The Prescription Strength Podcast

Dr Lynette Ewart
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Monthly

Hosted by Dr Lynette Ewart, a GP in the NHS for 20 years and a passionate personal trainer specialising in strength training. A practical, evidence-informed health and fitness podcast for people who want clarity without hype. Most weeks, you’ll hear Pocket Prescription — short, no-nonsense episodes answering real questions about strength training, health, ageing, and risk. Once a month, I sit down with a guest to explore a topic in more depth. The video version of Pocket Prescription episodes is available on YouTube.

  1. 5d ago

    Why Strength Training Is Good for Your Heart

    We all know exercise is good for our heart — but most people still think that means cardio. In this episode, I’m joined by Emily McGrath, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, to talk about why strength training deserves a place in the conversation about cardiovascular health. Emily shares some of the most common worries she hears from people after a heart diagnosis, from palpitations and medication to the fear of exercising again. We talk about why a heart problem can completely change the way you see your body — and why people can end up treating themselves as far more fragile than they really are. We also talk about the evidence for strength training and heart health, including its effects on blood pressure, and why getting stronger can make everyday life easier as we age. Emily shares her own experience of starting strength training, despite initially feeling intimidated by it, and we discuss how to begin without needing to become a gym person, lift enormous weights or completely overhaul your life. Finally, we talk about the British Heart Foundation’s Strong Woman Challenge, a free 31-day challenge designed to help women try strength training at home and build confidence with it. Because cardio is excellent for your heart. But it doesn’t have to do all the work. In this episode: Why people can feel frightened of exercise after a cardiac diagnosisPalpitations, smart watches and health anxietyWhy strength training is still overlooked in heart healthThe effect resistance training can have on blood pressureStarting strength training when you feel intimidated or unsureWhy our bodies are often less fragile than we imagineStrength, function and maintaining independence as we ageCutting through the noise about strength training in midlifeThe BHF Strong Woman Challenge Join the October challenge here  www.bhf.org.uk/strongwoman

  2. Sep 8

    Why Am I So Tired? How to Investigate Your Own Energy

    Feeling tired all the time is one of the most common reasons people see their GP. But before assuming it must be your thyroid, hormones, cortisol or a vitamin deficiency, what else could your energy be telling you? In this episode, I talk through the energy audit I’d encourage you to do: when did your energy change, when does your battery drain, and where are the best hours of your day actually going? We look at sleep, work and caring responsibilities, food, alcohol and exercise; what your GP may reasonably investigate; and why blood tests are only one part of the picture. Most importantly, I explain how to experiment with one thing at a time, look for patterns and collect useful information about yourself. You don’t need to diagnose yourself. Become a detective before you become a diagnostician.

  3. Sep 1

    Who Should I See? