Weight loss: what to think of the Chataigner method?
There are dozens ofdietsand weight loss techniques, all promising to lose weight simply, sustainablyand without frustration. Among the latest, the Chataigner method. It is based on intuitive eating, control of emotions through hypnosis and an emphasis on the supply of nutrients as vectors of health. Focus on the principles of this holistic method.
Who is the creator of the Chataigner method?
We cannot talk about the Chataigner method without mentioning its creator, Frédérique Chataigner. Little information about her background, except that she describes herself as a psychotherapist-hypnotherapist. As for his initial training, it consists of a diploma of practitioner in nutritherapy with the Collège des Médecines Douces du Québec, an organization that offers distance training in alternative medicine, such asnaturopathyor “vital hygiene”. It should be noted that Canada accredits CMDQ training, but that it is not recognized in France.
Since 2004, Frédérique Chataigner has been working in France. She is also a trainer (she teaches her method), speaker and author. It has thus created:
- a first book – The Chataigner Method, the diet of happy people;
- a technical guide on your method – Losing weight and being healthy can be learned;
- a logbook to learn about what she calls hypno-nutrition – My logbook to transform me definitively, in collaboration with Dr. Michaël Alafakis, a Belgian general practitioner.
What is the Chataigner method?
Founding principles
But what is the Chataigner method based on? It is described as an innovative, holistic, effective and sustainable slimming technique. A complete discipline, based on three pillars.
Logical nutrition
It looks a bit like intuitive eating, because it does not prohibit any food or invite you to count the calories ingested. It is based on the principle offood rebalancing , where we reconnect with the feelings of hunger and satietyand where we eat “logically”, according to our real needs. It is also imbued with the principles of chrononutrition, namely that there are certain favorable times of the day to eat certain foods. Finally, the Chataigner Method praises the nutritional qualities of certain foods, namely:
- avocado, its richness in vitamins A, B, C, K and E, and essential fatty acids;
- organic eggs, , rich in proteins, fatty acids and phospholipids;
- nuts, well endowed with omega-3;
- goat cheese, because the caprylic acid it contains is virtuous for digestion;
- squash, very rich in antioxidants (beta-carotene);
- olive oil, a reliable source of omega-9;
- blue fruits, such asblueberries, blackcurrants and blackberries, which owe their colour to their antioxidant anthocyanins;
- flax seeds, rich in fiber and good fats;
- chestnut honey, richly endowed with copper;
- chamomile, loaded with apigenin with an anti-cancer reputation;
- other healthy foods, such as coconut, sweet potato, chestnut, banana, green vegetables and spelt.
The method relies heavily on the nutritional quality of the food (rather than its caloric load), touts the benefits of ” “good fats” and ” and does not suppress cracking, as long as it is done “at the right time” and offset with a slight restriction at next meal.
The hypno-nutrition
It is a discipline taking into account the various factors relating to overweight. It is based on the postulate that eating behavior is essentially determined by emotions and habits. Hypnosis is therefore a means of modifying one’s behavior and makes it possible to neutralize one’s food impulses forSugarSnackingjunk-foodor even alcohol. It is based on visualizations, such as that of a virtual gastric band, which would have the virtue of restoring the feeling of satiety. It also makes it possible to better manage the stress at the origin of the compulsions and to maintain themotivation necessary for weight loss.
Nutritherapy
Frédéric Chataigner finally explains that his method is the antithesis of drastic diets. The latter, restrictive, systematically lead to lack of micro- and macronutrients. Ultimately, these deficiencies can have dramatic and irreversible consequences on the body. The Chataigner method therefore proposes to rebalance the nervous and hormonal system by takingfood supplementstag. Thus, on the dedicated site, you can find a wide variety of products (capsules, flour, drinks, oils): shiitake immune booster, iodine for the thyroid, berberine for the metabolization of sugars, MultiZen or MultiMincir complexes, etc.
A new pillar: self-hacking
To the classic Chataigner method, its creator has decided to add a final component (1), supposed to further promote well-being and slimness. It is based on self-knowledge, in order to become a “selfhacker”, that is to say to have full control of one’sMetabolismtag. By learning about the psychological, physiological and environmental circumstances of our eating behaviors, we are better able to manage our weight and our health.
Opinion: what about the Chataigner method?
At first glance, quite good. Indeed the method is based on principles of common sense: opting for a diversified and balanced diet, listening to one’s real feelings, questioning one’s eating behaviors andemotional kilos and filling any possible deficiencies with natural food supplements.
However, there are a few downsides:
- the creator of the method is neither a dietician nor a psychologist and even less a nutritionist (she is not a doctor). Also some of his claims about his health knowledge are questionable;
- A truly balanced diet does not need to be supplemented;
- the recommended food supplements are only those present on the shop of the site dedicated to the Chataigner method;
- the beneficial effects of hypnosis are still, at the present time, debatable and discussed (2)
In any case, it would be interesting to benefit from more in-depth opinions from the medical and scientific profession on the overall discipline.
How to follow the Chataigner method?
In principle, it is recommended to go to a therapist specialized in hypno-nutrition, who will accompany the person in achieving his weight loss goal.
Books dedicated to the Chataigner method are also a good gateway, especially those that offer a concrete application of the technique andrecipes.
Finally, the official website of the method offers online training, at very variable rates, addressing several themes: weight loss, of course, but also smoking cessation, stress management, dopamine balance or self-discovery.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.