Stay healthy and mentally strong with a corona victory goal map

STRESS and anxiety can play havoc with our health and wellness.   I know my Slimpod programme – and specifically the Chillpod – is really helping people at the moment.  But I’m always keen to go that extra mile to help people.

So I asked my friend, the creator of the excellent Goalmapping system Brian Mayne, to join me on a video call to help our community get through this challenging time.

We met up last night via the regular Slimpod Club Live chat, and everyone loved the wisdom and inspiration Brian shared.

Brian has spoken about goalmapping in 30 different countries so he’s definitely a world leader in his field.

Here’s some of the comments from our lovely Slimpodders who were watching the chat:

“This is amazing.  Thank you so much Brian and to you too Sandra for arranging this evening. I’ve not done a goal map online before and I can see how much it will help  in so many ways. ”

“Thank you so much, I feel better already!” 

“This is fab.  It makes so much sense.  Doing mine now.  I can totally see how this will help me”

“Brilliant live chat last night – I’ve woken up with a totally different mindset. “

“Wow! What an amazing live session – I’m completely buzzing!”

If you’re not in our private group you can click on the picture below to watch the video on my YouTube Slimpod Channel.

Please do share this with everyone you think will benefit – I’d be so delighted if Slimpod could help as many people as possible to get through this difficult time in a calm way and with mental strength and wellness.

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Slimpod helps first sugar-free hospital to win coveted NHS award

THE annual NHS Sustainability Awards are highly prized and that’s why I’m delighted and proud that one hospital I’ve been working with for the past three years has been awarded first place in the food category and was shortlisted for a second recognising staff engagement.

The judges said Tameside Hospital’s innovative approach to meals and menus and its pioneering work with me and the Slimpod programme, to identify and create ways to help overweight and overworked medical staff, was truly outstanding and was a model to be shared with the wider NHS.

My work is my passion, and to be included and recognised in the national NHS Sustainability Awards this way for the contribution Slimpod has made reaffirms my belief that changing the way people behave towards food is the best way to create healthy eating habits.

The awards reward and showcase the best hospitals in the country who are working to reduce their carbon footprint and make the environment for their staff, patients and visitors more healthy and sustainable.

Working with the Tameside Chief Executive, Karen James, who I find has a pioneering approach to all things, we persuaded the catering team at the Manchester hospital to go sugar free – the first in the NHS to do so.

For well over a year sugar has been ditched from all meals and the only drinks on sale in the staff and public restaurant are tea, coffee, milk, water and sugar free soft drinks and juices.

More recently, all plastic cutlery and packaging has been removed and replaced with wooden and cardboard alternatives. And the vending machines now stock healthier options.

Pioneering CEO Karen James

I couldn’t be more pleased; I’ve always said that to deliver high quality patient care the NHS needs staff who are healthy, well and at work. That’s more true than ever in today’s climate, where NHS workers are playing such a vital and demanding role in protecting the health of the nation.

Even in normal times, many report the demands of the job – long hours and snatched meals – have resulted in an unhealthy lifestyle and weight gain.

There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that looking after the health and welfare of colleagues directly contributes to the delivery of quality patient care.

That’s why doctors, nurses and healthcare workers at Tameside Hospital are taking part in a unique, ongoing project which is seeing great results.

Me on the right with some lovely Tamesiders

The 140 volunteers signed up for Slimpod hoping to show that improvements to their own health and weight will also demonstrate a knock-on benefit for their patients.

The Tameside team include consultants, midwives, community nurses and medical support secretaries. I personally oversee the programme, and my team log the results, which we are beginning to share with other healthcare professionals and the Department of Health.

Two studies have now been held with staff at Tameside hospital, with great results.

Significantly, 97 per cent of staff reported they lost interest in snacking and as a result ate healthier food and lost weight.  Because Slimpod retrains the brain, the weight loss for many has been permanent.

Nurses from Tameside who took part in the second study featured on Channel 4’s How to Lose Weight Well. They were asked to report weight loss; sleep patterns and general improvements in their health and wellbeing in a weekly journal and through on-line group chats.

I’m proud of what everyone at Tameside has achieved and delighted to have been able to play such a major part in the hospital’s exciting new healthy eating regime.

