The Health Huns

Rhiannon Riley-Tims and Amber Green

The Messy Side of Health and Fitness! Your favourite amateur athletes keeping it real, discussing the messy side of health and fitness

  1. 5D AGO

    EP.33 Do We Need New Year Goals?

    Fresh calendars don’t change lives—clear systems do. We kick off 2026 by swapping pressure-heavy resolutions for grounded routines, starting with two big levers: self-awareness and intentional time. From keeping workouts short and consistent to choosing creation over consumption, this conversation gets practical about how to make progress feel doable, even when life is busy and winter gets in the way. We unpack our “ins and outs” for the year with zero fluff. Ins: being honest about what you want, structuring free time to reduce doomscrolling, and building habits that stick. Outs: fear-mongering around ultra-processed foods, needlessly long gym sessions, and the influencer sameness that flattens personality and nuance. Expect real talk on balanced nutrition, 30-minute strength sessions, and the mindset shift that turns goals into actions. We also share personal targets—running 1,000 kilometres and lifting one million kilograms across the year—plus the systems that support them: progressive overload, deloads, logging workouts, and rest without guilt. Beyond training and nutrition, we zoom out to life design. We’re decluttering homes, deleting shopping apps, embracing secondhand first, and using tools like Todoist to turn intentions into tasks. Quarterly themes guide the year: intent in Q1, growth and community later on, leaving room for seasonal energy and recovery. And for the podcast? We’re sharpening our niche, inviting thoughtful guests, exploring studio sessions, and seeking value-aligned brand partners so we can keep levelling up without losing our voice. If this resonates, hit follow, share with a friend who hates “new year, new me,” and drop your 2026 system in the comments. Your messages and reviews genuinely help this show grow—thank you for being here with us. Thank you for listening! Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow. Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

    39 min
  2. 12/19/2025

    EP.32 Snog, Marry, Avoid Fitness Influencer Edition

    What happens when you judge fitness influencers by who you’d snog, who you’d marry, and who you’d avoid? A lot of laughs—and a surprisingly sharp filter for cutting through hype. We put big names on the playful hot seat and unpack what their content reveals about the industry: the stale comfort of “calorie deficit” clichés, the rise of aisle-filming icks, and the strange pull of carnivore stunt-eating that makes butter a co-star. We also spotlight the creators we’d happily commit to: the evidence-led educators who make science feel human, the runners who mix elite performance with humour, and the voices that give context instead of commandments. You’ll hear why tone matters as much as take, how certainty sells better than nuance, and how to spot the difference between coaching and content farming. Our guiding questions keep it simple: Do they welcome doubts? Do they avoid absolutes? Do they help you build habits without turning your life into a brand? Some tangents are too good to cut, so yes, we talk wild swimming, UK waters, and why trend-chasing can ignore unglamorous realities like sewage, safety, and stress. It’s a metaphor for the episode: before you dive in, ask better questions. If you’re tired of feeling talked at by your feed, this is your friendly nudge to curate for curiosity, compassion, and long-term sense. Enjoy the ride, send us your own Snog/Marry/Avoid list, and tell us who we missed. If you smiled, learned, or shouted back at your headphones, tap follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—it helps more curious listeners find us. James Smith PT Eddie Abbew Joe Wicks Courtney Black Ben Carpenter Hugo Fry El Mint Steak and Butter Gal Lucy Under Strong-woman Josh Hills Nutrition Thank you for listening! Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow. Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

    28 min
  3. 12/16/2025

    EP.31 Navigating The Festivities

    December doesn’t just bring twinkly lights; it brings the “super flu,” bulging calendars, and snack tables that call your name. We share a realistic, compassionate game plan for staying well through illness, navigating peak‑work weeks, and enjoying festive food without slipping into all‑or‑nothing mode. If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting or worried that a week off would erase your gains, this conversation will help you reframe rest as a strategic tool, not a setback. We start with the big question: when should you push and when should you pause? You’ll hear how to spot true recovery needs, why training while ill backfires, and how to return without panic by turning the dial down—fewer sets, lighter loads, longer rests—so confidence and conditioning come back fast. Then we shift to practical routines during busy weeks: choosing one anchor habit, using short full‑body sessions, and sprinkling in micro‑movement with a walking pad or ten‑minute walks. No toxic hustle, no 5 a.m. martyrdom—just smart choices that fit the week you’ve actually got. Food anxiety gets equal airtime. We unpack food neutrality, why big satisfying meals often beat constant grazing, and how to handle parties when tracking isn’t realistic. You’ll get simple ideas for ready‑meal planning, protein‑forward breakfasts, and letting go of perfection so you can enjoy the season and move on. We also address the social side: handling family comments about your body or your plate with calm, direct boundaries. If old diet rules or holiday pressure still nudge you into “I’ve blown it” thinking, we offer a way back—one action at a time, plus longer‑term support that targets roots, not just the scale. If you’re ready to protect your energy, keep your momentum, and enjoy your food with less noise, press play. And if this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a gentler plan, and leave us a review to help more listeners find the show. Thank you for listening! Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow. Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

    38 min
  4. 12/16/2025

    Ep.30 Top 10 Fitness Trends we Love and Loathe

    One day Rhi will get the episode number right Trend cycles promise transformation, but not all of them care about your health. We dig into the last decade of fitness with a clear lens: what actually helps you feel strong, sane, and supported—and what’s just discipline theatre for the algorithm. From the 5am club and 75 Hard to carnivore feeds served on chopping boards, we unpack the hustle aesthetics that burn people out and sell shame as self‑improvement. We also get honest about SkinnyTok’s return of thin‑obsessed messaging and why using vulnerable kids to build a fitness brand crosses every ethical line. Then we celebrate the good. Strength training for women has changed the game—better bones, confidence, and performance goals that go beyond shrinking. We talk about the quiet power of accessible programmes like Couch to 5K, and how inclusive run clubs create community without the cult vibe. Zumba and Clubbercise earn love for making movement joyful for people who would never touch a barbell. Tech gets a balanced take too: wearables and platforms like Strava can be brilliant when they inform rather than control, while saunas and cold plunges are positioned as nice-to-have rituals, not magic bullets. Throughout, we keep it real about illness, periods, and low‑motivation weeks, because life doesn’t pause for macros or morning routines. You’ll leave with a simple filter for the next viral trend: is it accessible, adaptable, and kind to your nervous system? Does it build strength, skill, and community over time? If the answer’s yes, keep it. If not, bin it and go lift, walk, eat well, and sleep. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend, and drop your favourite trend we should celebrate next. Your reviews and shares help the community grow. Thank you for listening! Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow. Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

    29 min
  5. EP.28 Fitness and the patriarchy

    11/21/2025

    EP.28 Fitness and the patriarchy

    Ever walked into a gym and felt the room decide whether you belong there? We start with the everyday stuff — cold runs, reluctant 10k sign-ups, the bravery of showing up alone — and then pull the camera back to show the bigger picture shaping those moments. Patriarchy still sets the tone in too many fitness spaces, from the stare you pretend not to notice to the route you won’t run after dark. That quiet vigilance isn’t paranoia; it’s a tax on focus, joy and consistency. We talk about how safety dictates training windows in winter, why women gravitate to women-only gyms, and how progress accelerates when a space feels truly welcoming. There’s some good news: mainstream messaging for women is inching toward strength and performance over shrinking. But there’s also the marketing machine that weaponises insecurity. Think TRT ads flooding feeds while women battle for HRT, pink-taxed leggings and “glow” supplements, and sports bras that look great but fail at actual support. Design and pricing are not neutral; they decide who gets comfort, who gets value, and who gets to train without second-guessing their outfit. We also trace how men’s social conditioning bleeds into fitness culture — the pressure to be big and emotionless, the policing of femininity, and why some “awareness” content misses the mark. Change needs education, empathy and better environments, not just viral posts. Along the way, we swap practical ideas: training with friends for night runs, choosing gyms that fit your needs, sharing ETAs, and seeking kit that prioritises function for different bodies, including masc and trans lifters who are underserved by current fits. If this conversation resonates, help us keep it going: follow the show, share this episode with a friend who trains, and leave a review with one thing you want to see change in fitness culture. Your thoughts shape what we tackle next. Thank you for listening! Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow. Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

