Ep 61: Jacque's WLS Journey | From Being Overweight Since Childhood to Living a Healthy Full Life with Her Daughter
This post is a companion to Episode 61 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
In this episode I was joined by Jacque — who connected with me on Instagram after hearing me mentioned on Episode 56 about eating behaviours to role model for kids. Her story goes right back to childhood, and it is one that so many people will deeply recognise.
A Lifetime of Struggling
Jacque does not remember a time when she was not overweight. From early childhood, she was on diets — Weight Watchers with her mum, visits to Curves, comments from family about her "beautiful face" that were always accompanied by an unspoken "but." She never learned moderation because the foods she loved were rarely available to her, so when she got access to them, she overindulged. That pattern followed her into adulthood.
She had bariatric surgery in October 2023 — and she had been listening to this podcast before, during, and after. She says it genuinely prepared her and helped her understand what was happening in her body and her mind.
The Eating Behaviours She Is Now Modelling for Her Daughter
One of the most meaningful aspects of Jacque's journey is what she is now able to model for her daughter — the mindful eating, the regular meals, the language around food that is curious and nourishing rather than shame-based. She does not want her daughter to carry the same relationship with food that she did for decades. And she is actively building something different.
What Has Surprised Her Most
Jacque was surprised by how much the emotional and psychological work mattered. The surgery changed her stomach overnight. Her relationship with food — and with herself — took much longer. Having support to work through that, rather than navigating it alone, she says has been the real difference-maker.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Listen to the full conversation on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe so you never miss a new episode every Monday!