Weight Loss Warrior Podcast

EP019: How being overweight can mask your identity and dampen your zest for life. Today I welcome Vikki to the WLW podcast to discuss her awesome weight loss journey and how she was able to lose over 6 stone! Vikki talks about how she just didn’t feel herself at a higher weight after going from being a size 14 to a 24 over the course of 2 years. We talk about the build up of different factors that gave her the courage to begin losing weight as well as the small changes Vikki made to start turning things around. This is actually the second weight loss journey Vikki has been on in the last 10 years and it was great to hear about what is making this time different and more sustainable. You can get some great tips in this episode too. Follow Vikki on Instagram: slimming_vikki_ – she is a big foodie and shares some great healthy recipes! To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP18: Losing 5 stone by working on a change in mindset and daily routine. Our special guest today is Jayne and something interesting on this episode is that her transformation didn’t start from a firm decision that she wanted to lose weight, but out of a need to get away from her work. Jayne talks about not being happy with the routine she found herself in and how drinking on a regular basis was having an impact in other areas of her life. We learn how developing a love for the gym was crucial for Jayne and she shares some tips for anyone who might want to join but feels a little unsure. On this episode we talk about the benefits of calorie counting, how the scales don’t always tell the full story and why it’s not always needed to join a slimming group. One of the things I enjoyed most about having Jayne as a guest was her passion for health and nutrition since making the important changes in her life. Jayne has lost almost 5 stone on her journey and in addition has completely changed her state of mind. You can hear the positivity in her voice showing how important these changes have been and I think it will help to inspire many others who listen Make sure you check out Jayne’s Instagram @jaynehaley and be inspired by her success! To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP17: How losing just 1lb a week added up to over 8 stone for Kylee One of the things I loved about todays episode is that it’s a great reminder of how “slow and steady” really does win the race. Our special guest Kylee has lost over 8 stone since her journey began and puts the overall success down to taking your time and accepting that life will always have challenges, but more than anything to keep going and stick at it. It was great to hear how Kylee has focused on making small changes gradually, enabling her to adjust to life weighing less throughout her journey. She shares how much more she is able and happy to do following her transformation, offering great advice to our WLW tribe. One of the key goals for my podcast is to share real stories from real people and when you listen to the episode I think it provides a great reminder that there is no magic or mystery to weight loss and that it is something everyone has the capability to do. A massive thank you to Kylee for being such a great guest and sharing her story with us all. Make sure you check out Kylee’s Instagram fridgepickers_wear_bigknickers and be inspired by her success! To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP16: How a change in mindset has helped Stephen achieve more than 7 stone in weight loss. Sometimes you meet people and instantly feel drawn to them because of their charisma and kind nature. For me, Stephen is one of these people and I really enjoyed speaking with him. In his episode, Stephen talks about how an accumulation of different things led to his decision to lose weight, and how life had been for him up until that point. Stephen also shares many of the great new sports and activites he has began doing since increasing his level of confidence and ability to move around more including horse riding and TV extra work! One of the things I think is very important and discussed during our chat was the fact that losing small amounts on a consistent basis can be key to maintaining the loss and not creating false expectations. Stephen explains that this has helped him a lot and he shares great advice for those wanting to do the same. Make sure you check out his Instagram weighty_guy and be inspired by his success! To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP15: How starting a family has given Chris the ultimate reason to be healthy. The star of today’s episode lives in my favourite part of the UK, Cornwall. Join Chris as he talks about his journey through weight loss and how his goals have changed over the years. Chris shares how a good friend encouraged him to join a gym and get healthier after the joys of Uni life had begun to take it’s toll. He also takes us through special moments in his life that gave him the motivation to get back on track with his weight loss journey and how today he continues towards his objective of getting the right balance and working towards never having to use the word “diet” in his family home. Main Topics 01:02 – Meet Chris 02:08 – Being advised to lose weight from a young age 06:10 – How Uni life created more weight gain 07:30 – Being encouraged to play Amercian Football 10:00 – The decision to lose weight 13:40 – Settling into life after Uni 14:40 – Joining SW as an adult 16:30 – How slimming clubs provide structure 20:00 – Realising things weren’t where Chris wanted to be 22:30 – Being supported by your partner 24:00 – Motivation that helps Chris 26:30 – Never needing to use the word “diet” 28:18 – Having the tools to succeed 29:20 – Advice from Chris Make sure you check out Chris on Instagram whatwhitterseats and follow his epic