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Don’t let the stress of the virus drive you towards comfort eating

THE last 10 days have been unsettling, uncertain and worrying for most of us. COVID-19 is creating a unique situation and it is forcing so many people into new routines and different lifestyles. A lot of people are working from home. Most of us are living in a different way than usual.

We’re getting a lot of medical advice from top medics and scientists so I’ll leave that up to them.  But we all have a role to play right now and mine is to help my community to keep as calm as possible and in control of your eating.

I know there’s a LOT of people who will have emotional eating issues and the stress of this situation we find ourselves in won’t be helping.

In times of uncertainty the feeling of fear is a very real problem.  Stress hormones run rampant and hijack the brain, which means we can’t think rationally or clearly.  And uncertainty is one of the brain’s biggest enemies!

At Slimpod HQ we want to do everything we can to help you through this difficult time.  Each and every one of you is important to us.  I’ll be sending regular videos and help on how to deal with emotional eating and to help keep you positive!

However, If you are feeling anxious or fearful I would  strongly suggest you listen to the Chillpod that’s included in your programme, twice a day.

This is no ordinary relaxation download.  The Chillpod specifically helps with anxiety and fear and really calms things down meaning the stress hormones don’t run rampant and take over your brain and your life.

It will help you keep the faith and banish the fears.

Here’s some comments from people in Slimpod Club who rave about it:  

From Swazi:  I’ve been listening to this every day during the most stressful time of my life – it’s been invaluable.

From Lynn: I have spent most of my life being a worrier, often hiding it behind humour but it has always been there, lurking in the background. Chillpod has been life changing for me! I have listened to it after Slimpod since day 1 & can honestly say, even with bad news arriving on almost a daily basis I am still calm & rational & find myself saying “Never mind, it will pass” to almost everything! X

From Carol: My daughter has had the most awful stressful time over the last 3 months she says the Chillpod has been the one thing that has truly helped x

From Catherine: I listen to the Chillpod every night, it’s been a life saver!!

So please, use this great tool – I know it will help you!

One of the things I’m constantly grateful for is the wonderful people we attract on to our programme, and so many are in our Slimpod Community on Facebook.

This lovely community of over 4,000 people constantly amazes me with the support and kindness they show to other like-minded people in the group.  Now more than ever the community is pulling together to encourage, inspire and support each other to get through this uncertain time.

Last night many of those lovely people joined me as I hosted my regular weekly live chat which was packed full of strategies to help you be calmer and keep a positive mental attitude right now.

We’re also starting some challenges to help keep us focussed on our goals, because we will get through this!  So if you’re a member of the group but missed the ‘live’ – please search #Sandraislive6 and you’ll find it.

 If you’re not yet a member of Slimpod Club, there’s no better time to join. You can watch the video if you search for the hashtag above. 

The community, including Debbie and myself, is there to support and encourage each other and we’ll support you too.  If you’re not on Facebook, you can easily join simply to be part of this group.  If you’re not sure how to do this, simply email us and we’ll help.

Early next week I’ll be sending a video which will help you with emotional eating, maintaining a positive mental state and staying in control of food.  Look out for it – I know it will help!

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Mary proves that if you want something enough you can get it!

ONE thing that I know is true about life: If you believe you can do something, then you can! A positive mindset is the key to achieving, whether it’s losing weight or running a marathon. So when I had a video chat with a lovely lady called Mary this week I just knew I had to share our 15 minutes or so with everyone. She is so inspiring!

Because Mary, who is a very young 70, is living proof that if you want something enough, you can get it (within reason of course!).

Her age and the illness chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as M.E.) didn’t stand in her way of reaching her goal of being fit enough to dance, dance, dance.

She believed she could do it and she took action.

Here’s the video which will give you a big lift (while you’re over on my Slimpod Channel on YouTube, why not subscribe so you get priority alerts every time I post a new video. Hit the Like and Share buttons too, to inspire others):

I talked with Mary because she sent me a wonderful email. Mary, who lives in the north of Scotland, said that this time last year she wanted to lose about 9lbs to get back to around the 10 stone mark – “where I know my weight feels right.”

She wrote:  “I was pretty thin all my life and never needed to think about my weight until I developed M.E. for the fourth time in my early fifties. It took nine years to clear this time and at the end of it I found I was 11 stone 2!

