Episode 75

What would you give up to be thin? A shocking survey reveals some people would sacrifice ten years of their life, accept blindness, or choose infertility over being overweight. This startling reality forms the backdrop of our deeply personal conversation about weight loss injections and society's toxic relationship with body image.

As health care professionals, we initially approached weight loss medications with skepticism, focusing on their concerning side effects. However, we've come to recognize something more troubling – the emotional desperation driving people to these solutions despite the risks. When feelings about weight override logical health concerns, we must ask ourselves what's really happening beneath the surface.

We share our own struggles too. Despite being fitter than ever (I just ran a marathon!), we're both carrying more weight due to perimenopause. Standing on different scales gives wildly different readings – on one set my metabolic age is 38, on another it's 55! Yet we're the same person, doing all the right things, battling the emotional baggage attached to arbitrary numbers.

Remember the client who transformed her body, dropped clothing sizes, and felt fantastic – without losing a single pound on the scale? This perfectly illustrates how our relationship with gravity doesn't reflect positive changes in body composition. What truly matters isn't weight but how we feel, move, and live in our bodies.

Most poignantly, we discuss looking back at photos from our youth, realizing we were much slimmer than we perceived at the time. Now our daughters are beginning this same cycle of negative self-perception far too young. How do we break this pattern?

Join our Facebook community to continue this important conversation about redefining our relationship with our bodies beyond the number on the scale.

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Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 74

Women Heal Women: Reclaiming Our Ancient Wisdom with Mandy Rees

What happens when a high-achieving corporate lawyer reaches breaking point and realises her true path lies in healing the very wounds she sustained in a male-dominated profession? Mandy Rees takes us on her remarkable journey from burnout to breakthrough.

After years of proving herself in the legal world, Mandy faced a crisis when postnatal depression hit following the birth of her first daughter. "I didn't tell anyone because lawyers don't get postnatal depression," she reveals. Returning to work when her baby was just three months old, she maintained the façade of the competent professional while crumbling inside – an experience countless women will recognise.

The story shifts dramatically when Mandy finally steps away from her legal career and begins to reconnect with her authentic self. Through running yoga classes for new mothers, she discovers something profound: women desperately need spaces to share their experiences without judgment. "I watched women support women in a way I'd never experienced before, and it was that that healed me," she shares.

This realisation forms the foundation of Mother for Life, Mandy's business dedicated to creating supportive circles for mothers. Her refreshingly simple yet deeply impactful approach provides spaces where women can talk, share, and realise they aren't alone. As she eloquently puts it, "Humans are not meant to human alone; we're meant to human together."

Perhaps most compelling is Mandy's perspective on reclaiming ancient feminine wisdom. "The world needs the wise women," she asserts, "and we have to own that space." By challenging the societal undervaluing of motherhood and reconnecting with our intuition, women can heal not just themselves but also our planet.

Ready to join a supportive circle of women or perhaps create one yourself? Connect with Mandy at motherforlife.co.uk and discover how women truly do heal women.

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

The Seven Layers of Protection: How Cancer Taught Me the Power of Saying No

Episode 73

What happens when your life suddenly transforms, forcing you to reassess who and what truly deserves your time and energy? For Sarah Sangster, a cancer diagnosis became the catalyst for a profound boundary reset that would eventually help countless others reclaim their lives.

Sarah joins us to share the deeply personal journey that led to her creating 'The Seven Layers of Boundaries' – a practical framework that transforms abstract boundary concepts into tangible, strategic actions. Drawing from both energetic principles and logical implementation, Sarah's approach gives people-pleasers and empaths a powerful system for protecting what matters most without the guilt that typically accompanies saying "no."

At the heart of Sarah's message is a revolutionary perspective: your boundaries aren't just about keeping others out – they're about creating space for you to live authentically. She explains how recognising the seven distinct layers of boundaries allows you to make intentional decisions about who gets access to different aspects of your life. This isn't about building walls; it's about establishing healthier relationships where everyone understands where they stand.

The conversation takes a particularly moving turn when Sarah shares how parenthood heightened her awareness of boundary violations. "You'll never get the time back with your children," she reminds us, revealing a profound story about choosing work over family time that ultimately transformed her approach to boundaries forever. For parents especially, this discussion offers invaluable insights into modelling healthy boundaries for children while protecting precious family moments.

Sarah also opens up about her "superpower" – dyslexic thinking – which enables her to break complex problems into manageable components and rebuild strategic solutions. This unique perspective informs her boundary framework, making it accessible and applicable across various life situations. Her closing thought captures the essence of boundary work perfectly: "You are not here to carry what does not belong to you." Listen in and discover how to create a life with greater peace, purpose, and authenticity by finally establishing boundaries that honour your worth.

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Sorry Not Sorry: Breaking Free From People Pleasing

Episode 72

Have you ever agreed to something you didn't want to do, simply to avoid disappointing someone else? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut might be trying to tell you something important.

In this revealing conversation with wellness expert Melanie Flower, we unpack the deeply ingrained habit of people pleasing that so many of us struggle with, particularly in British culture where politeness often trumps authenticity. As women, we're conditioned from childhood to be accommodating, pleasant, and constantly available – a cultural expectation that can lead to serious consequences for our wellbeing.

Melanie shares powerful insights on recognizing the subtle signs of people pleasing in our daily lives: the dread when certain names appear on our phones, the elaborate excuses we craft rather than simply saying no, and the physical symptoms that emerge when we consistently override our own needs. "If you don't listen to your body whisper, you'll hear it when it screams," she explains, highlighting how ignoring these signals eventually leads to burnout, illness, and resentment.