journey! To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP14: Finding the right balance for long term weight loss – Joe’s success story Joe has certainly made waves in the weight loss community, starting at a young age. He is not only an ambassador for WW but was also a child star in a Rosemary Connelly fitness DVD and wrote a column in her magazine! During this great episode, Joe shares how lockdown interrupted his weight loss success and many changes in his life created challenges for him. He also talks about how the “slow and steady” approach to losing weight is proving more success for him this year and how it feels more like a lifestyle change than a diet. Main Topics 01:12 – Meet Joe 01:50 – Growing up and gaining weight 02:30 – Losing weight with Rosemary Connelly 05:35 – Joining a friend at WW to support them 06:35 – From losing 6 stone to Lockdown 14:40 – Losing 45lbs in 6 months and setting goals 16:40 – Opting for healthier options 21:47 – The impact of Lockdown 24:50 – Getting back into WW 28:24 – The mind game of life after weight loss 30:36 – Finding the right balance for long term success 34:15 – Advice from Joe Make sure you check out Joe’s Instagram account joeswwjourney and see his amazing transformation. To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP13: Erika explains why acceptance is as important, if not more so than weight loss. If this was a Friends episode, it would be called; “The one with all the great advice” Erika joins me to share not just her story, but an amazing amount of important truths that contribute to making your weight loss journey both successful and one that you feel truly happy about. In what is so far the longest podcast episode, I did warn Erika we made need to shorten it to stay consistent, but upon listening to the sheer amount of helpful suggestions and reminders to be kind to ourselves, it’s all stayed in! One of the topics I hope helps some of our listeners is related to a skin condition called Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) that Erika suffered with. Although its cause is officially unknown, many people who suffer are smokers and/or overweight. HS causes painful skin abscesses and boils resulting in a lot of discomfort and scarring. Erika talks openly about how this affected her life and the path she took to receive treatment. Erika also shares great insight to how important it is to learn to accept your body as your own individual and unique gift, not to be compared or in competition with anyone else. It was a pleasure to have such a positive and open minded guest on the WLW podcast and this is without mentioning the incredible 7 stone Erika has lost as part of her journey. Main topics: 02:06 – Meet Erika and her struggle with weight 04:00 – Being a young mum and managing everything 05:38 – Throwing the scales away and acceptance of being “fat for life” 06:28 – The moment Erika decided to make a change 10:24 – The impact of being overweight on Erika’s life 11:51 – How a skin called Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) condition created a painful and difficult time 19:25 – Getting help if you suffer from HS 22:05 – Erika’s winding, twisting journey to success 32:00 – The importance of planning for long term success 37:30 – How Erika’s Instagram started out as a place for her to journal (now over 68k followers) 42:52 – Follow Erika on Instagram Make sure you check out Rachel’s Instagram account erikasworld_sw and see her amazing transformation. To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP12: How believing “it’s never too late to try” helped Rachel lose weight After receiving the news that Rachel was suffering 3 autoimmune related illnesses, the road to recovery proved very difficult and lengthy. The prescribed treatment was a form of steroid which led to increased appetite, weight gain and overeating. Following this, Rachel was blessed with a daughter however the weight gain during pregnancy was something she was finding a challenge to cope with and talks in this episode about not feeling her best and or recognising herself. Discover how Rachel made the decision to lose weight and joined Weight Watchers after a supportive conversation with a friend. Her journey so far, like so many of us has not been linear, however Rachel has lost an incredible 45lbs and feels a lot better and happier for it. Main topics: 01:27 – Meet Rachel 02:16 – Health issues, medication & weight gain 06:00 – Mental wellbeing and getting support 07:28 – Rachels’s decision to lose weight 11:35 – Overcoming the feeling of “Why me?” 13:20 – Joining WW and being inspired by a friend 14:40 – Losing 45lbs in 6 months and setting goals 16:40 – Opting for healthier options 19:58 – Why this time is different 24:54 – Inspiring advice from Rachel 27:05 – Follow Rachel on Instagram Make sure you check out Rachel’s Instagram account ww_rachelsjourney and see her amazing transformation. To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP11: An insight to gastric sleeve surgery and how for Charmane this has changed her life. Today’s episode ticks two “WLW Podcast exclusive” boxes in that this is our very first weight loss success story from a Warrior who has undergone Gastric Sleeve Surgery, and also happens to be from Australia! Charmane explains how she had struggled with weight throughout her childhood and how obesity still impacts a lot of her family members. After trying as many diets and methods to lose weight as she possibly could, Charmane talks about how the constant failure to lose weight affected her mental wellbeing and led her to looking to the more drastic solution of surgery. Obviously, this was no easy decision to make and in this episode you can hear about many of the considerations that are important to think about. Charmane discusses the mental challenges, process, recovery and