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.

Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

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.

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?

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

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.

Hype sells. Health doesn’t need to. We invited the supplement aisle into the light and asked the only questions that matter: does it work, is it safe, and is there a simpler way to get the same benefit? Between gym stories, a fresh rowing PB, and a big 2026 fitness goal, we break down what everyday people actually need—and what’s just expensive hope.

We start with the confusion: influencers, sleek labels, and bold claims make powders feel essential. Then we separate signals from noise. Magnesium can help if you’re deficient—but that’s a blood test call, and food-first sources often cover the gap. Creatine monohydrate earns a rare, evidence-backed gold star for strength, performance, and potential cognitive benefits, especially helpful for vegetarians and vegans—just hydrate well. Lion’s mane? Still early, mostly hype, and not one to take if you’re pregnant, managing chronic conditions, or allergic to mushrooms. Collagen promises glow and bounce, but digestion turns it into amino acids; results are modest at best compared to daily SPF, sleep, and consistent skincare. And electrolytes are salts—great for long, hot, hard sessions, unnecessary for most casual workouts and desk days.

We also talk money, marketing, and mindset. Protein bars can help in a pinch, but most people can meet protein needs with simple meals—yoghurt, eggs, beans, tofu, fish, chicken—without paying the brand premium. The pattern repeats: when you look past the lifestyle packaging, the biggest wins come from habits you can repeat—training you enjoy, varied foods, proper sleep, regular fluids, and sunlight without the burn. Supplements have a place when they fill a proven gap; they’re not a shortcut to a life you haven’t built yet.

If you’re curious, sceptical, or just tired of paying for promises, this one’s for you. Hit play, save your budget for good food and a plan you’ll stick to, and tell us your take: which supplement stayed—and which one’s out? Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a de‑hype, and leave a review so we can keep building this community together.

Consistency - that magical buzzword thrown around in fitness circles as the ultimate solution to all our health and wellness struggles. But what exactly does consistency mean, and is it truly the golden ticket we're led to believe?

In this refreshingly honest conversation, we challenge the toxic narratives surrounding consistency in the fitness world. From the pressure to maintain perfect workout schedules to the shame that comes with missing a session, we explore how these expectations often set us up for failure rather than success.

"Consistency isn't perfection," we emphasize, "it's showing up for yourself and your goals more times than not." This simple reframing can transform how we approach our fitness journeys, allowing space for life's inevitable interruptions without spiraling into self-sabotage.

We dive into practical strategies for building sustainable consistency, like starting small with achievable habits, employing the 80/20 rule, and identifying what genuinely works for your unique personality and lifestyle. Rather than following rigid plans that might work for fitness influencers but not for busy parents or professionals, we advocate for finding your own sustainable rhythm.

The comparison trap gets special attention as we discuss how social media has warped our perception of achievements. Remember when running a marathon was considered impressive on its own? Now it seems you need to run it in under 3:30 or complete multiple marathons back-to-back to earn recognition. We encourage listeners to zoom out and appreciate their progress rather than measuring themselves against carefully curated highlight reels.

Whether you're struggling to maintain consistency in your fitness routine or feeling guilty about missing workouts, this episode offers permission to be imperfect while still making progress. Join us for this honest, relatable conversation about finding balance in the messy world of health and fitness.

Every woman knows the feeling—sitting in a doctor's office, describing debilitating symptoms, only to be dismissed with "try losing weight" or "it's just hormones." This isn't just frustrating; it's dangerous.

We're pulling back the curtain on the systemic problems in women's healthcare, exploring conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and perimenopause that affect millions yet remain chronically under-researched and misunderstood. Did you know it takes an average of 7-8 YEARS to receive an endometriosis diagnosis? Or that women are twice as likely to die from heart attacks because their symptoms present differently than the "classic" male symptoms taught in medical school?

The disparities are staggering. When men experience erectile dysfunction or low testosterone, they're quickly offered medication. Yet women suffering from debilitating menstrual pain or perimenopausal symptoms are told to "just deal with it." Medical research has historically excluded women because of the perceived "messiness" of hormones, leaving enormous gaps in our understanding of female bodies. Even the BMI scale—still widely used today—was developed based solely on male bodies.

For women of colour, these problems compound exponentially, with maternal mortality rates three times higher than for white women. The entire system was designed "by men, for men," and everyone with a uterus is paying the price.

But there's hope. Conversations are opening up. Support groups are forming. Public figures like Davina McCall are bringing conditions like perimenopause into mainstream discussion. We're standing up and demanding better—better research, better treatment options, and better understanding.

Share your experiences with us on Instagram @thehealthhundspod.