Emma’s success story: how personalised coaching made all the difference

Emma, a mental health practitioner and youth worker, has spent years supporting young people with their mental health. After trying countless weight loss methods and struggling due to chronic health conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, she found success with Numan, losing 24kg (March - October 2024) with the help of our clinical team and health coaches.

Following a Numan video shoot a few weeks ago, we caught up with Emma to see how she’s doing now and hear more about her journey.

How did you find the video shoot we did a few weeks ago?

It was great fun! I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. For one thing, I got to meet my coach in person, which was completely unexpected. I had no idea he would be there.

It was really lovely. I’ve been working with Thomas for so long through the app, but I never really knew what he looked like. Chatting with him in person was great - it was like I already knew him, and we could just pick up the conversation from where we left off online. It was like we had known each other for ages. 

That’s great to hear. So to get started, could you tell me a bit about yourself and what led you to Numan?

Life’s been busy, especially since we decided to home-educate our daughter. I joined Numan around April or May, right in the middle of a chaotic kitchen renovation which made the diet part of it harder. Despite the challenges, I’ve lost 24kg (March - October) and feel much more comfortable in myself, even while managing ongoing health issues.

Have your health conditions been a significant challenge in losing weight?

Definitely. I’ve dealt with anxiety since I was young, which used to cause heart palpitations. For a long time, we didn’t know what was causing them, and I was put on a lot of medication. More recently, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I also still have nerve damage from giving birth to my daughter, which hasn’t gone away even eight years later. And then there’s the joint issues - I had extreme tennis elbow for years, which required multiple surgeries.

Even with all these challenges, I’ve always tried to stay active. I’ve been heavily involved in Scouting, and I help out with the school and various community projects. I’m not the kind of person who can just sit still—I’m always on the go, even when my body is telling me otherwise. But there were points where it felt like no matter what I did, the weight just wouldn’t come off. 

Have you tried other weight loss methods before joining Numan?

I tried everything. There was a point where I was eating as little as 800-900 calories a day and I lost half a kg - if that. I went to the doctors for help, but they just kept telling me to “eat less and move more”, which wasn’t helpful given my medical conditions. I even looked into surgery, but the waiting lists were so long, and the doctors kept saying I wasn’t “big enough” to qualify for more intensive support, even though I knew I was heading down a dangerous path with my weight.

How did you come across Numan, and what made you decide to give it a try?

I’d heard about weight loss medications before but was hesitant to jump into anything. I didn’t want to risk causing more medical complications for myself. I spent a long time researching different providers because I wanted to make sure I was working with a company that genuinely cared about my health and wasn’t just trying to sell me something. When I found Numan, I felt reassured by the emphasis on working with doctors and health coaches who would guide me through the process, and that made all the difference for me.

Was there any specific advice your health coach or clinician gave you when you started?

Yes, the support was really useful. In the beginning, my health coach was in contact every week, and then it moved to every two weeks. They’d check in regularly and ask how things were going—like how we were managing the kitchen renovation or if there were any areas where I was struggling.

How did your coach help you manage any hurdles?

There were times when I couldn’t make proper meals because of everything going on, and Thomas would give me alternatives. Instead of just saying, "Do this, do that," it was more about what I was capable of doing and how I could work around the barriers I had. It was such a relief to have someone consider what was feasible for me instead of giving blanket advice and telling me to figure it out.

Did you ever experience any concerns about your progress?

At one point, the clinical team got worried because they felt I was losing weight too quickly. They sent me an email and then followed up with a phone call just to check how I was feeling. It was a really nice conversation where they went over my symptoms, and it felt so supportive. I remember talking to them about feeling nauseous, and they were brilliant—they sent me loads of information, and even called to see how I was doing. They gave me plenty of different things to try, rather than just a "one-size-fits-all" solution. It was like, "Here’s a whole host of things you can do, see what works for you, and if none of it helps, we’ll explore further."

What kinds of things did they suggest that worked for you?

One thing that helped was changing the times I was eating, and making sure I drank more water. They also suggested certain herbal teas, which I don’t usually drink, but I gave them a try. They didn’t just throw medication at me and say, "This will fix it." Instead, they provided a variety of tips. But they were also very mindful of the fact that I didn’t want to add more medication to my routine, especially with my existing health conditions.

If things had got worse, they would have recommended further steps, but they let me decide what I felt comfortable with. That made a huge difference.

Did you feel any concern about the stigma around weight loss medications, given how much attention they’ve been getting lately?

Yeah, there’s definitely a stigma, especially online. You see a lot of negative comments, and it’s almost like there’s a club for “thin people” who don’t understand that their methods don’t work for everyone. 

But I’ve been really open with my friends and family, and they’ve been supportive. Working in mental health, I’ve seen how important it is to seek help when you need it, and weight loss is no different. It’s just another way to take care of yourself, like any other medical treatment.