What if the most important progress you make never shows up on a scale? We open the door to a frank, funny, and nuanced conversation about body goals, identity, and the everyday wins that actually change how life feels. From airplane seatbelts and clothing fit to TRX rows and clearer skin, we map the victories that prove health is bigger than a number.

We share lived experiences of weight loss that improved pain, energy, and confidence, without pretending the world treats every body the same. One of us reframes body goals through gender expression—building a strong back and broader upper body to align how we feel inside with how we’re seen—while the other unpacks the relief of moving more freely, sleeping better, and caring less about a target weight. Together, we draw a clean line between healthy ambition and harmful extremes, calling out the traps of underfueling, obsessive tracking, and quick fixes that sabotage wellbeing.

The conversation widens to society’s role: fat stigma, inaccessible spaces, the male gaze, and the double standard that calls men “distinguished” as they age while urging women to stay forever young. We talk about judgement from all sides, why the loudest critics are often the least content, and how therapy, patience, and perspective can help you choose what you’ll be judged for—and care a lot less about it. If you want to lose weight, we talk safe, sustainable approaches. If you don’t, we offer strength, performance, sleep, mood, and energy goals that deliver real momentum without obsessing over scales.

Come for the candour, stay for the practical wins and mindset shifts that make training feel purposeful again. If this resonates, tap follow, share it with someone who needs a kinder lens on progress, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What non-scale victory are you chasing this week?

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Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

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Think everyone at the gym knows exactly what they’re doing? Here’s a secret: most people are focused on themselves, often unsure about their own form. We dig into how to turn that insight into confidence, so you can train harder, smarter, and actually enjoy getting stronger without letting fitness take over your life.

We start by breaking the “permanent beginner” mindset and move into clear, doable progressions: swapping lunges for split squats, testing assisted pull-ups after lat pulldowns, and using short, focused sessions when time is tight. We talk honestly about effort, explaining why growth happens when your last reps slow down and burn while form stays solid. You’ll hear how filming sets, using reliable online resources, or booking even a single PT session can unlock safer mechanics and quick wins that compound over weeks.

Fuel and recovery anchor the whole plan. We cover practical protein targets across simple meals, pre- and post-workout basics that support quality training, and why sleep turns hard sets into real adaptation. We separate building muscle from getting “shredded,” unpack expectations shaped by social media, genetics, and assisted physiques, and help you choose your own path: aesthetics, strength, or a balanced blend. Most importantly, we offer goal frameworks you can start now—adding a few kilos to your lifts, mastering an exercise progression, or committing to two to three sessions a week—without counting every macro or living at the gym.

If you’re ready to stop second-guessing and start progressing, hit play, save this for your next session, and share it with a friend who needs a nudge. Subscribe for more straight-talking health and fitness chats, and leave a review to help other listeners find us.

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Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

What if the scariest thing in fitness isn’t a burpee, but a panel of blokes explaining the menstrual cycle? Our Halloween special turns the gym into a haunted house and tours every room you secretly dread: MLM pitches at the door, sleds blocking every path, “high protein, low calorie” echoing like a curse, and denim-clad grunters who treat the rack like a stage. We laugh, we roast, but we also get honest about boundaries, ethics, and how to create a gym culture that actually feels good.

Along the way, we share wins from the week: a 90‑day “fitter, faster, stronger” block gathering steam, steady 5Ks that feel better than they look, and simple markers like resting heart rate, sleep, and fuelling that change everything. No hacks, no noise—just consistent training, manageable runs, and routine meals that leave you energised. If your watch nags, that’s data; if it stresses you out, that’s a cue to take it off. We keep the advice human and the tone hopeful.

For the proper chills, we retell a brilliant Reddit story about a haunted gym—alarms tripping, showers running, plates clanging with no one there—and swap our own eerie encounters. Whether you’re a sceptic or a believer, it’s a reminder that spaces hold stories. The best gyms turn down the fear and turn up the welcome, so beginners aren’t spooked by noise, clutter, or the cult of intensity. We wrap with a playful nod to mediums, tarot, and the thrill of not knowing what comes next, plus plans for more off-topic fun on Patreon.

If you love a little chaos with your kettlebells, hit play, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. Share this Halloween special with a friend who’s seen a ghost in the free-weights room—or just a guy lifting in jeans. What’s your scariest gym ick?

Thank you for listening!

Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

If the weights floor has ever felt like a stage for the loudest person in the room, you’re not alone. We’re digging into the fitness “icks” that drain motivation and shut people out—from theatrical grunts and plate slamming to smug couples coaching each other badly and copycat content that mistakes clicks for care.

We talk honestly about what sustainable training looks like when sleep is a mess and energy is low: gentle rest days, mobility, slower runs, intervals when they help, and strength that fits your week instead of swallowing it. Running is cardio, not a personality test. We also unpack why calorie comparison reels and “high-protein cinnamon-roll” hacks miss the point. Most people understand calories; the real work is building habits around time, stress, taste, and culture. If protein is low, add proper foods. If you want dessert, choose a dessert you love. Simpler choices win.

Coaching culture gets a spotlight too. Shame-as-motivation influencers might grab attention, but behaviour change sticks when the bar to start is low and progress feels possible. Clear cues, small wins, and respectful language beat insults every time. And yes, we call for basic gym citizenship: re-rack your weights, share space, wipe benches, and wear clothes meant for training. The goal is a room where more people feel welcome to try, not fewer.

