‘I’m a nutrition coach – this 45p supplement helped me drop 3cm from my waist in a month’

A nutrition coach claims that a “game changing” 45p daily supplement aimed at stopping sugar cravings could reduce people’s need for weight loss jabs. Kate Donohoe, 44, is a personal trainer who runs Boom Weight Loss and Fitness.

The fitness fanatic, who tries new supplements to help people on a health journey, came across glucomannan. This is a natural, water-soluble, fibre compound sold in pill form, marketed for its appetite-suppressing qualities to help with weight loss.

She ordered a £13.50 tub from Amazon lasting 30 days and decided to take it every day in January to see if it would help her get her diet back on track after lots of “wine and chocolates” in December.

Kate described how usually in January she would experience sugar withdrawals after a month of indulgence, but she said that didn’t happen at all with glucomannan.

Not only that, but Kate said she lost 3cm from around her waist, bringing her body back to shape it was before Christmas shape without any extra effort or feeling like she had made a sacrifice.

Nutrition coach Kate, from Hampshire, said she thinks a lot of people should try glucomannan before ordering weight loss injections as it suppresses appetite and controls blood sugar for a fraction of the price.

Anyone who wants to lose weight using the supplement should speak to a healthcare professional first. The NHS publishes a range of guidance and advice about weight loss on its website.

Kate said she started on a small dose of glucomannan and within two days she had no cravings. She added: “It just made it really easy to get back on track with a healthy routine and I didn’t have an ‘afternoon slump’.

“Now, it’s become my crutch – I keep a massive tub of them in the cupboard to take whenever I find it hard to keep on track with my meal plan.”

Kate said that as a personal trainer she couldn’t officially recommend it, but on a personal level she found the supplement useful. The nutritionist added: “For anyone struggling with cravings, it’s worth investigating.”

Glucomannan helps reduce food cravings by maintaining a feeling of fullness. When taken before meals, it forms a “gel” in the stomach, slowing the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.

According to Healthline, studies show glucomannan can cause “modest” weight loss in people who are overweight or obese when taken regularly before a meal

The publication warns, however, that while “well tolerated” and “generally considered safe” it may cause choking or a blocking of the throat if it expands before it reaches the stomach.

Healthline recommends washing it down with one or two glasses of water and warns side effects may include bloating, flatulence, soft stools or diarrhoea. These are uncommon, according to the publication. It can also affect the body’s ability to absorb oral medications, such as the diabetes drug, sulfonylurea.

The publication concludes that glucomannan may help make weight loss lifestyle changes easier, but it won’t work miracles on its own.

Kate said she noticed its effect within a couple of days, noting that normally the first few days of January feel for her like ripping a plaster off a hairy arm.

She added: “There was nothing I hankered for. I could eat a balanced diet and I wasn’t obsessed or thinking about food.”

After a full month on the supplements Kate felt she was back on track and stopped taking them.

But after indulging in chocolate eggs over the Easter holiday, she decided to go back to taking them.

Kate said: “I just wanted to make that week after Easter easier for myself. It’s just a good product, and cheap too.”