#2 Stories that heal: reframing your narrative around food and wellbeing with Esther Amira Opie

Welcome to my first guest episode of Uncover Your Story! I’m so excited to kick things off with the brilliant Esther Amira-Opie — a nutritionist, wellbeing advocate, and founder of Nutrition Wellness Lifestyle.

Esther and I first connected over a brand shoot, and since then I’ve watched her grow a beautiful, grounded business rooted in care, knowledge, and deep personal experience. In this conversation, Esther shares the health crisis that led her to completely rethink her relationship with food and wellbeing — and how she now supports other women to do the same.

We talk about how powerful personal stories can be when building a brand, how to gently reframe harmful narratives around food and body image, and why small, consistent micro-stories often create big impact.

In this episode, we explore:

• Esther’s journey from burnout to balance, and how it shaped her business

• Why your own story is your strongest brand asset

• The importance of showing up with honesty and consistency

• How Esther rewrites old narratives with her clients — and why that matters

• What she’s learned in her first year of running a purpose-led business

• The role photography plays in helping her show up authentically online

Resources we mention:

Esther’s free Intermittent Fasting Guide — a gentle, personalised approach to nourishing your body

My free guide Grow Your Brand with Soulful Storytelling

Follow Esther on Instagram → @nutrition.wellness.lifestyle

Read the episode transcript

Sarah:

Welcome to Uncover Your Story, the podcast that empowers you to find your brand story and share it with confidence to increase your impact in the world. I'm your host, Sarah Oughton, and I'm a brand photographer, storyteller, and content creator. By drawing on my 20 years of experience and talking to amazing guests will be uncovering the art of communicating through story.

I am here to help you build your storytelling toolkit with actionable tips, strategies, and insights. Let's dig in.

I am incredibly excited to welcome my very first guest, Esther Amira-Opie. Esther has a 20-year background within healthcare and diagnostics, and in 2023 she launched her own business called Nutrition Wellness Lifestyle, and she says:

“As someone who has traversed the path of balancing work, family, and health, I'm here to support you in reclaiming control over your health journey.”

In the spring of 2024, Esther booked a brand shoot with me and we had a brilliant day connecting over our love of food and our taste in books and music.

Since then, I followed Esther on Instagram and it's been a joy to see her sharing her story, connecting with her audience and growing her brand.

And I can tell you from experience that what she does with her storytelling through her business works.

Last November when I was facing my own health issues and really struggling with my energy levels, I decided I probably needed to work with a nutritionist. And because of everything I'd learned about Esther through the information and stories she shares in her socials, in her newsletter and website, she was the first person I thought of.

I knew she had her own health journey. I knew she walked the walk. I knew she knew her shit. I knew she was a warm person and someone I could trust. Esther has a real talent for crafting narratives that connect with her audience, and I'm looking forward to diving into this conversation and seeing what insights she has to share with us all.

Esther, welcome to uncover your story.

Esther: Oh, thank you so much, Sarah. What a glowing review. I haven't actually heard that before.

Sarah: You are most welcome. So, as you know, you're my very first guest. Very exciting. And what we're going to do is we're going to dive straight into a quick-fire round. I've got a few questions that I'm going to be asking all my guests. So, are you ready?

Esther: Yes, let's go for it.

Sarah: Creative, changemaker or big-hearted rebel? Which do you most resonate with?

Esther: Wow, those are very good questions. Creative. Oh, big-hearted rebel. I'd say big-hearted rebel maybe, but a bit of creative as well. You know, because you have to be, yeah, I have to be creative around people I'm working with. It's never always the same person. But also, I think Big Rebel because I challenge women's perception of how to look after their bodies, right?

I'm challenging the traditional approach of restrictive, of counting, of have to look a certain way to kind of help them love and nourish their bodies. So yeah, a bit of both, but I think I really am a big rebel, really, because a lot of women come to me and they come away going, oh gosh, okay, I wasn't expecting that.

Sarah: What words do you choose to live by?

Esther: Oh, when you know better, you do better.

Sarah: What song gets you on the dance floor?

Esther: Wow. I'll tell you what I'm enjoying at the moment, actually, is a song that just sings to my heart. It's by Ezra Collective and Yazmin Lacey. It's called God Gave Me Feet for Dancing. And it's just lovely, melodic, and got lovely beats. It just gets me going and makes you feel happy.

Sarah: Oh, lovely.

