Dover Dieter Goes the Distance

Claire Jones Left Yo-Yo Dieting for Dust by Becoming a Marathon Runner and Weight Loss Author

Claire, 48 ditched her yo-yo dieting habits for good by shifting her mindset, taking up (marathon) running, retraining to set-up her own healthy weight coaching business – YourOneLife (YOL) based in Dover, Kent and published a book!

Claire is committed to healthy weight management after decades of riding the yo-yo dieting roller coaster. Having turned her life and weight around for good, Claire found the time to train and work as a part-time Firefighter, study to become a Personal Trainer, Life Coach and Hypnotherapist, and wrote and published her own book ‘How to Eat Less’, whilst growing her YourOneLife business.

Having lived as a single-mum to her 2 children, whilst working in high profile, and high-pressure public sector roles for several years, Claire developed petrol station eating habits because of her lengthy daily commute and is not ashamed to admit she piled on the weight, and not just once but several times over the years.

No stranger to yo-yo dieting, Claire tried every diet going, signing up to well-known weight loss programmes and restrictive eating plans, but nothing worked long-term, and her good habits quickly slid by the way-side in favour of snacks and calorific quick and easy meals to fit around her busy job and life.

Aware of her growing waistline and tummy rolls, Claire decided to act and committed to a strict weight management plan. She celebrated a dramatic initial weight loss and enjoyed seeing the results and shopping for new clothes. Claire funded her new wardrobe by ‘selling her fat life on eBay’ and revelled in her new appearance and improving health.

Encouraged to get fitter and healthier, Claire took up running and quit smoking. She received a shock proposal from her partner, who had clearly fallen in love with Claire all over again, sparking a desire to marry this new, confident, and healthy woman.

Unfortunately, Claire’s yo-yo dieting days were not behind her (yet), and her weight fluctuated again due to workplace stress and a period of sickness - 3 years later Claire found herself almost back at her heaviest weight.

With previous approaches no longer viable, Claire did not want to stop running and so found a way of losing weight in short bursts, with the help of a local weight loss coach, followed by periods of maintaining her weight. It took her 2 years to lose the re-gained weight, but Claire finally discovered, for the first time in her life that she knew how to manage her weight in a healthy, sustainable way.

In 2011 at a healthy weight again, Claire resolved to work on her running and started to achieve personal bests, getting so fit that she was able to join the local fire service as a part-time Firefighter. This change in lifestyle and values made her determined to never return to her former eating and dieting ways.

Unfortunately in 2015 injury struck, followed by an unrelated but necessary operation, and while Claire was recovering it became apparent that her father was becoming seriously ill. Over the next year or so whilst focusing on looking after her dad, Claire’s old habits resurfaced - only this time she realised what was happening before piling too much weight back on. In 2018 Claire took herself in hand, and realised she now had all the know-how and a better understanding of nutrition and fitness from her combined years of dieting to build her own sustainable plan. Focusing on mindset, challenging old beliefs, and setting herself manageable, healthy goals, Claire quickly lost the weight she had regained, and her fitness and mindset improved simultaneously. She shared her progress daily on social media and was amazed at how much she was inspiring others.

Sadly, Claire’s dad’s ill health deteriorated, and he passed away in June 2018, leaving his legacy split between Claire and her brother. Feeling overwhelmed and with an urgent need to use her inheritance for something meaningful Claire embarked on a journey of more self-discovery, learning and development. Inspired by the feedback she had received when regaining her health and fitness in the early part of 2018, she completed numerous courses relating to health, fitness and well-being and started to focus on life coaching, personal training, and nutrition. Leaving her job in January 2019 Claire resolved to help others and stop the yo-yo dieting cycle for as many people as she could, and established YourOneLife in memory of her dad.

Claire launched ‘YourOneLife’ to offer people healthy weight solutions. Focusing on health and wellness she helps people to prepare for weight loss mentally, physically, and emotionally. Claire helps individuals to select the right approach for them, alongside online group support and accountability, one-to-one coaching in addition to advice and online resources and weight management programmes.

