Episode 90

Your body thinks there's a tiger in the room, but it's just your overwhelming to-do list. That constant state of fight-or-flight is driving you toward burnout, even if you're still functioning on the outside.

Most midlife women don't recognise the subtle signs of burnout until they're completely exhausted. You wake feeling unrefreshed despite sleeping. Small irritations trigger disproportionate reactions. You catch every cold. Sugar, salt, and caffeine become necessary fuels. Your libido vanishes. Yet you dismiss these warning signals as "normal life" because everyone around you is experiencing the same struggle.

What's actually happening is fascinating: your adrenal glands, responding to constant perceived threats, eventually become depleted. Your thyroid tries to help by "putting the brakes on" to conserve energy—essentially forcing you to drive with your foot on the accelerator while the handbrake is engaged. This biological response depletes essential nutrients and disrupts your entire hormonal orchestra, creating symptoms easily confused with perimenopause.

The good news? Burnout is reversible with consistent small actions. Three deep breaths when you feel overwhelmed signals to your body that the "tiger" isn't actually present. Mineral-rich vegetable broths replenish depleted reserves. Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha help regulate stress responses. Even 30 seconds of cold water at the shower's end can reset your nervous system.

Remember, reaching burnout isn't a personal failing—it's your body doing its best to cope with demands it wasn't designed to handle. You don't have to make this journey alone. Connect with us in our Facebook group where we're sharing practical techniques like tapping to help you recover your energy and reclaim your wellbeing.

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 89. Wellness Washing: Products that pretend to be good for us

That "healthy" product you're buying might be anything but. Catherine and Julie pull back the curtain on the deceptive world of wellness washing – products claiming health benefits while potentially causing harm.

The conversation ignites when Julie shares her frustration over a Dettol laundry detergent advertisement targeting parents with fear-based marketing about germs on children's clothes. Despite everything we now understand about the importance of a healthy microbiome, these chemical-laden products promise to "kill all known germs" – introducing harmful substances to our skin while disrupting beneficial bacteria we actually need.

From cleaning products, the hosts dive into food marketing manipulation. "Protein" yoghurts command premium prices while often containing less actual protein than regular Greek yoghurt and hiding added sugars. Breakfast cereals like Special K position themselves as healthy foods, despite having minimal nutritional value. Plant-based alternatives and gluten-free products frequently compensate for missing ingredients with chemical additives, poor-quality oils, and excessive sugar.

Most concerning is the impact of these marketing tactics on children. The UK has reached a troubling milestone with more overweight children than healthy-weight children. Supermarkets strategically place unhealthy items at eye level, use bright packaging, and create "child-friendly" versions of junk food. Products like flavoured waters, which parents believe are healthier alternatives to soda, often contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and colouring.

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 88

Ever wondered if you could replace your wellness coach with ChatGPT or just follow along with YouTube videos? In this eye-opening episode, we tackle the provocative question: "Why should I use fitness, wellbeing, and nutritional professionals when I have AI and social media?"

Through candid conversation and revealing personal anecdotes, we explore the limitations of technology in the wellness space. We share stories of AI making potentially dangerous health recommendations—like misreading high iron levels as low and suggesting supplements that could damage the liver. The truth is, while technology offers convenient access to information, it lacks the human intuition, personalised approach, and emotional connection that make real transformation possible.

What happens when the real issue isn't what you think it is? As professionals, we often discover that clients come to us with one concern (like weight loss), only to uncover that the root cause lies elsewhere entirely. Technology can't connect these dots or read your body language, notice when you're dancing around the truth, or adapt recommendations based on your unique circumstances and emotional state.

The accountability factor also proves irreplaceable—that text message when you miss a class, the celebration of your wins, the adjustments to your plan when life throws curveballs. These human touchpoints create the foundation for lasting change that algorithms simply cannot replicate. While we embrace technology as a helpful tool (we both use AI for certain tasks!), we've seen firsthand why the wellness journey fundamentally requires human guidance.