Esther: That’s my jam at the moment.

Sarah: My husband just bought the Ezra Collective, so we just got that. I'll have to check out which one that is.

Esther: Yeah, have a listen to that one.

Sarah: What's a short story from your work that brings you joy?

Esther: Ah! There's lots of short stories actually and I think this is probably part of my work as well. I try and find little moments of joy in everything I do. A short story is that I started working with a client last year and she's having a lot of health challenges and one of them was she hadn't passed a number two regularly time in the first week sort of working together the first thing she said to me during our follow up was that I've been going to the toilet every day, and I mean, I was almost close to tears because I thought, wow, you can actually have a very big impact on someone's well-being.

Sarah: Yeah, oh, that's wonderful to have that impact on someone's life, isn't it?

Esther: yeah.

Sarah: And last quickfire, what's a daily ritual or habit you can't live without?

Esther: Oh rituals. I think my daily ritual is gratitude. Gratitude and getting into nature. Those are the two things that are non-negotiables that set me up for the day spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically.

Sarah: Brilliant. yeah, it's so important and it's definitely something I'm trying to do more after working with you, making sure I get out of my daily walks. It's really, really making a difference.

Esther: Yes.

Sarah: Okay, now we want to get into uncovering your story. Every business has an origin story, and I'd love you to share what was your journey to establishing your business?

Esther: So, my journey to establishing my business started somewhere in the middle. My health challenges really set me on this journey of nutritional therapy, alternative therapies holistic therapies, just understanding it's not just what we eat, but how we eat, when we eat, how we live, you know, emotional wellbeing. So, I had my own health challenges probably five or six years ago when my then young daughter was really small, I was back at work. Having taken a year off work and kind of trying to claw back, that sense of position in an organization, with that, obviously, you're very stretched as a mother who's working, right?

You're trying to be all things to all people and that you're doing it, but actually you're sacrificing yourself. And that's what I was doing, really. You know I worked long hours. I was looking after my daughter who was at nursery or starting school. I was just feeling drained. You know, no energy, I'd do a full day's work, and by two, three in the afternoon I was just flagging, you know, but you're just having to turn up, you know, because it's work. This carried on for about six or nine months.

And really, the turning point for me was when I had some routines, bloods done. Okay? Because at this stage now, my hair was spinning, was falling out. My nails were brittle, like energy was flagged. So, I had these routine blood tests done and staggering, really. They threw me off my track of whatever it is I was trying to achieve. And the funny thing was, I do work for a healthcare company. I was working for a healthcare company at the time. So you'd have thought that, you know, you'd be aware of these things.

Anyway, my Hb1c was raised more than I'd like it to have been at the time.

Sarah: And for people who don't know what that is?

Esther: Yes, so that’s a marker for blood sugar regulation over a three-month period. And really, it's an indicator of diabetic, trajectory if you don't get it under control.

That was a big shock to me because as far as I was aware at that time in life, I was training very hard. Okay. I thought I was eating well, but actually I was also doing what we call as intermittent fasting quite aggressively for where my body was at the time, counting calories, you know, really chopping down what I was eating as well. and it culminated in me having this. blood result, okay, which just stopped me in my tracks.

It almost winded me really.

And with that, obviously, I was like, what happens now? You know, and again, having a science background, as you know, I've been working in healthcare, my degree, my undergraduate, everything's always been science related. I was trying to piece this together myself, thinking I can fix this problem myself. but the more I did, the more overwhelmed I was.

Sarah: Yeah, because you were very active, fit and healthy person as well, weren't you?

Esther: Yes, yes, yes. I was training five mornings a week, first thing in the morning at 6 a. m. Obviously charging the day up and then not eating until late in the day and just creating this vicious cycle, which I didn't understand. So, when I came to a point where I was just like, I don't know what I'm doing. There's too much information out there. A friend I knew a nutritional therapist who I was quite curious about, but, oh, what does this mean? You know what I mean?

So, I had a chat with her and once we started talking, everything she said resonated with what I needed. A holistic view on not just how I eat, how I treat my body, how I sleep. that stuff, which all played a part into who I was at that very point in time. Cause I wasn't sleeping well, you know, cause my body was deprived and I was stressed.

So, a lot of things are happening there. So, yeah, I worked with her for a year just to get some habits into place really, to help me nourish my body, treat my body in a way that it needed for it to find its balance to then. Start healing from that diabetic trajectory. And think that's what I loved about it is that it wasn't about restricting my body further. It's about eating to nourish my soul, how I, you know, my sleep, my environment and everything. And I must say it's still, a continuum, you know, I'm still doing those things today. so that's really where it started. So then long story short, so that was obviously I was inspired by her.

I then went on to study part time, at the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London for nutritional therapy then 2023, Was the moment in time when I had an opportunity to step away from my main job. Okay. And I took that as a sign, know, I'd finished my I was setting up practice and I started to realize very quickly that if I wanted this to be a thing, I'd have to focus, to give it all my attention.

And I mean, at the time I thought, who am I to have the audacity to follow my dreams?

I thought, if I don’t do it now, I'm never going to do it.

Sarah: Absolutely.

Esther: I haven't looked back. So really, that was my brand story.

I want to bring a lot of the things that I've experienced, and working with women, obviously helping them understand their bodies, and realise it's not about restriction, it's not about punishing our bodies, right? It's leaning into it, okay? Because we're very unique, and our bodies you know, change over the years as well.

Sarah: Thank you. Thanks for sharing that. It's really interesting. So much that resonates and I just want to share with you. So obviously, you know, I've been working with you as my nutritionist over the last few months. I was going through the menopause and dealing with all of that and getting blood done to try and sort that out with my GP and they happened to take my bloods to test my blood sugar.

And I got the phone call saying you're pre diabetic and same thing. It's just like absolutely winded me just like was so shocking. You know, I've had my kids late in life. And you know, I've got young kids and I want to be around for them. It's just like, oh my God, things have got to change.

I’ve got to start prioritizing myself as ambitious working mothers, we. Everything else comes first. And, our own wellbeing is often at the pile, isn't it? But, you know, so I've been working with you over the last few months and you've been really helping me and I got a blood test done recently and my levels have come right back down and they're in range.

Esther: That's amazing!

Sarah: Thank you.

Esther: And again, that's a testament to you working with your body and going, let's just go back to basics. And really that's what it's about things are edging towards the right direction.

And I think one of the misconceptions about nutritional therapy is that people want the magic pill. know, and that's something I'm having to deal with a lot

Your body's been dealing with this thing for so long, to now have the safety net that needs to fix itself. So yes, well done, Sarah.

That's amazing.

Sarah: So, you've been in business now for just over a year can you tell us more? What is the change you want to create through your brand stories? What's the impact you want to have on people's lives?

Esther: Wow I think that's always going to be an evolving picture for me, you know, because the more I'm experiencing, the more I just feel, wow, this is what my brand is about. But really, it's about empowering women to honor their bodies, to listen to their bodies to come away from restriction and punishment, you know what I mean?

And cutting calories and, really trying to make your body be a certain way when maybe genetically it's not meant to be, right? but also for. care to be proactive. you know, an intentional thing, not reactive when you think, oh gosh, you know, like I did, I've got this result now I need to kind of, slam the brakes and try and get things moving back.

And really that's what I am trying to do by working with women in that. Plus 30 group, it was when I was kind of coming through my own health challenges to really be proactive about and intentional about how you look after yourself. Okay. And it's about little and often, not just doing these massive, you know, great big changes. And hoping for them to stick as a lifelong and a lifestyle really. I think that's what it's about. It's about having a lifestyle that supports you. You allow, you can have fun. Yes, have the cake, you know, have whatever your treats are, but knowing that your body needs to be within the certain confines of nourishment in all its forms more often than not.

Right. And really that's what I think I'd like to kind of put out in the world, you know, be proactive and also just working with your body when you are being challenged as well.

Sarah: yeah.

Esther: And listen to your body, what signals it's sending you; you know what I mean? Are you tired? Are you hangry?

Is your skin breaking out? Your joints achy? Your gut's got problems? You know, like, listen, what is it trying to tell you, you know? Yeah.

Sarah: And I guess that's like the micro stories that you're telling to your social media. Some of them it's about, like you said, just modeling that sort of intentional living and looking after yourself, right? The way sharing your yoga practices or what you're eating or going on a run, that sort of stuff.

Esther: Doing it as often as I can, obviously.

Sarah: Yeah.

Esther: You know, we’re all busy and trying to capture it all and share it is one of the challenges, I think.

Sarah: Yeah. So, what is the most impactful brand story you've shared and why do you think it landed so well? Whether that be through social media or your newsletter or, you know, what, what story have you told that you’ve, felt has really resonated with your audience?

Esther: I think it's just my story.

People meet me and they think, Gosh, you look so healthy, or you look so fit at that time. But my body was screaming at me.

So, I think that's probably what surprised people that actually, health might not just be what you're seeing physically on the outside, internal, what you're feeling, how you're sleeping.

Yes, I might not look like someone who's been on a journey, you know, but I have been internally.

Sarah: Yeah. And I think that's probably a lot of people, you know, who run their own businesses and personal brands, you know, your own story often is going to be that most powerful thing to really communicate to people because. You've lived it, you've been through it, and you sharing it helps people connect.

And it's that storytelling thing. That's what I wanted this, podcast to be about, to encourage all of us who are a bit sort of scared to get out there and share our stories, to understand just how impactful they can be. And that every story is important. Every person has an important story.

Esther: Yes,

Sarah: So, when it comes to photos, what role do you think they play in your brand and marketing?

Esther: photos are incredible, eh? Like, until we had our first photo shoot, I mean, I'd done a photo shoot before, I suppose, but not really, I wasn't yet in that kind of business mindset, but the brand shoot that we did together in May last year was so much fun and It captured me in a particular sense, but actually I've got so many parts to me, you know what I mean?

And I think I spoke to you later going, oh my gosh, I have to do another one because this is who I am. I want to show this part as well, you know what I mean? And I love that. So, I think photos are very, very important. To convey who you are, right, because people don't see you day to day, especially where you work remotely like I do.

Yes, I have a clinic in Hartford where I live, but photos are very good at capturing you bringing out the best in you. And that's what you did really well, Sarah, you know what I mean? So yes, I'd say photography is a way to capture, and videos if you can as well, obviously, because it just shows they can hear your voice, they can

Sarah: Exactly.

Esther: So, this is really great as well as a podcast to see, you know, how I come across and how we interact and stuff. So yes, I really, I love photos and I think I've got a bit of a thing now, a bit of a bug, like seasonal photos, you

Sarah: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Esther: Updating my kind of current collection and yeah, bring out a different side of me.

Sarah: And when it comes to connecting with your dream clients and growing your businesses, what challenges do you face? And what has been your biggest learning so far? Yes, if you want to share, you know, for people starting out, perhaps they can learn from what you're going through.

Esther: Wow. The biggest challenge I think we'll talk about this early before we started, is just showing up.

Sarah: Yeah. Yeah.

Esther: Being there, being present, adding value in whatever shape or form you're coming to business with. Right. and I think that is quite challenging, especially where you're trying to unlearn, some of these food myths or dietary myths.

People are kind of got hard ingrained in their mind. You know what I mean?

That can be quite challenging, but I would say. The one thing I'd say is definitely just turn up.

Sarah: Yeah.

Esther: Be present, be visible, speak your truth, about your story, and just share, right?

Sarah: That's perfect. I love that answer. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Something I find challenging. I'm sure there's not many business owners out there that don't find challenging to, you know, that's the first thing like whenever somebody books a photo shoot with me, usually the first thing they say to me is I'm not very good in front of the camera.

Esther: Yeah,

Sarah:  I don't like having my photo taken. It's hard to get visible.

Esther: I have the same thing where they say, Oh, you're going to tell me what not to eat

Sarah: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Esther: But actually, I need to kind of reframe that. And that's really what it is, educating people to reframe their view on what they should be eating, you know? And I say, I'm not going to tell you what not to eat. I'm going to tell you what to eat more of to achieve your health goals. So, it's a lot of just answering those questions and get people to think about things differently.

Sarah: You've talked about how when you work with your clients, you're often working on those relationships they have with food, which tie to deeper personal stories, and how you need to rewrite those narratives. And I just wonder if you could give us a bit more of an example of that.

Of how that works, what sort of stories do you come across, and how do you help people rewrite those narratives?

Esther: That's a really interesting question there, Sarah, because I think I probably rewrite narratives with all the clients I work with. But one really that sticks into mind that really is close to my heart, really, and a lot of clients don't realize how important it is to achieving their own health goals is like the late-night eating. A lot of my clients come to me, they've got health challenges of all sorts. one thing, a pattern that I see consistently is that they're eating quite late into the night before they go to bed. So, the, one of the main Really, I think the main lifestyle choices I advise to my clients is to allow at least three to four hours between their last meal of the day and bedtime. Okay? And they always say, well, I'm hungry before I go to bed and stuff, and I say, well, if you're eating enough throughout the day and given their protocol, I'll make sure they have enough at each meal. You know, at the end of the day, they're getting ready for bed. Their body is preparing to shut down to do the house housekeeping is what I call it. And really, that's what it is. Your body is shutting down to do housekeeping for you to repair, to heal, restore. you're eating too close towards that time; you're interfering in that housekeeping process. Okay. And then that interferes with your sleep. Which then creates a vicious cycle of you then feeling that you have enough rest when you need to snack and it just feeds that loop even more. So that's one of the narratives I think I could think of right now that just play out constantly and once a client adjusts to that, that's when they say Oh my gosh, I've lost four pounds of weight in the first week.

You know, like it's almost like they didn't expect focusing on just their weight and counting calories, that actually this natural lifestyle and lifecycle and rhythm plays a bigger part than just a counting calories. And that's also another kind of change in misconception about loss, you know, and counting calories.

Sarah: So, we are at the last question. And I would love to ask you for people just starting out and wanting to grow their brand. What advice would you give them when it comes to sharing their stories?

Esther: Be authentic, you know, be yourself because everyone else has taken,

Sarah: I love that quote.

Esther: Everyone else is taken because you might have an amazing product, but they're going to buy you.

Sarah: Yeah.

Esther: You know especially when I was going through, setting up business. I've quickly realized that people need to know you. They want to like you and they want to trust you. if you're not being your authentic self, I don't know how long that lasts, right? So definitely authenticity is top of that list, you know, and again, I don't know if I bring all myself to social media all the time.

Sarah: Yeah.

Esther: To give an insight of who I am, you know, and this is a great way to do it as well, having the time to chat and, to show who I am.

Sarah: That's a perfect note to finish on. Thank you so much for being my first guest, Esther.

Esther: So welcome Sarah, this has been so much fun.

Sarah:  I so enjoyed that beautiful conversation, and I'm grateful to Esther for sharing so openly. There's so much wisdom in her story. Here are my three storytelling takeaways that really stood out. Number one, your personal story is your most powerful brand asset. Esther's willingness to share her own health journey, the moment she was winded by a blood test result.

The overwhelm, the burnout. It's what builds such deep trust with her audience. It's not polished perfection, it's real, and that's what makes it resonate. Number two, micro stories create macro impact, whether it's showing a moment of gratitude in nature, time on her yoga mat, or helping a client to live with more ease by getting back to regular digestion.

Esther reminds us that storytelling doesn't always need to be big or dramatic. It's often the small, consistent moments that show who we are and how we can help. Number three, storytelling can be an act of reframing for yourself and your audience. Esther helps her clients rewrite the old stories they tell themselves about food, health, and worthiness.

She models a new narrative, one of nourishment, self-respect and joy, and that authenticity invites her audience to rethink their own beliefs too. So, if you're wondering how to tell your story, start by being present, and sharing what's true for you. If today's episode got you thinking about the stories you are telling or maybe the ones you've been keeping to yourself, I've got a gentle invitation for you.

If you've got 15 minutes, why not grab your journal and do some free writing on your personal brand story? There's no pressure to craft the perfect narrative. Just give yourself space to explore. This can be a powerful exercise, whether you are just starting out or you've done this work before. In fact, I always recommend revisiting your story every year because we change, our work evolves, and sometimes the story we want to tell shifts too.

So, let this be a moment to check in, to see what still feels true and what new layers are ready to be shared. If you'd like support and uncovering those layers and shaping a story that feels like you, that's exactly what I help creators and change makers do through brand storytelling, photography, and content that connects.

You can find out more about my work on my website sarahoughton.co.uk or come and say hello on Instagram at Sarah Oughton photos. And if you're curious to explore one of the tools Esther uses in her practice, and that's helped many women improve their energy, achieve sustainable weight goals, and feel more in control of their health, then you can find her complimentary guide to intermittent fasting on her website.

Esther says that it isn't about rigid rules or restrictions. It's a gentle, real life introduction that helps you tune into your body's natural rhythms and build habits that support long-term metabolic health. I'll share her website details in the show notes.

If this episode inspired you, please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It really would make my day and it'll help me reach more brilliant change makers like you. Until next time.

Remember, uncover your story, own it, share it, and shine.