I Had Given Up—Until I Took Back Control
For years, I had completely given up. I wasn’t just struggling with my weight—I was battling something deeper.
Listen to Jane's episode
I would sit in the car park, eating a Victoria sponge cake with my hands, throwing the wrapper away so no one would know. I was punishing myself with food, convinced I wasn’t worthy of anything better. My life felt out of control, and my health was deteriorating.
I was constantly exhausted. Too tired to cook, too tired to exercise. Our meals came from store-bought lasagnas and shepherd’s pies because I truly believed I didn’t have the energy to make anything fresh. I was drinking too much, dressing in oversized, shapeless clothes, and barely holding myself together. In and out of hospitals, my body was breaking down, and I just kept telling myself, “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to explode anyway.”
"Then, one day, I found Slimpod. At first, I was sceptical. Could simply listening to something really change my relationship with food? But I was desperate, so I gave it a try."
The Turning Point
Little by little, things started shifting.
I wasn’t obsessing over food anymore.
The cravings weren’t controlling me.
I found myself making small changes—changes that felt effortless.
I started cooking again.
Not because I had to, but because I wanted to.
It wasn’t about losing weight. It was about getting healthy.
My mindset changed from punishing myself with food to nourishing my body with it.
And suddenly, everything felt different.
The Transformation: Regaining My Health
A year later, my life is unrecognisable. I’ve gone from a size 24 to a size 16. But the biggest transformation isn’t my clothing size—it’s my health.
I used to be on multiple medications: blood pressure tablets, painkillers and antidepressants. I was even classified as diabetic. Now? My blood sugar is normal. My fatty liver is gone. My cholesterol has dropped. I’m off nearly all my medications, and the only thing that changed was my mindset and my food.
I used to think I couldn’t eat certain foods because of my IBS. Now, I regularly eat 60 different plant-based foods a week, and my digestive issues have massively improved. I thought I needed processed diet foods to lose weight, but they were only making me sicker. Cutting out ultra-processed foods changed everything.
No More Falling Off the Wagon
The biggest difference between this and all the diets I’ve tried before? There’s no wagon to fall off. I don’t feel deprived, so there’s no urge to binge. I went on holiday, enjoyed my meals, and didn’t feel guilty. I didn’t even want an ice cream, which used to be my favorite treat!
Eating healthy isn’t something I force myself to do anymore—it’s just who I am now. Cooking fresh meals feels natural, and I no longer crave the foods that used to make me sick.
I’m Never Going Back
The most important thing I’ve gained isn’t weight loss or even improved health. It’s the knowledge that I am in control. Every time life got hard before, I gave up. But not this time.
I know now that I’m not going back to where I was. My goal isn’t to be slim; it’s to be healthy. That’s what keeps me going every day.
If you’re feeling lost, if you’ve given up like I did, please know this—you have everything within you to take back control. I never thought I could, but here I am. And if I can do it, so can you.
I sat in the car and devoured
a cake with my bare hands
I sat in the car and devoured
a cake with my bare hands
Jane Foster’s own story
It’s strange how often the most profound changes start from the simplest of thoughts. For me, it wasn’t a dramatic event that sparked my transformation; it was a quiet moment of exhaustion when I realised I couldn’t continue living the way I was.
That moment became the catalyst for a journey I never imagined taking—a journey of small victories, setbacks, and ultimately, a rediscovery of myself. I want to share my story in the book The Weight’s Over: Take Back Control because I know what it feels like to be stuck in a dark place, and I want others to know there is a way out.
Jane before she took back control – and Jane today
At my lowest, I felt like a shadow of who I once was. My days were a blur of unhealthy habits and emotional numbness. I remember sitting in the car park of the local shop, my hands sticky with the remnants of a Victoria sponge cake I had devoured in secret.
It wasn’t about hunger; it was about punishment. I felt like a failure, and food became my way of reinforcing that belief.
My life was ruled by cycles of self-destruction. I binged on processed food, drank too much, and dressed in ways that mirrored my internal chaos. My reflection showed someone who had given up, and I felt trapped in a body and life that didn’t feel like mine anymore.
Cooking was out of the question. The thought of preparing a meal seemed as insurmountable as climbing a mountain. Pre-packaged lasagnas and shepherd’s pies were my staples—easy, quick, and void of any real effort.
My health was in free fall. I was constantly exhausted, my body aching, and my frequent trips to the hospital were reminders of how dire my situation had become. I was resigned to a future of declining health, powerless to change.
Then, something shifted. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but one day, the thought of continuing down this path felt heavier than the effort to change.
I was tired of being tired. It started small. I began tapering off my medication, even though it scared me, and I committed to cooking one meal—just one. That first dish, a simple chicken and bean stew, felt monumental. It was far from perfect, but it was mine. Preparing it proved that I wasn’t as helpless as I had believed.
That stew became the foundation for something bigger. Each day, I pushed myself to prepare another meal. It was difficult at first, but with every meal, I felt a little stronger, a little more in control. Slowly, my reliance on processed foods diminished. I started choosing fresh ingredients, experimenting with recipes, and taking pride in what I was putting into my body.
This journey wasn’t about weight loss, but as I embraced healthier habits, my body began to change. I went from a size 24 to a size 16, and while fitting into smaller clothes felt great, the real transformation was in how I felt.
For the first time in years, I felt confident. I started dressing in ways that reflected my newfound self-respect, and I began to see a person I recognised in the mirror.
The physical changes were undeniable. My energy levels soared, and the chronic pain that had once been my constant companion began to fade. My blood sugar levels normalised, my blood pressure stabilised, and I was able to come off several medications for diabetes and high cholesterol.
My doctors were amazed, but to me, the greatest victory was the sense of control I had regained. I no longer felt like a passenger in my own life.
A turning point in my journey was discovering the Slimpod programme. It wasn’t just about food; it was about changing my mindset. Slimpod taught me the importance of consistency and gave me the tools to build sustainable habits. It wasn’t about perfection but progress—learning to celebrate small victories and view setbacks as opportunities to grow.
Slimpod reinforced the idea that health isn’t about deprivation but about empowerment. It helped me focus on being strong and healthy rather than chasing an arbitrary number on a scale. This shift in perspective was life-changing. It gave me the resilience to face challenges head-on and the determination to keep moving forward.
I’ve learned that taking back control is an ongoing process. There are still hard days, but I’m no longer afraid of them. I know now that I have the strength to face whatever comes my way. Cooking has become a joy rather than a chore, and I’ve embraced a lifestyle that prioritises self-care and balance.
Consistency is my anchor. Whether it’s preparing a healthy meal, going for a walk, or taking time to rest, I approach each day with intention. These habits have become second nature, reminders of how far I’ve come and what I’m capable of achieving.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that change is possible, no matter how stuck you feel.
My journey wasn’t about grand gestures or overnight transformations. It was about taking one small step at a time and trusting that those steps would lead somewhere better.
For anyone who feels trapped in a cycle of despair, I want you to know that you are not alone, and you are not powerless. The first step is often the hardest, but it’s also the most important. Believe in yourself, even if it’s just a whisper of hope, and know that you are worth the effort.
Looking back, I can hardly recognise the person I used to be. The journey has been challenging, but every step has been worth it. I’ve reclaimed my health, my confidence, and my sense of purpose. Most importantly, I’ve rediscovered the strength within me to create a life I love.
This story isn’t just mine. It’s for anyone who needs a reminder that change is possible. As Sandra says in The Weight’s Over: Take Back Control, start small, stay consistent, and never underestimate the power of believing in yourself. The road ahead may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