We wrap with community shoutouts to listeners from Norwich to Dallas and Germany, and a standing invite to send us your gym icks. If you smiled, winced, or nodded along, tap follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your stories shape what we tackle next.

Thank you for listening!

Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

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A big thank you to Lauren for joining us for this episode. You can find Lauren on Instagram @laurenashleygordon

Please review and share this episode if you enjoyed it, it really helps us grow the pod and continue creating content for you all

What if the gym stopped being a place to pay for your “treats” and became the place you build a life you’re proud of? We sit down with creator Lauren Ashley Gordon to trace a raw arc from a harsh mental low to a strength-first mindset, the kind that swaps punishment for progress and turns small wins into real confidence.

Lauren tells the truth about starting in May with nothing but a PT session and a promise to show up. The early “newbie gains” led to a 140 kg pull, but the bigger transformation was internal: training to be capable, not smaller. We talk about how that shift reframes body image, why performance fuels self-respect, and how competence in the gym spills into the rest of life. Expect practical gems too: lifting straps over gloves, creatine done right, and the surprising leggings that deliver shape and opacity without the premium price tag.

Then we open the door on a local fitness event that gave us both pride and heartbreak. We trained hard, beat our target time, and still watched the finish line get packed away around us. We process the sting honestly, share what organisers got wrong, and, more importantly, why we’re keeping the win. From there, we sketch out accessible steps to bigger challenges—baby tri sessions, HIROX relays, and how to build consistency through small, smart choices that reduce friction.

If you’re tired of toxic fitness culture and hungry for community, strength, and clear-headed advice, this is your invitation. Hit play, join the conversation, and tell us the hard thing you’re ready to try next. If the show resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find their way to strength.

Thank you for listening!

Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

Ever feel like you’re the one standing between you and your goals? We break down self-sabotage with unflinching honesty and a lot of practical warmth—why we set giant, glittering plans we can’t sustain, how “start on Monday” thinking keeps us looping, and what actually works when life is busy and motivation is low. From skipped summer runs to snack-only days and overstuffed to-do lists, we trace the real patterns that derail progress and show how to make change so small it finally sticks.

We explore the traps that look productive but aren’t—overcomplicating training, rigid meal rules, and chasing goals you don’t really want because they sound impressive. Instead, we focus on building a tiny ladder of habits: a 15-minute walk before any 5K plan, one class with a friend before a full programme, and simple meals that fit your schedule. We talk future-self planning that removes friction, the identity shift of becoming “the person who shows up,” and how to let go of goals that don’t align so you stop ghosting your own commitments.

There’s also a candid look at fear of success and imposter syndrome—what happens when work grows, when results arrive, or when you worry being “too committed” makes you less relatable. The solution isn’t perfection; it’s personalisation. Design a blueprint that suits your attention span, energy, and preferences, then repeat the basics without the drama. You’re not failing; your plan might just be too big. Shrink it, simplify it, and keep going.

If this resonated, tap follow, share this with a friend who is stuck in “all or nothing,” and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Tell us: what single inch-sized step are you taking today?

Thank you for listening!

Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

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We dig into what makes a fitness community feel genuinely welcoming, where glossy events set hidden barriers, and how to build spaces that fit real lives rather than perfect images. Respect for HIROX, Ironman, and elite clubs stands alongside a call for clearer labels, lower barriers, and more honest inclusion.

• Gay to 5K as a blueprint for practical inclusion
• the gap between “inclusive” marketing and actual access
• HIROX identity, travel, training time and cost barriers
• Ironman expenses, coaching, gear and time privilege
• why “free to run” still costs money and confidence
• online communities that lower cost and pressure
• exclusivity vs inclusivity and being honest about who it’s for
• aesthetics, brand vibes and who feels welcome
• missing middle: beginner and intermediate event formats
• simple design fixes clubs can make to widen the gate

Review, subscribe, follow, please, share

Thank you for listening!

Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

A 20th‑episode milestone deserves a little chaos, so we opened the floor to your questions and went wherever they led—no fluff, no shame, just real talk. From normalising leaks during workouts to the eternal “Do I really need 150g of protein?” debate, we dig into what actually moves the needle for health: a supportive community, smarter training, and food that makes you feel good without turning eating into homework.

We share what the past year taught us—why running slower can be the fastest way to get better, how hill and heat work build resilience, and where belonging changes everything. If Hyrox looks like a club you’re not in, we get it; finding your people matters more than forcing a trend. On the plate, we champion fibre and plant diversity, with beans and legumes doing the heavy lifting for gut health, satiety, and budget. Expect practical ideas for butter bean skillets, bean‑packed chillies, and easy salads, plus a clear, realistic protein starting point. We also talk fake meats that are worth it, what to watch on labels, and how to balance convenience with nutrition.

Life admin gets airtime too: deodorants that actually work (hello, Fussy Sensitive and Mitchum), avoiding fishy omega‑3 burps with timing and algae‑based options, and a hydration check that uses thirst and urine colour instead of rigid rules. Along the way, we swap comfort food ideas, laugh at our own gym fails, and answer whether a running vest for 5K is “allowed” (it is—wear the bag). If you want practical advice wrapped in candour and humour, you’ll feel right at home here.

If this resonated, tap follow, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who needs a nudge to find their people. Got a question for our next Q&A? Send it our way and join the conversation.

Thank you for listening!

Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow.

Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod