From Lockdown Banana Bread to Letting Go: Navigating Catty Comments and Finding Joy Beyond the Scale

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Welcome back to another episode of If Diets Don’t Work! Today, I’m so excited to introduce you to someone who will have you laughing and reflecting all at once—the very funny and incredibly real Natalie Barton. Natalie is a 49-year-old mum of four who works in digital marketing, but her story goes far beyond the titles.
Although she hasn’t always struggled with her weight, Natalie has often felt like she didn’t quite fit in. In her early 40s, she experienced what so many of us do—that moment when you finally feel in control of your body. But then life stepped in. For Natalie, it was the double whammy of perimenopause and lockdown, which led to weight gain and that all-too-familiar feeling of losing control over her body. Even as she landed her dream job and saw amazing opportunities open up for her, she found herself struggling with how she looked and felt.
In this episode, Natalie shares her journey of letting go—of shame, guilt, and the exhausting chase to fit into an unattainable societal ideal. She’s learned to accept herself as she is, and that shift has brought her far greater peace and the freedom to make kinder decisions for herself. Her perspective is refreshingly honest and powerful, as she reminds us: “A dream body is only a dream if it’s not a nightmare to maintain.”
I know you’re going to love hearing from Natalie today as she opens up about how she found joy in doing things for herself—not to change her body, but simply because they make her feel good. So, grab a cuppa, get comfy, and let’s dive into this heartfelt, funny, and incredibly inspiring conversation.