Rachel Williams, a 41-year-old mother of two from Henbury, Cheshire, has shed seven stone after adopting a mindful approach to eating and exercise. Weighing 16st 5lbs in July 2019, she now tips the scales at 9st 5lbs and credits her success to 'counting chemicals, not calories'.
Williams battled her weight since the age of eight, trying numerous diets including Weight Watchers, Slimming World, the Dukan Diet, and the Cabbage Soup Diet. Despite initial success with Slimming World, she would regain the weight after stopping the plan. A turning point came when she saw a holiday photo with her son Solomon and realised she was avoiding being photographed, depriving her children of memories.
For her 40th birthday, Williams asked for help to get fit and healthy. She hired a personal trainer and began exercising at 6am, initially struggling to find sportswear that fit. However, even with a strict exercise and nutrition plan, she did not lose weight. A naturopath diagnosed parasites in her gut and advised eliminating sugar, but still the weight did not shift.
Williams then focused on changing her mindset, addressing negative self-talk and becoming more mindful. She stopped counting calories and instead concentrated on the quality of food, avoiding processed ingredients. This shift, she says, finally enabled her to lose weight and keep it off.
Now a health and lifestyle coach, Williams is determined to help others achieve similar results. She emphasises the importance of mental attitude alongside dietary changes, encouraging people to 'think themselves' to a healthier lifestyle.
