
Show Notes
Have you ever felt like how you’re feeling affects your weight loss efforts? That’s because it does. Stress, mental health and mood can all impact our weight in different ways, and it’s important to remember it’s normal and you’re not alone. This week, our host Helen Thorn and resident co-host Dr Sam will be joined by Dr Neera Dholakia, the lead mental health specialist at Boots Online Doctor. Together, they’ll explore how stress affects us and impacts our weight, as well as how food affects our gut and what it does to the brain. Plus, they’ll share tips and advice for managing short and long-term stress, and what we can do to support ourselves on the weight loss journey. Because it’s not just about the physical. Dr Sam is Lead GP for Lifestyle Medicine at Boots Online Doctor, as well as a coach and mentor, author, and nutritional and yoga therapist. Dr Neera is Lead GP for Depression & Anxiety at Boots Online Doctor, as well as a safeguarding expert. Dr Neera is also clinical governance trustee for mental health and addiction charity We Are With You. Free resources from Boots Online Doctor: Weekly live webinars on weight loss from our friendly, expert team https://tinyurl.com/WL-webinars Online 10-week weight loss programme https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/10-week-weight-loss-programme/ Food and mood diary: https://tinyurl.com/food-mood-diary Mediterranean diet information: https://tinyurl.com/med-diet-info Core meal plan: https://tinyurl.com/core-meal-plan Progressive muscle relaxation hand out here from the NHS: https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Progressive-muscle-relaxation.pdf The Holistic Anxiety Handbook by Dr Samantha Wellappili: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holistic-Anxiety-Handbook-Step-Step/dp/173933504X Your Better Mental Wellbeing podcast: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/podcasts/your-better-mental-wellbeing/ Credits: Host: Helen Thorn Co-host: Ruth Taylor Special guest: Dr Neera Dholakia Boots Online Doctor Producer: Leah Sienna Williams Producer: Oli Seymour Executive Producer: Izzie Clarke Music composed by: Leah Sienna Williams
Timecodes: 00:00 Welcome to Weight Loss 360° 00:19 Meet the experts 00:46 Intro to today’s topic 01:56 Helen’s experience with mental health and food 04:07 The gut-brain connection 07:23 A word on inflammation 10:52 What happens when we’re stressed 13:51 The link between mental health and obesity 16:33 Using a food and mood diary 20:40 The importance of relaxation 23:45 How to manage negative thoughts 26:33 How to break the cycle of stress in food and weight management 29:22 Top tips for success See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Weight Loss 360° with Boots Online Doctor
We’ve most likely all heard of GLP-1s, but what exactly are these ‘weight loss injections’? For our final Weight Loss 360° podcast episode of the series, Dr Anju Verma speaks to Helen to demystify these treatments and give us the facts. She tells us what GLP-1s are, how they work in the body, who they are suitable for, and what side effects are commonly experienced. Dr Anju Verma is Clinical Lead for Weight Loss and Menopause Advisor at Boots Online Doctor. She is SCOPE certified (international gold standard for obesity management) and a member of the Association for the Study of Obesity. Free resources from Boots Online Doctor: Weekly live webinars on weight loss from our friendly, expert team https://tinyurl.com/WL-webinars Online 10-week weight loss programme https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/10-week-weight-loss-programme/ Host: Helen Thorn Co-host: Dr Sam Wellappili In-house nutritionist: Ruth Taylor Special Guest: Dr Anju Verma Boots Online Doctor Producer: Leah Sienna Williams Music composed by: Leah Sienna Williams See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr Sam and Helen delve into what it might mean to take a break from your weight loss journey. They reveal the advantages of allowing yourself to relax a little, enjoy celebrations and festivities, and take stock of the changes you’ve been making. Whether for a special weekend, a family occasion or even a holiday, they advise on how you can plan for a break and approach it mindfully, get the most out of it, and – most importantly – feel secure in getting back on track and returning to your new lifestyle habits at the end of it. Dr Sam is Lead GP for Lifestyle Medicine at Boots Online Doctor, as well as a coach and mentor, author, and nutritional and yoga therapist. Free resources from Boots Online Doctor: Weekly live webinars on weight loss from our friendly, expert team https://tinyurl.com/WL-webinars Online 10-week weight loss programme https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/10-week-weight-loss-programme/ Credits: Host: Helen Thorn Co-host: Dr Sam Wellappili In-house nutritionist: Ruth Taylor Boots Online Doctor Producer: Leah Sienna Williams Producer: Oli Seymour Executive Producer: Izzie Clarke Music composed by: Leah Sienna Williams Boots Online Doctor offers access to confidential, expert advice and prescription treatment, all without the need for an appointment or trip to the doctor. Access to treatment is subject to an online questionnaire reviewed by a clinician to assess suitability. Subject to availability. Charges apply. The Boots Online Doctor Service is provided by Boots Digital Health, company number 12561320, with registered address 1 Thane Road West, Nottingham, England, NG2 3AA. Boots Digital Health is registered with the Care Quality Commission with Provider ID 1-10153778719. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Self-sabotage, getting in your own way, excuses. We all do it, and it’s often part and parcel of a long-term weight loss journey. That’s why we’re bringing you this episode, to help you identify the obstacles you might be facing and ways to manage them. And to remind you that it’s not just you – most people will experience hiccups along the way. In this final episode, host Helen Thorn will be joined by our original co-hosts: Boots Online Doctor’s Dr Sam and nutritionist Ruth. Together, they’ll discuss common obstacles people experience, and how to overcome them. They’ll also explore how things like blood sugar balance and pathways in the brain can hinder and help our efforts to stay on track. Finally, they’ll talk about weight loss plateaus: what they are, how they happen and what to do about them. Dr Sam is Lead GP for Lifestyle Medicine at Boots Online Doctor, as well as a coach and mentor, author, and nutritional and yoga therapist. Ruth Taylor is a BANT nutritionist and registered nurse, who works alongside Sam on the Boots Online Doctor weight loss team. Free resources from Boots Online Doctor: Weekly live webinars on weight loss from our friendly, expert team https://tinyurl.com/WL-webinars Online 10-week weight loss programme https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/10-week-weight-loss-programme/ Food and mood diary https://tinyurl.com/food-mood-diary Credits: Host: Helen Thorn Co-host: Dr Sam Wellappili In-house nutritionist: Ruth Taylor Boots Online Doctor Producer: Leah Sienna Williams Producer: Oli Seymour Executive Producer: Izzie Clarke Music composed by: Leah Sienna Williams Timecodes: 00:00 Welcome to Weight Loss 360° 00:30 Meet the experts 01:04 Intro to today’s topic 01:50 Common obstacles 04:49 Being aware of your blood sugar balance 06:38 Remembering your ‘why’ 07:30 Weight loss plateaus 09:01 Focusing on different markers of success 10:48 How self-sabotage happens 14:38 How to reduce cravings and snacking 18:42 Top tips for success See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There’s a lot of attention on what we eat during a weight loss journey, but less talked about is the role alcohol can play. In this week’s bonus short, Dr David Gwynne joins Helen once more to discuss the variety of ways drinking can impact our weight loss efforts. Dr David takes us through what alcohol is, the way it works in the body, and the influence it can have on our decision-making and healthy lifestyle choices. Helen and David also discuss the joys of waking up without a hangover, and how socialising can still be fun without the booze. Dr David Gwynne is a GP and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Boots Online Doctor. Free resources from Boots Online Doctor: Weekly live webinars on weight loss from our friendly, expert team https://tinyurl.com/WL-webinars Online 10-week weight loss programme https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/10-week-weight-loss-programme/ Credits: Host: Helen Thorn Co-host: Dr Sam Wellappili In-house nutritionist: Ruth Taylor Special guest: Dr David Gwynne Boots Online Doctor Producer: Leah Sienna Williams Music composed by: Leah Sienna Williams See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Water, fizzy drinks, wine, juice. When it comes to drinks, there’s so much choice out there and it can be overwhelming. That’s why we wanted to dedicate a whole episode to hydration and why it’s a more important factor in our weight loss journey than we might think. This week, our host Helen will sit down with Dr Sam as always and Dr David Gwynne from Boots Online Doctor to talk all things hydration. They’ll deep dive into how staying hydrated helps with weight loss, and what to consider when drinking (spoiler alert: not all drinks are created equal). Plus, get tips and advice on increasing your water intake. Dr Sam is Lead GP for Lifestyle Medicine at Boots Online Doctor, as well as a coach and mentor, author, and nutritional and yoga therapist. Dr David is a GP and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Boots Online Doctor. Free resources from Boots Online Doctor: Weekly live webinars on weight loss from our friendly, expert team https://tinyurl.com/WL-webinars Online 10-week weight loss programme https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/10-week-weight-loss-programme/ Food and mood diary: https://tinyurl.com/food-mood-diary Credits: Host: Helen Thorn Co-host: Dr Sam Wellappili Special guest: Dr David Gwynne Boots Online Doctor Producer: Leah Sienna Williams Producer: Oli Seymour Executive Producer: Izzie Clarke Music composed by: Leah Sienna Williams Timecodes: 00:00 Welcome to Weight Loss 360° 00:14 Meet the experts 01:08 Intro to today’s topic 01:47 What to consider when hydrating our bodies 02:26 The problem with diet drinks 04:14 How does hydration help with weight loss? 06:03 How to increase your water intake 07:17 Let’s talk about tea and coffee 10:01 Helen’s journey with hydration 12:11 Helen’s tips for staying hydrated 13:30 How to stay on track when you’re socialising 15:57 Understanding drink labels 17:06 A word about alcohol 18:17 Top tips for success See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.