    56 min
  6. EP.27 Is it ok to have 'body goals'?

    11/14/2025

    EP.27 Is it ok to have 'body goals'?

    What if the most important progress you make never shows up on a scale? We open the door to a frank, funny, and nuanced conversation about body goals, identity, and the everyday wins that actually change how life feels. From airplane seatbelts and clothing fit to TRX rows and clearer skin, we map the victories that prove health is bigger than a number. We share lived experiences of weight loss that improved pain, energy, and confidence, without pretending the world treats every body the same. One of us reframes body goals through gender expression—building a strong back and broader upper body to align how we feel inside with how we’re seen—while the other unpacks the relief of moving more freely, sleeping better, and caring less about a target weight. Together, we draw a clean line between healthy ambition and harmful extremes, calling out the traps of underfueling, obsessive tracking, and quick fixes that sabotage wellbeing. The conversation widens to society’s role: fat stigma, inaccessible spaces, the male gaze, and the double standard that calls men “distinguished” as they age while urging women to stay forever young. We talk about judgement from all sides, why the loudest critics are often the least content, and how therapy, patience, and perspective can help you choose what you’ll be judged for—and care a lot less about it. If you want to lose weight, we talk safe, sustainable approaches. If you don’t, we offer strength, performance, sleep, mood, and energy goals that deliver real momentum without obsessing over scales. Come for the candour, stay for the practical wins and mindset shifts that make training feel purposeful again. If this resonates, tap follow, share it with someone who needs a kinder lens on progress, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What non-scale victory are you chasing this week? Thank you for listening! Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow. Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

    45 min
  7. EP.26 How to level up your gym game and confidence

    11/07/2025

    EP.26 How to level up your gym game and confidence

    Think everyone at the gym knows exactly what they’re doing? Here’s a secret: most people are focused on themselves, often unsure about their own form. We dig into how to turn that insight into confidence, so you can train harder, smarter, and actually enjoy getting stronger without letting fitness take over your life. We start by breaking the “permanent beginner” mindset and move into clear, doable progressions: swapping lunges for split squats, testing assisted pull-ups after lat pulldowns, and using short, focused sessions when time is tight. We talk honestly about effort, explaining why growth happens when your last reps slow down and burn while form stays solid. You’ll hear how filming sets, using reliable online resources, or booking even a single PT session can unlock safer mechanics and quick wins that compound over weeks. Fuel and recovery anchor the whole plan. We cover practical protein targets across simple meals, pre- and post-workout basics that support quality training, and why sleep turns hard sets into real adaptation. We separate building muscle from getting “shredded,” unpack expectations shaped by social media, genetics, and assisted physiques, and help you choose your own path: aesthetics, strength, or a balanced blend. Most importantly, we offer goal frameworks you can start now—adding a few kilos to your lifts, mastering an exercise progression, or committing to two to three sessions a week—without counting every macro or living at the gym. If you’re ready to stop second-guessing and start progressing, hit play, save this for your next session, and share it with a friend who needs a nudge. Subscribe for more straight-talking health and fitness chats, and leave a review to help other listeners find us. Thank you for listening! Please review this episode, it really helps the pod grow. Find us on Instagram @thehealthhunspod

    44 min

About

The Messy Side of Health and Fitness! Your favourite amateur athletes keeping it real, discussing the messy side of health and fitness