Have you had any interesting—or disastrous—experiences with AI or YouTube wellness advice? Share your stories in our Far Too Fabulous Facebook group! We'd love to continue this conversation and hear your perspective on balancing technology with human expertise in your wellness journey.

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 87: How do I prioritise my health when everyone else needs me first?

Ever feel like your well-being is the last item on an endless to-do list? You're not alone. This candid conversation tackles the reality of being a busy woman trying to prioritize health in a world that expects you to do everything for everyone else first.

Julie and Catherine cut through the noise to address what's really happening when women put themselves last – it's not laziness or lack of willpower, but programming we've received since childhood. That "guilt button" that seems permanently installed when you become a mother? We talk about how to acknowledge it without letting it rule your decisions.

The hosts share their own experiences as busy professionals and parents who've learned to integrate well-being practices without adding stress. Their practical approach focuses on micro-habits that create massive returns – from five-minute movement sessions to simple nutrition swaps that don't require meal prep marathons. You'll discover why sleep might be your most powerful wellness tool and how small adjustments to your evening routine can transform your energy levels.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is the emphasis on breaking the all-or-nothing mentality. Instead of waiting for the perfect time to overhaul your entire lifestyle (which never comes), you'll learn how to identify your "one thing" – that single, small change that creates momentum toward better health without overwhelming your schedule.

Ready to shift from survival mode to sustainable well-being? Join the Far Too Fabulous community in discovering how tiny, consistent actions can create life-changing results. The journey to prioritizing yourself without guilt starts with one small step – which will you choose today?

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 86

Have you ever wondered what your body is really telling you about your health? Beyond the numbers on a scale or your clothing size, there are simple physical indicators that reveal far more about your longevity and quality of life.

This week, Julie and Catherine dive into seven DIY health assessments that provide valuable baseline information about your overall wellbeing. From the surprising importance of your waist-to-hip ratio (ideally under 0.8 for women) to the revealing chair stand test that predicts lower body strength, these simple checks require no special equipment and take just minutes to complete.

The hosts share their own experiences trying each assessment, including the eye-opening moment when Catherine discovered how challenging it is to balance on one leg with her eyes closed - a key predictor of fall risk as we age. They explain why upper body strength matters (can you do 10-20 proper push-ups?), how your breath-holding capacity relates to lung health, and the fascinating phenomenon of "screen apnea" - unconsciously holding your breath while focusing on digital devices.

What makes these assessments particularly valuable is their direct connection to maintaining independence and vitality as we age. As the hosts candidly discuss, the ability to get up from a chair, recover quickly after exertion, or maintain balance directly impacts quality of life in our later years. Yet these functional abilities respond quickly to consistent practice - use them or lose them!

Try these simple tests yourself, then join the conversation in our Facebook group where Julie and Catherine are sharing videos and continuing the discussion. These aren't measurements to judge yourself by, but valuable information to guide your wellness journey. Where will you focus your efforts first?

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 85: August Reruns

A Holistic Approach to Future-Proofing Your Well-being with Helen Lauer

What if your brain's remarkable ability to rewire itself could be harnessed to transform your health? In this captivating episode, we're joined by Helen Lauer, an occupational therapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation and a qualified shiatsu practitioner who bridges Western medicine with Eastern healing traditions.

Helen takes us on a fascinating journey through the inner workings of our brains, explaining how our 86 billion neurons and 150 trillion synapses are constantly remodelling themselves through neuroplasticity. With vivid analogies, such as navigating roadworks to find new routes, she helps us understand how the brain rebuilds pathways after injury and how we can apply these same principles to create beneficial habits in everyday life.

The conversation takes a surprising turn when Helen identifies stress—particularly what she calls the "appease" response—as "the biggest pandemic happening in this world." This overlooked stress reaction occurs when we consistently put others' needs before our own, swallow down our true feelings, or people-please to avoid conflict. Helen explains how this constant appeasing creates harmful physiological responses that damage our immune system and contribute to numerous health problems, from cardiovascular disease to cognitive decline.

