Keeping It Off (KIO): The Emotional Journey After Weight Loss with Mel Harris

In this episode, Wendy is joined by Mel Harris, the UK’s original Weight Management Mentor and founder of the KIO Method. Twenty-one years ago, Mel lost 90 kilos and has kept it off, which is unusual - 76% of bariatric surgery patients gradually regain their lost weight. Together, Wendy and Mel unpack the complicated emotional, physical, and mental realities of life after major weight loss. They cover the stigma of obesity, the ups and downs of surgery and medication, the everyday battles with body image and identity and the dangers of the way weight loss drugs are being made available in the UK. KEY TAKEAWAYS Losing excess weight is just the start of your journey towards getting and staying healthy. Emotional eating, body image struggles, and old habits often persist even after dramatic weight loss. Tools like self-awareness, honest dialogue, and ongoing support are essential. People who lose weight quickly have to think far more about food than they did before. Your body needs the right foods, at the right times for you to become healthy. In some cases, you will also need to rebuild muscle and replenish lost nutrients. Everyone reacts differently to surgeries and medications. What works for some may not for others, and side effects can vary. BEST MOMENTS “Losing weight is pretty much just the beginning of your story, the beginning of your journey.” “Too many people are buying them (weight loss jabs), and getting nothing but needles full of insulin.” “There have been too many instances of death from people that have had surgery in… other places.” “It (obesity) is a very complex disease, and a lot of that has to do with our own self-esteem, our mindset, how we feel about ourselves...” ABOUT THE GUEST Mel Harris is the founder of the KIO Method. After undergoing bariatric surgery in 2004, Mel lost just under 15 stone and has spent over 21 years maintaining her weight loss through personal setbacks, a second surgery, and significant psychological hurdles. With firsthand insight into the challenges of long-term weight maintenance—experienced by up to 76% of bariatric patients—Mel is dedicated to helping others navigate life after weight loss with honesty, empathy, and practical strategies. www.kiomethod.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/kiomethod https://www.facebook.com/kiomethod https://www.instagram.com/kiomethod https://www.youtube.com/@kiomethod https://www.tiktok.com/@kiomethod VALUABLE RESOURCES www.wendycastelino.com https://www.instagram.com/wendycastelino/ https://www.youtube.com/@wendycastelino798 https://twitter.com/WendyCastelino ABOUT THE HOST Wendy Castelino has been working as a psychotherapist for over thirty-five years. As an accredited CBT and EMDR practitioner, she is committed to upholding the rigorous standards required for these accreditations and helping thousands of people reach their full potential. Wendy currently runs a private practice where her focus is on CBT. Therapy is constantly evolving into developing new techniques, so she studies hard to integrate them into her therapy, to provide a rich and effective experience. Wendy is aware that working in one-to-one therapy limits the number of people she can see. She has, therefore, created a range of online resources. These resources are designed to be easy to follow and provide clear, step-by-step instructions. This can help the individual to master skills and gain confidence, therefore optimising the therapy sessions. They are also suitable to be used on their own. Further details are available at: WendyCastelino.com. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/