I walk you through the turning point during my hypnotherapy training – the deep emotional release that shook my whole body, the work we did on repressed fear, and the specific hypnosis that made chocolate and sweets taste unbearably sweet. From that point on, I simply couldn’t eat them in the same way again, and my relationship with food began to shift for good.

I also share honestly about choosing to take the Mounjaro jab in 2025 . I explain what it did to my hunger and “food noise”, the side effects I noticed when I increased my dose, the weight I lost, and why I decided to come off it before reaching a final goal weight.

This episode is for anyone who feels ruled by cravings, is curious about hypnosis, or worries what life looks like after stopping a weight loss jab.

https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/Ease-your-mind

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free I’ve unlocked the first 3 parts of my course just for you. 👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can help you achieve lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro, it’s not just about losing physical weight — it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

🎥 Watch Live Hypnotherapy Sessions on YouTube See real results from live sessions and learn how it all works. 👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

💆‍♀️ Book a Free 30-Minute Hypnotherapy Consultation 👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🌀 Follow Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

00:02:10 – What this episode will cover: hypnosis, cravings, and the jab (Mounjaro) 00:03:05 – Life before 2021: binge eating patterns and “anything goes” binges 00:04:05 – Hypnosis training, emotional release and the moment everything shifted 00:05:10 – The “sugar tastes too sweet” suggestion and spitting out the chocolate 00:06:10 – Why hypnosis changed cravings when nothing else had 00:07:00 – Deciding to try Mounjaro: Slimming World, stalls and carb-heavy eating 00:08:05 – Early days on the jab: food noise gone and the scary loss of hunger 00:09:10 – Eating to nourish, avoiding extreme losses and keeping things safe 00:10:15 – Moving from 2.5 mg to 5 mg: side effects and “I wish I hadn’t gone up” 00:11:20 – Comparing hypnosis and the jab: different tools, different roles 00:12:15 – Protein, fibre, fats and how meals look now (without demonising food) 00:13:20 – Caring for parents, dementia, hospitals and anger that could have triggered binges 00:14:35 – Why this would have been “binge time” in the past – and what actually happened 00:15:40 – Clients on the jab: losing weight, stopping, and regaining without support 00:16:35 – Why everyone’s experience of Mounjaro and hypnosis is different 00:18:30 – Not all methods are “good” or “bad”: Slimming World, the jab, hypnosis 00:19:30 – Chocolate at Christmas: childhood memories, rituals and emotional links 00:21:40 – Why food addiction can feel harder than other addictions 00:22:35 – Christmas meals, desserts and being able to say “no” without feeling deprived 00:23:35 – What real freedom around food looks like (no second, third, fourth helpings) 00:24:30 – Invitation: group hypnosis for cravings in 2026 00:25:20 – Ease Your Mind reminder and why it’s not “just” about food

As we head towards December, today’s episode leans into something many of us are feeling right now: that pull toward more — more deals, more shopping, more pressure, more to-do lists. And yet, beneath all of that, what most of us actually want is much simpler… we want ease.

In this episode, I’m talking about the emotional side of Black Friday season, why clutter and chaos in our surroundings often mirror what’s happening in our minds, and how easy it is to slip into old habits when life feels heavy.

I’m also sharing some very personal updates about my dad’s health, the anger I’ve had to process, and the steps I’ve taken to protect my own wellbeing during an incredibly stressful few weeks.

I’ve created something new to support anyone who feels mentally overloaded, unfocused, stuck, or simply tired of carrying everything alone: Ease Your Mind — a gentle, simple introduction to hypnosis, with the first three modules completely free. https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/Ease-your-mind

It’s designed to help you switch off, calm the noise, settle your emotions and finally feel that sense of mental space you’ve been craving.

If you’ve ever said:

• “My head’s not in it.”
• “I want to lose weight but I can’t focus.”
• “Stress keeps throwing me off track.”
• “I don’t sleep well and the cravings hit hard.”

…this episode is for you.

https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/Ease-your-mind

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free I’ve unlocked the first 3 parts of my course just for you. 👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can help you achieve lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro, it’s not just about losing physical weight — it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

🎥 Watch Live Hypnotherapy Sessions on YouTube See real results from live sessions and learn how it all works. 👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

💆‍♀️ Book a Free 30-Minute Hypnotherapy Consultation 👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🌀 Follow Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

00:01:00 The pressure of Black Friday + “Do we really need more stuff?”

00:01:55 Shopping, emotions and the urge to “feel different”

00:02:40 When buying feels good—but isn’t the thing you actually need

00:04:00 Introducing “Ease Your Mind” – why Claire created it

00:04:45 The three free modules and what they help you understand

00:05:30 What hypnosis really feels like

00:06:10 How the mini-course works: video + audio + hypnotic track

00:08:30 Sleep challenges, sugar cravings and the morning crash

00:10:05 Navigating rage, sadness and helplessness

00:12:00 Switching care homes, safeguarding and advocating for her dad

00:12:55 Recognising anger and choosing not to carry it

00:13:45 Why taking responsibility for emotions changes everything

00:14:40 Stress, overeating and why we reach for comfort foods

00:15:25 Using hypnosis as a tool during overwhelming moments

00:16:05 Why hypnosis is an experience, not something to “learn”

00:16:45 Claire’s four-year anniversary: no chocolate, cakes or sweets

00:17:25 “I’ll start next year…” — breaking the mental loop

00:17:55 Looking ahead to Christmas + setting a decorating goal

In this chat we cover the real stuff: losing identity after giving up rugby, the stop–start attempts, the “still think fat” moments even as the clothes sizes drop, and the power of a room that claps for your wins (and your wobbles).

This is a first for Slimming Stories, I met Stephen at my local Slimming World Group that Wray Annabel had inherited from Sue Redfern, both amazing Slimming World Consultants.

Stephen talks about the support he’s felt and why weekly accountability beat “I’ll do it myself” plans.

If you've tried to get back on plan before, drifted, and need a simple proof that consistency + community works. If you’ve ever felt “I still look the same” while everyone else notices your progress—this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

00:01:10 The fall that changed everything: shattered shoulder & surgery risks

00:02:20 Sleep apnoea, anaesthetic concerns & his wife’s life-saving nudge

00:03:30 Walking into Slimming World for the first time

00:04:15 Starting weight: 25st 4lb — and why it didn’t scare him

00:05:10 Early mobility struggles & realising things had to change

00:06:00 Past attempts, shift work & why accountability finally clicked

00:07:15 The moment group support made the journey “stick”

00:08:30 Seeing change vs feeling change — the “still think fat” phase

00:09:40 Clothes sizes dropping: 3XL to 2XL and the mind catching up

00:10:30 All-or-nothing beginnings: no Syns, full focus

00:11:45 Learning balance: reintroducing treats without spiralling

00:12:40 Rugby days, injuries & losing a big part of his identity

00:14:00 Life after sport: stoma, mini-stroke & stepping away for good

00:15:30 Food habits during care work & long days with no meals

00:16:45 The power of routine & regular eating

00:17:30 The Slimming World spark: stickers, shinies & friendly competition

00:18:45 First gains on the scales — and bouncing back stronger

00:20:00 Breaking the old “I’ve blown it, so I’ll binge” pattern

00:21:10 New rules: sad = apple, happy = strawberries

00:22:00 Weight loss milestones month by month

00:23:15 Hitting target in 41 weeks — with holidays included

00:24:10 The freedom of staying in control & losing the fear

Wrays Slimming World Groups Mansfield:

If you are local to Mansfield and would be interested in attending one of Wrays Slimming World Classes feel free to contact Wray on the following link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/704401220014053

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free I’ve unlocked the first 3 parts of my course just for you. 👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can help you achieve lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro, it’s not just about losing physical weight — it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

🎥 Watch Live Hypnotherapy Sessions on YouTube See real results from live sessions and learn how it all works. 👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

💆‍♀️ Book a Free 30-Minute Hypnotherapy Consultation 👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🌀 Follow Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Lisa Taylor from Ontario, Canada. Lisa reached her late 30s feeling low on energy, unhappy in her marriage, and stuck in a life that didn’t feel like her own. At 226 lbs, she decided something had to change.

Lisa joined Weight Watchers with a close friend, made herself accountable, and started running while still playing competitive softball. She went on to lose around 60 lbs and nine dress sizes, and promised herself she’d never go back over 200 lbs.

But the biggest shifts weren’t just on the scales. As the weight came off, Lisa realised she’d been living by expectations she’d absorbed growing up — keeping herself small, people-pleasing, and pushing down her own needs. She began unpacking years of emotions, finding her confidence, and building a life that actually feels aligned.

Lisa shares how she and her husband separated kindly, how she now supports other women on their journeys, and how she’s navigating menopause, body changes and midlife with far more acceptance. She’s gained a sense of peace she didn’t know she was missing.

Lisa's Instagram account 

Lisa's Facebook account

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free I’ve unlocked the first 3 parts of my course just for you. 👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can help you achieve lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro, it’s not just about losing physical weight — it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

Follow lisa 

🎧 Follow Slimming Stories 🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast 📸 Instagram – Slimming Stories Podcast 💬 Facebook Group – Join Here

🎥 Watch Live Hypnotherapy Sessions on YouTube See real results from live sessions and learn how it all works. 👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

💆‍♀️ Book a Free 30-Minute Hypnotherapy Consultation 👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🌀 Follow Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

We talk about the realities behind the “golden dose,” the risks of unverified syringes sold online, and what patients should understand about side effects like pancreatitis and gallstones. Dr Ibrahim also explains why every weight-loss journey needs a plan for maintenance, how microdosing works in theory versus practice, and how he’s rebuilt a healthier mindset through running, patience, and consistency.

It’s a clear-headed, compassionate look at the medical and emotional sides of GLP-1 treatment — perfect for anyone considering Mounjaro or wanting to hear from a doctor who truly understands it from experience.

Podcast Timeline:

00:00:00 Welcome back — why Claire wanted a medical guest to talk about Mounjaro

00:01:00 Life update — caring for her dad & using hypnosis to cope with overwhelm

00:03:00 Mindset when motivation feels low — permission to pause and reset

00:04:00 The moment of confidence: buying size-16 jeans after a year of change

00:06:00 Introducing Dr Ibrahim — NHS doctor and GP trainee using Mounjaro himself

00:07:00 Lifelong weight struggles & the mindset behind finally trying the jab

00:09:00 The stigma and judgment professionals still face when choosing the jab

00:10:00 Top questions about Mounjaro — safety, side effects & realistic expectations

00:12:00 Why safety and mindset matter more than cost when starting GLP-1 medication

00:15:00 The “golden dose” myth — medical risks and the importance of proper guidance

00:19:00 Understanding side effects: pancreatitis, gallstones & being medically screened

00:25:00 Maintenance mindset — preparing for long-term habits beyond the jab

00:28:00 Microdosing and tapering — what’s known, what’s not, and why patience matters

00:33:00 Rebuilding a healthy relationship with food — hypnosis, habits & healing

00:39:00 Mindset shift: running for mental space, not punishment

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free I’ve unlocked the first 3 parts of my course just for you. 👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can help you achieve lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro, it’s not just about losing physical weight — it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

De Clutter For Change

Join Heather if you would love a clutter free home but feel lost in the project of where to even start! The link below explains all.

 https://declutterforchange.com/letting-go-lab

Follow Dr Ibrahim on TikTok, Facebook & Instagram

https://www.tiktok.com/@gpofthenorth

https://www.instagram.com/gpofthenorth/?hl=en

🎧 Follow Slimming Stories 🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast 📸 Instagram – Slimming Stories Podcast 💬 Facebook Group – Join Here

🎥 Watch Live Hypnotherapy Sessions on YouTube See real results from live sessions and learn how it all works. 👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

💆‍♀️ Book a Free 30-Minute Hypnotherapy Consultation 👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🌀 Follow Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

Claire talks about how she first realised her relationship with food felt different from those around her, the frustration of seeking help through traditional weight loss groups, and the deeper emotional cycle that kept her feeling stuck.

She shares honestly about panic attacks, shame, and the sense of failure that came with every new attempt — and how finding the right support, along with her experience using Mounjaro, has helped her quiet the noise and begin to rebuild trust with herself.

It’s a powerful, relatable conversation about self-awareness, compassion, and what it really means to find peace with food.

00:00 Welcome back + introducing guest Claire Buckley 01:00 Life update — hospital visits, house move & a wake-up call on health 03:00 How the jab helped reduce cravings during an emotional week 04:00 Introducing Claire’s story — trauma, fibromyalgia & chronic pain 05:00 Hypnosis in action — 15 minutes to pain-free after 10 years 06:00 Claire’s TikTok community & breaking stigma around the jab 07:00 Living with constant “food noise” and never feeling full 10:00 Anxiety, panic attacks & barriers to NHS weight support 12:00 Emotional eating — subconscious habits and binge cycles 14:00 Weight-loss groups, frustration, and the diet rebound trap 17:00 Finding balance — calorie tracking and gentle flexibility 18:00 Understanding fullness cues — the hypnosis perspective 21:00 Rock-bottom moment and discovering Mounjaro 23:00 First jab experience — fear of needles and relief 24:00 The next morning — quiet mind and reduced food noise 26:00 Eating intentionally — planning, protein & control 27:00 Retraining the brain — new relationship with hunger 28:00 Host reflection — mindset shifts and health transformation 29:00 Life after the jab — maintaining results and balance 30:00 Outro — follow Claire on TikTok & subscribe for Part 2

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free I’ve opened the first three parts of my course for you. 👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can support lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro — it’s not just about losing physical weight; it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

🎵 TikTok – bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

In this episode, I’m joined by Claire Buckley, who opens up about her lifelong struggle with food, emotional eating, and the constant “food noise” that shaped so much of her life.

Claire talks about how she first realised her relationship with food felt different from those around her, the frustration of seeking help through traditional weight loss groups, and the deeper emotional cycle that kept her feeling stuck.

She shares honestly about panic attacks, shame, and the sense of failure that came with every new attempt — and how finding the right support, along with her experience using Mounjaro, has helped her quiet the noise and begin to rebuild trust with herself.

It’s a powerful, relatable conversation about self-awareness, compassion, and what it really means to find peace with food.

🕒 Timestamps

00:00:00 Welcome back + introducing guest Claire Bookley

00:01:00 Life update — hospital visits, house move & a wake-up call on health

00:03:00 How the jab helped reduce cravings during an emotional week

00:04:00 Introducing Claire’s story — trauma, fibromyalgia & chronic pain

00:05:00 Hypnosis in action — 15 minutes to pain-free after 10 years

00:06:00 Claire’s TikTok community & breaking stigma around the jab

00:07:00 Living with constant “food noise” and never feeling full

00:10:00 Anxiety, panic attacks & barriers to NHS weight support

00:12:00 Emotional eating — subconscious habits and binge cycles

00:14:00 Weight-loss groups, frustration, and the diet rebound trap

00:17:00 Finding balance — calorie tracking and gentle flexibility

00:18:00 Understanding fullness cues — the hypnosis perspective

00:21:00 Rock-bottom moment and discovering Mounjaro

00:23:00 First jab experience — fear of needles and relief

00:24:00 The next morning — quiet mind and reduced food noise

00:26:00 Eating intentionally — planning, protein & control

00:27:00 Retraining the brain — new relationship with hunger

00:28:00 Host reflection — mindset shifts and health transformation

00:29:00 Life after the jab — maintaining results and balance

00:30:00 Outro — follow Claire on TikTok & subscribe for Part 2

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free I’ve unlocked the first 3 parts of my course just for you. 👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can help you achieve lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro, it’s not just about losing physical weight — it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

🎧 Follow Slimming Stories 🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast 📸 Instagram – Slimming Stories Podcast 💬 Facebook Group – Join Here

🎥 Watch Live Hypnotherapy Sessions on YouTube See real results from live sessions and learn how it all works. 👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

💆‍♀️ Book a Free 30-Minute Hypnotherapy Consultation 👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🌀 Follow Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

From selling the house that everyone once told me not to buy as a single parent, to helping my mum care for my dad as his dementia has worsened, it’s been a whirlwind few months.

If you’ve ever juggled caring for family, running a business, and trying to keep your own health on track, you’ll understand how heavy that can feel. I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve questioned how to keep everything going — and still find space for myself in it all.

I’m sharing this because, just like with weight loss, life doesn’t stop throwing things at us. We don’t just carry physical weight — we carry emotional weight too. And the last few months have really reminded me of that.

I’ll also be chatting about my journey with Slimming World, why I decided to try the jab (Mounjaro), and what it’s been like to stop taking it while keeping my weight steady. I’ve learned so much about listening to my body, making mindful choices, and staying realistic about what balance actually looks like.

And there’s lots coming up for the podcast too! I’m bringing in new guests to share their real-life experiences with Slimming World, Weight Watchers, and Mounjaro. I’ll also be talking more about how hypnotherapy can help break sugar cravings and emotional eating patterns — especially for those who’ve stopped taking Mounjaro or can’t continue long-term and find old cravings creeping back.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get back on track, or you just needed to know that someone else is figuring it out too, this episode is for you.

00:00:00 Welcome back + what’s changed since the last episode 00:03:00 Caring for parents and the emotional weight we carry 00:09:00 Mindset — creating space for yourself when life feels heavy 00:16:00 Slimming World restart – progress and lessons learned 00:17:00 Trying Mounjaro (the jab): why I started and what I learned 00:24:00 What happened when I stopped the jab (weight update + mindset shift) 00:27:00 How hypnosis helps with cravings and emotional eating 00:29:00 Dress sizes, self-image and identity in a changing body 00:30:00 Ending binge eating — my hypnosis breakthrough 00:33:00 Finding balance between mindset, hypnosis & weight loss 00:40:00 What’s next for the podcast and future guest topics

💫 Try Hypnosis for Free

 Click here to enjoy Enchanted Forest

🍭 Join the Sugar Craving Reset Waitlist Be the first to know when the next event is live — designed for anyone whose sugar cravings return after stopping Mounjaro or during a weight-loss journey. 👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Hypnotherapy can help you achieve lasting results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you’re following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, calorie tracking, or coming off Mounjaro, it’s not just about losing physical weight — it’s about changing habits, quieting cravings, and feeling calm in your choices.

