'I would turn weekends into a total binge and then hate myself' says TV nutritionist from Gwynedd

The nutritionist on a new TV show knows all about the stress and shame of being overweight – she was a weekend binge-eater with bulimia. Angharad Griffiths, 45, who hails from Carmarthen but now lives in Bethesda in Gwynedd, has spoken movingly about overcoming her own problems.

Angharad, a law graduate who has worked in the media for a number of years had a form of bulimia during her teenage years and has had a 30-year battle with yo-yo dieting and binge eating. She said she would "turn weekends into a total binge and then hate myself and start to cry".

She finally found her own "cure" with a far better relationship now with food and is on a mission to promote healthier lifestyles and eating habits on the new S4C reality programme, Tŷ FFIT. She is one of the two specialists on the health transformation series – a spin-off of the popular ‘FFIT Cymru’ which went through six series and is again being made by Caernarfon-based production company Cwmni Da.

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Angharad, 45, a mother and stepmother of four, teams up with fitness expert Cadi Fôn to guide the five participants through seven weekends of what producer Siwan Haf describes as a “light-touch boot camp”.

They will spend seven weekends at a beautiful but remote house in a secret location in Wales as Angharad and Cadi, as well as five other inspiring mentors, will be there to guide them through what should be a “life-affirming experience".

Angharad said: “I’ve had problems with food since I was 12. I had a form of bulimia during my teenage years and I’ve always had a really bad relationship with my body and with food. I’ve been on various diets. I’ve tried everything and anything new that came out.

“It’s been a 30-year battle with yo-yo dieting and binge eating. I would turn weekends into a total binge and then hate myself and start to cry. Whilst trying to find the best food plan for myself and researching to try to cure myself, it transformed into a career change.

“I can empathise with our five people. I hope we get a range of people who have different reasons for taking part, including finding out why some are overweight. I want to get to the root causes of why they are overeating and gaining weight. I know what it’s like to have a bad weekend but my relationship with food now is much healthier.”

Angharad does regular workshops with the programme’s fitness expert Cadi Fôn and both share the same ethos: “Cadi runs a café and there’s cake there,” she added: “But we also have complementary skills to help people out.

“They might want a quick fix but it’s about a sustainable approach where you still enjoy your life but get results.

“We want to give people the tools to enjoy a really healthy life, the life they dream of where they get up in the morning and know what to do. This is a really unique two-month experience that can turn their lives round and give them a blueprint to manage a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their families.

Cadi, 39, combines being a personal trainer with being a partner in ‘Bráf’, a popular café and studio close to the beach at Dinas Dinlle, near Caernarfon, and with being a mum of two and she was happy to be involved with the programme.

She said: “This is something I’m really interested in because it reflects what I’ve being doing in my classes and my work for the past ten years. I love lifestyle programmes and as a personal trainer my focus is on improving people’s health in a way that allows them to enjoy the process so this is right up my street.

“It’s about getting into the habit of being active in a way you enjoy so that you lose weight, look good and feel happier. Be prepared to work hard, to bring new habits into your daily routine but more importantly to have a lot of fun on the journey to make fitness, health and being active a way of life.”

Tŷ FFIT producer Siwan Haf worked on the original ‘FFIT Cymru’ series and sees the new series as a natural evolution of the show. She said: “There’s an element of Big Brother about it but we won’t be filming in any of the bedrooms. We’ll be following and filming every move in what is going to be a unique and once in a lifetime experience for anyone who wants to set themselves a challenge.

“It’s not all about losing weight – that’s a by-product of living a healthy lifestyle. It will be about wellness and gaining self-confidence. As well as following a health plan unique to each client, they will also undertake weekly tasks, lead by one of the five inspirational Mentors, which will involve psychology and creating a “can do” attitude.

“It’s about a positive transition in their lives which is what we have done in FFIT Cymru over the years and what we are looking to do again in this new, exiting series. The chosen five will stay for seven weekends in a beautiful part of Wales and we will be making the most of the landscape in the challenges. They will stay in an amazing house at an epic location.

“Cadi and Angharad are experienced specialists in their fields and are the people behind the individual health plans which will be tailored to suit each client. It’s really a great opportunity for anyone who wants to try to change their life for the better. fancies a new challenge and kick start their health journey. Everyone is welcome at Tŷ FFIT.”

• They’re looking for Welsh-speaking people aged 18 and over who want to change their lives for the better, lose some weight and feel good about themselves in the series presented by Lisa Gwilym which will start filming in September. Applications are now being sought from people who would like to take part via www.s4c.cymru/ty ffit with the closing date on Wednesday, July 10.

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