“I managed to shed the extra stone but then the weight crept back up to 10 stone 9lbs and I felt uncomfortable. I dance anything from three to five or six times a week – various styles, ballroom, Latin, jive, Appalachian Step and tap, and knew I needed to be lighter on my feet!

“At 70 I now have osteoarthritis in several joints, noticeably in the left hip and knee, so being lighter was a good plan. Those last 9lbs, and the heavier  feelings that came with them just had to go, but how?

“I read about Slimpod and figured it was certainly worth a try. I do have a weakness for puddings and cakes and usually have some sort of control but those early sessions with Slimpod really helped me to get back to more sensible eating.

“I have to admit that I have never stuck rigidly to your programme, nor joined Facebook or even taken a turn through the worksheets, but even so the support from the pods and regular videos made the difference.

“I made it to my target and have maintained it more or less ever since. I allow myself to play with 2 or 3 pounds but always make it back to the base line!

“I took up tap dancing aged 69 and now have a bronze and a silver medal! Proves that we can do things we want to if we try (don’t know how the gold exam will go!!!).

“My arthritis is controlled with meds. I loved the attitude of the consultant when I expected to be told to cut out impact dancing (I also do Appalachian step dance as well as more regular dance styles) that “we’re here to keep you doing the things you want to do, not stop you.”

That’s such an important message for all of us. Life is for living (although it can seem tough some days) so we must set our goal, step over the obstacles and go for it!

Please let me Mary and I know how much you were inspired by her story by leaving a comment below. We’ll read them all!

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Jenni Murray and the stigma of obesity – her frank, inspiring story

Jenni and I at Westminster

 

AS part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity I’m really pushing for people’s psychological relationship with food to be far higher up the NHS agenda. Too many health professionals fail to understand the role emotional eating plays in so many lives.

So it was fascinating to meet the journalist and broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray at our APPG meeting in Westminster on Monday. The Woman’s Hour presenter is very open about her own struggles with weight and I found my chat with her to be both refreshing and inspiring.

Her relationship with food is massively emotional, she told me. We had a long conversation about this element because it’s something the medical profession really don’t do enough to address as you’ll see later in the blog.

Jenni lost five stone on a diet a few years ago, but within a short time put it all back on again and went back to 19 stone.

Eventually she was driven to have bariatric surgery. Jenni admits frankly that she had no off switch before she had surgery a few year. Now she has definitely reduced the quantity she eats but admits it’s still not perfect.

She said she really noticed her emotional eating when the kids left home and she was using food for friendship and comfort because she was lonely. This is a sad story I hear so often.

Jenni has a new book coming out in April called Fat Cow, Fat Chance (a blunt title which perfectly reflects her outspoken, no-nonsense Yorkshire upbringing).

Jenni addresses the APPG

It investigates the science, social history and psychology of women and weight – and as you can guess, I’ve already ordered my copy.

In the book she says that at 64, her weight had become a disability. She avoided the scales, she wore a uniform of baggy black clothes, refused to make connections between her weight and health issues and told herself that she was fat and happy.

She was certainly fat. But the happy part was an Oscar-winning performance. In private she lived with a growing sense of fear and misery that it would probably kill her before she made it to 70.

The book addresses “what it’s like to be fat when society dictates that skinny is the way to be” and she questions the assumption to many people make that going on a diet is the answer.

When she was at the APPG meeting with us, her last words were “Don’t fear food, fear too much food.” Wise words and something that the Slimpod most definitely helps with.

Does Jenni’s experience resonate with you? Please let me know by leaving a comment below. I read them all and I know that others find your comments both comforting and inspiring.

Survey results on obesity and stigma

Recently I asked everyone in Slimpod Club if they’d help with a survey in the stigma of obesity that the APPG was promoting.

I’m passing on the group’s grateful thanks to all the Slimpodders who responded to the survey. Your input was invaluable and will undoubtedly help shape future government policy.

Here’s the survey results, which have just been released.

It’s clear that stigma impacts people in school, work, leisure, with friends, with family, in personal relationships and in day to day activities.

96% of people with obesity thought there is not enough understanding amongst the public as to the causes of obesity.

90% of people with obesity said more understanding of obesity would make them more comfortable seeking care.

85% of people with obesity thought the public views people with obesity negatively or very negatively.

79% of people with obesity said stigma affects their mental health.

71% of people with obesity felt stigmatised when seeking health advice or support.

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