with lots of walking and Pilates.
Everyday multi-nutrients to keep me topped up and my immune and liver functioning at their best to keep my skin glowing and my inflammation levels down.

S: AS YOU ARE THE EXPERT AND TYPICALLY, JANUARY IS THE MONTH WHEN EVERYONE WANTS TO GET FIT, LOSE WEIGHT AND DETOX; WHAT IS 5 TOP TIPS TO DROP THE WEIGHT?

GP: This is what I would do;

1.     Focus on fresh produce & homemade meals.

2.    Get rid of any remaining holiday treats – gift them, donate them, consume them before January 2nd. But do not keep them in your house through January – alcohol, sweets, cakes, chocolates.

3.    Get active – it’s unlikely you’re going to keep that cycle to work new years resolution in the depths of dark wet January. Try ‘I won’t use any escalators or lifts for a month’, ‘I’ll walk home when it’s not raining’, ‘I’ll re-join that yoga/spinning/boxing class once a week’, ‘I’ll finally set up my exercise bike in the spare room’.

4.    Make sure you’re getting enough sleep (7-9hours), lack of sleep causes disruption to normal hormone regulation and can lead to increased appetite!

5.    Take an all-round multivitamin (that contains Vitamin D!) to support and boost your bodies core functions and to keep you healthy through the years toughest month. If you’re sick and held up in bed you’re more likely to eat more and move less!

S: GENERALLY, PEOPLE HAVE A SUGAR WEAKNESS; ARE SUGAR SUBSTITUTES SAFE? WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST? IS THERE A WAY TO LOWER OUR SUGAR CRAVINGS?

GP: Eat a well-balanced diet, with lots of fibre (vegetables, wholegrains), lean protein sources and healthy fats. If you’re consuming enough quality foods your blood sugar balance will be better regulated and you won’t get those sugar cravings as much or as intensely!
Replacing sugar with sweeteners is ok if you do it only occasionally. But you should be trying to pay more attention to your hunger cues and responding with real and nutritionally dense foods rather than low calorie, sweetener filled replacements. Stevia is the sweetener I would recommend if I had to pick, for example if I was making a reduced sugar cake or sweetening a protein shake.

S: HOW CAN ONE MAKE SURE THAT THEY WON’T PILE THE WEIGHT BACK ON?

GP: Follow the above advice, try to stay mindful and conscious of your habits. When you reach for the highly processed grab and go foods, pause. Ask yourself if you’re hungry, and what are you actually hungry for, this will help you to fulfil your bodies needs and stop you from eating habitual easy non-nutritious foods.

S:  THERE IS A LOT OF BUZZ AROUND VEGAN DIETS AT THE MOMENT – WHAT IS YOUR VIEW?

GP: A Plant based or vegan diet can be healthy, it can also be unhealthy. It all depends how you approach that way of living.

The same principles apply across most ways of eating – try to focus on fresh and unprocessed produce, get the best quality you can afford, eat when you’re hungry, eat slowly, and stop when you no longer feel hungry.

S: WHAT SORT OF SUPPLEMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO TAKE WHEN YOU ARE ON A DIET?

GP: That depends on the type of diet you have. In the UK (especially over winter) you should be taking a supplement that contains at least Vitamin D and Omega-3’s (and B12 if you’re veggie/vegan).
Fibre supplements can be really helpful if you’re trying to lose weight as they can help to maintain stable blood sugar levels and keep you feeling fuller for longer! [our Slim Me Sicilian lemon drink]

S: YOU STARTED YOUR OWN SUPPLEMENT COMPANY PLEASE CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR SUPPLEMENT RANGE?

GP: I love talking about my range as I have tailored and sophisticated supplement programmes, aptly named, GP Nutrition, adapted to suit the individual needs of clients dealing with physical and mental fatigue, weight management problems and skin concerns. Her products are designed to energise, detox, balance and encourage a healthier lifestyle overall whilst allowing the client to continue to live a busy and full life.
These bio-intense formulations counteract the effects of blood sugar imbalance, environmental stress, alcohol intake, sleep deprivation, hormonal issues, energy depletion and skin-ageing.

S: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUPPLEMENT IN THE RANGE?

GP: GP Nutrition’s GP4:3 or GOLD Every day. I use both depending on how I’m feeling or what I want to achieve. GOLD is my everyday health supplement that I try my best to take year-round, and I will switch to the GP43 plan after a period of indulgence like summer holidays or Christmas. I also substitute in Clean Me occasionally if I’ve had a particularly late weekend!

S: WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU HAVE RECEIVED?

GP: David commissioned Patrick Mavros to make me silver peacocks as wedding present. They are so beautiful and handmade, and I just adore them.