🎧 Follow Slimming Stories 🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast 📸 Instagram – Slimming Stories Podcast 💬 Facebook Group – Join Here

🎥 Watch Live Hypnotherapy Sessions on YouTube See real results from live sessions and learn how it all works. 👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

💆‍♀️ Book a Free 30-Minute Hypnotherapy Consultation 👉 claireoldhamwest.com/contact

🌀 Follow Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 🎵 TikTok – Claire Oldham West Hypnosis 📸 Instagram – @claire.oldhamwest.hypnosis

In this episode, we’re diving into Laura’s story—a real, honest, and inspiring journey that all started with a walk. When Laura’s friend invited her out for a stroll, it didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. Laura hadn’t been out for a proper walk in ages, but she thought it’d be a nice way to catch up and spend time together. Little did she know that one walk would completely change the course of her life.

Laura’s friend knew she was going through a tough time and thought a bit of fresh air and a chat might help. She wasn’t wrong. The walk was tough—really tough. By the end, Laura felt absolutely drained and completely unwell. But instead of feeling defeated, she had a lightbulb moment. It was like her body was sending her a message loud and clear: something needed to change.

That moment was the push Laura needed. With her friend’s support, she started looking at her habits and how she could make some positive changes. Together, they came up with a plan. Meal prepping became a game-changer for Laura, giving her easy, healthy options right when she needed them. She also joined Slimming World, which added structure and accountability to her days.

But Laura didn’t stop there. To her own surprise, she found herself committing to early morning gym sessions—even at 5 a.m.! What started as a struggle quickly became a source of energy and pride. She wasn’t just making healthier choices with food; she was building momentum and confidence in every area of her life.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in a rut or you’re waiting for a sign to get started, this episode is for you. Laura’s story shows how one small step can lead to huge changes. It’s raw, relatable, and packed with little nuggets of motivation to help you start moving toward your goals.

If your interested in a taste of hypnosis register using the link below to be notified of the next challenge.

https://bit.ly/CHOCOLATE-HYPNOSIS

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

We're just days away from Christmas, and as I was deciding which episode to publish, I came across a Reel by Cathy Heller where she shared two profound questions her friend had asked her.

These questions struck a chord with me, and I felt they would be perfect to share during this reflective season. Whether you're listening to this episode just before Christmas, right after, or even in the spring, these questions serve as a reminder that expecting different results while doing the same things can be transformed by the quality of the questions you ask yourself.

I encourage you to take a screenshot of these questions or write them down and reflect on them. They have the power to shift your perspective and create meaningful change.

I also wanted to demonstrate the power of vulnerability by sharing my own answers with you.

Question 1: What do you need to let go of to become who you really are?

Question 2: What needs to be born so you can truly be who you're meant to be and stop being who you're not?

In this episode, I discuss why these questions are so impactful, especially before jumping into "New Year's Resolutions." Instead of rushing to set goals, take a moment to pause, tune into your gut feelings, and connect with what truly matters to you.

As we wrap up 2024 with over 80,000 podcast downloads, I am so  grateful to each and every one of my listeners for your support. You’ve made this journey incredible.

I also share details about my upcoming 3-Day Chocolate Detox Challenge starting in January, as well as the amazing results from the December challenge.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a transformative 2025!

If you are interested in the challenge sign up to the waiting list to be notified for the next one.

https://bit.ly/CHOCOLATE-HYPNOSIS

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

This is part two following on from last week’s podcast guest  Graham as he opens up about his initial skepticism when asked to participate in live hypnotherapy on Instagram for Mental Health Week. Despite his doubts, he took the plunge and, for the first time, experienced a profound sense of calm and serenity—an outcome he never thought possible as someone living with ADHD.

Graham shares how hypnotherapy has impacted his mental health in ways he didn’t expect. He reflects on how it differs from traditional talking therapy, offering insights into its unique ability to access deeper emotional healing. One of the most poignant moments of this episode is Graham’s account of finally visiting his brother’s grave, five years after his tragic passing—a step he attributes to the positive effects of hypnotherapy.

Graham’s story is a testament to resilience. As a passionate advocate for mental health, he shares how fitness continues to be a cornerstone of his well-being. From the highs of post-workout clarity to the struggles of staying consistent, he emphasizes how exercise is as vital for the mind as it is for the body.

Follow Graham on TikTok adhdas_fcuk

It's FREE! Join me in December for my next chocolate cravings challenge!

Click on the link below.

https://bit.ly/ClairesHypnosisChallenge

If you are interested in the challenge sign up to the waiting list to be notified for the next one.

https://bit.ly/CHOCOLATE-HYPNOSIS

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

This week, we bring you part one of Graham's story. He opens up about how exercise has been a cornerstone in managing his mental health. From the post-workout highs to the moments he struggles without it, Graham candidly discusses the transformative power of fitness—not just for the body, but for the mind.

Graham shares a powerful and emotional story of how, one Christmas Eve, his mental health reached a critical point. In a moment of desperation, he sought help at a local police station, an event that, while not unfolding as he might have hoped, ultimately changed the trajectory of his life.

Graham’s heartfelt message comes with a trigger warning, as we delve into sensitive topics. His story serves as a reminder that mental health needs attention every day, not just during awareness weeks or holidays. He reflects on the loss of his brother, who was tragically killed five years ago, and how that grief shaped his journey. We also explore his experience with live hypnotherapy during Mental Health Week and its impact.

Graham’s resilience shines through, not only in his advocacy work but also in his personal life. Balancing his own challenges with ADHD while lovingly supporting his grandson highlights the importance of compassion, structure, and understanding in both fitness and mental health journeys.

As we approach Christmas, this episode aims to reach the one person who might need it most, reminding them they are not alone. Tune in, take what you need, and remember: mental health matters every day of the year. Enjoy the episode!

Follow Graham on TikTok adhdas_fcuk

It's FREE! Join me in December for my next chocolate cravings challenge!

Click on the link below.

https://bit.ly/ClairesHypnosisChallenge

If you are interested in the challenge sign up to the waiting list to be notified for the next one.

https://bit.ly/CHOCOLATE-HYPNOSIS

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

I can't wait to give you an insight into November's 3 day “Chocolate Detox Hypnosis Challenge” as you hear highlights with the recordings I've shared with their consent.

This was by far my most interesting hypnosis session and it was clear that this challenge is geared towards those people that truly can’t resist chocolate and feel an overwhelming urge to eat chocolate most days. Those people that couldn’t take a bite and put the other half in the fridge!

You will be hearing from 2 of the attendees Emeline who you will remember from episode 121 of the podcast and a lady called Debbie.

On the first day of the challenge everyone was immersed into hypnosis. Some of those that attended had never experienced hypnosis so this was a great privilege to share the deep relaxation that can be found within hypnosis.

Day two is the day that I connected everyone to their child like younger self through hypnosis, they met younger versions of themselves, remembered forgotten moments, and even had the opportunity to offer their inner child comfort and healing. One participant, Debbie, shared a touching story of how she began to process the pain of a difficult childhood and found hope by connecting to a happy childhood memory with her Nan.

By the final day, the transformations were undeniable. Participants shared how their cravings had faded and how much lighter they felt emotionally. In the highlights you will hear their reactions

Claire emphasises the importance of emotional release in healing. She explains how past traumas often manifest physically and mentally until they’re addressed. Through hypnosis, those deeply buried emotions can finally come to the surface and be released, bringing clarity and freedom.

As an exciting next step, Claire is launching a six-week group program at the end of December. It will focus on emotional release and healing in a supportive group setting. These sessions promise to be deeply transformative, helping participants let go of stored emotions from trauma, grief, or other life challenges.

If this episode resonates with you, don’t hesitate to reach out to Claire or explore how her work can support your journey. Whether you’re looking to overcome cravings, process past experiences, or simply find a sense of peace, this is an episode full of hope and inspiration.

It's FREE! Join me in December for my next chocolate cravings challenge!

Click on the link below.

https://bit.ly/CHOCOLATE-HYPNOSIS

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

YouTube

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

As I look back, I've realised that the excitement of running wasn’t just about the finish line but also about how it made me feel. However, over time, my motivation has evolved. Life seasons change, and now walking, rather than running, feels more fulfilling. Walking has become my way to reconnect with nature, take photographs, and enjoy moments with family and friends — things that feel harder to do while running.

Why Re-evaluate Your Goals and Activities? In talking with podcast guests, I’ve found that sometimes achieving a goal weight or running pace doesn’t provide the feeling we expect. That’s why I’m asking myself: What do I genuinely want from my fitness journey right now? Instead of forcing a routine, I’m embracing walking as a way to move, connect, and unwind. This shift reminds me to question whether I’m staying active for myself or just because it’s what I’ve always done.

Walking has become a regular part of my routine because it feels accessible and enjoyable. I can listen to podcasts, explore new places, and even catch up with loved ones. Walking has also been a way to fit movement into my busy schedule without adding extra stress. It’s a reminder that sometimes, taking a break from our usual routine can actually bring us closer to our well-being goals.

Reflecting on Seasonal Motivation and Goals Our motivation can change with the seasons, and that’s okay. As the weather cools down, it’s normal to feel less inclined to go out for a run, and for me, that’s been an opportunity to focus on walking. Whether it’s due to changes in energy, interest, or environment, there’s no harm in taking time off from a fitness goal if it’s not serving you anymore. We’re not all meant to follow the same path, and adjusting to what feels right can lead to a more enjoyable, sustainable fitness journey.

Activity Tips for Staying Active Year-Round

1. Grab Your Journal: Write down what movement makes you happiest. Whether it’s walking, dancing, or even exploring new workout classes, use this list to help you find motivation that comes from a place of joy.
2. Embrace Seasonal Changes: Motivation naturally fluctuates, and adjusting to what feels right for you can make a huge difference. For me, switching to walking during the colder months has helped me stay active without the pressure of meeting a specific running goal.
3. Enjoy the Process, Not Just the Goal: Remember, fitness doesn’t have to be about intense workouts. Moving more can be as simple as taking longer walks, exploring local parks, or dancing. It’s about finding ways to incorporate movement in a way that feels fun and fulfilling.

In this season of life, I’ve realised that moving is about enjoying each step, not pushing myself to a specific finish line. I hope this episode encourages you to embrace movement in whatever way feels best right now. Whether it’s walking, running, or trying something new, focus on what genuinely brings you joy and energy. Let’s walk, move, and enjoy where we are.

JOIN ME ON THE 11TH, 12TH & 13TH OF NOVEMBER AT 8:00 PM!

https://bit.ly/ClairesHypnosisChallenge

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

In this week's episode, we welcome Lauren, a familiar face on Instagram, known for her honesty and motivation. She shares her journey from feeling uncomfortable in her body during summer to making a transformative decision to prioritise her health. Lauren talks about the challenges of navigating hot weather and the discomfort of being overweight, which often left her feeling self-conscious, especially around familiar faces at home. But when on holiday, far from people she knew, she would often feel a bit more liberated, even wearing a bikini, simply because she felt she had a bit more freedom to let go.

The pivotal moment for Lauren came in December, as she found herself shopping for holiday outfits, constantly discouraged by limited options. She describes the experience of clicking on a size 24 in an online shop, feeling as if it was a wake-up call. Despite being tempted to wait for the new year, Lauren chose to start her health journey in mid-December—a choice that would reshape her approach to health and fitness.

Lauren opens up about the mental blocks she faced on her journey. In her role as an assistant headteacher, the demanding schedule and high stress led her to rely on comfort foods. She describes how stress and exhaustion would lead her to binge on sugary snacks or pick up fast food as a quick fix, even admitting to reaching for a whole pack of donuts without much thought. The cycle of stress, overworking, and convenience eating had become a crutch, especially after long days that began as early as 7 a.m. and ended well after the school day.

During the interview, we dig into Lauren’s early days of making healthy changes. She reflects on the challenges of cutting out sugar and shifting to a new way of eating. Initially, she noticed immediate positive changes—feeling more energetic, less sluggish, and surprisingly, a significant reduction in her usual heartburn. After her first week, she felt a renewed sense of energy, a reminder of why she wanted to keep going with her new habits.

Lauren shares her meal habits, comparing what she used to eat with her current approach. Previously, her meals were filled with quick grabs like pastries and convenience snacks that she could easily eat while on the move. Now, her days start with an early breakfast she prepares herself, and instead of reaching for sugar-laden snacks, she finds herself satisfied with nutrient-dense meals. She’s also embraced meal prep, taking time each weekend to batch-cook a variety of dishes like chilies and curries. This way, her meals for the week are ready to go when she gets home, and she doesn’t have to resort to takeout.

For Lauren, the planning, structure, and convenience of batch-cooking have become essential, especially given her busy workdays. The time she dedicates on Sundays to prepare these meals has become a game-changer in maintaining her healthier lifestyle. Her approach serves as an inspiration for anyone who might feel constrained by time or energy but still wants to make positive changes.

Join us as Lauren shares her journey from feeling weighed down to building habits that bring her more joy, energy, and self-confidence. This episode is a testament to the power of small, consistent changes and how planning can help create a more balanced and fulfilling life.

JOIN ME ON THE 11TH, 12TH & 13TH OF NOVEMBER AT 8:00 PM!

https://bit.ly/ClairesHypnosisChallenge

Follow Lauren on Instagram at

l_dslimmingworld

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

I wanted to take a moment in this episode to share my thoughts on an important topic in the weight loss space: weight loss injections. With so many people turning to this method, I thought it’d be helpful to open up a conversation around it. Some of the claims floating around about these jab’s include improvements in brain fog, reduced bloating, and even a decrease in early-onset dementia. I’ve personally heard a lot of buzz—my friend is raving about it, and a previous podcast guest I follow has also had positive results since starting the injection.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions on this topic, especially what you'd like me to ask an expert in a future episode. For many of us, weight loss isn’t just about the physical process; it’s tied deeply to our beliefs. I really want to challenge you to think about your mindset and beliefs around your ability to lose weight, especially if you’ve struggled in the past or feel stuck in your journey.

I’ve also found hypnosis to be a powerful tool for breaking through mental barriers. It’s been a game-changer for me, helping me overcome cravings, and I’m proud to say I haven’t touched chocolate in three years! If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to join my upcoming three-day challenge, starting on November 11th. It's designed to help you break your cravings and reset your relationship with food.

Before we wrap up, I’ll leave you with a question: When you reach for food, especially something like chocolate, is it really about hunger, or could it be a way to numb stress and chaos? Take some time to reflect on your habits, and if you’re looking to take back control, I’d be happy to have you join me in the challenge.

JOIN ME ON THE 11TH, 12TH & 13TH OF NOVEMBER AT 8:00 PM!

https://bit.ly/HypnosisWaitlist

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight

Maryam, who shares her personal story of battling body image issues and eating disorders. From feeling pressured about her weight as a child to experiencing severe disordered eating during her teenage years, Maryam opens up about her long and difficult journey to healing. She reflects on how her involvement in track and field at 16 worsened her eating habits, leading to health problems. After years of struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, Maryam found yoga, which played a crucial role in her recovery. Yoga helped her regain mental clarity and emotional balance, offering a new approach to physical and mental health.

Maryam now uses yoga to maintain her well-being and hopes to inspire others dealing with similar struggles. This conversation offers insight into the long-term impact of body image issues and the powerful role of self-care in recovery.

You can follow Maryam on Instagram @maryamlaouiti_ go and show her some support!

JOIN ME ON THE 11TH, 12TH & 13TH OF NOVEMBER AT 8:00 PM!

https://bit.ly/HypnosisWaitlist

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

I talk about giving people a taste of some of the help I’ve received through hypnosis. This was next-level amazing, if I do say so myself!

Most challenges focus on learning, insights, and takeaways. My 3-day challenge was an immersive experience in hypnosis, designed to give those that joined the transformation that hypnosis alone can bring. This episode includes audio from the challenge on Day 1 and Day 3—you’ll hear the skeptics speak honestly about their doubts. While they liked the idea of resisting chocolate, deep down, they didn’t believe it would actually be possible.

Day 2 audio hasn’t been included, as that day focuses on connecting to repressed emotions by visiting participants' younger, childlike selves. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room—the tissues I asked them to bring definitely came in handy.

Despite the initial skepticism, the results are in: no one was able to smell the chocolate, let alone eat it!

The 3-day hypnosis challenge was pure joy—from the surprise of how hypnosis felt for those experiencing it for the first time to the emotional release on Day 2. One of the ladies mentioned that she doesn’t usually cry, let alone in front of a group of strangers, yet she felt safe doing so.

If you’d like to join me in November for the next chocolate cravings challenge, sign up using the link below. I’d love to see you there.

JOIN ME ON THE 11TH, 12TH & 13TH OF NOVEMBER AT 8:00 PM!

https://bit.ly/HypnosisWaitlist

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Debbie, whose story is truly inspiring. Debbie opens up about her incredible 5.5 stone weight loss journey with Slimming World and the unique challenges she faced along the way.

A lifelong lover of health and fitness, Debbie never had issues with her weight—until she was diagnosed with COPD. Prescribed steroids, she gained 5 stone over the course of 5 years, a difficult shift for someone who had always been active.

It wasn’t until her grandchildren came along that Debbie realised how much her weight was affecting her day-to-day life. Determined to make a change, she took on the challenge of creating healthier meals, learning to prepare food without staples like full-fat mayonnaise and oil.

Now, Debbie shares her journey and meal prep tips with thousands on TikTok, inspiring others through her determination, humour, with the support of her beloved "Ginge" (not the cat, but her partner!).  Tune in for her story, and get ready to feel motivated by her positivity and practical approach to health and fitness.

JOIN ME ON THE 1ST, 2ND & 3RD OF OCTOBER AT 8.00PM!

https://bit.ly/3DaySSChallange

Have you missed the date of the challenge? Join my waitlist for the next one!

https://bit.ly/HypnosisWaitlist

Go follow Debbie over on her TikTok account  thatb_tchdebie or if you're new to TikTok click on the link below.

https://www.tiktok.com/search?lang=en&q=batch%20cook%20debbie&t=1727639027849

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

In this episode, I sit down with Emmeline to dive into her inspiring weight loss journey. She shares what motivated her to begin, discussing concerns about her health and her desire to lower risks ahead of an upcoming medical procedure. Emmeline also wanted to be a strong support for her son as he started high school.

