12/10/2025
Got chatting to a new lady that joined one of our walks last week and, sadly, it reminded me of this Lowry piece (I know, I thought he only did Matchstick men, cats & dogs too!)
Now in her late 60s, she’d been a chubby kid. And has spent many, many years since trying to maintain a certain weight (very slim)
She’s done it all. All the restrictive diets, all the ‘clubs’, all the cardio and guess what? This last few years, she’s grown a belly that she just can’t shift 😩
A slave to the scales (don’t get me started) the number hasn’t changed and she’s more than confused, she’s upset. Really upset.
“I’m thinking of starting Slimming World” This woman has no weight to lose - if anything she could do to build some muscle going in to older life 💗
I asked her; is your tummy hard & tender or is it really wobbly?
You guessed it. Hard & tender is inflammation, not fat. That’s why the scale isn’t showing additional weight 😃
A restricted calorie diet is not always the answer.
As we get older we need all the macros to maintain good physical, mental and gut health
Plus;
😴 good sleeping patterns to reduce stress and maintain healthy cortisol levels
🌳 time outdoors to move and get Vit D (supps essential October-March minimum)
🥦 don’t cut out Carbs - learn the difference between natural & complex, then energise your body the right way 😉
🧁 don’t demonise or humanise foods. Food is kinda necessary, they’re not “good” or “treats” it’s just that some foods give us more nutrition than others.
⚖️ please please, do not judge yourself by the number on a probably wonky machine 🙏🏼 being healthy, strong, fit, happy and present…lasts a helluva lot longer than a size whatever
🖤 And finally, you DO NOT look to others, like you think you do. Most of the people you know admire you for something they never tell you, it’s true!
Do you really want to spend the rest of your adult life feeling like this painting?
No you don’t, trust me 😘
Pic courtesy of Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays
