Now I trust myself and
ignore the inner critic
Now I trust myself and
ignore the inner critic

Vivienne Chapman’s story
I went into teaching at the age of 21, full of energy and excitement for the career ahead of me. It was everything I had hoped for – rewarding, challenging, and endlessly busy. I taught in the kind of schools where it was expected that your job didn’t end when the final bell rang.
I ran after-school clubs, lunchtime activities, and spent hours marking work and planning lessons. My days were full, and my evenings just as demanding. But amidst it all, there was one thing I never truly learned to prioritise: myself.
My relationship with food mirrored the pace of my life – chaotic, hurried, and never deliberate. I grabbed meals between classes, standing in the staff room or while offering extra help to students. I never ate calmly, never gave myself the space to sit down and enjoy a proper meal.
I ate whatever was quickest and most convenient, and though I wasn’t overweight, I knew my habits weren’t healthy. I was running on adrenaline and poor choices, and that pattern stayed with me for years.
As I told you in Sandra’s book, The Weight’s Over: Take Back Control, when I became the headteacher of a girls’ school, the stakes felt even higher. Every day, I stood in front of 500 students who noticed everything about me. From the way I dressed to the way I spoke, I was constantly being observed.
More than just their educator, I was a role model. And that role extended far beyond the classroom – I was an example of how to approach life, and that included food, body image, and self-care. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t the role model I wanted to be. My chaotic eating habits didn’t align with the calm, balanced approach I hoped to project.
What weighed on me most was the fear of sending the wrong message. I worried about inadvertently teaching unhealthy habits – skipping meals or resorting to restrictive diets – to young girls who were already navigating the pressures of social media and societal expectations. I felt a deep responsibility to be a positive influence, but I also felt like a hypocrite.
I wasn’t practising what I preached, and that realisation sat heavily with me.
Then I discovered Slimpod, and it was a revelation. I had spent years believing that change would require monumental effort or impossible willpower, but Slimpod showed me a different way. It wasn’t about rules or restrictions; it was about trust – trusting myself to make healthy choices naturally and ignoring the inner critic that insisted I’d never manage. That shift in mindset was transformative.
I never thought I could go a day without chocolate. As a child, I was denied sugar, and it created a deep craving that followed me into adulthood. I loved sweet things, especially ice cream, and could rarely resist. But with Slimpod, something changed. I no longer felt controlled by those cravings. I still enjoy a treat now and then, but it’s conscious, deliberate, and no longer about filling a void.
I remember a moment that felt like a turning point. My husband and I were in Hull for a chess tournament, and after a long day, we went out for supper. I ordered a salad niçoise and decided to have a dessert – something I hadn’t done in ages. It was a small dish of figs in sweet wine with mascarpone. It was delicious, but what struck me was how it didn’t trigger anything. I enjoyed it, savoured it, and that was enough.
There was no urge for more, no guilt or regret. It felt normal, and that feeling of normality was profound.
For me, diets have always felt toxic. They create a cycle of deprivation and overindulgence that’s hard to break, and they can set people – especially young people – up for a lifetime of struggling with food. I didn’t want that for myself, and I certainly didn’t want it for the girls I was leading.
Now that I’m retired from the profession I loved, I’ve had time to reflect on those lessons. I realise how important it is for educators to model a healthy relationship with food and self-care. The ripple effect of those lessons can be life-changing.
One of the biggest changes I’ve experienced is a sense of calm. For so many years, food was a source of stress – something I felt I had to battle with or control. Now, it feels like a natural, balanced part of my life. I’ve always enjoyed wholesome, unprocessed foods – steamed vegetables, raw salads, fresh ingredients – but sugar had a hold on me that I couldn’t shake.
Now, that craving is gone. It’s hard to describe the relief of no longer being controlled by those urges. I still love ice cream, but I can take it or leave it. That shift has given me a newfound sense of freedom.
These days, I find joy in simplicity. I sit down to eat, calmly and mindfully, and it’s a small act of self-care that feels monumental. I don’t rush through meals anymore or eat on the go. I give myself the time I deserve, and that has made all the difference. Looking back, I see how much my mindset around food has changed. It’s not about perfection or following rigid rules – it’s about balance, trust, and treating myself with kindness.
That shift has impacted every area of my life. I feel calmer, more confident, and more in control. It’s as though a weight has been lifted, both physically and emotionally.
When Sandra asked me to share my story for The Weight’s Over: Take Back Control, I was delighted. This journey has been about so much more than food. It’s been about reclaiming my life, finding balance, and setting an example for others. For the girls who once looked up to me as their headteacher, for my husband and family, and for anyone who feels trapped in their own struggles with food – this is my way of saying, “You can do it too.”
Now, I wake up each day feeling a sense of peace I haven’t known in years. I no longer feel like food controls me, and that calmness has rippled into every part of my life. It’s amazing how something as simple as changing my approach to food has created such profound change.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that taking back control isn’t about being perfect. It’s about trusting yourself, being kind to yourself, and finding what works for you. For me, Slimpod was the key to unlocking that balance, and I’ll always be grateful for the lessons it’s taught me.
This is more than just a story about food – it’s a story about freedom, self-trust, and the joy of living a life that feels truly balanced.