In this episode of the Prescription Strength Podcast, I talk to one of my clients Anne, an experienced Pilates instructor who took me to task after a previous episode when I shared a negative experience of Pilates.
We delve into common misconceptions about Pilates, particularly its efficacy for back pain, and the differences between commercial gym classes and smaller, community-focused Pilates sessions.
The instructor shares personal success stories of clients improving their health and mobility through Pilates.
Listeners are encouraged to embrace movement and consider Pilates for various health benefits, including improved posture, reduced pain, and enhanced overall well-being.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:19 Debunking the Pilates Myth
03:34 The Essence of a Good Pilates Class
05:15 Personalised Pilates Instruction
08:40 Pilates for Health and Recovery
12:28 Success Stories and Real-Life Impact
22:57 Understanding Different Perspectives on Posture and Alignment
23:47 The Importance of Soft Tissue in Pain Management
24:20 Addressing Misconceptions About Bulging Discs and Joint Wear
25:49 Impact of Modern Lifestyle on Bone Health
30:35 Finding the Right Pilates Class for You
33:23 Advice for Pilates Beginners
34:57 The Role of One-to-One Sessions in Pilates
41:35 Building Community Through Pilates
42:53 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Navigating Nutrition and Menopause with Emma Bardwell: I chat to Emma Bardwell, registered nutritionist and author of The 30g Plan.
We discuss the role of nutrition in women's health, particularly during menopause. Emma shares her personal experience with perimenopause and explains common symptoms that lead women to seek nutritional advice.
We discuss the importance of protein and fibre in diet, the impact of social media on health perceptions, and debunk myths around superfoods and supplements.
Emma emphasises practical approaches to nutrition and mentions her book 'The 30g Plan,' and we reflect on how GPs and nutritionists can better collaborate for patient care.
Emma can be reached at https://www.emmabardwell.com
Her book is available on Amazon and all book retailers. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:12 Guest Introduction and Focus on Women's Health01:00 Challenges Faced by Women in Midlife02:27 The Role of Nutrition and Initial Consultations07:17 Common Patterns and Misconceptions11:55 Importance of Protein and Fiber17:06 Debunking the Superfood Myth21:50 Making Decisions and Exit Plans22:38 Aggressive Marketing and Unrealistic Health Claims24:16 GPs and Nutritionists Collaboration28:17 The Gluten and Sourdough Debate36:48 Practical Dietary Advice40:08 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More Information
Understanding Physiotherapy: Myths, Realities, and Patient CareIn this episode, Lynette interviews Adam, an NHS physiotherapist with a significant online presence, to discuss common misconceptions about physiotherapy and the realities of the profession. Adam emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis, especially in managing musculoskeletal issues like back pain. He narrates his personal experience with a severe back injury and highlights the value of shared experience in patient care. The discussion also touches on the cultural myths surrounding posture, the limited yet specific role of Pilates, and the deceptive allure of immediate treatments versus allowing natural healing over time. The challenges posed by varied opinions from different healthcare providers (e.g., chiropractors, osteopaths) are highlighted, stressing the need for patient education to sift through overwhelming and often conflicting information. The episode wraps up by reinforcing that patience, self-care, and evidence-based practices are key to effective physiotherapy.
Adam is on Instagram @adammeakins & his website is https://www.adammeakins.com00:00 Introduction and Greetings00:37 Understanding Physiotherapy: Common Misconceptions02:18 Personal Journey into Physiotherapy03:16 Challenges in Physiotherapy Practice05:58 The Role of Physiotherapists in the NHS06:56 Patient Beliefs and Misconceptions07:58 Dealing with Mixed Messages in Healthcare15:14 Personal Experience with Injury22:02 The Debate on Imaging and Diagnosis27:04 Human Nature in Healthcare Decisions27:26 The Basics vs. Online Fitness Fads28:21 Debunking Functional Training Myths29:34 Pilates and Back Pain: Myths and Realities31:37 Strength Training for Women: Breaking the Myths33:52 Physiotherapy vs. Osteopathy vs. Chiropractic39:14 The Challenge of Doing Nothing in Healthcare41:43 Emerging Treatments in Physiotherapy42:44 Frozen Shoulder: Diagnosis and Treatment46:17 The Importance of Patience in Healing
Lifting and Life Lessons with a 70-Year-Old Powerlifter
Join host Dr. Lynette Ewart on the Prescription Strength Podcast as she delves into an inspiring conversation with Diane, a 70-year-old competitive powerlifter. Discover how Diane navigated the fitness landscape, from feeling daunted entering a gym to becoming a seasoned competitor, lifting weights heavier than many half her age. They discuss the importance of muscle mass, overcoming injuries, maintaining a healthy diet, and the critical element of consistency. This episode provides practical insights and motivational advice for anyone considering starting their fitness journey, especially women who might feel sidelined by societal expectations. Don't miss this empowering episode filled with real-life experiences and valuable fitness tips.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:19 Dan's Journey to the Gym
01:15 Finding the Right Trainer
04:05 The Importance of Lifting Properly
07:16 Transition to Competitive Powerlifting
11:33 Diet and Protein Focus
14:29 Managing Weight and Health
27:07 Training Routine and Competition Prep
27:31 Pre-Competition Training Routine
27:58 Training Schedule and Family Life
29:04 Training Sessions and Exercises
29:44 Importance of a Good Trainer
30:07 Managing Training Blocks and Plateaus
32:17 Dealing with Injuries
33:13 Consistency and Motivation
36:03 Cardio and Conditioning
41:28 Supplements and General Health
44:58 Starting Late and Staying Consistent
48:38 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Debunking Sleep Myths with Dr Lynette Ewart: From Perfect Sleep to Insomnia Solutions
In this episode of the Prescription Strength Podcast, host Dr. Lynette Ewart, a GP and personal trainer, delves deep into the world of sleep with sleep expert Dr Eidn Mahmoudzadeh of The Sleep Project. They discuss common myths around sleep, especially the misconception that everyone needs eight hours of sleep.
Audience will learn about individual sleep needs, the impact of anxiety on insomnia, and practical steps to improve sleep initiation. The conversation also covers the misuse of sleeping pills, the role of melatonin, and the pros and cons of napping.
Tune in to get evidence-based advice on achieving better sleep without falling for fear mongering and commercial gimmicks.
To work with Dr Lynette Ewart visit www.prescriptionstrength.co.uk
To work with Dr Eidn Mahmoudzadeh visit www.thesleepproject.life
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:21 Debunking Sleep Myths
01:32 The Impact of Sleep Duration
03:27 Personal Experiences with Sleep
05:22 Sleep and Anxiety
13:16 Practical Sleep Tips
20:55 Handling Sleep Interruptions
29:16 The Science Behind Sleep
34:22 Sleep and Weight Loss
36:32 Hormonal Changes and Hunger
37:39 Sleep Deprivation and Impulse Control
39:30 Sleep Apnea and Obesity
40:46 Chronic Conditions and Sleep
41:35 Sleeping Pills: Short-Term vs Long-Term Use
46:58 Melatonin: Uses and Effectiveness
55:43 Napping: Benefits and Drawbacks
01:05:09 The Sleep Project: Services and Support
Understanding and Managing Chronic PainIn this episode of the Iron Prescription Podcast, Drs. Lynette and Stuart discuss the growing issue of chronic pain and the use of therapeutic cocktails to manage it. They explore the differences between acute and chronic pain, the complexities of chronic pain management, and the role of psychological factors in pain perception. They also touch on the body's natural pain relievers, the importance of exercise and rehabilitation, and the impact of unprocessed trauma on chronic pain. The episode highlights the need for a patient-driven approach to managing pain and the importance of understanding and addressing the multifaceted nature of chronic pain.00:00 Introduction to the Iron Prescription Podcast00:40 Discussing Chronic Pain and Therapeutic Cocktails02:38 Understanding Chronic Pain: Definitions and Experiences05:28 The Role of Painkillers and the Brain's Pain Signals07:52 Challenges in Managing Chronic Pain15:49 Gender Differences in Pain Perception and Acceptance18:46 The Impact of Trauma on Chronic Pain22:18 Understanding the Body's Response to Pain23:11 The Power of Expectation in Pain Perception24:03 Perception of Pain in Extreme Conditions27:08 The Role of Pain Clinics and Rehabilitation29:31 Challenges in Managing Chronic Pain32:14 The Emotional and Social Aspects of Pain37:54 Medication and Pain Management39:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this episode of the Iron Prescription Podcast, Drs. Lynette and Stuart are joined by Dr. Samantha Lewis, a clinical psychologist specialising in neurodiversity assessments in adults.
The discussion delves into adult ADHD, its misconceptions, and the evolution of understanding this condition over the past 20 years.
Dr. Lewis explains the symptoms, impacts, and the importance of a thorough diagnostic process for ADHD. The conversation also explores the role of exercise, medication, and strategies in managing ADHD effectively, as well as addressing society's response to neurodiversity.
