
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Losing weight is rarely where women get stuck â it's keeping it off that trips most of us up. In this episode, I'm breaking down the real reasons for weight regain, both the short-term weekend gains that kill your momentum during weight loss, and the longer-term regain that shows up months or years after you've hit your goal. I'm sharing the exact weight maintenance strategy â my 80/20 rule â that has kept me at my goal weight for 25 years, plus the mindset shift that makes sustainable weight loss possible instead of just another diet that ends in regain.
Ask yourself: what has been the number one reason the weight has come back for me in the past? Not five reasons â just the main one. Was it the weekends, the wine, or the "diet's over" mindset? Write it down, say it out loud, and then ask yourself the harder question: am I ready to change it for good, not just for the short term?
Have you ever started a weight loss journey full of motivation, dropped a few kilos, and then... stalled? You're not lazy and you're not broken â you're in the messy middle, and it's completely normal.
In this episode, I'm joined by leadership coach Josie Askin of Spring Coaching, who helps high performers achieve big goals without burning out. Josie shares her own health journey â from being teased about her weight as a child, to overtraining as a long-distance runner and developing RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) â and how it shaped her philosophy of sustainable high performance.
Together we unpack why motivation fades in the middle of a weight loss journey, why restrictive dieting backfires, and the simple mindset shifts that keep you moving forward when the scales stall, including the "rule of thirds," the power of being one percent better, and why consistency beats intensity every time.
Think about one win from your day - no matter how small. Then ask yourself: what steps led to that win, and what impact did it have? Now repeat it. That's how a win becomes a habit, and how habits carry you through the middle.
Grab Josie's free Wins Worksheet via the link below to capture your wins and keep your momentum going.
 If you've ever told yourself you just need more motivation to stick to your weight loss goals, this episode is for me to set the record straight. After fifteen years of coaching busy women, I can tell you motivation isn't the problem, and it isn't the solution either. It's an emotion, and emotions are unreliable - they don't show up on the days you need them most.
In this episode, I share the story of a client who slipped back into old habits after office birthday cake derailed her week, and why her instinct to âfind more motivationâ was actually leading her in the wrong direction. I walk through why structure, not motivation, is what actually creates sustainable weight loss, and I give you six simple, doable structures you can start using immediately â from a two-minute morning food plan to a kitchen closed time in the evenings. These are the exact tools I use with my own coaching clients to build consistency without relying on willpower.
Pick just one structure from today's episode â the one that feels most doable for your life right now. Get specific: decide exactly when and where it will happen, write it down, and try it consistently this week. At the end of the week, notice what shifted, not what went wrong. That's how lasting change with weight loss and healthy habits actually begins.
In this episode I'm sharing one of the most common and most destructive patterns I see in people trying to lose weight - what I call the Triangle of Doom. If you've ever had one unplanned bite turn into an entire day of overeating, this episode is going to change the way you think about off-plan moments forever. I talk about how emotional eating spirals begin, why the food is almost never the real problem, and the simple mindset shift that can stop a binge in its tracks before it even starts.
I share a real client story â a single unplanned muffin that cascaded into an evening of overeating. It wasn't weakness. It was a pattern almost every emotional eater will recognise.
One bite off-plan doesn't sink you. You're still at the tip of the iceberg â still floating. The dangerous descent only happens when you believe the thought 'I've already blown it, may as well keep going.'
I walk through a real-time example: muffin at 3pm â wine after work â cheese and crackers â takeaways â biscuits at bedtime. One moment becomes 2,000 calories â not from hunger, but from a single destructive thought.
The physical discomfort fades. The damage to your confidence and belief in yourself is what really lingers â and that's what keeps the cycle repeating.
Get back on track at your very next meal. Not tomorrow. Not Monday. The next meal. Your meal plan is the lifeline that pulls you back to the surface.
Â
Name it.
The next time you have an off-plan moment, say out loud: 'I am at the tip of the iceberg.' Then watch for the thought 'I've already blown it' â that's your warning signal. Recognise it, redirect it, and simply decide what your next meal will be. One thought. One meal. That's all it takes to stay above the water.
Â
LINKS:
âĄïžDownload by FREE E-book with a 5-day Low Carb Meal Plan and 5 delicious dinner recipes: CLICK HERE
âĄïžContinue your low carb journey with monthly Fat Loss Acceleration Protocols, resources, meal plans, delicious recipes, support and inspiration in Why Weight Academy: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžCheck out all my recipes and resources on the Why Weight Academy Website HERE
Follow me on TikTok:Â sheryltakayama
Follow me on Facebook:Â Why Weight Academy
Follow me on Instagram:Â sheryl_whyweightacademy
And if you enjoy this show, please leave a quick rating & review - your support is so appreciated and will mean the world to me!
 Have you ever heard that inner voice say "stuff it, I can't be bothered, what's the point?" â and then watched yourself blow your whole plan? You're not weak. You're not broken. And it's definitely not a willpower problem.
In this episode, I'm unpacking the real reasons behind weight loss self-sabotage â why these intrusive thoughts show up specifically around food and not in other areas of your life, and what you can actually do to stop them from derailing your progress. Whether you're following a low-carb lifestyle, trying to break emotional eating habits, or simply struggling to stay consistent, this episode will help you understand your brain â and work with it instead of against it.
Create a simple eating structure and stick to it â three low-carb meals and one low-carb snack every day. No guessing, no last-minute decisions when you're tired and overwhelmed. You've already decided. You just follow the plan.
This one shift removes the moment-by-moment decision-making that gives self-sabotage thoughts their power. Think of it not as restriction â but as protection for the version of you that's running on empty.
LINKS:
âĄïžDownload by FREE E-book with a 5-day Low Carb Meal Plan and 5 delicious dinner recipes: CLICK HERE
âĄïžContinue your low carb journey with monthly Fat Loss Acceleration Protocols, resources, meal plans, delicious recipes, support and inspiration in Why Weight Academy: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžCheck out all my recipes and resources on the Why Weight Academy Website HERE
Follow me on TikTok:Â sheryltakayama
Follow me on Facebook:Â Why Weight Academy
Follow me on Instagram:Â sheryl_whyweightacademy
And if you enjoy this show, please leave a quick rating & review - your support is so appreciated and will mean the world to me!
Do you eat well all day, only to blow it after dinner? Youâre not alone â and youâre not weak. After-dinner eating is one of the biggest hidden obstacles to weight loss for women, and in this episode Iâm breaking down exactly why it happens and how to stop it for good.
Late-night snacking isnât just about extra calories â itâs calories eaten at the worst possible time. When your metabolism is slowing for sleep, food is far more likely to be stored as fat, blood sugar spikes are more damaging, and your overnight fat-burning window gets completely shut down. Add disrupted sleep into the mix, and the next day you wake up hungrier, with stronger cravings. Itâs a vicious cycle.
The good news? Once you understand whatâs driving the habit â whether itâs stress, boredom, tiredness, or reward-seeking â you can break it. Iâm sharing 10 practical, real-life strategies that Iâve used myself and with my weight loss clients to stop nighttime eating and start waking up feeling proud.
Choose just one strategy from todayâs episode and commit to it this week.
It might be making a sugar-free drink your new after-dinner ritual, brushing your teeth the moment you clear the plates, or simply staying out of the kitchen after dinner. Whatever feels most doable for you right now â start there.
Small, consistent wins are what build lasting change. And there is nothing better than going to bed feeling proud of yourself, knowing youâre one step closer to your weight loss goals.
If you give it a try, Iâd love to hear how you go â drop a comment and let me know your progress!
Trying to lose weight but struggling when eating out at cafĂ©s? In this episode, I talk about one of the biggest challenges people face when starting a low-carb lifestyle â navigating cafĂ© culture without feeling deprived or âdifferent.â
After a conversation with a client who was loving her low-carb meal plan at home but feeling completely overwhelmed at cafés, I decided to unpack the biggest blood sugar traps hiding in coffee shops and share practical low-carb café strategies that actually work in real life.
I cover:
If youâve ever walked into a cafĂ© determined to stay on track and ended up face-to-face with muffins, banana bread and cravings, this episode is for you.
Before your next cafĂ© visit, look at the menu online and decide in advance what youâll order.
Having a simple plan removes stress, reduces impulsive choices, and helps you walk into the café feeling calm, confident and in control.
LINKS:
âĄïžDownload by FREE E-book with a 5-day Low Carb Meal Plan and 5 delicious dinner recipes: CLICK HERE
âĄïžStart losing weight on Monday with my 4-week Foundations of Fat Loss Programme, designed for the specific fat-burning needs of over 35's: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžContinue your low carb journey with monthly Fat Loss Acceleration Protocols, resources, meal plans, delicious recipes, support and inspiration in Why Weight Academy: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžCheck out all my recipes and resources on the Why Weight Academy Website HERE
Follow me on TikTok:Â sheryltakayama
Follow me on Facebook:Â Why Weight Academy
Follow me on Instagram:Â sheryl_whyweightacademy
And if you enjoy this show, please leave a quick rating & review - your support is so appreciated and will mean the world to me!
SHOW NOTES
What does real, lasting weight loss actually look like? In this episode, I share the remarkable story of one of my long-term clients â a busy mum and business owner who lost 20 kilos over four and a half years. This isnât a quick-fix story. Itâs a story about slow progress, setbacks, emotional eating, and what it truly means to stay in the game when weight loss feels impossible.
If youâve ever regained weight, struggled to stay consistent, or wondered if itâs even worth starting again, this episode is for you. Her journey through the COVID years, a plateau, a holiday setback, and finally a breakthrough moment in September 2025 is proof that sustainable weight loss isnât about speed â itâs about consistency and refusing to quit.
WHAT YOUâLL LEARN
KEY MOMENTS
ONE ACTION YOU CAN DO TO START NOW
Ask yourself honestly: am I still in the game?
You donât need a perfect plan, a Monday start date, or a dramatic reset. You just need to take one small action today that keeps you in the game â a check-in, logging your food, reaching out to someone for support, or simply deciding not to quit.
Progress doesnât have to be fast to be real. The only strategy that doesnât work is stopping entirely.
LINKS:
âĄïžDownload by FREE E-book with a 5-day Low Carb Meal Plan and 5 delicious dinner recipes: CLICK HERE
âĄïžStart losing weight on Monday with my 4-week Foundations of Fat Loss Programme, designed for the specific fat-burning needs of over 35's: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžContinue your low carb journey with monthly Fat Loss Acceleration Protocols, resources, meal plans, delicious recipes, support and inspiration in Why Weight Academy: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžCheck out all my recipes and resources on the Why Weight Academy Website HERE
Follow me on TikTok:Â sheryltakayama
Follow me on Facebook:Â Why Weight Academy
Follow me on Instagram:Â sheryl_whyweightacademy
And if you enjoy this show, please leave a quick rating & review - your support is so appreciated and will mean the world to me!
Have you ever known exactly what you need to do to lose weight - and still not done it? You're not lazy. You're not weak. You're experiencing what I call the resistance: the gap between knowing and doing that holds so many women back from the weight loss results they want.
In this episode, I share a personal wake-up call I had recently â finding the exact same journal entry written three years apart â and why it was the push I needed to finally take action. If you've ever found yourself stuck in the same weight loss loop, going around in circles knowing what to do but not doing it, this one is for you.
I cover the psychology behind why we resist the simplest, most effective habits â like drinking more water, going to bed earlier, tracking food, and meal planning â and give you five practical steps to finally break through and start making progress.
Pick one habit you've been avoiding - just one - and commit to it for seven days.
Don't wait for the resistance to go away. Notice it â and take action anyway. Progress in your weight loss journey doesn't come from knowing more. It comes from doing what you already know.
With food prices rising and cost of living pressure mounting, there's a lot of talk about growing your own vegetables - and while I love a veggie garden, this episode is about what the conversation is missing. As a nutritionist and weight loss coach, I want to make sure you're planning ahead with the nutrients your body actually needs to thrive: protein and healthy fats.
I share my practical, budget-friendly guide to stocking a low-carb pantry for food security - without panic buying - so you can keep eating well, manage your weight, and feel in control no matter what happens with food prices.
- Why vegetables alone won't keep you full, nourished, or at a healthy weight
- Why protein and healthy fats are the real foundation of a weight loss diet for women
- The best high-protein, budget-friendly foods to stock up on (tinned, frozen, and pantry)
- Which tinned fish is lowest in mercury and best for your weekly meal plan
- The healthy fats with the longest shelf life â including one you don't need to refrigerate
- A free, zero-waste tip for making nutrient-dense bone broth at home
Vegetables aren't enough on their own.
They provide fibre, vitamins, and minerals - but no significant protein or fat. Without those, you won't feel satisfied, your blood sugar will be unstable, and your low-carb diet won't hold.
Protein is non-negotiable for women's weight loss.
It stabilises blood sugar, preserves muscle mass, supports immune function, and keeps you full between meals, which means you spend less on food overall.
Fat is your friend, not the enemy.
You need dietary fat to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K, support hormone production, and stay satisfied. It's also what makes eating low-carb sustainable long-term.
The best budget proteins to stock now:
Tinned sardines, tuna, salmon, mackerel, oysters, mussels, whole frozen chickens, chicken thighs, cheaper cuts of red meat (great in a slow cooker), whey protein powder, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt.
Healthy fats with long shelf lives:
Olive oil, coconut oil, ghee (no refrigeration needed), tinned coconut cream, and nut butters.
Bone broth costs nothing extra.
Save your chicken carcass and simmer it down â you'll get collagen, minerals, and a nourishing base for soups. Exactly what our grandparents did, and it's more relevant than ever.
Open your pantry and ask yourself: if food prices spiked this week, how many days of protein could you sustain? Then pick just one thing to add on your next shop â a couple of tins of sardines, a jar of peanut butter, a bag of protein powder. You don't need a bunker. Just one small step toward feeling prepared and in control.
LINKS:
âĄïžDownload by FREE E-book with a 5-day Low Carb Meal Plan and 5 delicious dinner recipes: CLICK HERE
âĄïžStart losing weight on Monday with my 4-week Foundations of Fat Loss Programme, designed for the specific fat-burning needs of over 35's: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžContinue your low carb journey with monthly Fat Loss Acceleration Protocols, resources, meal plans, delicious recipes, support and inspiration in Why Weight Academy: FIND OUT MORE
âĄïžCheck out all my recipes and resources on the Why Weight Academy Website HERE
Follow me on TikTok:Â sheryltakayama
Follow me on Facebook:Â Why Weight Academy
Follow me on Instagram:Â sheryl_whyweightacademy
And if you enjoy this show, please leave a quick rating & review - your support is so appreciated and will mean the world to me!
Â
From the publisher's feed