Sequential fasting: this method that allows Carla Bruni not to gain weight during menopause

A real milestone in the lives of many women, menopause is often accompanied by many hormonal upheavals. In particular, there is a decrease in estrogen, which can lead to unwanted and often difficult to control weight gain. The metabolism slows down and this promotes the storage of fats that are difficult to eliminate. If we do not pay attention to what we eat and do not practice physical activity on a regular basis, the kilos can continue to climb dangerously on the scale, impacting not only self-confidence, health and quality of life.

Carla Bruni, a follower of sequential fasting?

To counter this phenomenon, everyone has their own methods. Guest in the podcast Come on I dare by Elsa Wolinski in March 2024, Carla Bruni, 56, briefly mentioned hers: “I stopped gaining weight. Well, I simply stopped eating. I only eat dinner. But that’s for professional reasons. If I had a job with absolutely no image circumstances, I would gain five kilos.” explained the model. This Friday, September 13, 2024, she was again questioned about this subject while she was on air on Europe 1 in the program Culture Médias.

Speaking to Thomas Isle, she clarified that she practiced sequential fasting which involves alternating periods of fasting and eating. In concrete terms, this means that she only eats during a window of 7 to 9 hours per day and fasts the rest of the time, which is between 15 and 17 hours. “I don’t eat a meal a day, I do what is called sequential fasting, which means I spend between 15 and 17 hours in digestive rest.”

“I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t taking this medicine”

For her part, Carla Bruni does not consider this method as a diet, but rather as a kind of “hygiene of life” which allows the body to rest and better manage the digestion phases. “If you eat very lightly, that is to say if you don’t force your digestive system to do a lot of work, the body will focus on getting rid of the little virus or bacteria.” she explained, adding that she also takes a “complicated medication” that somehow requires her to follow this method. “I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t taking this drug. It’s a drug that slows down the metabolism a lot and gives a lot of side effects.” she confided. As a reminder, Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife revealed in October 2023 that she had breast cancer.

Fasting for extended periods allows the body to draw on its reserves, particularly fat, to produce energy. According to nutrition specialists, this could indeed help regulate metabolism and prevent weight gain, but also improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation and promote cell regeneration. However, this method is quite drastic and must absolutely be carried out with the support of a health professional. It is crucial to ensure that your diet is perfectly balanced during the eating window, to avoid any risk of nutritional deficiencies. Fasting when done poorly can also cause drops in energy or hormonal imbalances.