Dr Lewis can be reached by emailing DrSamanthaLewis@protonmail.com
Join The Iron Prescription Podcast Inner Circle and have a say in what topics we discuss .
www.theironprescription.co.uk
00:00 Introduction to the Iron Prescription Podcast
00:24 Meet Dr. Samantha Lewis: Expert in Adult ADHD
01:02 Understanding ADHD: Symptoms and Misconceptions
02:00 The Evolution of ADHD Diagnosis
03:06 ADHD in the Modern World
06:32 Challenges in Diagnosing ADHD
18:08 ADHD and Medication
20:49 Harnessing ADHD Strengths
31:27 Medication and Personal Choice
32:15 Understanding ADHD Medication
32:48 The Orchestra Analogy
33:14 Balancing Medication and Personality
34:46 Societal Views on Neurodiversity
35:59 ADHD in the Public Domain
36:48 Misconceptions and Labels
38:14 Trauma and ADHD
40:40 ADHD in the Criminal Justice System
47:04 Challenges in Adult ADHD Support
51:44 Exercise and ADHD
57:36 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
In this episode of the Iron Prescription Podcast, Drs. Lynette and Stuart discuss their personal and professional experiences with prostate cancer.
Dr. Stuart shares his firsthand account of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, the various treatment options he explored, and the significant role fitness played in his recovery.
He also addresses the misconceptions about fitness providing complete immunity against cancer and emphasises the importance of regular screenings and trend analysis for early detection.
The conversation highlights the psychological and physical challenges faced by cancer patients and the role of fitness in improving recovery outcomes.
The episode provides valuable insights for listeners on managing health, particularly for those at risk or diagnosed with prostate cancer.
00:00 Introduction to the Iron Prescription Podcast
00:25 Discussing Cancer and Fitness
00:55 Personal Cancer Journey
02:06 Chris Hoy's Cancer Diagnosis
03:13 Discovering Prostate Cancer
04:48 PSA Testing and Diagnosis
10:34 Treatment Options and Decisions
15:29 Surgery and Recovery
20:50 Reflections on Fitness and Recovery
23:31 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Cancer Diagnosis
24:22 Mental Impact and Health Anxiety
24:37 Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Guilt
26:00 Psychological Effects and Support Systems
28:00 Sexual Inequality in Cancer Treatment
29:52 Erectile Dysfunction Solutions
32:46 The Importance of Fitness in Recovery
35:11 Administrative Burden of Being a Patient
38:06 PSA Testing and Screening Debate
41:48 Genetic Testing and Family History
45:01 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
In this conversation, host Lynette interviews Jess Wall, a psychological skills mentor from CHIMP Management, discussing the CHIMP model developed by Professor Steve Peters.
Jess introduces herself and her role, elaborating on how the CHIMP model helps understand human behavior by exploring the neuroscience behind it. She shares her personal journey to joining CHIMP Management and explains various aspects of the model, including the interaction between the CHIMP and human parts of the brain, and how they impact habits and behaviors.
The discussion covers practical applications, such as behaviour change, procrastination, and habit formation, emphasising the importance of self-compassion, planning, and understanding one's chimp to achieve lasting change.
The episode concludes with Jess providing resources and recommendations for utilising CHIMP Management's tools and courses to improve mental well-being.
In this episode, we talk about our journey towards improving our podcast audio quality, inspired by a technical glitch from our previous episode. We then dive into the topic of health anxiety, sharing personal definitions and experiences. We discuss how intrusive thoughts about one's health can be overwhelming and how prevalent this issue is today. We highlight the therapeutic benefits of exercise, explaining how physical activity can help manage anxiety by occupying mental bandwidth and providing physical reassurance. We share our personal stories and experiences, including a recent marathon run and how we used fitness to cope with medical treatments and stress. We also touch on the limitations of using Google for self-diagnosis compared to professional medical advice. The conversation includes practical tips for managing health anxiety, like clear communication with healthcare providers and considering professional psychological help when necessary. We wrap up by announcing the topic for our next episode: cancer.
00:00 Introduction and Audio Upgrade
01:01 Discussing Health Anxiety
01:47 Defining Health Anxiety
03:37 Impact of Information Overload
04:41 Role of Medical Profession in Health Anxiety
07:27 Google and Health Anxiety
13:09 Personal Experience with Health Anxiety
13:35 Exercise as a Remedy for Health Anxiety
20:55 Marathon Experience and Pain Reframing
23:11 The Mind Game of Marathon Running
23:53 Fuelling Strategies for Marathon
24:35 Experiencing the Marathon on Mounjaro
24:59 Overcoming the Wall at Mile 18
26:34 The Role of Exercise in Cancer Recovery
27:26 Challenging Health Anxiety with Exercise
28:03 The Reassurance Paradox in Anxiety
37:12 The Impact of Media on Anxiety
38:55 Managing Anxiety with Exercise and Professional Help
40:46 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics
Can You Be Fat and Fit? Examining the Relationships Between Weight, Health, and FitnessWe delve deep into the debate about whether you can be fat and fit. Inspired by recent books critical of diet culture, we explore the literature, discuss the impact of language changes in medical terminology, and the intricacies of BMI and waist measurements as indicators of health.
