Helen Anderson joins us to share her health and fitness journey, including how she transitioned from being an internet personality representing body positivity to losing weight and finding joy in fitness on her own terms.

• Helen explains how comments about her body from a young age impacted her self-perception despite outwardly being an advocate for body confidence
• The turning point came in early 2023 when Helen decided to commit to her health to prove to herself she could stick with something
• Run Norwich experiences - Helen achieved a 58-minute time in only her second 10K race
• The BPM playlist hack that helps Helen maintain consistent running pace
• Moving from focusing on weight loss to valuing functional strength and fitness
• The double standards within the body positivity community when influencers choose to lose weight
• Industry "icks" including protein-washing products and the overwhelming number of supplement advertisements
• Practical advice for beginners: be consistent, drop the guilt, and lower your expectations about timeframes
• Helen's three-year journey to lose three stone and how maintenance has become effortless
• How fitness communities provide positive social connections beyond just exercise

Remember lining up in the school hall to be weighed in front of everyone? Or being forced to wear those ridiculous PE knickers while attempting gymnastics? The humiliation of childhood PE classes is something many of us carry well into adulthood—often manifesting as a complicated relationship with exercise and our bodies.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation, we unpack what it truly means to grow up as "the fat kid" and how these formative experiences shape our relationship with fitness for decades to come. We share personal stories of family members commenting on our weight, the mortification of communal showers, and the crushing pressure to fit into a body type that simply wasn't ours. What's striking is how differently these experiences affected us—one host recalling being taken to Weight Watchers at just ten years old, while the other's family never made weight an issue despite societal pressures.

We take a critical look at the viral "Box Wave" phenomenon, questioning whether exploiting a child's weight loss journey for social media fame is truly in the boy's best interest. When adults parade a child's transformation across platforms and morning television, what happens when the cameras stop rolling? The pressure to maintain that weight loss could potentially set him up for a lifetime of disordered eating and exercise behaviors.

School physical education comes under particular scrutiny as we suggest radical changes to how movement is taught to children. Why are we still forcing team sports on kids who hate them? Why not introduce weight training, yoga, or modified running programs that allow children to progress at their own pace? The stark gender differences in how overweight boys versus girls are treated reveals society's double standards—while a larger boy might be nicknamed "Big Tom" and find his place on the rugby team, girls face relentless pressure to shrink themselves.

Join us for this thought-provoking episode that will have you reflecting on your own childhood experiences and questioning how we might better support the next generation. Share your own PE trauma stories with us on social media—we're building a community where the messiness of health and fitness is embraced rather than hidden away.

Running a 10K doesn't have to be a high-pressure experience. Our candid conversation about Run Norwich preparation reveals the laid-back yet effective approach two everyday runners are taking toward this popular city event.

We dive into our training strategies – from multiple weekly runs and strength training to the dreaded hill work. While one of us focuses on building endurance through varied workouts, the other emphasizes practical considerations like testing race-day clothing and maintaining proper hydration. The refreshing "no worries" mindset emerges as perhaps the most valuable training tool, with both of us acknowledging that walking sections is perfectly acceptable and finishing is the primary goal.

Having completed a previous 10K at Holkham has boosted our confidence considerably. There's something reassuring about running through familiar city streets surrounded by cheering spectators and fellow participants. We share a laugh about how slower runners actually get better value for money by spending more time on the course – a perfect perspective shift for those who won't be challenging the front-runners!

The conversation naturally gravitates toward what might be the most crucial element of race preparation – planning the post-race celebration. Huggers restaurant emerges as the venue of choice, with its impressive selection of vegetarian and vegan options making it perfect for refueling after 10 kilometers of effort. Because sometimes, the promise of a delicious roast dinner provides exactly the motivation needed to cross that finish line.

Have you signed up for Run Norwich or another local race? Share your preparation strategies or join us at Huggers afterward to compare race experiences!