We talk about how she approached her weight loss this time, focusing on making it a sustainable lifestyle change rather than just a short-term fix. She joined a weight loss program for accountability, but what’s really key for her is staying flexible and listening to her body, instead of being too rigid.

Emmeline opens up about making this a lifelong journey. She’s allowing herself more flexibility, especially when it comes to dining out, and is learning not to be too hard on herself. Her goal is to find a balance that works for her lifestyle long term.

One of the major factors in her success has been the support of her partner and family. Emmeline talks about how essential it has been to have open conversations with her loved ones about her goals and the kind of support she needs to stay on track.

JOIN ME ON THE 1ST, 2ND & 3RD OF OCTOBER AT 8.00PM!

https://bit.ly/3DaySSChallange

Have you missed the date of the 3 day hypnosis challenge?

Join my waitlist to be the first to be notified for the next one!

https://bit.ly/HypnosisWaitlist

Support Emmeline of her weight loss journey over at TikTok -  changingmylife4eve simply click on the link below.

https://www.tiktok.com/@changingmylife4eva?lang=en

Slimming Stories TikTok account - slimmingstoriespodcast - simply click on the link below.

https://www.tiktok.com/@slimmingstoriespodcast?lang=en

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You will see weekly lives and updates about the podcast.

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link

https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

At one point, I had to step away from the mic entirely. But thanks to the amazing support from this community, I found my way back and am excited to continue sharing with you!

As a celebration of the podcast being weeks away from its 5 year birthday I’ve got something really special for you. I’m offering a free 3-day hypnosis challange that I’ve put together to help you manage food cravings and emotional eating. This technique has been such a game-changer for me personally, and I can’t wait to see how it can help you too. It’s my way of giving back and saying thank you for all the support.

I’m sharing a very personal story—my struggle with a food addiction. I’ve now been free from chocolate, cakes, and sweets for over 1,000 days, which still feels incredible to say out loud! The sense of freedom and control it’s brought me is something I want to share with anyone who might be dealing with similar struggles.

I’ll be encouraging you to sign up for the free 3-day hypnosis challenge on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of October.

No strings attached—this is truly just my way of offering hope and practical help. If cravings or emotional eating are something you’ve been struggling with, I think this could make a real difference.

I’ve experienced firsthand how powerful these techniques can be, and I really want you to have the opportunity to try them out. It’s free, there’s nothing to lose, and it might just be the step that changes everything.

Thanks for listening.

JOIN ME ON THE 1ST, 2ND & 3RD OF OCTOBER AT 8.00PM!

https://bit.ly/3DaySSChallange

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

In this episode, we delve into Heather's journey with cravings, hypnotherapy, and the surprising transformations that followed. We explore how her nostalgic connection with sweets from the 80s shifted after a session of hypnosis, shedding light on the power of the mind in reshaping our relationship with food.

Highlights from the Episode:

• Sweet Memories of the 80s: Heather reminisces about a time when chocolate bars and sweet treats were cherished on special occasions, evoking memories of love and warmth shared with her Grandma over Resse’s Cups and Andes Mints.
• Emotional Connections: The deep emotional tie Heather had with her grandmother and the associated treats became evident during a hypnotherapy session aimed at tackling cravings, leading her to tear up with newfound awareness.
• Exploring Hypnotherapy: Curious about the potential outcomes, Heather embarked on her first hypnosis experience, intrigued by the prospect of addressing her cravings and their impact on her weight loss journey.
• Transformation Unfolds: Heather narrates her journey through hypnosis, from craving Reese’s Cups and Andes Mints to feeling averse to them post-session. The once irresistible treats now evoke sensations like toothaches or overly minty toothpaste, highlighting the shift in perception after hypnotherapy.
• Personal Insights: Heather draws parallels between hypnosis and her love for yoga, sharing her unique perspective on how the two practices resonate and differ in unlocking the mind's potential.

Key Takeaways:

• Explore the emotional roots of cravings and their impact on your relationship with food.
• Consider hypnotherapy as a tool to address cravings and reshape your perceptions.
• Embrace the transformative power of the mind in creating healthier habits and choices.

Join us on this enlightening journey as Heather shares her experience of breaking free from food cravings and redefining her approach to mindful eating.

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

In this episode, I reflect on the journey so far, marked by hitting 75k podcast downloads. Despite initial doubts from some, the support from listeners has been overwhelming, and I'm deeply grateful for each one who encouraged me along the way.

I’m so grateful to Cathy Heller and Emma Kikuchi for instilling in me the belief that I could embark on this podcasting journey and transition into entrepreneurship. It's been more than just a podcast; it's been about forming connections and friendships, both locally and internationally. The mantra of getting the messy version done was great for me as there was no other way the podcast would have ever been published!

We'll take a trip down memory lane, revisiting highlights from the past 117 episodes, featuring remarkable guests like Aoife, Lewis, Julie Ashlie, Aleisha, Alison, Melanie, Ruth & Bex. Throughout, the focus has remained on fostering raw, honest conversations around weight loss.

As we celebrate this milestone, I'm filled with pride and gratitude for the inspirational conversations that have shaped this podcast. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey!

A special thanks to Nicole, Kim, Emma & Johanna.

In gratitude,

Claire.

TRIGGER WARNING - Childhood neglect sexual abuse and trauma.

Introducing a very different podcast episode with an amazing lady called Jolene. Jolene had survived horrendous childhood neglect and trauma including childhood sexual abuse. Jolene explains how as a child she felt like an outsider and how she learned to survive being passed through the care system only to be abandoned by her mother again at age 15.

You will hear Jolene talk about her struggles with mental health that took her to talking therapy and how in the past she was even sectioned under the mental health act.

As a result of Jolene's childhood experiences she was diagnosed with PTSD. 

Jolene received help and is now working in mental health however  the PTSD night terrors would not subside.

Jolene would have to take Amitriptyline to go to sleep to relax her body only when she was asleep the night terrors would start. As a child Jolene would be on the out for her abuser and would keep her bedroom door ajar. Staring at the door frame in her bedroom as a child stayed with her into adulthood and she never felt safe enough to close her bedroom door.

After one session of hypnotherapy I was able to desensitise Jolene from the painful memories, the PTSD night terrors stopped and Jolene now sleeps with her bedroom door shut.

I am hoping that Jolene's bravery for allowing me to record two hypnotherapy sessions will provide others with hope who have struggled with PTSD and have been left feeling that this is something they have to live with for the rest of their lives and manage.

Hypnotherapy is powerful and is so much more than relaxation. I make no apologies for the fact that if you go to my YouTube Channel and watch the videos that you will see Jolene crying & shaking while she is releasing repressed emotions that she had held onto from childhood.

I wanted to bring to you a powerful mental health shift and didnt want you to think that hypnotherapy is another woo woo fad! Truly it is not!

The intention of publishing this episode was to show my listeners that there is always hope. If talking therapy and CBT has left you feeling frustrated, your subconscious mind can help you to release and process repressed emotions without the need to talk through the details of your past.

My uttermost gratitude goes out to Jolene who now lives a life surrounded by her children & grandchildren now working in mental health to help those who have struggled with their demons.

Jolene’s light is beyond bright.

Links below to Jolene's hypnotherapy sessions.

https://bit.ly/PTSDChildhoodTraumaHypnosis

https://bit.ly/PTSDNIGHTERRORS2NDLIVESESSION

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

In this episode we delve into the journey of Johanna, a passionate Keto enthusiast who battles with the temptation of sugary treats, particularly her weakness for strawberry iced doughnuts. We explore the conversation leading up to and following her hypnosis session, witnessing the transformation in her cravings for doughnuts.

Johanna's love for cooking, baking, and all things Keto is undeniable. However, despite her dedication to the low-carb lifestyle, the intense aroma of her favourite doughnuts often tests her resolve. The smell of freshly baked doughnuts, particularly the strawberry iced ones, proves to be Johanna's Achilles' heel, tempting her despite her commitment to Keto.

Following the session, Johanna experiences a remarkable shift in her perspective and desires. She shares her newfound sense of control now that she no longer feeling compelled to indulge in the sugary temptations of doughnuts. The smell of doughnuts no longer triggers the same intense cravings, showcasing the transformative power of hypnosis in reshaping her relationship with food.

Johanna's journey serves as a testament to the potential of hypnosis in overcoming cravings and resisting temptation. Her story inspires listeners to explore alternative methods for achieving their health and wellness goals, reminding us that change is possible with dedication and the right mindset.

Tune in to this episode to witness Johanna's transformative journey and discover the profound impact of hypnosis on conquering cravings and embracing a healthier lifestyle.

You can watch Johanna’s hypnotherapy session on YouTube using this link.

https://bit.ly/DOUGHNUTCRAVINGS

Go ahead and follow Johanna on Instagram @latino_livin_keto

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Does emotional eating frustrate you?

Do you feel that while food cravings jeopardise you're good intensions you don't want to give up the comfort of the food you crave?

In this episode, you will hear how I often turn down clients looking for a quick-fix hypnotherapy for food cravings and weight loss.

The bigger picture...the elephant in the room that is often not discussed is the fact that the issue with our relationship with food often has very little to do with food!

The emotions that drive those food cravings should always be the first point of call before looking at any hypnotic cravings technique or virtual gastric band.

Emotional eating is driven by the subconscious - unconscious mind trying to provide you with a good feeling during times of stress and anxiety or simply overwhelm from a busy day.

If you are struggling with food cravings or a difficult relationship with food, if you're in a loop of self-sabotage, then this episode is for you.

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

In today's episode, we have the incredible Lisanne joining us. She's a true inspiration, having successfully shed over 10 stone, and she's here to share the profound insights and experiences that shaped her weight loss journey.

Lisanne takes us on an insightful journey, providing a nuanced perspective on the highs, lows, and pivotal moments throughout her weight loss transformation. Her narrative is a compelling exploration of the challenges faced, setbacks encountered, and the triumphant instances that defined her unique path to wellness.

She delves into the pivotal mindset shift that served as a catalyst for her success, revealing the mental fortitude and unwavering determination required to maintain focus on her health goals.

Beyond the weight loss narrative, Lisanne graciously shares her role as a surrogate mother to a gay couple. This heartfelt discussion sheds light on the emotional and fulfilling aspects of participating in the creation of a family.

Furthermore, Lisanne provides insights into the post-weight loss phase, discussing her decision to undergo skin removal surgery. This candid exploration highlights the transformative impact of such procedures on both the physical and psychological aspects of one's well-being.

This episode serves as a celebration of resilience, strength, and the individuality of personal journeys. Lisanne's story not only inspires but also prompts meaningful reflections on the broader themes of health, compassion, and self-discovery.

We invite you to immerse yourselves in this thought-provoking conversation and glean inspiration from Lisanne's remarkable journey. Until our next encounter, stay inspired and take care.

You can follow Lisanne over on Instagram @lasagne79_weightloss

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Welcome to this week's podcast episode, where we dive deep into the intriguing world of food cravings. Join me as I share a personal insight into the struggles of dealing with irresistible desires for those foods we can’t leave alone!

In the spotlight today is Laurie, who battles with an undeniable craving for peanut butter. Picture this: she finds herself scooping the creamy delight straight from the jar with a spoon, just as she did in secret during her childhood. As confessions unfold, I admit to my own guilty pleasure of indulging in condensed milk.But fear not, for today we're parking the guilt and exploring the fascinating journey Laurie embarks on as she delves into hypnotherapy.

Stay tuned to witness the transformation as Laurie, guided by hypnotic suggestions, gradually loses her desire to taste or even smell peanut butter. This episode offers a captivating glimpse into the realm of control achievable through hypnotherapy.

I shed light on the notion that food cravings often have little to do with the food itself but are intricately tied to the associations with joyful moments. In Laurie's case, it's the early memories of childhood that fuel her peanut butter cravings. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the profound insights into the power of hypnotherapy in reshaping our relationship with food.

Have a great week, until next time take care.

Claire.

You can watch the hypnotherapy video over on my YouTube video using this link:https://bit.ly/PEANUTBUTTERCRAVINGS

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Introducing you to Danielle Savage, a truly beautiful soul, both inside and out. In this episode, we delve into Danielle's remarkable journey of weight loss and self-discovery. Danielle's story takes a significant turn when she becomes a mother. We explore the unique challenges and triumphs she faced on her weight loss journey as a young mum. Many of us can relate to the nagging guilt that sometimes creeps in when we prioritise self-care as Mum's. 

So, join us as we unpack Danielle's transformation and the invaluable lessons she has to share. It's a journey of weight loss, self-discovery, and the profound impact of self-confidence on our lives and the lives of those we love. When we feel good, confident, and comfortable in our bodies, we radiate positivity to our children and everyone around us. It's a win-win situation.

Follow and connect with Danielle On Instagram at sw_danielle_savage

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Gillian wanted control of the hot cross buns she craved. But… Gillian was a baker who loved the smell and texture so much of hot cross buns that she had her own ritual of smelling and squeezing the buns before she went in for a bite! Carbs, cakes, and anything sugary were Gillian’s downfall.

Keto is the weight loss plan that Gillian wanted to follow; however, this is a very low-carb and low-sugar plan, so helping quit those cravings using hypnosis, especially as a baker, would be a challenge indeed relying on willpower alone.

You will hear Gillian describe how she felt about the food she craved both before and after hypnosis. Like many people embarking on a healthy eating program, Gillian talks about the guilt of feeling unable to resist the foods in the moments that cravings felt so strong. In Gillian’s words, “sugar makes the world feel good.” Challenging this belief system may sound impossible. However, the subconscious mind is powerful. Listen to this week’s episode and open your mind to the possibility that habits can be changed without weeks and weeks of fighting cravings. 

You will find a longer format video to this week’s episode over on my YouTube Channel. Here is a link to watch part of the hypnotherapy session. https://bit.ly/HotCrossBunCravings

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

I'm so pleased you're here for another podcast episode. I'm going to introduce you to Arielle today. She's a remarkable woman whose journey has rekindled her mental and physical fortitude through the art of boxing.  In this episode, Arielle shares how she liberated herself from a narcissistic relationship. Drawing from her martial arts journey, she not only empowered herself but also founded her own boxing club. Through this venture, Arielle now coaches those grappling with their own challenges, helping them access their inner strength and unlock their physical potential. 

This episode invites you to explore Arielle's journey and perhaps consider stepping into a boxing club or gym yourself. Would you consider boxing to help reset you health and fitness for 2024? Stepping out of our comfort zone can may surprise you!

Take care.

Claire.

Follow and connect with Arielle on these channels, you will find a free class in the website link below. Enjoy!

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/laceupboxingclub/

Website - www.core-strike.com

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Weight loss is 99% mindset, hypnosis with help you to move forward with your healthy intentions.

If you are consumed by food cravings and struggling with comfort eating I would be happy to hep you.

Thank you so much for downloading please subscribe for further episodes in your inbox!

"It's been a while, and I'm so glad to be back!

While you may have thought that was the end of the podcast, it was certainly a long pause. But I'm back, recording and looking forward to publishing new episodes.

So much has happened; you will hear how 2023 has had its challenges, but it's also important to keep showing up during difficult times.

In this episode, I discuss how future episodes are going to sound and how the podcast has evolved to cover the weight loss transformation of both the mind and body.

As a hypnotherapist, I want to dive deeper into mental health conversations because everyone looking to lose weight is often carrying more than the pounds they aim to lose.

Thank you for tuning in, please subscribe for future podcast episodes.

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Do you want to see the results achieved in live hypnotherapy sessions? Are you not convinced that hypnotherapy works? Don't worry, I have you covered! I started the YouTube Channel with you in mind! Click on the link below to my YouTube Channel.

https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30 minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Hypnotherapy can help you to achieve great results alongside your healthy intentions. Whether you attend a Slimming World group, count calories or follow a WW plan with Weight Watchers there is so much more to weight loss than losing physical weight.

Tatenda has always celebrated her curves and her motivation was never fuelled by a social media idealistic view of a woman's body.  

This episode is very different from previous guest interviews as Tatenda had not struggled with weight or food choices from early childhood, teens, or twenties. Tatenda embarked on her weight loss journey at age 36 having lost the body confidence that she once adored. Tatenda found that celebrating curves was difficult in a UK size 22 body and compliments from her husband were difficult to take.

Tatenda felt embarrassed that she had got to a size 22 and she found herself hiding away in the bathroom to get changed and from social events.

You will hear Tatenda open up about how her excess weight had caused physical pains and how she didn't feel aligned with the health message she had to give working as a nurse. Motivating others to lose the weight they needed when she was a size 22 was something that Tatenda knew had to change.

Tatenda has now transformed her health journey and no longer worries about encouraging others. Tatenda wanted to share her encouragement on YouTube with her own channel “Marvellous Encouragement”.

The hiding away is now a thing of the past and Tatenda has taken back her power away from the scales and owns her weight loss journey. Tatenda shares how Slimming World, calorie counting & intermittent fasting have all helped her to step back into a healthy body.

Enjoy!

If you would like to follow Tatenda on YouTube and Instagram simply click on the links below and subscribe.

Instagram

marvellous_encouragement

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@marvellousencouragement

If you would like to watch the podcast episode on video head over to my YouTube Channel https://bit.ly/YOUTUBESLIMMINGSTORIES

Would you like to learn more about my hypnotherapy services? Are you struggling with food cravings? Do you feel overwhelmed, perhaps your stress levels are at an all time high or your anxiety is through the roof? 

Are you struggling to move forward with your life due to PTSD, Trauma, anxiety & stress?

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30-minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

You will see the hypnosis in action over on my YouTube Channel Emotional Release Hypnotherapy

https://bit.ly/emotionalreleasehypnotherapy

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/3H2RRn

Sending you big Saint Valentine's greetings.

It feels so easy to love those we truly cherish, so easy to offer friends and family compliments and words of encouragement, and yet how easy is it to truly receive that same love?

In this episode, you will hear how Charlotte is given an insight into how her negative self-talk has really impacted her self-esteem.

This conversation will show you how easy it is to repeat negative self-talk on autopilot and Charlotte's reaction to the mirror work I help her with.

You will be able to hear the hypnosis I guide Charlotte over on my Youtube channel following this link.

Hypnosis is simply a pure state of focus.

The question is what hypnosis are you currently invested in?

What words do you focus on to describe your reflection on autopilot? So many times I hear people refer to hypnosis as woo woo! Yet people are already in hypnosis - each time they focus on negative self-talk and truly believe those negative words to be true.

Watch Charlotte's interview on her recovery from Emetophobia using this link.

https://youtu.be/0R9XC26A7jk

You will see the hypnosis in action over on my YouTube Channel Emotional Release Hypnotherapy.

https://bit.ly/emotionalreleasehypnotherapy

If you would like to watch the podcast episode on video head over to my YouTube Channel https://bit.ly/YOUTUBESLIMMINGSTORIES

Would you like to learn more about my hypnotherapy services? Are you struggling with food cravings? Do you feel overwhelmed, perhaps your stress levels are at an all-time high or your anxiety is through the roof? 

Are you struggling to move forward with your life due to PTSD, Trauma, anxiety & stress? Are your fears & phobias in control or are you struggling with food cravings? 

If you find yourself struggling to lose weight with Weight Watchers or Slimming World due to having zero control over the food on your plate I can help you to release the emotions you are trying to manage with comfort eating.

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30-minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/3H2RRn

Life has changed so much since Ruth last recorded an episode with Slimming Stories on episode 16. You may remember Ruth sharing her weight loss success with Slimming World dropping from a dress size 22 to a size 8.

With newfound confidence, Ruth explains how she applied to the world-renowned school of performing arts “Lipa’ …just for a laugh! Ruth never imagined that she would be accepted as this had always been a dream and Lipa was a fairytale wish in a land far far away!

Meanwhile, Ruth became unwell and was suspected of early menopause.

More miracles were in store for Ruth as she explains how having polycystic ovaries meant that the dream of having children was something she had accepted would never happen. 

Do you believe in miracles!!!!?

Take a listen and hear Ruth's fantastic news.

Before Ruth's Podcast recording, I was able to take Ruth into hypnosis to help with pain management and a painful memory after Ruth had suffered a miscarriage.

We never know the weight of the emotional pain someone is carrying when they embark on their weight loss journey. It was a pleasure not only to provide Ruth with pain relief but also to release her mind from being stuck in the moment of trauma from the miscarriage she had suffered.

You will see the hypnosis in action over on my YouTube Channel Emotional Release Hypnotherapy

https://bit.ly/emotionalreleasehypnotherapy

If you would like to watch the podcast episode on video head over to my YouTube Channel https://bit.ly/YOUTUBESLIMMINGSTORIES

Would you like to learn more about my hypnotherapy services? Are you struggling with food cravings? Do you feel overwhelmed, perhaps your stress levels are at an all-time high or your anxiety is through the roof? 

Are you struggling to move forward with your life due to PTSD, Trauma, anxiety & stress?

Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30-minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

I think I can vouch for the majority of my listeners when I say that most people committing to their weight loss have at some time sipped from the cup of Fad diets! 

Even knowing that a juice diet is a quick fix isn't always enough to steer us away from investing in the notion that something with “tropical” in the title will bring about a subtropical magical fat-melting reaction without the hard work!

This week's episode is a minisode, one of many as I share a recent podcast sponsor opportunity. This was a little triggering as you will hear from my tone, my family thought this was a great idea! I had other thoughts and I'm sure you will all agree that declining the offer was the best move. Yes, I could have earned money however integrity and not having my podcast Spammed felt more in line with my Slimming Stories vision. Enjoy!

Each episode will be recorded so if YouTube is your thing you can find this episode by hitting subscribe on my channel https://bit.ly/YOUTUBESLIMMINGSTORIES

Each week I will be showing up and sharing my Slimming World weight loss journey and filling you in on the story so far. 

YouTube Channels

Mental Health Hypnotherapy

https://bit.ly/YOUTUBEHYPNOTHERAPY

Would you like to learn more about my hypnotherapy services? Are you struggling with food cravings? Do you feel overwhelmed, perhaps your stress levels are at an all-time high or your anxiety is through the roof? Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30-minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/3H2RRn

it's been 6 months since my last Podcast episode I am now rejecting the excuse of not having time to Podcast!!

Without avoiding the obvious…it’s been a while! 

Happy New Year!!! I am back with a whole new approach to podcasting.

Podcasting has been an experience for sure and one thing that has been in short supply is the time to continue in the way I previously did before I started my hypnotherapy business. However, I'm not one to quit and I wanted to share with you my new Podcast format.

Each episode will be recorded so if YouTube is your thing you can find this episode by hitting subscribe on my channel https://bit.ly/YOUTUBESLIMMINGSTORIES

Each week I will be showing up and sharing my Slimming World weight loss journey and filling you in on the story so far. In this week's episode, you will hear my intentions for 2023 and all about what's been happening since my last podcast episode.

YouTube Channels

Mental Health Hypnotherapy

https://bit.ly/YOUTUBEHYPNOTHERAPY

Would you like to learn more about my hypnotherapy services? Are you struggling with food cravings? Do you feel overwhelmed, perhaps your stress levels are at an all-time high or your anxiety is through the roof? Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30-minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. Claireoldhamwest.com

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/3H2RRn

In this week's episode, I bring you up to speed with my decision to rejoin Slimming World. I share my sugar craving update after 8 months of no temptation towards cake, chocolate, or sweets. If you're wondering…YES I am over the moon! I share the impact of being able to easily resist the glitter of sugar after receiving help using hypnotherapy.

You will hear about my new accountability for my Slimming World journey having decided to start a YouTube Vlog. This was far from an easy decision and if you click on the link to my YouTube Channel you will hear how quiet and nervous I was recording my first episode! Luckily by week two, the nerves had gone. If you're looking for extra accountability and a very honest insight into the on-scale and off-scale victories then I would love to see you over there.

Emma Isaacs Course Link

https://www.emmaisaacs.co.uk/heart-and-soul

YouTube Channels

Slimming Stories 

https://bit.ly/YOUTUBESLIMMINGSTORIES

Mental Health Hypnotherapy

https://bit.ly/YOUTUBEHYPNOTHERAPY

Would you like to learn more about my hypnotherapy services? Are you struggling with food cravings? Do you feel overwhelmed, perhaps your stress levels are at an all-time high or your anxiety is through the roof? Hypnotherapy can truly help you in so many different areas of your life. Join me for a free 30-minute consultation using this link https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact 

You can visit my website for details of the services I offer and read reviews. claireoldhamwest.com

You can contact me by email at claireoldhamwest@gmail.com

Before mental health awareness week passes us by, I wanted to jump on and record an episode to support you in any struggles that you're feeling right now.

I want anyone that is listening to this episode to know that regardless of where they are at right now with their mental health, you are not broken and unfixable.

If you have tried C.B.T, N.LP, Counselling, E.M.D.R…..and have felt beyond the point of therapy this episode is especially for you.

I am giving you the chance for me to help you with a painful memory and the best part is that this is content-free, I do not need to know the details of the memory.

In this episode, you will hear how I explain that with the best will in the world if you are struggling with a painful memory from the past that a weight loss journey can feel like an uphill struggle.

I’m inviting you to offload the pain and while you will still remember the event the emotional pain will no longer be attached. I’m offering this to show you that there is hope and I'm offering this for free.

Listen as I read a testimonial from a lady who had spent years in therapy and how I helped her using this exact technique in just 10 minutes.

I know EXACTLY how this sounds! Honestly, even if you're skeptical I urge you to give this a try and break free from emotional pain.

**There are some people who may not benefit from hypnosis and once you register you will receive this information.

Register your interest by reaching out to me on my email address:

claireoldhamwest@gmail.com

Slimming Stories Facebook Group.

https://bit.ly/3H2RRns

YouTube Channel 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx4JqpRnPwmP6MvAf6ieYYw

You may remember Debbie Fawcett from episode 42 of the podcast. Debbie lost 15 stone with Slimming World and like many people over lockdown found the food she craved too big a temptation.

Having kept in contact with Debbie I suggested helping Debbie with the food she craved using hypnosis to regain control. Hypnosis was a brand new experience for Debbie but nevertheless Debbie agreed and found Hypnosis to be extremely helpful.

In this episode, you will hear how Debbie thought she hadn't gone fully into hypnosis and yet after the session, the chocolate cake and biscuits didn't even make it to Debbie's mouth.

I totally understand how different the approach of hypnosis and hypnotherapy seems which is why I'm bringing the sessions to you! 

After the session, Debbie could only associate the biscuits and chocolate cake with salt! Debbie had wanted to be able to go into her kitchen for a cup of tea without the desire for biscuits, it's safe to say that her wish was granted!

Here is the link to see Debbie's full episode over on YouTube http://bit.ly/YouTubeClaireOldhamWest

Join me for my free webinar on Thursday the 27th of January where I will be introducing my new course “Slimming Stories Emotional Detox” http://bit.ly/EMOTIONALDETOX

If you're interested in hypnotherapy you can visit my website claireoldhamwest.com

To book a free discovery call to see if hypnotherapy is the right therapy for you just click on this link to schedule your 30-minute session. https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

I honestly can't believe I'm writing the show notes for Episode 100.

Reaching this milestone means more to me than I can put into words because there was a time I genuinely believed this podcast would never exist.

If you've ever listened to Slimming Stories, you'll know I'm not interested in being perfect. I'm interested in having honest conversations. The irony is that, despite encouraging so many guests to share their stories, I spent a long time questioning whether my own voice was good enough.

This episode is probably one of the most personal I've recorded.

For the first time ever, I published it with no editing at all. No trying to sound polished. No worrying about the "erms". Just me, talking honestly.

The inspiration came from a hypnotherapy client who had lived with a stutter for over 70 years. It made me realise something... every voice deserves to be heard, imperfections and all.

If you've been putting off starting something because you're waiting for the perfect moment, I really hope this episode gives you the confidence to begin anyway.

Because sometimes the only difference between a dream and reality is taking that first messy step.

🦋 Celebrating 100 episodes of Slimming Stories

🦋 My battle with imposter syndrome and self-doubt

🦋 Why I chose to publish this episode completely unedited

🦋 The podcast course that gave me the confidence to begin

🦋 Leaving my career to follow a completely different path

🦋 Why your voice doesn't have to be perfect to make a difference

🦋 A reminder that your dreams are worth pursuing, even when they feel scary

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

@slimmingstories_podcast

@claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

Aleisha felt that she had finally found the answer in managing weight gain in the form of nutritious meal replacements. Aleisha decided to document her journey on YouTube for accountability and this worked really well. The plan Aleisha chose to follow was a shake meal replacement and watching the scales reduce as well as her dress size was amazingly encouraging along with the words of support from her followers.

In this episode, Aleisha talks about the difficulties of maintaining weight loss when her husband's mental health struggles had increased to the point of experiencing suicidal thoughts. The days that followed meant that Aleisha's focus had to be with her family as a wife and mother and making time for her needs had taken a back seat. Depression followed and Aleisha felt desperately unhappy and sad having regained the weight that had been under control adding to Aleisha’s frustration.

This episode is unapologetically raw and shows the determination it takes just to get out of bed and face each day living with depression and trying to manage life.

Aleisha is now in a better place and was inspired to think differently and in the process offers hope to others who have also been in a dark place by documenting her weight loss journey on a podcast “finding myself through obesity”.

This is new for Slimming Stories documenting weight management before the full weight loss.  I know you will all join me in wishing Aleisha all the best as she steps forward to make the positive changes necessary to improve her health.

You can follow Aleisha and her weight loss journey on Instagram @findingmyselfthroughobesity

https://www.instagram.com/aleisha_black_/

https://www.instagram.com/findingmyselfthroughobesity/

https://www.tiktok.com/@aleishablack

https://www.facebook.com/findingmyselfthroughobesity

Claire Oldham West: Hypnotherapist, Coach & Podcaster.

claireoldhamwest.com

This is part 2 of Angharad's slimming story. While Angharad was delighted to be in a position to receive Gastric Bypass surgery, who would have predicted Covid and a worldwide pandemic?! Angharad explains within this episode how the family was unable to visit and how post-surgery looked. Trying to be present for her children while dealing with the challenges that she was faced with after surgery is just one of the many inspiring conversations that you will hear. In fact, Angharad is blessed with children who offered support who knew how much the surgery meant to their mum.

This is a great story of determination and resilience and Angharad found herself using Covid as a motivator to allow herself to reset into her new body in time for her business to be reopened after lockdown. Angharad was able to enjoy walks out with her children and discover new walks along the way, something she never thought about before lockdown forced her to stay close to home.

Angharad greeted her clients in her smaller size when the doors to her business finally opened and received positive support.

This episode is a great listen especially for anyone considering this surgery as Angharad recalls the early days after surgery and gives great advice around expectations.

You can follow Angharad over on Instagram @angharads_next_chapter

You can subscribe to my new email list to experience the joy of pure relaxation with a free hypnosis audio track.

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

claireoldhamwest.com

Having tried every diet and feeling hopeless with her weight loss journey Angharad turned to her G.P and was delighted to receive support through the N.H.S. in the form of a gastric bypass referral.

Unfortunately, because Angharad was neither diabetic or had high blood pressure this support came to an end and this resulted in despair for Angharad and a further 3 stone weight gain.

Acid reflux, joint pain, and declining mental health were all results of being out of control with food and yet food seemed to be the answer for dealing with every emotion happy or sad. Once finances became available Angharad was able to receive a gastric bypass.

Angharad documented the emotional process of weight loss and the ability to regain control and newfound self-esteem on Instagram. Angharad has reduced her dress size from a U.K size 26/28 to U.K size 8/6.

This is part 1 of Angharad's weight loss journey and she explains how she was so ready to shed the weight after years of disordered eating. 

You can follow Angharad over on Instagram @angharads_next_chapter

You can subscribe to my new email list to experience the joy of pure relaxation with a free hypnosis audio track.

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

Claireoldhamwest.com

Soozi enjoyed take-out food so much that she dedicated over 20 years of daily take-outs that seemed to offer a solution after a busy day at work.

Work for Soozi was once so busy and so intense that the very thought of seeing 7.00 a.m on her alarm clock was just too much, and the process of physically getting out of bed was becoming more and more difficult. Work pressures armed with a poor diet had left Soozi both mentally and physically drained.

The saving grace for Soozi came with the help of a friend who was able to share how a yoga retreat had made such a positive impact on her health that Soozi wanted to give it a try.

This week's episode offers an insight to anyone who feels burnt out and wondering how to even start to begin a journey back to wellness. The natural step for Soozi was to train as a yoga instructor to help others.

If you have been inspired to give yoga a try you can follow Soozi on Instagram and will find her website @areya_yoga 

Areya Retreat online:

https://app.heymarvelous.com/areya-yoga/product/38558/about

You can subscribe to my new email list to experience the joy of pure relaxation with a free hypnosis audio track.

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

claireoldhamwest.com

To see Lydia showing up on her Instagram account you would think that Lydia had a naturally confident and outgoing persona,  that posting her photos would be a doddle.

During this interview, Lydia explains how it took over 2 months of taking photos before she was able to hit publish. The old insecurities were still very much a recent memory and yet somehow Lydia just couldn't hold back from putting herself out there.

Lydia explained that while she was toying with the idea of posting she would scroll and see other accounts promoting body positivity and other curvy ladies that truly inspired Lydia to take action.

At the point Lydia posted on Instagram she had started to lose weight with the help of calorie counting and this gave her the confidence boost that she needed.

Now Lydia shows up beautifully on Instagram with weight loss progress photos and documents how her clothes fit her shape both before and after the zip fastens! Truly inspiring!

Lydia didn't stop there and with the discovery of an online hoola hoop class, Lydia has found an exercise that she truly loves and this has helped so much with regaining her fitness and losing inches off her waist.

You can find Lydia on Instagram lydsjourney2target prepare to be inspired!

You can subscribe to my new email list to experience the joy of pure relaxation with a free hypnosis audio track.

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

claireoldhamwest.com

Alison had many moments and experiences within those 30 years that were warning signs of her weight issue. Alison opens up about an experience of a fair ride and what she describes as a walk of shame when the seat belt to the ride didn't fit. Moments like these were embarrassing for Alison yet she walked from the ride exit straight to the candy floss stall. Alison knew her sweet tooth didn't help her health journey but during this time Alison explains that she was in denial at how big she had become.

With poor physical and mental health, Alison felt very low and antidepressants had been prescribed. High blood pressure and diverticulitis were other health problems that Alison had to deal with and even when Alison's was severely ill this still wasn't the turning point.

Luckily all this changed and if you're in need of some honest heartfelt motivation if you want to hear what true success sounds like Alison will amaze you in this episode. Alison, motivated by the task of sharing care for her Grandson went onto lose 11 and a half stones and no longer receives any medication! Alison's blood pressure is now normal and she no longer receives medication for antidepressants. Alsion's change of diet has helped the symptoms she had experienced with Diverticulitis so much so that she no longer experiences symptoms.

Alison’s 60th birthday celebrations included a Zip wire in Wales! Something that Alison is now free to enjoy, a new health journey is laid before her and new experiences await.

If you would like to follow Alison on Instagram her Instagram handle is 

You can subscribe to my new email list to experience the joy of pure relaxation with a free hypnosis audio track.

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

claireoldhamwest.com

Podcast Episode re-run.

Do we ever really know what is on the other side of “are you o.k”? This is the question Steves's friend asked during a time of despair when Steve was suffering from suicidal thoughts. Before Steve had hit rock bottom he had managed a successful weight loss of 6 stone after a health scare with his heart. Steve had also discovered a love for running and on paper was taking positive steps in the right direction.

Unfortunately for Steve, his mental health had plummeted, and unbeknown to him at this time Steve was about to discover his true inner strength. After confiding in his friend and seeking professional help Steve is thankfully living life to the full equipped with an armor of mental resilience. Steve went on to lose a total of 11 stone 11 and a half pounds with Slimming World and currently runs his own group as a consultant.

This episode is unapologetically raw and honest and demonstrates hope in the darkest of times.

Steve recently helped raise funds for the charity “Mind” and encourages anyone struggling with their mental health to seek help.

If you're reading this grappling for excuses why this isn't the week to start the healthy changes that your body is crying out to take a listen to Steve's story. This episode is an abundance of inspiration and clearly demonstrates that no slimming journey is without its twists and turns. Steve recalls the time when he suffered from dark thoughts as having an out-of-body experience. This story is very needed and I know this will help anyone who is struggling with isolation and who may be experiencing similar difficulties.

It goes without saying that I am so grateful that Steve has agreed to share his full slimming story on my podcast. 

If you have enjoyed listening to Steve's story you can follow Steve on Instagram @steve_achieve

Slimming Stories podcast is written and produced by Claire Oldham - West, you can follow Slimming Stories on Instagram @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

claireoldhamwest.com

Ashli Sterling had tried many fad diets but having previously worked as a Slimming World consultant Ashli knew that she had the tools at hand to make the necessary health changes she longed for. 2020 is due to be a big year for Ashli and amidst Covid 19 she seems to be taking all of the chaos in her stride with an exuberance of confidence Ashli explains this wasn't always the case.

For Ashli dropping dress sizes from a U.K size 16 to a U.K size 8 has given her confidence a huge boost and she had never thought she would be halving her dress size. Ashli talks about her love for food and her desire to show others how preparing tasty food doesn't have to be complex and how taking snapshots as a blogger on Instagram played an integral part in her weight loss journey. Ashli reached her goal weight long before plans of a wedding making Ashli's success all the more sweeter with no pressure to slim down for the big day. Ashli's commitment to her weight loss gifted her with the power of choice both on her plate and in the wedding boutique.

If you have enjoyed Ashlie’s Slimming Story you can follow her journey ashli_sw

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

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You will receive a free relax and restore hypnotherapy track to enjoy at your leisure with V.I.P access to my new podcast following very soon.

Click on the link and enjoy!

August re run:

Who wouldn't want to appear on the front cover of a slimming magazine!? This is truly a glamorous place to show up in your full transformation glory after the hard work of weight loss. This week's episode is with Dominique Withers, the cover girl of Slimming World magazine March & April edition 2020.

I love a good weight loss magazine showing a transformation story and there haven't been many months since the age of 18 that I haven't bought both the Weight Watchers magazine and Slimming World magazine’s not forgetting Rosemary Connely back in the 90’s! Before Instagram and Facebook magazines were our only source of inspiration outside of our slimming classes.

Dominique shares her experience of the photoshoot and her slimming journey. This episode shows how losing two dress sizes can still have a positive impact on your body confidence. Dominique has also found a new love for running and how lockdown and the Instagram community have provided her with a chance to work towards new goals supporting the NHS. If you're in need of inspiration and know nothing about the Instagram community that is waiting to support and inspire you Dominque agrees that this has been a game-changer.

If you have enjoyed listening to Dominique’s story you can follow Dominique on Instagram @slimmingworld_dominique 

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

claireoldhamwest.com

You will receive a free relax and restore hypnotherapy track to enjoy at your leisure with V.I.P access to my new podcast following very soon.

Click on the link and enjoy!

20 years post-operation Hayley discusses how challenging her mindset and putting in place tools to help her focus on a positive outlook is still a challenge and a working progress.

Slimming World and healthy meal planning is also part of this episode, if you're asking yourself how or why you would have surgery only to gain weight I thought exactly the same. 

Hayley explains the finer details of the gastric band procedure and this has definitely been a learning experience for me.

Hayley has been so generous in this interview to share her mental health struggles and we truly go deep into discussing mental health and how to manage this while on a slimming journey.

This episode is truly golden. If you have ever struggled with focus due to experiencing mental health issues this episode is catered just for you.

I could write a million’s words to describe my gratitude towards Hayley sharing her struggles in the hope of helping others…... so don't waste your time reading! Listen to part two of Hayley's slimming story and you will hear how exercise and a healthy lifestyle are helping Hayley beyond belief.

If you have enjoyed listening to Hayley's story you can follow Hayley on Instagram @hayleyrunlikely

Slimming Stories podcast is written and produced by Claire Oldham - West, you can follow Slimming Stories on Instagram @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

https://bit.ly/freeHypnosis

You will receive a free relax and restore hypnotherapy track to enjoy at your leisure with V.I.P access to my new podcast following very soon.

Click on the link and enjoy!

This week Hayley Grocock shares a refreshingly honest slimming story covering her issues with her own mental health having been diagnosed with anxiety and depression 20 years ago. 

Hayley is a very busy lady and the lockdown has found her working from home in her role as a CEO of a charity while managing homeschooling with her 6-year-old son.

Hayley definitely doesn't hold back in this episode and even discusses the “mummy wine” culture that she once felt was justified after finishing a hard day's work to help with relaxation.

Hayley is also my first guest to discuss medical intervention to aid weight loss after undergoing a gastric bypass in 2008, this is something I knew very little about and this interview was certainly a learning experience for me.

Doctors had always recommended exercise to Hayley to help with depression and at 19 stone Hayley couldn't think of anything worse than reaching for her trainers. Having now completed the London Marathon Hayley wished she had started running years ago, it seems that the medical professionals had hit the nail on the head and now Hayley would not be without her running shoes.

This is part 1 of Hayley's slimming story…….to be continued shortly.

If you have enjoyed listening to Hayley's story you can follow Hayley on Instagram @hayleyrunlikely

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

• V.I.P access to my new upcoming podcast is only available as an email subscriber and not yet available on Itunes.
• Free hypnotherapy download.

https://bit.ly/claireoldhamwest

You will receive a free relax and restore hypnotherapy track to enjoy at your leisure with V.I.P access to my new podcast following very soon.

Click on the link and enjoy!

This episode has been on my mind since I first published the podcast in 2019.

To share or not to share a little of what brought me to face my fears of showing up in the world of podcasting.

This will give you an insight into why I am able to podcast and why fear doesn't hold me back.

In my old life as I now refer to it my sense of self-worth had been put to the test and while my friends and family had begged me to make better choices I just felt trapped.

The fear was real and I was up to my neck and sinking fast.

This episode dusts over some of the challenges that I experienced and my journey to a restored sense of self with improved confidence with the help of hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy has been a passion of mine for years and having taken the plunge to add this to my therapy toolkit along with counseling and psychotherapy I wanted to share my journey with you.

Hypnotherapy can complement any weight loss and fitness plan and I'm sending you a free relax and restore hypnotherapy download to help you to relax and boost your self-esteem.

Click below to subscribe to my new email list:

• V.I.P access to my new upcoming podcast is only available as an email subscriber and not yet available on Itunes.
• Free hypnotherapy download.

https://bit.ly/claireoldhamwest

Click on the link and enjoy!

Feeling the fear and doing it anyway!

Enjoy.

Jade talks openly about how being overweight and living in a U.K size 22 dress size affected her physically and mentally. Having adopted a routine of work and returning back to bed during the day resulted in low mood and depression and how this has now changed beyond belief.

Most people reading this having a human experience will have had those days where they simply want to rest and do little in terms of getting up and about out of the house. For Jade, this was more than an occasional feeling of lack of energy when she found herself returning back to bed during the daytime with food as part of her daily routine.

Fast forward to today and the contrast is astoundingly different, Jade who once chose to take a taxi for short journeys now sets her intention to get out of bed in the morning an hour earlier to start the day with a morning walk. Achieving a daily step total of 20k is something that Jade will often achieve as she has experienced newfound energy after losing 7 stone following the Slimming World plan.

Jade makes it clear in this episode that she is only human and still has days when she feels low but that the frequency of this is so much less and Jade explains what she describes as the “push through”, those times that she really doesn't want to leave the house but takes the first step to setting her daily intention resulting in exercise and an altered state of mind.

Now Jade has both a great relationship with food and along with her constant support of a loving partner and family Jade feels happier and healthier with so much more energy that her family can't always keep up with! 

This is a beautifully inspiring transformation story of how in 11 months Jade was able to lose 7 stone and regain control over food.

You can find Jade on Instagram @slimming_world_wilko

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

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Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

David, like many of the podcast guests, felt like a bigger child at school and actually approached his mum for diet advice. It's not often that a 14-year-old child will take action to change their weight but that's exactly what  David did. David recalls how he didn't look as big as he had felt as a child. With intentions to reduce weight David followed a diet of cottage cheese, not his favourite food!

Another attempt at weight loss led David to follow the Atkins diet and he achieved success but found this way of eating too restrictive. There are many reasons why healthy eating plans and diets are hard to maintain and when David became the carer for his wife when she was diagnosed with cancer along with working from home and looking after his son food was not his number one priority.

This episode is a brave account of a real slimming journey and after losing his wife to Cancer David’s focus was to manage life while facing his own grief and being there for his son. 

When receiving a diagnosis of high blood pressure meant that  the operation that David needed was refused this became David's motivation to change.

David has changed his health outlook with the help of Slimming World and found peace with a newfound love of running which was certainly a surprise to David. Couch to 5k was next on the agenda and at 19 stone this didn't deter David, the determination to improve his fitness willed him along the path of change.

This episode pulls no punches, if you have a million and one reasons why the week ahead is too busy to commit to your health just listen to what is possible even during difficult times. 

You can follow Davids weight loss journey over on Instagram @nornironman

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

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Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

This is a rerun of Gareth's Slimming Story from episode 14, if you're in need of some motivation for the week ahead look no further!

At what point do we stop and take a reality check of how our excess weight impacts our health? Gareth knew that he needed to find a solution to his weight issues but was unable to find a diet or eating plan that allowed him to eat normal food that was sustainable.

As a result of Gareth’s increasing weight, he found that his health was at risk as he became tired as a result of being unable to have a restful night's sleep. Sleep Apnea was affecting Gareth in a big way leaving him unable to engage fully with his daughter due to tiredness and putting his safety at risk at work as he tried to work through his lack of sleep. Gareth's G.P appointment was the light bulb moment he needed to take action and he found a slimming group that offered support and friendship that would help him to take back control of his health and his life.

You can follow Gareth’s slimming journey on Instagram @gazgriffin86

Slimming Stories podcast is produced by Claire Oldham - West and you can follow Slimming Stories on Instagram: @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Introducing Hannah to the second part of her slimming story bringing more inspiration for your week ahead.

Hannah has already created a bucket list to include trips to theme parks, something that Hannah struggled with when she was at her largest size. For 10 years Hannah talks about how she missed out on the rides after being unable to fit in a carriage. That is all now in the past and having enjoyed Disneyland Paris with her daughter Hannah is able to fit in the seats without any problems whatsoever!

Hannah gives an insight into the reality of what a dramatic weight loss can look like and discusses the very important topic of loose skin. While loose skin is something Hannah has accepted there are plans for Hannah to have surgery to remove this due to the health complications this can bring. Luckily Hannah's online supporters have helped to raise funds through a just giving page and a consultation with a surgeon is one step closer.

If you would like to help Hannah with her dream of skin removal surgery you can click on the link below to submit your donation.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/wqw7q6-raising-money-for-a-tummy-tuck

You can continue to follow Hannahs weight loss journey on Instagram  @thefunnymummydoesslimmingworld 

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Having lost 13 stone Hannah has transformed her health and fitness beyond measure. On Instagram Hannah describes herself as the "funny mummy" - and having previously worked as an entertainment rep for 4 years I can 100 percent agree that Hannah has the ability to connect with people and bring on the laughter.

In this episode Hannah explains how the key to weight loss and fitness success is that something has to click, Hannah believes there has to be a moment that allows you to stop in your tracks for change to begin.

That click moment came for Hannah while celebrating her 30th Birthday party listening to her friends announce “life begins at 30!” Hannah is very honest about how she had felt during that time and how her mental health had deteriorated to a dark place of self-reflection. Hannah recalls how at the party she questioned what would happen if she continued not to take her doctor's advice and lose weight, Hannah realised she wanted to be healthy for her daughter and this led Hannah to take action.

You will hear how Hannah chose to blind weigh fearing the number on the scales and how she has found a warm welcome and new friends within the Slimming World community.

Part two will follow next week! Enjoy.

You can continue to follow Hannahs weight loss journey on Instagram  @thefunnymummydoesslimmingworld 

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

I could have gone radio silent.

I could have opted out on social media.

This week's episode is a time to touch base amidst the chaos and share my learnings with you.

This episode isn't perfect.

It's the least edited podcast episode to date.

Showing up for yourself in difficult times and not being swept away into a self pity party does not come easy but sometimes change is challenging.

I hope this episode will help anyone who needs to keep moving forward despite having a testing week or finding themself in challenging times.

Claire x

For many men feeling uncomfortable in an overweight body with a surplus weight of 11 stone, the furthest thing from their minds would have been to reach for a mankini and strut their stuff!. It certainly takes an astonishing amount of self-worth and confidence to embrace such a look! However, Ross Smith had learned from a young age to get the jokes in before others had the chance, and finding a way to manage uncomfortable moments around negative talk about his weight was definitely a lot easier with the joy of good friendly banter and laughter.

Ross Smith was happy go lucky and although overweight he was content. Having a great family and circle of friends really had served Ross well. On a meeting with the mum of an old school friend Ross was dealt a loving slice of straight talk “Ross, you're a heart attack waiting to happen '' ... the wise words from Ethlene!

Ethlene the mum of an old school friend had welcomed Ross into their home as a young lad and it had been two years since Ethlene had seen Ross and her words came from a place of love and concern.

No doubt you can all relate to a moment in time just before change took place, the way you felt and the situation you had found yourself in alongside the people you shared that moment with.

Ross explains in this episode how after his marriage breakdown he found himself questioning his health and self-worth and knew exactly where those thoughts would lead if he didn't take action. Ethlene offered to take Ross... or rather told Ross that he was joining Slimming World and the rest is history!

If you're in need of inspiration and your fitness has been neglected Ross will also talk you through how swimming gave Ross the fitness incentive to start the couch to 5k that led to running a 10k. Ross has now found his niche with a love of walking.

You can follow Ross on Instagram @swrosssmith

Soon Ross will be climbing Mount Snowdon and raising money for a children's cancer charity. If you would like to support Ross on his journey you can donate by clicking on the link below.

http://bit.ly/RossSmithFundraising

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Amy’s weight loss journey led her all the way to running her own group as a Slimming World consultant.

Amy set her sights on losing 100lb after a relationship breakup and hasn't looked back since. Being able to deal with her food issues with the help of Slimming World allowed Amy to see and feel the impact of how this changed her life and how it was helping others. Inspired by her own slimming journey Amy decided to train as a Slimming World consultant and with that decision, the best was yet to come. Amy decided to join fellow slimmers to embark on the challenge to climb Mount Snowdon giving Amy the chance to meet other slimmers and to feel even more inspired by what is possible when you're in a position to challenge your mindset, Inspiration that Amy has been able to pass onto the Slimming group she now runs. In the past taking steps to track her food intake was not always received well by family members but now with her new slimming family, Amy has found a place to share her highs and lows with people that truly understand the challenges of a slimmer.

If you have enjoyed Amy's story you can follow her slimming journey on Instagram @aimsterlouise_sw 

If you would like to donate to Amy's Mount Snowdon charity walk, please click on Amy’s just giving page below.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AimsterDoesSnowdon2021

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming

This week's episode is with Lyndal Wimalasekera from Adelaide Australia. Lyndal embodies resilience and a positive mindset and having discovered Reels on Instagram Lyndal loves nothing more than to show up and cook with a dance thrown in for fun!

Lyndal firmly believes that it's really important to only focus on the things in your life that you can control and leave the things you can't. Lyndal has lost over 6 stone following the Weight Watcher plan and this episode explains how having a mood board has really helped her to achieve her goals with great success.

Despite the challenges that Lyndal has faced you will hear Lyndal talk about her life experiences and how she was able to deal with the darkest of days despite everything that has come her way.

Lyndal is really excited to have now been given the title of a WW Ambassador and I think this will be cause for more dancing on Reels and a possible YouTube channel in the making! 

You can continue to follow Lyndal's weight loss journey on Instagram @lyndal.on.ww

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming

Ruth Calvert was a bright and studious child, teen, and young woman throughout her years in education within school, college & University Ruth found herself subject to bullying due to her size. Maybe we can excuse children due to their age and not knowing better or teens as being too preoccupied to understand the hurt the bullying had caused but this continued at University & also into her working life. The frustration of her excess weight led to trying most diets that led to a short-term fix. Luckily Ruth found a diet that she was able to stick to and having lost 7 stone 5 lb Ruth is only a stone away from meeting her goal weight. Ruth’s story is refreshingly honest and I know you will be inspired by Ruth’s bravery in facing up to her food issues and quieting down those voices from her past.

You can show Ruth your support by following Ruth’s Slimming Journey on Instagram @ruthlouise_sw

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on  business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming

Nicola describes how she sees her weight loss journey as different, there was no fixation of being a certain size or goal weight. Nicola knew her health was suffering from her excess weight and was determined to gain control. 

Nicola explains that happiness is not a destination and recognises that people put so much emphasis on starting their weight loss journey by pinning happiness on a dress size or number on the scales. Having lost her mum to cancer and then her brother to addiction Nicola had many reasons to shy away from self-care and spend years comfort eating. Despite the loss, Nicola had gone through she started her own path to self-discovery several years before even starting a weight loss plan and this is what Nicola feels was the driving force to her successful weight loss. 

Nicola was armed with a positive attitude and was in a good place when she stepped through the doors of a Slimming World class. While Nicola explains the weight loss process wasn't always easy she also believes that her journey of self-discovery enabled her to lose 12 and a half stone without losing sight of her goal.

This episode is a fantastic example of a reignited human spirit and such an inspiring story showing there's so much more to a weight loss transformation story that we normally see in magazines. Nicola shows the sheer determination and bravery that can come after living through the darkest times.

If you would like to follow Nicola on Instagram here is her Instagram handle @nicola_gets_slim

You can join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on  business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming

Sharlene Rowan joined me in my Facebook group to talk about her journey with weight loss and her focus to be more comfortable in her clothes ready for her best friend's Ibiza wedding in July. Sharlene has already changed her dress size from a size 26/28 to a U.K size 16.

This is the first FaceBook Group live I have published as a podcast episode, I feel it's still really important that while we listen to success stories of guests at their target weight that we still celebrate the weight loss and fitness journey that is in progress.

The intention is to have real relatable conversations, enjoy!

You can continue to follow Sharlene's weight loss journey on Instagram @sharlenerowan_sw

Click on the link to join the Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming

Kelly talks openly in this episode of how she no longer carries any guilt or shame around food, this has long gone and recently Kelly celebrated reaching her target weight and is thoroughly delighted.