We also touch on the misunderstood relationship between adipose tissue and chronic diseases, and the importance of functional fitness.
Towards the end, we highlight personal experiences and challenges with weight loss medications.
Join us for an enlightening discussion that balances scientific insights with practical advice.00:00 Introduction to the Iron Prescription Podcast00:24 Debating Diet Culture and Health Assumptions02:05 Defining Fat and Fitness05:19 BMI and Its Controversies07:41 Functionality Over Measurements18:04 Personal Fat Threshold and Health Risks22:39 The Impact of Weight on Performance and Health27:35 Understanding BMI and Obesity Categories29:33 The Impact of Visceral Fat31:20 Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease33:46 Fitness and Health Indicators36:57 Weight Loss Injections Experience42:26 Addressing Weight Stigma and Misconceptions45:01 Concluding Thoughts and Comments
In this episode, we have a deep-dive discussion on the world of supplements. We explore personal supplementation habits, touch on the evidence behind Omega-3, Vitamin D, Creatine, Magnesium, and collagen, and discuss their effectiveness and safety. The conversation also addresses the placebo effect, the power of marketing in the supplement industry, and the challenges in navigating unregulated products. Tune in to get an informed perspective on which supplements might be worth your investment and which could be doing more harm than good.
00:00 Introduction to Supplements
00:37 Personal Supplement Regimens
01:55 Vitamin D: Benefits and Controversies
08:24 The Placebo Effect in Supplements
12:17 Magnesium: Uses and Evidence
19:13 Supplement Industry and Regulation
21:56 Weight Loss Injections: Personal Experience
23:22 Continued Loss in Clinical Trials
23:44 Fish Oil and Omega Supplements
23:59 Mediterranean Diet and Health Benefits
26:09 Glucosamine and Arthritis
27:12 Aspirin: Benefits and Risks
29:33 Vitamin D and Individual Variation
34:44 Collagen Supplements: Hype vs. Reality
40:05 Creatine and Cognitive Benefits
41:03 CBD Oils and Cannabinoid Receptors
42:36 Upcoming Topics and Conclusion
Getting older can bring with it a host of health issues you didn't ask for. Is this the same as ageing?
Can you really make a difference to your trajectory of ageing? If so what things make a difference.
Discussing this from a perspective of over 20 years clinical experience.
Everyone is talking about weight loss injections and they are here to stay.
We discuss how they work, what you can expect, what the risks are and what happens when you stop them.
In this episode we talk about some of the misconceptions around training for strength.
Why your program design really matters if you want the right results.
Why your health will suffer if you don’t prioritise strength.
What you should add to your diet if you care about building and maintaining strength.
Should you take a statin if you are offered one?
How do you really understand the risks and benefits if all you've had is a text message from your practice?
What can you do instead if you don't want to take one?
We discuss our approach to this hot topic that seems to generate a lot of heated debate for most people in the 2nd half of life.
If you want to see what your risk score is with the most sophisticated calculator, you'll find it here:
https://qrisk.org/
But remember you can't have a risk of 0% unless you're a bot.
You can contact Lynette for coaching at
lynette@prescriptionstrength.co.uk
In this episode we discuss what Stuart has taken away from a recent trip to work with the RedTribe community charity in South Kenya.
More information on their work can be found here https://www.redtribe.org
We talk about what life is like for people who live a traditional tribal life, but are facing the challenges of globalisation knocking at the door.
We also discuss how health expectations and habits really alter our experience of illness.
The documentary referred to at the end is available to see here.https://youtu.be/K6c50ynY6oo?si=RLU_Xt6nfYdv3Ic7
For further information on working with Lynette, contact at www.prescriptionstrength.co.uk
We discuss the topic of testosterone in health and training.
It can be good, great in fact, but like everything it can have a down side.
In this episode we talk about how we approach depression in the consultation and the complexities of bringing exercise and activity into the discussion. We discuss the role of medication in the short and longer term, the evolutionary mechanisms that have ensured we've evolved to feel better when we move and we catch up on how our respective challenges are shaping up.
In this second episode of the Iron Prescription, Stuart and Lynette discuss some of the downsides of exercise, both psychologically and when injuries happen.
How to adapt when you can't do what you've always done.
Also discussed is the utility of data and measurements as they relate to exercise and whether they can be a help or a hindrance.