Talking about her journey and YourOneLife, Claire says: “What makes me different from other coaches or personal trainers is that I don't prescribe meal or exercise plans. I use my very own YourOneLife Framework, which includes a workout plan for the mind to help transform peoples thinking, attitude and feelings. I give people new knowledge and skills alongside new tools to change behaviours and build confidence, and support them with better eating and exercise habits, and keep them accountable until such time as they are ready to be self-sufficient.”

Offering a holistic approach to weight loss and weight management, Claire’s clients demanded tips and tricks to help their weight loss journey without dieting. One client said Claire should write a book, and not one to disappoint that is exactly what she did!

Claire wrote and published ‘How to Eat Less’, a simple, practical guide to eating less without going on a diet. The book is available to purchase from her YourOneLife website and Amazon.

‘How to Eat Less’, offers very straightforward advice and practical tips that anyone serious about weight loss can adopt. Claire’s lived experience enables her to showcase her own struggles and the book speaks to people without being patronising or intimidating.

Having received five-star reviews since the books launch in May 2021, Claire is already working on her next title, keen to share her experiences following years of weight loss, and what she considers to be the perfect formula that can be adapted to each individual. The book is already available in e-book format and takes readers through her unique comprehensive framework, ‘Preparing for Successful Weight Loss’, on a self-help basis. Readers who want more support can join the YourOneLife Members Club to work through the activities in it.

Talking about the books, Claire says: "Most of us want to lose weight as quickly as possible, and while going on a diet might work in the short term, for most it's just a sticking plaster and doesn't resolve anything below the surface, so it doesn't change our behaviours. My ‘How to Eat Less’ book offers practical tips and easy to adopt techniques that can be followed without the need to go on a diet, and for those who are ready for more, and want to tackle their mindset and change their behaviour for good, they can work with me or purchase my ‘Preparing for Successful Weight Loss e-book".

Now living out her dream to maintain her own weight loss and to inspire and help others, Claire is expanding ‘YourOneLife’ to now offer in-person clinic appointments in Dover and Hawkinge for existing and new clients. In addition to her online weight loss/management groups and individual coaching Claire has recently completed a hypnotherapy course that has enabled her to offer hypnotherapy as a complementary service – to support unhelpful behaviours like smoking, emotional eating and mindless snacking, alongside portion control and phobias. The hypnotherapy services can also help with confidence and sport or stage performance nerves.

Reflecting on the range of YourOneLife services, Claire says, “I never promise a quick fix. Patience is key, it will take time, and my clients know I am going to make them work hard on challenging and changing their thinking, but it is so worth it. Rather than repeating the same pattern of weight loss and expecting different results, we change the pattern.”

Claire remains focused on self-development and is already signed-up for more courses to enhance her business and help others to achieve their weight loss goals. She continues to run most days and signs up to marathons and other races to ensure she always has a goal to work towards. Now retired from Firefighting, Claire is growing her business and promotes weekly and monthly challenges in her online Members Club to encourage healthier habits and accountability. With more time to dedicate to YourOneLife, Claire is keen to publish her next book focused on preparing for successful weight loss and will be running her online Preparing for Successful Weight Loss Programme in November to prepare participants for successful weight loss, followed by a Christmas Survival Challenge, ready to start losing weight from January 22. She will be opening up a small number of additional 1:1 slots for those who are the most serious about making the required changes and putting in to practice what they learn on the programme.

Claire comments, “I work with people before they start losing weight to build the right foundations for long-term success.”

This dedicated weight management expert has managed to leave behind decades of yo-yo dieting to find her mojo and is convinced her own weight loss programme is the key to success for people of all ages – no matter how much weight there is to lose.

Notes to Editors

To arrange an interview/photo opp please contact Claire directly via:
e. claire@youronelife.co.uk
m. 07761 422647

See www.youronelife.co.uk/ or search for YourOneLife on Facebook. The book ‘How to Eat Less’ is available to order on Amazon.

For more info contact hello@elitemarcomm.com or 07860 464692.


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