Kelly was very quick to announce that her weight loss had taken her over 10 years to achieve, this was a process of self-discovery that wasn't just about the number on the scales. Patience, determination, and resilience certainly did pay off.

When Kelly had embarked on an intensive fitness regime over 10 weeks working out 6 days a week Kelly weighed only twice during this time and to Kelly's surprise while she was delighted that she had lost a dress size and 16 inches the scales only reduced by two pounds.

This was a game-changer for Kelly who had been so focused on the scales that she now recognised that a combination of exercise and healthy eating would produce the results that she had been waiting for.

I know this episode will truly inspire you, Kelly attended her fitness course weighing over 23 stone and continued to work on her fitness while eating a healthy diet. What can you put into place to give momentum to your weight and fitness goals?

I hope this episode will allow you to see what is truly possible when you take action and commit to your health and fitness journey.

You can continue to follow Kelly’s progress over on Instagram @catsmother_weightloss_journey

Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming-alone

Fiona was sick and tired of feeling tired, most evenings after work would result in a nap on arrival home, and being tired and lethargic was very much the norm for Fiona. Now imagine a runner, not just any runner. Imagine someone effortlessly running Marathons in a strong fit body reaching for her trainers before heading for the couch, this is now Fiona’s routine.  Fiona now faces 2020 not only in a strong body but now equipped with a strong mind has been able to make peace with her relationship with food. There was no wonder drug or high-intensity workout plan with a restrictive diet, luckily Fiona found her sanctuary with Slimming World and achieved a successful weight loss of 5 stone. 

You can follow Fiona's journey further on Instagram @fiona_slimmingworld_diaries 

Facebook Group, Instagram, and Clubhouse.

You can join all three by clicking on the links below.

Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on  business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming-alone

Mark had never experienced issues with food as a child, teen, or young adult, this episode is rare as there is no back story of a poor relationship with food. On the contrary, Mark had an amazing love for life that he shared with the wife and daughters. Mark’s life was on track in many ways until an accident left Mark with an injury that quite literally changed his life.

The energy that Mark once had dwindled as he attended hospital appointments with specialists while taking strong medication that no longer enabled Mark to recognise any full sensation while eating and food became Mark's comfort along with alcohol.

Mark recalls how he simply just did not recognise his reflection as a 22 stone man.

Mark explains how the outcome of an operation turned around the impact of the accident and finally, Mark was able to take steps to address his health issues.

Do you believe in luck? Mark believes that the successful outcome of a complex operation was down to luck. I believe Mark's inner resilience was determined that he would make a comeback and although at this time Mark suffered depression he did exactly that.

Mark is definitely a comeback King and you can follow his journey further @marksmith99 enjoy!

Facebook Group, Instagram, and Clubhouse.

You can join all three by clicking on the links below.

Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming-alone

Kym is such a breath of fresh air showing up on her Instagram account with her very brave body confidence posts. I must admit braving all to display cellulite and stretch marks isn't something I've had the nerve to do but this doesnt phase Kym one bit!

Kym talks openly of the pressures of comparing her body to that of an image that has been filtered to within an inch of its life and how although body image on social media is now a lot more honest Kym has to check her self-talk from time to time.

Being 5 foot 5 Kym talks of how she once would compare her body stats to other 5 foot 5 women and wonder why she didn't see the same image as her own. Things have changed a lot for Kym since having her daughter and reflect on her journey having lost 9 stone in weight with Slimming World.

Kym explains how it was hard to see the transformation that had taken place and when a friend known to Kim as her “small friend” suggested that Kym could borrow a hoodie Kym  was bowled over that she was able to fit into the same clothes as her friend!!

This is as always a very honest podcast episode and Kym talks of being in a  cycle of abusive relationships and how this had affected her self-esteem entering into a relationship as a size 8 and leaving a size 20. Kym talks openly about being a single mum and we compare experiences having lived the life of a single mum myself for 3 years.

This episode is packed to the brim of resilience and inspiration and Kym was an absolute joy, full of determination that will help to inspire you into supercharging your own weight loss and fitness plans.

You can show your support by following Kym @the.life.of.a.fitness.mum over on Instagram.

Facebook Group, Instagram, and Clubhouse.

You can join all three by clicking on the links below.

Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone:

For anyone new to Clubhouse this is a new social media platform that you will need to apply to join or receive an invite to, it's a little inclusive at the moment but definitely worth your while. Stop Dreaming Alone is where I show up with my fellow entrepreneur friends to talk through the steps of starting out and taking action on business ideas so that you can put into place a plan to leave your day job and do the thing that lights you up!

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming-alone

Kelly recalls being bullied about her weight and how she mastered the face of confidence as a coping mechanism through primary and secondary school.

Throughout Kelly's adult years being big and bubbly was a banner that Kelly was proud of and in public, she was able to walk tall with unfaltering confidence. Although Kelly had noticed changes in her health that caused problems, weight loss didn't seem to hold any momentum for Kelly due to holding onto an outdated notion that weight loss came with restriction.

Kelly had previously joined Slimming World and armed with her “restrict '' outdated mindset  Kelly was confused why she didn't see the results on the scales...after all she was starving!! Kelly was hungry and had reduced her food intake but hadn’t stuck to the Slimming World plan.

Does any of this sound familiar? Have you paid to attend weight loss groups such as Slimming World and Weight Watchers only to leave class and do what the hell you felt like!? This makes absolutely no sense right!! I have been there trust me if this resonates you are not on your own.

Kelly was determined to lose weight after a video taken on holiday was posted on Facebook, Kelly was mortified and once again joined Slimming World this time losing 9 stone in weight. The change came for Kelly when she realised the amount of food she could eat with no need for hunger pangs. Kelly is a great inspiration and explains the positive impact changing her diet mindset has had on her life. What are you waiting for!?

Facebook Group, Instagram, and Clubhouse.

You can join all three by clicking on the links below.

Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Slimming Stories Instagram:

 @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Clubhouse Group - Stop Dreaming Alone: Saturday 7.30 p.m (U.K time zone G.M.T)

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/stop-dreaming-alone

In today's episode, I talk about the mindset that is needed before we start to commit to goals.

Have we really forgotten what success looks like?

Are we convinced that success is a thing of the past when it comes to the goals we set for ourselves?

I will show you an exercise that will help you to practice reconnecting to your most successful moments and to understand that feeling those great feelings of success is just a habit that we need to practice.

This month has definitely been a month of feeling the fear as I explain how it felt to leave my corporate job after 16 years!

This has definitely been a time that I've had to exercise a positive mindset to get me through negative chitter-chatter.

If you're facing a weigh day that is filling you with dread before you even look at the goal you have in mind, think about your internal dialogue to

make sure this is aligned with your goal for the best possible outcome.

Life is busy, it's so easy to forget that if you've previously had weight loss success that this is truly possible again.

Slimming Stories Facebook Group:

Click on this link to join.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/391927294836170

Don't forget to follow Slimming Stories on Instagram @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

What if the reason you've struggled to lose weight isn't because you've failed... but because you expected yourself to be perfect?

When we imagine a successful weight loss story, it's easy to picture someone who stayed on plan every single day until they reached their goal.

Phil's story couldn't be further from that.

Having lost over 22 stone, Phil openly shares that his journey included around 40 weight gains along the way. Rather than allowing those setbacks to convince him he'd failed, Phil learned something far more powerful—that getting back on track matters far more than striving for perfection.

In this second part of Phil's story, we explore how changing his mindset transformed far more than his relationship with food.

Phil talks about developing a positive mantra that helped him approach life's challenges differently, giving him the confidence not only to continue his weight loss journey but also to embrace new opportunities, including dating.

If you've ever felt that one difficult week has undone all your hard work, I hope this episode reminds you that progress isn't measured by perfection—it's measured by your willingness to begin again.

🦋 Why every successful weight loss journey includes setbacks

🦋 How Phil navigated around 40 weight gains without giving up

🦋 Letting go of the all-or-nothing mindset

🦋 The power of getting back on plan

🦋 Developing a positive mantra for everyday life

🦋 How mindset changes create lasting confidence

🦋 Why losing weight transformed more than Phil's health

🦋 Finding confidence in relationships and dating

📸 Instagram – @phil.kayes.sw

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 https://bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 https://bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

👉 https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

I also checked the Facebook section before sending this one. It uses the same bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup link you've asked me to keep in every episode going forward.

Could one conversation with the right person completely change the direction of your life?

Sometimes it isn't criticism that creates lasting change.

Sometimes it's kindness.

Phil Kayes had spent years struggling with food. Growing up with free access to his parents' sweet shop, followed by years working and socialising in pubs, unhealthy eating had simply become normal.

His friends and family worried about his health, but talking about his weight wasn't enough to bring about change.

Everything shifted when a friend introduced him to Slimming World.

Rather than following another quick-fix diet, Phil slowly began rebuilding his relationship with food and learning what a healthy, balanced lifestyle actually looked like.

Today, life bears little resemblance to the one he was living before.

In Part 1 of Phil's story, he shares the early years of his journey, the habits that kept him stuck for so long, and how taking that very first step opened the door to a completely different future.

If you've ever wondered whether lasting change is really possible after years of unhealthy habits, this episode will remind you that it absolutely is.

Prepare to be inspired.

🦋 Growing up surrounded by sweets and convenience food

🦋 How years working in pubs shaped Phil's eating habits

🦋 The concern shown by friends and family

🦋 Why kindness succeeded where criticism didn't

🦋 Walking through the doors of Slimming World

🦋 Learning how to build a healthier relationship with food

🦋 Why lasting weight loss begins with changing everyday habits

🦋 Part one of Phil's remarkable transformation story

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 https://bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 https://bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 https://bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community:

👉https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

📸 Instagram – @phil.kayes.sw

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

What if the reason you're struggling isn't because you're eating too much... but because you're not eating enough?

When Melanie first joined Slimming World, she desperately wanted to lose weight.

Monday started full of determination.

By Wednesday she was eating a kebab.

Sound familiar?

For so many of us, years of dieting leave us believing that success comes from eating as little as possible. Salad instead of potatoes. Tiny meals. Constant restriction. Living hungry while hoping the scales will reward our efforts.

But Melanie discovered something that completely changed her journey.

A conversation with a friend helped her realise she wasn't failing because she lacked willpower.

She simply wasn't eating enough.

Instead of surviving on tiny meals, she began fuelling her body properly, enjoying satisfying meals and learning that healthy eating didn't have to mean deprivation.

That one mindset shift changed everything.

Melanie went on to reduce her dress size from a UK 20/22 to a UK 12/14, discovered a genuine love of running and, after a small wobble at the beginning of her journey, lost weight every single week for an entire year.

This episode is a reminder that sustainable weight loss isn't about punishment.

It's about learning how to nourish your body while still enjoying your food.

🦋 Breaking free from years of diet mentality

🦋 Why eating too little can make weight loss harder

🦋 Building satisfying meals that keep you full

🦋 Moving away from restriction and guilt

🦋 Discovering inspiration through Instagram meal ideas

🦋 Falling in love with running

🦋 Reducing from a UK size 20/22 to a UK size 12/14

🦋 The power of getting back on track after a difficult start

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

👉 bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

Have you convinced yourself that now isn't the right time to change?

When life feels uncertain, it's easy to believe that your goals should wait.

"I'll start when life settles down."

"I'll focus on my health when things get back to normal."

But what if there never is a perfect time?

As we move closer to spring, nature quietly reminds us that change is always happening. The seasons don't wait for perfect conditions before they begin to transform, and perhaps we don't need to either.

In this solo episode, I want to encourage you to look beyond the constant noise of uncertainty and reconnect with the reason you wanted to improve your health in the first place.

Living through lockdown has tested every one of us. If there were ever a degree awarded for surviving uncertainty and constant change, I often joke that we'd all deserve one.

Yet even during the most difficult times, positive change is still possible.

Sometimes it begins with a commitment to just 15 minutes a day.

Those small moments can help you reconnect with your "why", build momentum and begin moving towards the healthier future you want for yourself.

You don't have to transform your life overnight.

You simply have to begin.

In this episode, I also share one of the books that has had a profound impact on my own personal development—The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Although often recommended to creative people, I believe it's a powerful read for anyone wanting to reconnect with themselves and create meaningful change.

🦋 Why uncertainty doesn't have to stop your progress

🦋 Reconnecting with your reason for wanting to get healthier

🦋 The power of committing to just 15 minutes a day

🦋 Letting go of the idea that you need perfect timing

🦋 Why spring is a reminder that change is always possible

🦋 Investing in your own personal development

🦋 How The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron changed my perspective

🦋 Taking the first step towards your 2021 health and fitness goals

📖 The Artist's Way – Julia Cameron

A wonderful book for anyone wanting to reconnect with their creativity, confidence and sense of purpose. It's also available on Audible.

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?
• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?
• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

👉 https://bit.ly/slimmingstoriesfacebookgroup

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

This week's guest, Kirsty Lee, opens up about a side of weight loss that isn't talked about nearly enough.

After reducing her dress size from a UK 16/18 to a size 10, Kirsty achieved the healthy lifestyle she had worked so hard for. But despite reaching her target weight, she found herself still seeing the same person she'd always been.

The physical transformation had happened.

The mental transformation was still catching up.

Kirsty's journey began after an honest conversation with her doctor about ongoing hip pain. Carrying extra weight was placing additional pressure on a condition she had lived with for years, and that conversation became the turning point she needed.

Like so many of us, this wasn't Kirsty's first attempt at losing weight. But this time her motivation ran much deeper than the number on the scales.

She wanted to feel healthier.

She wanted to be there for her daughter.

She wanted to stop watching life from the sidelines.

In this honest conversation, Kirsty also shares the reality of "mum guilt", the pressure many women place on themselves to juggle work, family, home life and self-care while somehow trying to do everything perfectly.

If you've ever achieved something but still struggled to appreciate how far you've come, I think you'll really relate to Kirsty's story.

🦋 Losing weight to improve long-term health

🦋 How one GP appointment became a turning point

🦋 Reducing from a UK size 16/18 to a size 10

🦋 Why reaching target weight doesn't always change body image

🦋 Learning to see yourself differently

🦋 Managing "mum guilt" and everyday pressures

🦋 Balancing family life while prioritising your own wellbeing

🦋 Why health is about so much more than the scales

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need these conversations.

If this episode resonated with you, take a screenshot while you're listening and tag me on Instagram.

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I love seeing where you're listening from and hearing what stood out to you.

Thank you so much for listening.

If you're looking for support beyond the podcast, here are a few free resources that may help.

A practical guide to help you manage emotional eating, stay focused and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

Experience the first three parts of my hypnosis programme completely free.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

Whether you're following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, counting calories, using Mounjaro or simply trying to gain control around food, join the waiting list for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch genuine client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

📸 Instagram – @slimmingworld_kirstylee

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Slimming Stories Facebook Group

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

This week's guest, Renee Gibson, is resilience personified.

As a teacher, Renee has always embraced adventure. Every summer holiday brought another opportunity to travel, and by the age of 30 she had visited an incredible 30 countries. Growing up in Adelaide, Australia, with both English and Italian heritage, travel and curiosity became part of who she was.

Life, however, had very different plans.

After marrying the love of her life in Hawaii, Renee found herself balancing married life, pregnancy, work and an unimaginable challenge as her husband's health suddenly deteriorated. While expecting their baby, Renee was working full-time and spending countless hours visiting her husband in hospital, determined to hold everything together for the people she loved most.

Despite everything life placed in front of her, Renee refused to lose sight of her own health.

Following the Weight Watchers plan, she gradually transformed her relationship with food while continuing to navigate some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

Renee's story isn't simply about losing weight.

It's about discovering resilience, finding strength when life feels overwhelming and recognising that positive change is still possible, even during the darkest seasons of life.

If you're facing challenges that make looking after yourself feel impossible, I hope Renee's story reminds you that even the smallest step forward still counts.

🦋 Balancing weight loss alongside major life challenges

🦋 Growing up between English and Italian cultures

🦋 Visiting 30 countries before turning 30

🦋 Marriage, pregnancy and supporting a seriously ill husband

🦋 Finding strength during overwhelming circumstances

🦋 Following Weight Watchers while navigating life's demands

🦋 Building resilience one day at a time

🦋 Why your current chapter doesn't have to define your future

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need these conversations.

If this episode resonated with you, take a screenshot while you're listening and tag me on Instagram.

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I love seeing where you're listening from and hearing what stood out to you.

Thank you so much for listening.

If you're looking for support beyond the podcast, here are a few free resources that may help.

A practical guide to help you manage emotional eating, stay focused and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

Experience the first three parts of my hypnosis programme completely free.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

Whether you're following Slimming World, Weight Watchers, counting calories, using Mounjaro or simply trying to gain control around food, join the waiting list for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch genuine client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

📸 Instagram – @healthy_ren

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Slimming Stories Facebook Group

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss whether hypnotherapy or therapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

What happens when one frightening health scare changes the direction of your life forever?

This week I'm joined by Andy, whose remarkable health transformation began after experiencing chest pains that forced him to stop and rethink the life he was living.

Thankfully, the chest pains didn't require medication or emergency intervention, but they became the wake-up call Andy had needed for years.

Support had always been there. Friends and family had encouraged him to lose weight, but nothing had ever truly motivated him to make lasting changes. Over time, Andy had even adapted his daily routine around his size, choosing to use a lift instead of walking a single flight of stairs at work.

After that health scare, everything changed.

Using calorie counting, regular exercise and the support of a personal trainer, Andy went on to lose an incredible 231lb, completely transforming both his health and his confidence.

One of the most refreshing parts of this conversation is Andy's advice about not allowing the scales to become the only measure of success. He explains why focusing solely on the number can sometimes hold people back and how looking at fitness, strength and everyday achievements became far more meaningful.

From becoming breathless climbing stairs to enjoying football training, personal training sessions and regular walks, Andy's life today looks completely different.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to change your health, Andy's story is proof that one decision really can change everything.

🦋 The health scare that became Andy's turning point

🦋 Losing an incredible 231lb

🦋 Why calorie counting worked for Andy

🦋 Breaking habits that had developed around obesity

🦋 Working with a personal trainer for accountability

🦋 Moving beyond obsession with the scales

🦋 Building fitness one step at a time

🦋 Creating a healthier lifestyle that lasts

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need these conversations.

