Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition

There's an entire industry built on the idea that if you hate yourself enough, you'll eventually change. And yet everything we know about shame tells us the opposite is true. So why do we keep going back there? And more importantly, what does it actually take to break free?
This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm sitting down with Shahroo Izadi, Behavioural Change Specialist, NHS clinical trainer, and bestselling author of The Kindness Method and The Last Diet.

Shahroo spent years working in addiction recovery, and what she found there transformed not only her professional understanding of change, but her own relationship with food, her body, and herself.

We go deep into why so many of us associate change with self-loathing, why willpower alone will always fail us, and how the tools used in addiction recovery hold the blueprint for any meaningful behaviour change. Shahroo also shares her own story with complete honesty, including binge eating, a gastric band, eight stone lost, and what finally made the difference. This is one of those conversations that reframes everything.

Here's what we dive into:
- How shame becomes the enemy of lasting habit change.
- Why the only habit worth learning is how to change habits.
- What addiction recovery gets right that mainstream wellness misses.
- How to interrupt the shame spiral after a setback.
- Why body neutrality is a more honest goal than body positivity.

Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
👉 15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ 

***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Dr. Shefali's Approach to Shadow Self: From External Validation to Inner Alignment
https://youtu.be/46-BbuvGHuY

***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights:
00:00:00 Intro
00:07:00 Shahroo's Story: Stammers, Weight, and Self-Help at Age 10
00:10:34 Working in Addiction and Recognising Her Own Cycle
00:15:27 "Better Than Well": What Addiction Recovery Gets Right
00:23:24 Body Positivity, Body Neutrality, and the Thin Ideal
00:31:38 The Gastric Band: What Happens When You Don't Change the Behaviour
00:34:18 Social Judgment and the Ozempic Study
00:43:33 How to Stop the Swing Between Extremes
00:46:21 The Second Choice: Interrupting the Shame Spiral
00:53:23 Matt Haig on Using Your Worst Days as a Reference Bank
00:58:44 Writing Letters to Your Future Self
01:06:22 How Shahroo Sees Herself Differently Five Years On
01:18:47 Hatefulness Doesn't Create Change
01:20:07 Self-Compassion vs. Self-Love: What We're Actually Asking For
01:26:17 What "Live Well, Be Well" Means to Shahroo

Are you getting short-term relief from bodywork, only for the pain to return a few weeks later? In this clip, I talk through why hands-on treatments can feel amazing in the moment but may not create lasting change if you’re relying on someone else to “fix” you, and why movement and self-care matter so much for long-term healing.This clip explores how fascia and global body tension can influence recurring pain, why aggressive fascia release can look (and feel) intense, and how a slower, more intentional approach may support the body’s own ability to reset. We also discuss walking as a powerful daily practice, why brisk walking is linked with a lower dementia risk, and the idea of walking backwards as a way to challenge the brain and build new movement pathways. Plus, there’s a fascinating look at performance work with elite athletes, including why improving a jump can start with learning how to land, and how slow joint movements (around four centimeters per second) are used to reprogram movement patterns.
Jason Van Blerk in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
***

This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Do your gut symptoms ever feel so painful you worry something is seriously wrong? In this conversation, we talk about why digestive pain can feel intense, even with issues like trapped wind and constipation, and how the gut’s huge nerve supply plays a role.This clip explores the science of gut pain, including how the intestines sense discomfort differently to our fingertips, and why having around 500 million nerves in the gut can amplify pain signals. We also discuss visceral hypersensitivity, where the gut becomes over-reactive and normal sensations can start to feel painful. I’m exploring with my guest why some gastroenterologists use very low-dose antidepressants for gut symptoms, including SSRIs to influence serotonin, tricyclic antidepressants (often preferred for diarrhea-predominant issues), and SNRIs like Cymbalta for targeting pain, especially when constipation is also present. Throughout, we keep it clear that these medications are not the primary treatment for constipation, but can be part of managing discomfort.
Will Bulsiewicz in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
***

This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book 
https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9db12bc6-b7d3-4df4-bc5c-260e0303792cWhat if aging well wasn't about fighting your body, but finally learning to work with it?

This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by the wonderful Liz Earle MBE, bestselling wellness author, nutritional pioneer, and one of the most trusted voices in women's health. Her latest book, How to Age, is an instant number one bestseller, and this conversation is a beautiful reminder of why her work resonates so deeply.Liz brings warmth, wisdom, and science together in a way that feels genuinely accessible, and she makes a compelling case that the most powerful tools for longevity are often the simplest and most free

Here's What We Dive Into:
- How mitochondria drive almost every aspect of how we age, and why caring for them is the foundation of lasting health.
- Why the best longevity tools are free: morning daylight, grounding, and filtered water, and how each one fuels cellular energy.
- How disrupted light signals quietly wreck sleep and mood, and why "sky before screens" is a rule worth keeping.
- What structured water and hydrogen water actually are, and how to make your daily hydration work harder.
- Why sunscreen timing matters more than we think, and what the science of UVA and UVB really says.
- How perimenopause, exhaustion, and poor sleep are often connected, and what Liz wishes she had known sooner.
- Why Liz has never said "anti-aging" and why she believes the pro-aging revolution starts with women like us.

Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ 

***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:Women's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay

***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***
Highlights
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 The 12 Years of Poor Health Women Accept
00:04:12 How Liz Went from Burnout to Her Healthiest Decade
00:08:17 What Mitochondria Do and Why They Drive Disease
00:11:53 The 3 Free Inputs That Power Your Cells
00:14:12 Sky Before Screens: The Morning Light Habit
00:22:00 Why You Still Can't Switch Off at Night
00:31:42 Structured Water, EZ Water, and Hydrogen Explained
00:39:06 Why Barefoot Time on Earth Reduces Inflammation
00:52:10 When to Skip Sunscreen and What UVB Actually Does
01:01:00 HRT and Perimenopause: What Liz Wishes She Knew
01:06:28 Why Liz Refuses to Say Anti-Aging
01:10:12 The Two-Year Test for Emotional StressSonnet 4.6

Have you ever noticed how a song can instantly change your mood? In this clip, I’m exploring how sound and vibration might influence the body, including stress responses and the way we experience emotions day to day. This clip explores the idea of the body as a “tuning fork”, where music, voice, and environmental frequency may affect us at a cellular level, including through fascia. We also look at visual examples of water and sand responding to specific frequencies and how that connects to the wider conversation about vibration, emotion, and why some people feel others’ energy when they enter a room. Jason Van Blerk in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
***

This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/