Blog posts

About a year ago, I made a seemingly tiny change to my eating habits. I started eating dinner at the table. Not exactly groundbreaking, I know. But it has made a surprisingly big difference, not only to how I eat, but to my evenings more generally. When dinner meant the day was over For a long time, my husband and I ate dinner on the sofa, in front of the TV. And honestly, I loved it. It was comforting. I’d finish work, get into my pyjamas, settle down with my food and let th

The eagle-eyed amongst you might have spotted that last week I collaborated on an Instagram post with a company that provides weight loss medication (i.e. “GLP-1s” or “weight loss jabs”). I really ummed and ahhed about whether to do it at all. If you've followed me for a while, you'll know that I spend a lot of time writing about why diets don't work, why I don't think willpower is the answer, and why I believe we need a much kinder approach to food, movement and body size. S

Working in the space of health behaviour change, I get a lot of questions about my views on weight loss medication (GLP-1s, or “weight loss jabs”). Often this conversation can feel quite polarised. I think this is because we struggle to hold two things at once: these medications can genuinely help people, and there are still important questions we need to ask. GLP-1s are genuinely transformative for many people There’s no denying that these medications can have a positive ef

When life gets busy, maybe the goal isn't to hold on tighter - but not to let go completely?

I wish that the title here simply referred to how damn amazing I look in a crop top and shorts 💁🏻‍♀️ but realistically the truth is: I’m a face sweater, and I often feel very self-conscious about it. Red-faced and sweaty 🥵 A bit of heat or exertion, and my face is bright red, with sweat quickly encroaching from my hairline, down my face. My face is shiny (and not in the desirable dewy way 😅), my make up is melting off, my fringe is going mad. My body is somehow fine - I r

Listening to my body and eating intuitively has served me well - but what does that look like when there are things you *can't* eat?

Something doesn’t need to be completely destroying our lives, in order for us to want to change it.

I’ve been a little overwhelmed lately (mostly just life and health admin 🫠) and it’s made me think a lot about how easy it is to dismiss small things as “not enough”. When your best still doesn’t feel “good enough” I’ve increased my movement massively over the last year, and overall I feel really good about that. But sometimes when I think about all the other things I could be doing (more strength training, more cardio, less sitting down) suddenly it feels like none of it co

Snacking isn't about willpower - it's normally a message we should listen to.

Life can get in the way - but intuitive planning can help.

I just got back from a lovely holiday, which got me thinking about something I’ve been struggling with: accepting my pale skin. I love having a tan. I feel like it suits me. I feel like I look healthier, less tired, and I need less make-up. Unfortunately, my body mostly disagrees. I do tan, but it takes a long, long time - and often results in at least a bit of burning. While I struggle to accept it, realistically I'm more pale English rose than olive-skinned beauty. And yet,

I’ve been reflecting a lot this past week on what we lose when we prioritise weight loss, and on the complicated trade-offs that can come with tools like GLP-1 medications. “As long as the weight comes off, I’ll put up with anything” This was triggered by a piece of work I’m doing for a consulting client, looking into the scientific research on people’s experiences with GLP-1s (like Ozempic and Mounjaro). It wasn’t easy reading. What struck me most was the extent to whi

When doctors can’t explain your symptoms, something subtle but powerful can happen: you start to doubt your own body. This bodily mistrust can show up in so many areas of our health. I’ve been thinking about this a lot since recording a recent episode of the thefifty1percent podcast , where I spoke about behaviour change and about living with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder. Listening back, one thing I said really stuck with me: “My main symptom was fatigue - and I we

This feels like a vulnerable post to write.

What can this tell us about how to use our phones less?

If this winter has knocked the wind out of your exercise plans, please go easy on yourself.

When it comes to January changes, I quit formal "resolutions" a long time ago. I found myself not sticking to them, then feeling guilty and inadequate. I do still take some time to reflect on the previous year, and think about what I might want less or more of. This year, I did this on a long New Year's Day walk with my husband, on a very chilly Walthamstow Wetlands. I realised that when it comes to my health, I feel like I'm already "in progress" and on a good track. I wa

It’s that time of year: your calendar is suddenly overflowing, and every event seems to involve booze, a three-course meal, or a steady drip-feed of chocolate. Maybe you’ve already developed a mince pie and Baileys habit (or is that just me…?) With all this going on, it’s easy to feel out of control around food. Exercise plans disappear because you’re tired, busy, or hungover. Many of my coaching clients are struggling with this right now - and so am I. It’s tempting to say “

How habits can make behaviour change easier - even when motivation is low.

My physio did everything right, and more. So why am I once again struggling to do the exercises regularly? Instead of giving up, I decided to coach myself through it.