If this episode resonated with you, take a screenshot while you're listening and tag me on Instagram.

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I love seeing where you're listening from and hearing what stood out to you.

Thank you so much for listening.

If you're looking for support beyond the podcast, here are a few free resources that may help.

A practical guide to help you manage emotional eating, stay focused and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

Experience the first three parts of my hypnosis programme completely free.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

Whether you're following Slimming World, counting calories, using Mounjaro or simply trying to gain control around food, join the waiting list for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch genuine client sessions and see how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Slimming Stories Facebook Group

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss whether hypnotherapy or therapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

This week I'm joined by Rebekka (Bex) Moore, who talks openly about body confidence, self-acceptance and the emotional side of weight loss.

After reducing her dress size from a UK size 20 to a size 10, Bex realised something many people don't expect. She had always believed that reaching her goal weight would solve everything, yet even after an incredible transformation she still struggled with how she felt about herself.

During our conversation, Bex explains how social media, magazines and unrealistic beauty standards shaped the way she viewed her body from an early age. Stretch marks, skin folds and the normal changes that happen to every body were never part of the conversation growing up.

Now, Bex is changing that.

She proudly shares unedited photos, embraces her body for everything it has achieved and encourages others to stop chasing perfection and start appreciating themselves exactly as they are.

This episode is an honest conversation about confidence, body image and discovering that true happiness isn't found in a dress size.

🦋 Losing weight from a UK size 20 to a size 10

🦋 Why weight loss doesn't automatically create confidence

🦋 Learning to accept your body after reaching goal weight

🦋 The impact of magazine culture and social media

🦋 Stretch marks, loose skin and embracing reality

🦋 Building genuine self-worth

🦋 Showing up online without filters or editing

🦋 Why liking yourself matters just as much as losing weight

Follow Bex on Instagram:

📸 @body.ofa.mum

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need these conversations.

If this episode resonated with you, take a screenshot while you're listening and tag me on Instagram.

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I love seeing where you're listening from and hearing what stood out to you.

Thank you so much for listening.

If you're looking for support beyond the podcast, here are a few free resources that may help.

A practical guide to help you manage emotional eating, stay focused and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

Experience the first three parts of my hypnosis programme completely free.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

Whether you're following Slimming World, counting calories, using Mounjaro or simply trying to gain control around food, join the waiting list for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch genuine client sessions and see how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Slimming Stories Facebook Group

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss whether hypnotherapy or therapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

Lewis Cowey's story remains one of the most inspiring transformations featured on Slimming Stories.

When work took Lewis away from home to the fast-paced city of London, life quickly became centred around convenience. Healthy cooking disappeared, takeaways became the norm and evenings often included a few cans of beer.

Returning home to Sunderland, Lewis's mum gently encouraged him to consider losing weight. With support from Slimming World members who welcomed and encouraged him, Lewis took that first step through the doors of his local group.

Soon afterwards, work relocated him again—this time to a remote part of Northern Ireland, where hotel meals and rich food were always available.

For many people, that environment would have made weight loss feel impossible.

Lewis proved otherwise.

Making thoughtful choices and staying committed to his goals, Lewis went on to lose an incredible 10 stone 1½lb, transforming not only his body but also his confidence and outlook on life.

This episode is a reminder that lasting change isn't about perfect circumstances—it's about consistently making the next right choice.

🦋 Losing an incredible 10 stone 1½lb

🦋 Coping with living away from home

🦋 Breaking free from takeaway and convenience food habits

🦋 Staying on track while travelling for work

🦋 Making healthier choices in hotels and restaurants

🦋 Building confidence through sustainable weight loss

🦋 How support from Slimming World changed everything

🦋 Why small daily decisions create life-changing results

Follow Lewis on Instagram:

📸 @less_of_lew

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?
• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?
• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

What's your biggest obstacle to losing weight?

A busy job?

Young children?

Lack of sleep?

Not enough time?

For Lucy Ellen, those challenges were only the beginning.

As a full-time NHS Nurse Practitioner, a new mum and someone working on Covid wards throughout the pandemic, Lucy faced pressures that most of us could never imagine.

Yet despite the uncertainty, exhaustion and emotional demands of caring for seriously ill patients, Lucy remained committed to improving her own health.

Having lost an incredible 5 stone with Slimming World, Lucy shares how planning ahead, preparing meals and taking one day at a time helped her stay focused, even during one of the most difficult periods in modern healthcare.

This isn't a story about perfection.

It's a story about resilience.

Lucy also gives a powerful insight into what life was really like on the frontline during Covid-19. At a time when misinformation was widespread, her experiences remind us of the reality faced by NHS staff every single day.

Alongside her partner Aaron, Lucy demonstrates that even when life feels overwhelming, there is still room to prioritise your health—one choice at a time.

As we begin a new year, her story asks a simple but important question:

If Lucy could keep showing up for herself during a global pandemic… what's one small step you could take today?

🦋 Losing 5 stone with Slimming World

🦋 Balancing life as a new mum and NHS Nurse Practitioner

🦋 Working on Covid wards during the pandemic

🦋 Meal planning around demanding shifts

🦋 Staying committed when life feels overwhelming

🦋 The importance of resilience over perfection

🦋 Honest reflections from the Covid frontline

🦋 Finding your inner strength during difficult times

Follow Lucy's journey on Instagram:

📸 @sw_lucyellen.x

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?
• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?
• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

How do you stay hopeful when the world still feels uncertain?

Happy New Year!

We've made it.

We've lived through one of the most challenging years many of us have ever experienced, and while the calendar has changed, life may still feel uncertain.

As we step into 2021, the familiar messages of "New Year, New You" are everywhere. But when we're surrounded by constant news updates, lockdowns and uncertainty, it can be difficult to find the motivation to focus on ourselves.

In this solo episode, I want to help you turn down the noise.

Rather than allowing fear and uncertainty to dictate the year ahead, we explore how you can protect your energy, regain your focus and create meaningful intentions—regardless of what's happening around you.

This isn't about perfection or unrealistic resolutions.

It's about taking back control of the things you can influence and creating small, sustainable changes that support both your mental wellbeing and your health.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, anxious or unsure where to begin, I hope this episode reminds you that every ending also creates the opportunity for a new beginning.

🦋 Saying goodbye to 2020 and looking ahead with hope

🦋 Managing the ongoing uncertainty of Covid

🦋 Turning down the constant stream of negative news

🦋 Protecting your energy and avoiding burnout

🦋 Using mindfulness to regain focus

🦋 Setting realistic intentions instead of unrealistic resolutions

🦋 Creating healthy habits one step at a time

🦋 Why new beginnings don't require perfect circumstances

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

In Part 1 of Kirsty's story, we explored what it was like growing up wishing to be thin and the emotional impact that years of struggling with weight had on her confidence.

In this second part, Kirsty shares the moment that finally gave her the determination to change her life.

For years, no one had openly acknowledged her weight or offered the support she needed. Even during university and throughout her first pregnancy, when she developed gestational diabetes linked to being overweight, the conversation she desperately needed never came.

Then everything changed.

As Kirsty's beloved Grandad reached the end of his life, he gently said:

"Kirsty, it's just a shame you didn't have the ability to lose weight."

Those words weren't spoken with criticism.

They were spoken with love.

Rather than feeling judged, Kirsty finally felt understood.

Her Grandad passed away in December, and just a few weeks later, in January, Kirsty walked through the doors of her local Slimming World group determined to change her future.

That decision transformed her life.

After losing more than seven stone, Kirsty went on to become a Slimming World Consultant, helping others believe in themselves just as someone had once believed in her.

This is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to begin—and that one moment, one conversation or one decision can completely rewrite your future.

🦋 Why nobody had ever spoken openly about Kirsty's weight

🦋 Living with gestational diabetes during pregnancy

🦋 The final conversation with her Grandad that changed everything

🦋 Finding the courage to join Slimming World

🦋 Losing more than 7 stone

🦋 Becoming a Slimming World Consultant

🦋 Life as a target member

🦋 The small changes that created lasting success

🦋 Why compassion is often more powerful than criticism

Follow Kirsty's journey on Instagram:

📸 @little_bit_less_sw

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

She wished to be thin.

In this honest and uplifting first part of Kirsty's story, we talk about growing up feeling different, recognising from a very young age that her body wasn't like everyone else's, and how those feelings shaped her relationship with food throughout childhood, school and university.

Despite the challenges she faced, Kirsty never lost her individuality. With a larger-than-life personality, a love of creativity and a pink mohawk to match, she refused to let her size define who she was.

This episode is full of warmth, humour and honesty, and is a reminder that confidence isn't about waiting until you reach your goal weight—it's about allowing yourself to be seen along the way.

With the New Year just around the corner, Kirsty's story is the perfect inspiration if you're ready to make a fresh start.

This is Part 1 of Kirsty's journey, with Part 2 coming next week.

🦋 Feeling different from an early age

🦋 Childhood wishes and growing up with weight struggles

🦋 Kirsty's relationship with food through school and university

🦋 Learning to express herself through creativity and fashion

🦋 Building confidence while still on a weight loss journey

🦋 Why your personality is always bigger than the number on the scales

🦋 Looking ahead to Part 2 of Kirsty's transformation

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Your support helps more people discover these honest conversations and the incredible guests who generously share their stories.

Follow Kirsty's journey on Instagram:

@little_bit_less_sw

Instagram:

@sw_slimmingstories_podcast

Is next week looking crazy busy?

Would a little planning help?

Download your free meal planner and make healthy eating that little bit easier.

20,000 podcast downloads!

To celebrate this incredible milestone, I'm bringing back the very first episode of Slimming Stories—the inspiring story that started it all.

If you've ever wondered whether lasting weight loss is really possible, Claire Shaw's journey is proof that it is.

Claire lost an astonishing 12 stone following the Slimming World plan and shares the determination, setbacks, victories and mindset that transformed her life.

If you've convinced yourself that being healthier "just isn't for you", I hope Claire's story changes your mind.

Claire describes her commitment as "all or nothing", and her enthusiasm is infectious. This episode is packed with motivation and is the perfect reminder that every successful journey starts with a single decision.

Whether you're listening for the first time or returning to celebrate 20,000 downloads with me, I know Claire's story will inspire you to keep believing in yourself.

🦋 Celebrating 20,000 Slimming Stories downloads

🦋 Claire Shaw's incredible 12-stone transformation

🦋 The highs and lows of a long-term weight loss journey

🦋 Why consistency matters more than perfection

🦋 Building momentum one choice at a time

🦋 How commitment can change your life

🦋 Inspiration for anyone feeling stuck on their own journey

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone who may need to hear these conversations.

📸 Instagram: @sw_slimmingstories_podcast

I'd love to hear what you thought about Claire's story. Tag me in your stories if you're listening!

Is next week looking crazy busy?

Would a little planning help?

Download your free meal planner and make healthy eating that little bit easier.

Does Christmas leave you feeling excited... or completely exhausted before it's even begun?

For many of us, Christmas is described as the most wonderful time of the year.

But if we're honest, it can also become one of the most overwhelming.

The endless shopping lists.

The pressure to create the perfect Christmas.

Family commitments, food preparation, wrapping presents and trying to keep everyone else happy often leave us running on empty before the big day even arrives.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, this episode is for you.

In this special Self-Care Sunday episode, I want to reassure you that it's entirely possible to enjoy Christmas without sacrificing your own wellbeing.

Sometimes the greatest gift you can give yourself isn't another item crossed off the to-do list—it's permission to slow down.

We talk about practical ways to reduce stress, protect your energy and let go of the unrealistic expectations that so many of us place upon ourselves during the festive season.

Because looking after yourself isn't selfish.

It's essential.

Whether you're worried about staying on track with your weight loss, struggling with emotional eating over Christmas, or simply feeling stretched too thin, I hope this episode reminds you to make yourself part of your own Christmas plans.

🦋 Why Christmas can feel emotionally overwhelming

🦋 Letting go of the pressure to create the "perfect" Christmas

🦋 Practical self-care strategies during the festive season

🦋 Managing stress before it turns into burnout

🦋 Protecting your mental wellbeing during busy periods

🦋 Staying mindful around festive food without guilt

🦋 Why rest is productive too

🦋 Giving yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the season

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

For many people, losing weight isn't about knowing what to eat.

It's about finding the time, energy and headspace to put yourself somewhere on the endless list of priorities.

For years, Julie Slaviero found herself in exactly that position.

Like so many busy parents, work and family always came first, leaving very little time to focus on herself or her own health.

Then everything changed.

Lockdown unexpectedly gave Julie something she hadn't experienced for a very long time...

Time.

Rather than allowing the uncertainty of 2020 to derail her goals, Julie chose to use that time to create new habits, plan her meals and finally commit to the healthy lifestyle she had wanted for years.

The results speak for themselves.

For the first time in her adult life, Julie found herself buying clothes in a UK size 12—a milestone that once felt completely out of reach.

This episode is a reminder that lasting weight loss isn't always about dramatic changes. Sometimes it's about creating the space to make yourself a priority, one day at a time.

If you've ever felt guilty about putting yourself first, Julie's story may just give you permission to begin.

🦋 Why family life made prioritising herself so difficult

🦋 How lockdown became an unexpected opportunity for change

🦋 Building healthier habits one step at a time

🦋 Creating consistency without striving for perfection

🦋 The confidence that comes from feeling healthier

🦋 Buying a size 12 for the first time in her adult life

🦋 Why making time for yourself isn't selfish—it's essential

🦋 Finding a lifestyle that feels sustainable for the future

Follow Julie's journey on Instagram:

📸 @slavieroslimmingworldjourney (Please check the current account name if it has changed since recording.)

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

If you've ever worried that one setback could undo all of your progress, this episode is for you.

Aaron Snares' transformation is one that many Slimming World members will already recognise. His inspiring story has encouraged thousands of people, but behind the weight loss lies a much bigger journey.

Aaron opens up about the conversation with his nan that became the catalyst for change. Determined to improve his health, he committed to making small, sustainable changes that gradually transformed every area of his life.

The weight came off, but the transformation didn't stop there.

As his confidence grew, Aaron rediscovered his love of exercise, returning to the gym and taking part in sponsored walks to raise money for the mental health charity Mind. His physical health improved dramatically, and many of the health concerns that had once affected his daily life disappeared.

Aaron also speaks honestly about living with anxiety and the coping strategies that help him stay focused when life feels overwhelming. He reminds us that long-term weight loss isn't about perfection—it's about learning how to keep going, even after difficult days.

We also discuss the reality of sharing your journey online. While social media can create incredible communities, it can also attract negativity. Aaron shares how online trolling affected him and how he learned not to let other people's opinions define his progress.

Adding to an already remarkable year, Aaron and his partner Lucy also welcomed their beautiful new baby in 2020, giving him even more motivation to continue looking after his health for the future.

🦋 The conversation with Aaron's nan that changed everything

🦋 Losing weight and improving his long-term health

🦋 Managing anxiety while staying committed to healthy habits

🦋 Rediscovering a love of exercise and the gym

🦋 Raising money for the mental health charity Mind

🦋 Coping with online trolling and negative comments

🦋 Why consistency matters more than perfection

🦋 Becoming a healthier role model for his growing family

Follow Aaron's journey on Instagram:

📸 @snareslad_sw

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

This episode is a re-release of one of my favourite conversations with Victoria Somers—a wonderfully honest guest whose determination proves that lasting weight loss is possible, even during life's busiest seasons.

Feeling confident after losing weight is an incredible achievement, but Victoria's story didn't end there.

After becoming a mum, she found herself facing the challenge that so many women can relate to—losing weight again after pregnancy while balancing family life, work and caring for everyone else.

As a busy mum of two and a full-time nurse, Victoria understands how difficult it can be to put yourself anywhere near the top of the priority list.

Then came 2020.

While many of us were adjusting to lockdown, Victoria was living in Australia, just two hours away from the devastating bushfires. At the same time, she continued working on the frontline as a nurse before later facing the enormous challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite everything happening around her, Victoria never lost sight of her own health.

She continued planning meals, making time for movement and building healthy habits that worked around family life rather than against it.

After the birth of her second child, Victoria went on to lose an incredible 2 stone 11lb, becoming a WW Ambassador and inspiring thousands of people through her realistic approach to weight loss.

This episode is a reminder that life will never be free from challenges—but small, consistent actions can still create extraordinary results.

🦋 Losing 2 stone 11lb after having her second child

🦋 Balancing motherhood, work and weight loss

🦋 Planning meals around a busy family life

🦋 Working as a nurse during Australia's bushfires and Covid-19

🦋 Why consistency matters more than perfection

🦋 Creating healthy habits that fit around real life

🦋 Becoming a WW Ambassador

🦋 Finding confidence through sustainable weight loss

Follow Victoria's journey on Instagram:

📸 @victoria.on.ww

Victoria has also featured in a Weight Watchers book, continuing to inspire others with her incredible journey.

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

For most people, reaching their goal weight feels like the finish line.

For Lindsey Duffy, it was the beginning of a completely different journey.

Living with anxiety meant that even walking through the doors of a local Slimming World group felt overwhelming. Instead, Lindsey chose to follow the plan through online communities, gradually building the confidence to make lasting changes to her health.

Her hard work paid off.

Lindsey reduced her dress size from a UK 14/16 to a size 8 and finally reached the goal she'd been working towards.

But then a new question appeared.

"What now?"

With the weight gone, Lindsey realised she had become increasingly focused on seeing the number on the scales continue to fall. Instead of celebrating her success, she recognised that her relationship with her body had become unhealthy.

Determined to find balance, Lindsey challenged herself once again.

Despite living with anxiety, she walked into a gym for the very first time.

What she discovered completely changed the way she viewed health and fitness.

Rather than chasing a smaller number on the scales, Lindsey began focusing on becoming stronger, healthier and more confident. She learned to fuel her body properly, enjoy exercise and even become comfortable seeing the number on the scales increase as she built a stronger physique.

This episode is an honest reminder that health isn't always about weighing less.

Sometimes it's about living more.

🦋 Living with anxiety while starting a weight loss journey

🦋 Losing weight by following the Slimming World plan online

🦋 Reducing her dress size from UK 14/16 to a size 8

🦋 Reaching goal weight and wondering, "What's next?"

