How do you stay committed to your health when anxiety, criticism and life's challenges threaten to knock you off course?

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.

How do you prioritise your own health when you're juggling work, motherhood and everything life throws your way?

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

Can you lose too much weight? And how do you know when it's time to stop chasing a number on the scales?

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

Episode 50

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

Have you ever felt trapped in the cycle of being "good" all week, only to undo everything at the weekend?

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.

📸 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

How many Mondays have you promised yourself, "This is the week everything changes"... only to find yourself back where you started by Wednesday?

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.

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

I honestly can't quite believe I'm writing this...

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

Have you ever promised yourself, "I'll be good today"... only to find yourself eating in a way that feels completely out of control?

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

If you've been listening to Slimming Stories for a while, you may remember meeting Tom back in Episode 10.

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

Have you ever had one of those moments where you suddenly realise just how far you've come?

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