Luann de Lesseps, former star of the Real Housewives of New York, has unveiled her personal regimen for maintaining her enviable physique at 59. Her approach focuses on mindful eating habits, portion control, and strategic timing of meals, drawing inspiration from her experiences at Austrian spas and observations of European dining customs. Central to her philosophy is the principle of avoiding beverages while eating. De Lesseps emphasizes that digestion begins in the mouth with saliva production, and consuming liquids during meals dilutes these essential digestive enzymes, hindering the metabolic process. She recommends drinking water 20 minutes before and after meals to stay hydrated without compromising digestion. This practice, she notes, contrasts with American habits of consuming large, cold drinks with meals, which she believes contributes to weight gain.
De Lesseps advocates for portion control as another cornerstone of her healthy lifestyle. She points out that American portion sizes are often excessive, leading to overconsumption. By eating slowly and savoring each bite, she explains, the brain has sufficient time to register satiety, preventing overeating. This mindful approach allows for a greater sense of fullness and satisfaction with smaller portions. She acknowledges that even she occasionally succumbs to the temptation of overindulging, but consistently returns to her core principles of slow, deliberate eating.
Intermittent fasting plays a significant role in de Lesseps’s dietary strategy. She practices a form of intermittent fasting where she consumes her meals within a specific window, typically starting later in the morning and avoiding food after 6 p.m. This approach aligns with her belief that late-night eating, particularly of heavy meals like steak, disrupts sleep due to the energy demands of digestion. She advises consuming protein and salad for lunch rather than dinner, as she considers salads, despite their perceived lightness, detrimental to digestion in the evening due to their high water content.
De Lesseps debunks the common misconception that salads are universally light and healthy, especially for evening meals. She argues that salads, particularly those laden with dressings, cheese, and croutons, can be surprisingly calorie-dense. Furthermore, the high water content in salads can dilute digestive juices, similar to drinking liquids during meals, impeding proper digestion. She recommends cooked vegetables as a healthier alternative for evening meals, as they provide more nutritional value without the digestive drawbacks of raw salads. While acknowledging the benefits of leafy greens like spinach and arugula, she suggests consuming them earlier in the day or in a cooked form at night.
Beyond dietary measures, de Lesseps emphasizes the importance of regular physical activity in maintaining her fitness. She identifies herself as athletically inclined and enjoys various sports and exercises. She specifically mentions water aerobics and SoulCycle as examples of activities she incorporates into her routine. De Lesseps believes that staying active is crucial for overall well-being and complements her dietary practices.
In summary, Luann de Lesseps’s approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle at 59 revolves around a combination of mindful eating habits, portion control, strategic meal timing, and regular exercise. She avoids liquids during meals to optimize digestion, practices intermittent fasting to regulate her eating window, and chooses cooked vegetables over salads for dinner to enhance nutrient absorption. Her regimen, while personalized, offers insights into practical strategies for maintaining fitness and well-being, emphasizing the importance of mindful choices and a balanced approach to diet and exercise. She underscores the connection between digestion, mindful eating, and physical activity as key components of her overall health and fitness philosophy. Her emphasis on these principles offers a roadmap for individuals seeking to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