her life after having a Gastric Sleeve. I was surprised to learn it’s not the “quick fix” that many may think and there are a lot of ways in which her life has changed for good. I am extremely grateful to Charmane being so open and honest about her journey and strongly recommend to listen and share this with anyone considering surgery as there is some great advice on both the good and negative side effects of having this procedure. Main topics: 02:10 – Meet Charmane 04:30 – Growing up as an overweight child 07:41 – Dealing with body dysmorphia 10:30 – The moments that led to Charmane’s decision 13:45 – Treating surgery as a last resort and researching surgery 19:00 – How weight loss led to a loss of confidence 21:30 – The first months after having surgery 22:49 – Changing the way you eat 25:09 – Importance of a good diet and nutrition 27:47 – Hiding the truth about surgery 30:00 – Life now for Charmane Make sure you check out Charmane’s Instagram account shrinkinginsydney and see her amazing transformation. To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP10: Why fad diets didn’t work for Richard and how he lost over 8 stone the right way. After being bullied at school and college, Richard took drastic measures of starving himself to lose weight. Listen to how he turned to being the “funny one” as a coping mechanism to disguise his true feelings about being overweight and how this impacted his life. Richard’s story will take you on a very common journey that so many people will relate to covering emotional eating, the feeling of always being on a diet and the loneliness that can occur with obesity. Luckily, through hard work and a lot of determination, hear how Richard decided he wasn’t going to be “Fat and 40” and was able to go on to lose over 8 stone. He shares the amazing impact it has had on his life and how his confidence enabled him to be himself for the first time. Main topics: 1:11 – Meet our guest, Richard 02:40 – Richard’s life being overweight 03:18 – How bullying caused Richard to take drastic measures to lose weight 05:12 – How being the college clown impacted life 08:27 – Turning 38 and making a decision to change 09:32 – Being on a diet “all his life” and what made this time different. 13:00 – How medical issues and a video of himself gave Richard the final push he needed 17:50 – 18 months and 8 stone in weight loss. 20:43 – Richard’s advice to our listeners wanting to lose weight 25:04 – Body positivity and doing what makes YOU happy Make sure you check out Richard’s Instagram account: Richard_barnsley_sw – He shares his full transformation photos including his tummy tuck results. To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP09: How Steph has lost 5 stone after a life long struggle with her weight. Today we meet Steph, a mum of 3 boys tackling a male dominated house and her own personal stuggle with weight loss. In this episode Steph shares her weight loss success story as we discuss some of the simple changes she made in order to kick start her journey. I get advice on how to help support someone in the initial stages and encouraging someone to lose weight without offending them, as well as sharing practical tips to change damaging behaviours that can lead to weight gain. Steph also gives an insight to why the scales can be both a great tool for tracking weight but a cause of anxiety and stress, and how to avoid becoming obsessed with them. This was a fun conversation and Steph describes some of the moments during her journey in a light-hearted way, ultimately leading up to today where she has a new challenge she is working towards. Main topics: 1:17 – Meet Steph 02:22 – Steph’s struggle with controlling her weight 5:35 – Wishing someone had said something sooner 07:54 – How a supportive partner can help 11:50 – Steph’s decision to lose weight 15:10 – Learning to stop treating food as a reward 17:30 – How our culture revolves around food and drink 22:20 – Steph using Instagram to find inspiration and support 23:20 – The problem with scales 24:35 – How group provides accountability and the psychology behind working for a sticker 28:52 – Life now and the benefits of losing 5 stone. Make sure you check out Steph’s Instagram account slim.with.steph and see her amazing transformation. To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP08: How following a weight loss program enabled Ryan to lose 10 stone and win a national award for his efforts. When I sat down to speak with Ryan (both times… Listen to find out why) I had no idea of the recognition he had received for his amazing transformation however it turned out I was among weight loss royalty. Ryan was named “Mr Sleek 2022” by Slimming World which is a national award given annually to someone who has achieved something amazing. Ryan didn’t mention it during our chat, which goes to show how humble and modest he really is, although later admitted how proud he was to have received this award. In this episode, we discuss how “not having time to lose weight” can be an excuse many of us use and how Ryan overcame his life long battle with weight. Main topics: 1:51 – About Ryan & life as a teacher 3.41 – Life being overweight 10:04 – Educating young people to be more healthy 13:58 – The turning point to make a change 18:38 – Ryan’s achievement 20:00 – No regrets, but wishing he started sooner 26:20 – Ryan’s advice if you want to lose weight 27.25 – Chef Ryan sharing his cooking secrets and Instagram details Make sure you check out Ryan’s Instagram account: Ryanquinnslimmingworld and learn how to cook his amazing carrot and parsnip mash! To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP07: How a dream location created a nightmare for Kathryn. An honest and open success story on weight loss, addiction and living a healthy lifestyle. You may think moving to the Cayman Islands to