🦋 Recognising when weight loss had gone too far

🦋 Overcoming anxiety to join a gym

🦋 Shifting the focus from being lighter to becoming stronger

🦋 Learning that health is about balance—not just the scales

Follow Lindsey's journey on Instagram:

📸 @slimming.gym.and.gin

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

Have you ever felt guilty for eating something you've labelled as "bad"?

So many of us grow up hearing that some foods are good and others are bad — and that mindset can follow us for life.

In Part Two of this conversation, I'm joined again by Elisha Langridge, who explains how she finally let go of labelling food altogether, and what that shift did for her relationship with eating.

Elisha talks openly about growing up being told which foods were "good for her" and which weren't, and how, as an adult, she started questioning whether those labels were actually helping or holding her back. Following the WW (Weight Watchers) plan gave her the space to see all food simply as food, and to ask a different question before eating: how will this make me feel?

That mindset shift didn't stop at the plate. Elisha also opens up about her changing relationship with exercise — moving away from workouts that existed purely to "earn" a calorie deficit, and discovering the genuine enjoyment of running, walking and HIIT classes done for their own sake.

This episode is a refreshingly honest look at social media, weight loss, mindfulness and learning to re-energise your body and mind after a long, stressful day.

🦋 In this episode...

🦋 Growing up with foods labelled "good" and "bad"

🦋 Letting go of food labels and eating consciously, guilt-free

🦋 Asking "how will this food make me feel?" instead of counting rules

🦋 Building a healthier relationship with food through Weight Watchers

🦋 Moving from exercise-as-punishment to exercise-as-enjoyment

🦋 Discovering running, walking and HIIT as genuine sources of joy

🦋 Honest thoughts on social media and realistic weight loss

🦋 Recharging your body and mind after a stressful day

🔗 Connect with Elisha

Follow Elisha's journey:

📸 Instagram: @rainbow_room

Her page is packed with delicious plant-based recipes, healthy meal inspiration and realistic encouragement for anyone wanting a healthier relationship with food.

⭐ Enjoying Slimming Stories?

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

💜 I'd Love to Hear From You

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you. Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎤 @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

🌿 Your Slimming Stories Toolkit

Thank you so much for listening. If today's conversation made you realise that your relationship with food matters just as much as what's on your plate, I've created a collection of resources that may help.

🎁 Free Weight Loss Mindset Guide

Discover practical ways to understand emotional eating, reduce food noise and stay focused.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

💫 Try My Free Hypnosis Session

Experience the first three parts of my hypnosis course completely free.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

🍭 Sugar Craving Reset

Join the waiting list for my next Sugar Craving Reset if emotional eating and cravings are holding you back.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

💬 Could Hypnotherapy Help?

Many people know exactly what they should eat. The difficult part is changing the thoughts, emotions and habits that keep pulling them back towards old patterns. Hypnotherapy helps address those deeper patterns so healthy choices begin to feel more natural.

🎥 Watch Real Hypnotherapy Sessions

See genuine client sessions and discover how hypnotherapy can support lasting change.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

📱 Follow Slimming Stories

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

💆‍♀️ Ready for Personal Support?

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss whether hypnotherapy could support your own weight loss journey.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

For many people, weight loss isn't about knowing what to eat—it's about changing the relationship they have with food.

In Part One of this conversation, I'm joined by Elisha Langridge, who shares how years of dieting, binge eating and negative thoughts around food eventually led her to discover a healthier, more balanced approach.

Elisha talks openly about growing up overweight, experiencing comments about her size during childhood and the impact those experiences had on her confidence. Thankfully, she also had the support of a loving family who encouraged healthier habits from an early age after concerns about her weight were raised by her doctor.

Like so many of us, Elisha found herself caught in the familiar cycle of strict dieting during the week before rewarding herself with weekend blowouts. Eventually she realised she didn't want another diet—she wanted a complete change in the way she thought about food.

Following the WW (Weight Watchers) plan helped her develop a healthier relationship with eating, and today she is a WW Ambassador, inspiring thousands with colourful, nutritious recipes that prove healthy food can be both satisfying and enjoyable.

• Growing up overweight and the impact childhood comments can have.
• Why dieting and binge eating often become a repeating cycle.
• The "good all week, treat all weekend" mindset.
• Learning to make peace with food instead of fearing it.
• Building healthier habits that last.
• Why healthy eating doesn't need to feel restrictive.
• Using food to nourish both your body and your mind.
• Finding inspiration through simple, colourful meals.

📸 Instagram: @rainbow_room

Her page is packed with delicious plant-based recipes, healthy meal inspiration and realistic encouragement for anyone wanting a healthier relationship with food.

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show.

Every review helps more people discover these honest conversations around weight loss, mindset and long-term health.

If this episode resonated with you, take a screenshot while you're listening and share it to your Instagram Stories.

Tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I love hearing what stands out most from each conversation.

Thank you so much for listening.

If today's conversation has made you realise that changing your relationship with food is every bit as important as changing what's on your plate, I've created a collection of resources that may help.

Discover practical ways to understand emotional eating, reduce food noise and stay focused.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

Experience the first three parts of my hypnosis course completely free.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

Join the waiting list for my next Sugar Craving Reset if emotional eating and cravings are holding you back.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

Many people know exactly what they should eat.

The difficult part is changing the thoughts, emotions and habits that keep pulling them back towards old patterns.

Hypnotherapy helps address those deeper patterns so healthy choices begin to feel more natural.

See genuine client sessions and discover how hypnotherapy can support lasting change.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss whether hypnotherapy could support your own weight loss journey.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

If you've ever found yourself caught in that cycle, you're certainly not alone.

This week I'm joined by Tom Farrow, who openly shares the hidden battle he faced with food before losing over 10 stone.

For Tom, every week began with the very best intentions. Monday was always going to be different. This was going to be the Monday. But after a few days, old habits would quietly creep back in and another fresh start would be waiting just around the corner.

One of the hardest parts of Tom's journey wasn't what people could see.

It was what they couldn't.

Secret eating had become part of everyday life. Food eaten in the car on the way to and from work. Office cakes and biscuits that seemed impossible to resist. The constant promises to start again tomorrow.

In this honest conversation, Tom explains how he finally broke that cycle, discovered a healthier relationship with food and transformed not only his body, but his entire life.

Today Tom has lost more than 10 stone, found healthier versions of the foods he loves (including a healthier kebab!), met his fiancée through Slimming World, become a dad to Alfie and now supports others as a Slimming World Consultant.

If you've ever struggled with emotional eating, secret eating or believing that this Monday really will be different, I think Tom's story will resonate with you.

• Why "I'll start on Monday" can become a never-ending cycle.
• The reality of secret eating and why so many people hide their relationship with food.
• Managing temptation at work when food is always available.
• Why willpower alone wasn't enough.
• Losing over 10 stone with Slimming World.
• Finding healthier alternatives instead of feeling deprived.
• How weight loss changed Tom's confidence, relationships and family life.
• Why helping others became Tom's next chapter as a Slimming World Consultant.

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show.

Every follow and review helps more people discover these conversations and could be the encouragement someone needs to take their first step.

If this episode resonated with you, take a screenshot while you're listening and share it to your Instagram Stories.

Tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I love seeing where you're listening from and hearing what has helped you most.

Thank you so much for listening.

If today's conversation has made you realise that your relationship with food goes much deeper than simply knowing what to eat, I've created a collection of resources that may help.

A practical guide to help you understand emotional eating, stay focused and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

Experience the first three parts of my hypnosis course completely free.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If food noise, emotional eating or sugar cravings are making weight loss feel like a constant battle, join the waiting list for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

Many people know what to eat.

The difficult part is understanding why they keep returning to old habits.

Hypnotherapy helps you work with the emotional and subconscious patterns behind overeating, comfort eating and self-sabotage, so healthy choices begin to feel more natural.

Curious about how hypnotherapy works?

Watch real client sessions and discover what's possible.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation to find out whether hypnotherapy could help you move forward with your weight loss journey.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

Slimming Stories is one year old!

When I recorded my very first episode, I was terrified.

Like so many of us, I had every reason not to begin. I questioned whether anyone would listen, whether I was good enough and whether I was making a huge mistake.

Then, just a few months later, the world changed.

None of us expected to find ourselves living through a global pandemic. Life became uncertain, routines disappeared and for many people it felt as though everything had been put on hold.

But here's what I've learned.

You don't have to wait for perfect circumstances to start creating the life you want.

In this episode, I share what launching Slimming Stories has taught me over the past twelve months and why stepping outside your comfort zone can become one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve your fitness, change careers or simply believe in yourself a little more, I hope this conversation encourages you to stop waiting for the "right time."

Because the right time rarely arrives.

You create it.

If you've spent years telling yourself "I can't," perhaps it's time to ask a different question...

What if I can?

🦋 Celebrating one year of Slimming Stories

🦋 Launching a podcast despite fear and self-doubt

🦋 Why you don't need perfect timing to begin

🦋 Living through Covid while continuing to pursue your goals

🦋 Challenging the stories you tell yourself

🦋 Letting go of the belief that you're destined to fail

🦋 Why giving yourself grace can change everything

🦋 Rewriting your story—one small step at a time

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

If that sounds familiar, I think this episode will really resonate with you.

This week I'm joined by Ashley Owen, who speaks with incredible honesty about living with binge eating and the emotional struggle that so many people experience but rarely talk about openly.

Binge eating isn't about lacking willpower.

It's often far more complex than that.

Ashley shares her own experiences of feeling caught in the cycle of restriction, bingeing and the overwhelming guilt that can follow. She also explains how seeking professional help helped her better understand her relationship with food and begin developing healthier ways to cope.

One of the most inspiring parts of Ashley's journey came when she decided to document her experiences on video.

At first, those recordings were for her eyes only.

They became a way of understanding her thoughts, emotions and behaviours in real time.

Eventually, Ashley made the brave decision to share those videos publicly in the hope that other people struggling with binge eating would realise they weren't alone.

This is an incredibly honest conversation that replaces shame with understanding and reminds us that healing begins with compassion, not criticism.

🦋 Understanding the reality of binge eating

🦋 Why binge eating is about more than food

🦋 Breaking free from the cycle of guilt and shame

🦋 Ashley's experience of seeking professional support

🦋 Using video journalling to better understand eating behaviours

🦋 Why sharing her story has helped other people feel less alone

🦋 Learning to approach recovery with compassion instead of self-criticism

Follow Ashley's journey:

📸 Instagram: @urgewarrioress

🎥 YouTube: Urge Warrioress

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

Back then, Tom spoke openly about his weight loss journey, his struggles with Body Dysmorphia, and the difficult place he found himself in emotionally. It was an incredibly honest conversation, recorded long before any of us had even heard the word Covid-19.

Then the world changed.

For many people, lockdown brought loneliness, uncertainty and a constant temptation to turn to food for comfort. Tom admits that, at the beginning of the pandemic, this was exactly what he feared would happen.

Instead, something unexpected happened.

With fewer distractions and more time, Tom began focusing on himself. He discovered a love of cooking, enjoyed preparing healthy meals and explored new walking routes close to home. Rather than feeling trapped by lockdown, he used the time to rebuild healthy habits and reconnect with himself.

One of the most encouraging parts of this conversation is hearing Tom describe how the constant voice of Body Dysmorphia—which had dominated so much of his life—had finally begun to quieten.

It didn't disappear overnight.

But with time, self-reflection and consistency, Tom found himself in a much healthier place, both mentally and physically.

I wanted to revisit Tom's story because it reminds us that healing isn't always about dramatic overnight change. Sometimes it's about giving yourself the time and compassion to keep moving forwards, one day at a time.

This is a beautiful reminder that even during one of the most challenging periods in recent history, positive change was still possible.

🦋 Catching up with Tom after his first appearance on Slimming Stories

🦋 Living through lockdown without returning to old eating habits

🦋 Managing Body Dysmorphia with greater self-compassion

🦋 Discovering a love of cooking and food preparation

🦋 Finding peace through walking and spending time outdoors

🦋 Why slowing down helped improve both physical and mental health

🦋 Proof that difficult seasons can still bring positive transformation

Follow Tom's journey on Instagram:

📸 @fightfatwithtom

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

For Gina Dean, that moment happened in the changing rooms of Marks & Spencer.

After picking up a pair of size 8 jeans, she almost didn't bother trying them on. Surely they wouldn't fit?

But they did.

In fact, they fitted so perfectly that Gina collapsed onto the changing room floor laughing, crying and completely overwhelmed by what she'd achieved.

Just twelve months earlier, wearing a size 8 had felt impossible.

For over 20 years, Gina had lived with excess weight. Everyday activities left her breathless, her knees constantly ached and she avoided having her photograph taken whenever she could.

Then one family wedding changed everything.

Seeing an unflattering photograph of herself became the wake-up call she needed to finally put herself first.

With the support of Slimming World, Gina went on to lose an incredible 8 stone, transforming not only her body but also her confidence, health and quality of life.

Today, she's embraced an active lifestyle, enjoying running, Zumba and travelling without the physical limitations that once held her back.

One of the most emotional parts of Gina's story came during a flight to Italy.

For the first time in years, she fastened her seatbelt with ease and noticed something she'd never experienced before.

Space.

Space around her body.

Space to breathe.

Space to simply enjoy the journey.

It brought her to tears.

Not tears of sadness…

Tears of freedom.

🦋 Gina's incredible 8 stone weight loss with Slimming World

🦋 The family photograph that became her turning point

🦋 Living with excess weight for more than 20 years

🦋 The unforgettable moment a pair of size 8 jeans fitted perfectly

🦋 Saying goodbye to breathlessness and painful knees

🦋 Discovering a love of running and Zumba

🦋 Flying comfortably for the first time in years

🦋 Why freedom is about so much more than the number on the scales

Follow Gina's journey on Instagram:

📸 @gina.dean

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook – Join the Slimming Stories community

Book a free 30-minute consultation and find out whether therapy or hypnotherapy could help you.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/contact

For years, Lisa struggled to accept kind words from other people.

Whenever someone complimented her, she assumed they were simply being polite. Years of negative self-talk had convinced her that she wasn't worthy of believing them.

Then life changed.

Following her divorce, Lisa found herself sitting in a therapist's office asking one important question:

"Where do I go from here?"

Although she'd already begun losing weight, she realised something was still missing.

She didn't love herself.

No amount of weight loss alone could fix that.

During therapy, Lisa decided to try something she'd never imagined would become such a huge part of her life.

She started running.

With every mile, Lisa slowly rebuilt her confidence, rediscovered her identity and began treating herself with the same kindness she so freely gave to everyone else.

Today, Lisa coaches and supports other women on their own health and fitness journeys, helping them realise that lasting transformation begins long before the scales change.

This episode is about so much more than weight loss.

It's about reconnecting with yourself.

🦋 Recovering after divorce and rebuilding life as a single mum

🦋 Why weight loss alone didn't improve Lisa's self-image

🦋 Challenging years of negative self-talk

🦋 How therapy helped Lisa reconnect with herself

🦋 Discovering a passion for running

🦋 Why self-care is more than bubble baths and spa days

🦋 Learning to believe compliments and build genuine self-worth

🦋 Helping other women through coaching, nutrition and fitness

Follow Lisa's journey:

📘 Facebook: @notyouraveragemotherrunner

📸 Instagram: @notyouraveragemotherrunner

🎙️ Podcast: Not Your Average Mother Runner

If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd be so grateful if you could follow, rate and review the show. Every follow, rating and review helps more people discover Slimming Stories and supports someone else who may need to hear these conversations.

If you're listening to this episode, I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

Take a screenshot while you're listening, share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me:

🎙️ @slimmingstories_podcast

🤍 @claire.oldham.west.therapy

I genuinely love seeing where you're listening from, and I'll always do my best to reshare your stories.

If there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode, or someone you'd love me to interview, send me a message. Some of my favourite podcast episodes have started with a message from a listener.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

My hope is that Slimming Stories becomes more than just a podcast. I hope it's somewhere you can come back to whenever you need a little encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not doing this on your own.

That's why I've created a collection of free resources to support you between episodes.

A practical guide to help you stay focused, manage emotional eating and build healthier habits.

👉 https://www.claireoldhamwest.com/quick-and-easy-weight-loss-mindset

I've unlocked the first three parts of my hypnosis course for you.

👉 bit.ly/FREE-Hypnosis

If you're struggling with sugar cravings, emotional eating or food noise—whether you're following Slimming World, using Mounjaro, calorie counting or another approach—you can join the waitlist for my next Sugar Craving Reset.

👉 bit.ly/SugarCravingReset

If you've ever found yourself asking:

• Why do I keep going back to food?

• Why can't I stop thinking about chocolate?

• Why do I keep self-sabotaging?

Therapy and hypnotherapy help you understand the emotional and subconscious patterns behind your eating habits, so healthier choices begin to feel more natural—not like a constant battle with willpower.

Curious about hypnotherapy? Watch real client sessions and discover how it works.

👉 bit.ly/ClaireOldhamWestHypnotherapy

🎵 TikTok – @slimmingstoriespodcast

📸 Instagram – @slimmingstories_podcast

💬 Facebook

Social media can make it look as though everyone has their life together.

Perfect photos.

Perfect lighting.

Perfect lives.

But true confidence isn't about filters—it's about feeling comfortable enough to be yourself.

That's exactly what Debbie discovered.

Before joining Slimming World, Debbie weighed 26 stone 7lb and felt completely trapped by her weight. It affected every part of her life—her health, confidence, self-esteem and even her belief that lasting change was possible.

Like so many people, she'd tried countless diets over the years.

Each time she believed the problem was a lack of willpower.

It wasn't.

Everything changed after a family trip to London.

Unable to fit on a ride at a theme park, Debbie returned home to an unexpected family meeting. Her mum and sister had become deeply concerned about her health after seeing first-hand how much she was struggling.

It wasn't an easy conversation.

But it came from love.

That conversation became the turning point Debbie needed.

She joined Slimming World and went on to lose an incredible 15½ stone.

Today, Debbie inspires thousands of people through her YouTube channel, Debbie's World, where she shares the reality of weight loss with warmth, honesty and humour.

One of the things I love most about Debbie is that she doesn't try to be perfect.

She simply shows up as herself.