The episode offers practical, transformative language tools to help reclaim your boundaries without feeling rude or defensive. Learn why saying "I won't" instead of "I can't" closes the door to manipulation, how phrases like "If I were you, I'd feel exactly the same" can validate others while maintaining your position, and why sometimes "no" truly is a complete sentence. We explore the profound difference these small linguistic shifts can make, alongside practical boundaries like separate work phones and defined working hours.

Whether you're a lifelong people pleaser or simply looking to strengthen your boundary-setting muscles, this conversation offers compassionate strategies to honor your needs while maintaining relationships. Your relationship with yourself is the foundation for every other connection in your life – isn't it time to make it a priority?

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 71

The rise of weight loss injections has reached epidemic proportions, with people who aren't even clinically overweight seeking these "miracle solutions" for quick fat loss. What started as medications for type 2 diabetes has morphed into a mainstream approach to weight management—but at what cost?

Julie and Catherine dive deep into the concerning world of anti-obesity medications, exploring how these drugs actually work and the potentially dangerous side effects that aren't being openly discussed. They reveal how these medications essentially put users into "an anorexic state" by suppressing appetite and slowing digestion, potentially leading to malnutrition, muscle wastage, and serious inflammatory conditions like acute pancreatitis.

The conversation tackles the fundamental problem with this pharmaceutical approach: it completely fails to address the root causes of weight gain. Whether psychological factors, emotional eating, or our broken food environment, these issues remain untouched while the body experiences significant hormonal manipulation. Much like Weight Watchers (which recently went bust in America), these solutions offer temporary results without sustainable change.

For those currently taking these medications, the hosts offer practical advice on maximizing nutrition with limited appetite, the importance of protein supplementation, and why strength training becomes even more crucial. They emphasize that while these tools can be appropriate for certain individuals with clinical needs, the casual approach to prescribing them to anyone seeking weight loss is deeply troubling.

This thought-provoking episode challenges listeners to consider what true health looks like beyond numbers on a scale. Are we trading our vitality, strength, and long-term wellbeing for a quick fix? Join the conversation in the Far Too Fabulous Facebook group and share your experiences with these medications.

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 70: The Joy of Being Far Too Fabulous

What can our bodies truly accomplish when we push beyond societal expectations? In this energising episode, Catherine and Julie celebrate their recent physical achievements while challenging the narrative about what women "of a certain age" should attempt.

Julie shares her triumphant story of winning gold at a level four adult gymnastics competition—despite competing with injured ankles and limited practice time beforehand. Her journey, which began at age 41, showcases how adult gymnastics provides extraordinary benefits for balance, strength, and mental wellness. "I'm not anything special," Julie emphasises, dispelling the myth that only certain people can achieve impressive physical feats. "I am literally the same as you, but I just chose to work on that."

Meanwhile, Catherine recounts her experience completing the London Marathon among a record-breaking 65,000 finishers. Despite scorching temperatures and crowded conditions, she describes the event as "like a carnival for 26.2 miles" with an atmosphere that fueled her determination. Catherine reveals how her approach of running for four minutes and walking for one helped her enjoy the experience far more than her previous marathon, proving that strategic adjustments can transform challenges into triumphs.

Both women discuss how these achievements have reinforced their resilience, with Catherine's mantra "I can do hard things" carrying her through difficult moments. The conversation takes an exciting turn as she hints at future adventures, potentially including a trek across the Sahara Desert, demonstrating that the appetite for challenge doesn't diminish with age.

Whether you're contemplating your first Couch to 5K or dreaming of more ambitious goals, this episode will inspire you to reconsider what's possible for your own body and mind. Share your own "far too fabulous" achievements with us in our Facebook group—we can't wait to celebrate alongside you!

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 69

We explore a powerful framework for creating sustainable lifestyle changes by focusing on four simple actions: starting something new, stopping an unhelpful habit, doing more of what serves you, and doing less of what doesn't.

• Breaking the all-or-nothing approach to wellness using this four-part framework
• How the "start, stop, more, less" method can transform sleep habits and energy levels
• Why turning off notifications and setting boundaries with technology improves wellbeing
• The concept of "weight release" versus "weight loss" and why language matters
• Four simple changes that support healthy weight management
• Using this framework to reduce anxiety through meditation, nature, and reducing triggers
• Practical techniques for interrupting catastrophic thinking patterns
• How making these small changes can create powerful ripple effects in your life

Come join us in the Far Too Fabulous Facebook group and share what you're starting, stopping, doing more of, and doing less of to reach your goals.

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 68

We explore comprehensive hormone testing with Jo Majithia, Head of Clinical Education at Regenerus Labs, examining how the Dutch Test provides detailed insights beyond standard blood tests for women navigating perimenopause and hormone-related symptoms.

• The Dutch Test measures dried urine samples to analyse hormone metabolism, showing not just levels but how effectively the body processes hormones
• Conventional approaches often default to HRT without considering diet, lifestyle, stress management, and nutrient deficiencies
• Different forms of hormone therapy (transdermal estrogen, oral progesterone, synthetic progestins) work differently in the body and affect symptoms in unique ways
• The Mirena coil provides localised progestin effects but doesn't offer the systemic benefits of oral progesterone that many women need for mood and sleep
• Low testosterone in women can cause weakness, reduced energy, and poor sleep, which is often overlooked in conventional hormone assessment
• Testing provides empowering information to help women make informed decisions about their hormone health journey
• Comprehensive hormone analysis examines cortisol patterns, melatonin production, and nutritional markers alongside sex hormones

If you want to find out more about the Dutch Test, visit Regenerous Labs' website, which has a practitioner directory to help you find qualified support.

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.