pursue a well-paid career would bring nothing but sunshine and happiness. Unfortunately for Kathryn it became a lonely and dangerous environment as life began to spiral out of control. Listen to the inspiring and honest story of how Kathryn hit rock bottom and made a decision to turn her life around. This episodes Weight Loss Warrior has gone on to reach her target and quite literally turned her life around, now sharing her journey and hoping to help others. Kathryn also highlights the important fact that everyone is different and how body positivity is so vital both for yourself and when considering the feelings of others. UPDATE: Since recording this episode, Kathryn is now single and focusing on her continued success and personal growth. She has given her permission to share the episode and wanted to highlight that this was, and remains an important part of her story. I’d like to wish Kathryn every success and can’t wait to have her back to update us soon! Main topics: 2:04 – Meet Kathryn and her life before losing weight 03:56 – Body positivity and not comparing yourself to others 06:13 – A downward spiral and weight gain 14:30 – The 2nd Lockdown and decision to turn things around 20:30 – Creating new lifestyle habits 26:10 – 5 top pieces of advice for anyone wanting to lose weight 29:32 – Life now and the benefits of losing weight Make sure you check out Kathryn’s Instagram account: swtargetkathryn and take inspiration from the amazing changes she has made to her life. To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP06: How losing weight has given Gem a level of confidence she didn’t know was possible. Covid was a difficult time for so many people, and this was no exception for Gem. Challenging moments within her family and a considerable weight gain left Gem struggling and unhappy with both her physical and mental health. Although making the decision and taking that first step and starting on her weight loss journey was frightening and provoked a high level of anxiety, Gem looks back during our interview and is extremely glad that she did. Listen to Gem's weight loss success story and how losing weight with a long term plan in mind is helping Gem to stay focused while discovering benefits she is seeing from her journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP05: Using positive energy and focus to lose over 5 stone - Joe's weight loss success story Joe Thompson knew it was time to lose weight after an already large suit had to have further adjustments prior to two close friend’s weddings. Having yo-yo dieted throughout his years at Uni, Joe was able to get in good shape until settling down with his husband and ended up gaining more weight than he felt happy with. After looking at the various options, Joe decided to try Slimming World. The journey that followed is shared in this episode and is one of inspiration, optimism and an incredible outcome. Make sure you check out Joe’s Instagram account: joeyjoejoe__sw Here you will find his amazing before and after photos, the great food he is cooking and some really thought provoking videos tackling interesting topics. Key Moments: 1:45 – About Joe & Life before losing weight 3.10 – The big moment that changed the future 7.57 – Losing weight with Slimming World 12:58 – Ups and downs 19:52 – Life now 33:15 – Advice to listeners 35.24 – Following our guest on Insta To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the WLW podcast and get weight loss motivation, inspiration and support. Click here now and become part of our tribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP 04: Kirsty shares her incredible weight loss success story and how she had been ready to accept being overweight before making a dramatic change. On this emotional episode, you will understand how she used humour to hide behind her true feelings until a sad event gave her the push she needed to change her life. Visit Kirsty's Instagram account to see her amazing transformation, healthy meals and day to day life as a Weight Loss Warrior: @little_bit_less_ Also, never miss a new episode of the WLW Podcast: Click here to visit our website and subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP03: James has yoyo dieted for many years with both dramatic weight loss and gains. Discover why this time it has "clicked" and he is on the right path to weight loss success. At the time this interview was recorded, James was very close to reaching a loss of 6 stone. Visit his Instagram @slimmingworldslimjim and find out if he has now reached this amazing goal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP02: Steve needed to lose weight after a worrying scare that landed him in hospital. Learn how Steve managed to lose an amazing 182lbs by changing his mindset and approach to life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP01: Hear how Michelle was able to lose over 100lbs after gaining weight during lockdown and the positive impact it has had on her life in this inspiring episode on the Weight Loss Warrior Podcast. This is the very first episode of a twice weekly podcast celebrating the success of people who have lost weight and want to share their story. Our goal is to help motivate, inspire and support anyone on a weight loss journey. Become part of our Weight Loss Warrior tribe and achieve your own weight loss goals! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EP 00: Welcome to the WLW podcast! In this episode learn about why we share real life weight loss success stories and how you can use them as part of your own journey. If you want to lose weight and would benefit from some extra motivation, inspiration and support, join us as we interview normal people who have successfully transformed their body and share exactly how they achieved it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices