"My first encounter with Fitfish was in February 2019. I had, in previous years, attended a large Women's Conference annually and this had taught me the importance of setting aside time away with God but, after a few years, I began to feel the need for something more intimate and personal for me. I was led to a Facebook advert for Fitfish with information about an upcoming 'Retreat'. I did some research and everything I discovered reinforced my hunch that this could meet my needs, and so, after persuading a friend to come too, I booked myself in. As it happens, the friend was not able to come, but I decided I had nothing to lose and went alone. That weekend has truly changed my life in so many ways - I met some lovely welcoming people who had experienced similar struggles with their weight and lifestyle choices. There was so much on offer over the weekend - none of it compulsory, but so varied. There was worship, talks based on Scripture, various exercise sessions, one-to-one prayer or counselling as well as plenty of downtime to get to know others on the retreat. I came away knowing that the Healthy, Whole and Free programme was something I wanted to be part of.

Through the course I learnt so much, not just about food and nutrition, but about some of the deeper-rooted causes of my struggle to lose weight. I loved the daily Bible verses sent to us, the non-judgmental way that Gaynor supported each of us and the support of the 'group' who had joined at the same time as I had. At the end, my head was full of new information and such a different way of thinking about my relationship with food.

Since then I have joined the Healthy Whole and Free Forever Programme where I continue to be supported with teaching, coaching and so much more. Even though we are scattered all over the country, I have made new, lifelong friends - some of us have met up, on other Fitfish Retreats, or on other occasions socially. And the most important thing for me is that it is all God-centred . Thank you!"

“I have always struggled with my relationship with food.....way back in childhood I would be raiding the biscuit tin secretly and once I had pocket money and then a wage, secret binge eating became a way of life.

Mountains of ultra-processed sugary cakes and chocolates with the wrappers dropped off in public bins so my lovely husband wouldn't find out.

Every day started with me wondering where I would get my "fix" and I knew every supermarket, corner shop and garage on every route.

I was so organised and "high achieving" in pretty much every other area of my life apart from this obsession with food.

I met Gaynor at New Wine over 10 years ago and immediately loved the mix of bible and exercise in her daily morning sessions and soon signed up for a weekend retreat and they became a regular fixture.

I resisted some of her insights as I knew I could lose weight calorie or point counting and I couldn't see why a 300 calorie ultra processed meal was a poor choice.

But slowly and gradually the penny dropped with a lot of help from the Healthy Whole and Free course and the friendships made.

I also met a doctor on the Fitfish retreats specialising in weight management advice and care and all these strands of Fitfish have helped me lose lots of weight and look forward confidently to the next phase of retired life.

My spiritual and emotional wellbeing has also been massively positively impacted - thank you Lord! “

Bridget’s journey with Fitfish began at Spring Harvest this year, where she attended my seminar on breaking free from emotional eating.

Bridget had spent years stuck in the dieting cycle—trying every diet imaginable, each time hoping for results that would last. But no matter how hard she worked, she found herself back at square one and was thinking about food all of the time.

During the session at Spring Harvest, one particular moment stood out: “When you said we were in bondage, I felt the Lord release me,” Bridget recalled. “I felt something give.”

On her return home, Bridget joined the Healthy, Whole & Free Programme, seeking not just a way to lose weight but a deeper sense of peace and freedom.

Slowly through the course, Bridget's mindset around food changed. No longer was it about strict rules, calorie counting, or feelings of guilt and shame. Instead, she learned how to listen to her body, trust herself, and enjoy food without fear.

Now she is no longer stuck in the dieting cycle, has freedom in this area and is so grateful to God!

When Megan (not real name) first joined Fitfish, she was struggling with motivation, feeling lost, and unsure if life held much purpose. But now, her story is one of transformation, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose.

“It’s been fits and spurts,” Megan admits but “Fitfish has changed my life in so many ways,”.

Reading stories of successes and struggles in the Fitfish community has motivated Megan and reminded her that she’s not alone in her journey. But the impact has gone far beyond physical health.

Through Fitfish, Megan has gained confidence, made meaningful friendships, and found a new focus and enthusiasm for life. Some of the teaching has helped her heal wounds from her family breaking up years ago and improved her relationship with her parents.

For the first time, Megan feels free to express who she truly is, rather than trying to meet others’ expectations.

Spiritually, her connection with God has deepened, giving her a sense of peace and courage. “I’ve never been stronger in my faith,” Megan says and it has helped her feel confident enough to even join open discussions about God at work.

Reflecting on her journey, Megan says, “I went to Fitfish because I didn’t care if I lived or died; I felt like I just existed. Now, I see a future I’m excited about and want to face head-on. Life is awesome!”

From struggling to surviving—and now thriving—Megan’s story reminds us that with faith, community, and a little courage, life can truly be transformed.

'Yvonne' has been involved with Fitfish for a few years now.

Yvonne is in her 80s and suffers from almost complete neuropathy in her hands and feet. She needs two sticks or a stroller to walk, and if it’s raining, she can’t go out because it’s too slippery. She has a mobility scooter, but that’s also only usable in fair weather. She relies on taxis for appointments and uses home deliveries for her shopping.

Inspired by Fitfish and its emphasis on the importance of movement, Yvonne walks up and down corridors or outside around her building, weather permitting. She regularly does chair exercises and stands to perform certain activities.

Her eating habits have also changed, and as a result, her blood sugar levels have significantly improved. Important as she has diabetes.

This has been, in her words, "all helping to make me feel much better. I’m so grateful for all I’ve gained from Fitfish and HWFF."

"I met Gaynor just as she was starting to hear from God about starting Fitfish and it was definitely a divine encounter!

I had struggled with binge eating and yo-yo dieting since I was about 10 years old and felt trapped in a cycle that I couldn't break out of. I was Gaynor's first client when she qualified as a personal trainer and she encouraged my new start with my health with the words 'This time it will be different as God's in it!'.

He's been in it ever since and so has Gaynor and indeed so have the Fitfish feam team and now my Healthy Whole and Free Forever family.

Gaynor coached me to begin running and I found God really spoke to me through it. I was never fast but I built up my stamina and I found I could keep going for a long time, so much so that just over two years after starting with Gaynor, I was lining up to run the London Marathon for the charity I worked for at the time. Crossing that finishing line, having run and prayed all the way was one of the proudest moments of my life.

I was part of the Fitfish team from the very first retreat, offering prayer support, talks and more recently the odd workshop and I could see from very early on that this was a real God-inspired ministry which has helped so many of us.

Emotional eating remained an issue for me despite my running and increased fitness. When I joined the Healthy Whole and Free programme just before lockdown in January 2021 I was ready to take a serious look at this again knowing that 'God was in it'.

So many of the very useful tools have stayed with me and return to me at difficult moments - it IS possible for me, God wants the best for me, I can choose to care for myself and nourish myself.

I have the most wonderful buddy in Bev Gray and she has been a fantastic accountability partner for me - there is no shame in telling her when I have slipped down a snake (to use one of Gaynor's powerful images of a snakes and ladders board where we can still be 'in the game' and climb ladders again as long as we don't throw away the board)!

Joining the Forever programme with Bev and being in a great supportive group has given me the opportunity to keep growing, to keep learning about myself, God and my relationship with food, my emotions and my relationships with other people. Every week I pick up something new from Fitfish!

To me Fitfish and indeed HWF, is what the church is all about - Giving glory to God in the way we live our lives and supporting and encouraging each other as disciples of Jesus to keep transforming into His image.

There's so much more I could say but that's for another day...

God, through Fitfish, has definitely changed my life and I continue to benefit every day. Thank you God!"