Sometimes I just hate that scale I said I’d be very honest about this journey, so here it is: so far, it’s not going that well. And I suspect this will feel very familiar to many women dealing with peri-menopause, insulin resistance, PCOS and ongoing stress. What's been going on Over the last few weeks I’ve cut out alcohol and refined sugar completely (sweets, cakes, biscuits, ice cream etc). I’m sleeping better than usual, keeping calories around 1800 per day, and eating more protein than I...

Picture from a trip to Spain about 6 years go. I was pleasantly surprised how few pictures I could find of myself with a drink in my hand. As I continue sharing my 2026 weight-loss journey, I want to begin with something manageable. I’m not a heavy drinker, so significantly reducing alcohol is, for me, a relatively easy win — a way of starting small while still making a meaningful change. Even moderate alcohol intake can have a bigger impact on weight loss than many people realise,...

My 2026 journey (and why I’m sharing it) Weight has been a challenge for me for as long as I can remember. I’m currently 49¾ and very much in the peri-menopausal phase of life. I also live with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and insulin resistance, both of which can make weight management more complex. My work is fairly active – I teach tai chi and qigong, and I’m on my feet most of the day in clinic. I enjoy walking and going to the gym, although fitting everything in can be tricky during...