Connection emerges as a powerful theme throughout our discussion. Helen outlines three crucial levels of connection for brain health: social connection through community and physical touch (with a recommendation for 20-second hugs!), internal connection through mindful awareness, and cellular connection between our neurons. Her practical tips for strengthening these connections offer actionable steps for anyone looking to build resilience and maintain cognitive function throughout life.

Whether you're interested in preventing cognitive decline, recovering from brain injury, or simply optimising your neurological health, this episode delivers valuable insights that blend cutting-edge neuroscience with ancient wisdom. Listen now to discover how understanding your brain's remarkable adaptability can help you create a healthier, more resilient future.

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 84

Have you ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, even though you don't consider yourself to have "a problem"? This eye-opening conversation with Sarah Williamson, life and sober coach, challenges everything we've normalised about drinking culture.

Sarah's story begins not with hitting rock bottom, but with simple curiosity. After 15 years coaching young people about substance misuse while never examining her own drinking habits, a particularly brutal hangover in 2017 sparked her journey. What makes this conversation so powerful is that Sarah was drinking well within societal norms – no binges, no neglected responsibilities – yet she still questioned whether alcohol was truly serving her.

The discussion reveals how deeply alcohol is woven into our emotional lives. We drink to celebrate achievements, soothe sorrows, and manage everyday stress. We use it to take the edge off brilliant moments and numb ourselves from difficult ones. This universal "solution" rarely gets questioned, and as Sarah puts it, "choosing not to drink is a massive act of rebellion."

Perhaps most profound is Sarah's revelation about self-worth. Initially justifying her sobriety through external benefits – better health, modelling for her children – she eventually recognised a deeper truth: "I love myself enough for this." This shift from external motivation to self-love represents the heart of transformative wellness.

For anyone curious about reducing alcohol or living alcohol-free, this episode offers practical strategies without judgment. From exploring sophisticated non-alcoholic alternatives to adopting an experimental mindset, Sarah's approach focuses on gains rather than deprivation. Whether you're questioning your own relationship with alcohol or simply interested in conscious wellbeing choices, this conversation will transform how you think about what's in your glass.

What might your life look like if you loved yourself enough to question even the most socially accepted habits? Listen now and join the conversation in our Facebook group.

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 83

Why do so many of us feel perpetually on edge, even when there's no immediate danger? The answer might lie in your vagus nerve - the master switch of your nervous system.

When craniosacral therapist Sarah Johnson joined us to discuss this remarkable nerve, we uncovered profound insights about how our bodies process stress and trauma. With over a decade of experience helping everyone from newborns to the elderly, Sarah explains how many of us are unwittingly stuck in "fight, flight, or freeze" mode, with our bodies braced for threats that aren't actually present.

The conversation takes us deep into the science of nervous system regulation, exploring how techniques like the "Voo Breath" can stimulate the vagus nerve and help shift us into a calmer, more regulated state. What's particularly fascinating is how our modern lifestyle - with its constant connectivity and pressure to perform - directly contradicts what our bodies need for optimal wellbeing.

One of the most powerful moments comes when Sarah shares a simple yet profound exercise: writing a list of ten soul-nourishing resources. "The harder it is to get to ten, the more important it is to do," she explains. This practice helps expand our "window of tolerance" - our capacity to navigate life's challenges without becoming overwhelmed.

We also explore how the pandemic has intensified our collective stress levels, disrupting our connection with others and making many of us more anxious than before. Sarah offers wisdom about the importance of human connection and the courage to ask for help - something that benefits not only ourselves but also sets a powerful example for future generations.

Try Sarah's techniques yourself and discover what happens when you give your nervous system the care it deserves. Your body might just thank you with the calm, clarity and resilience you've been seeking.

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.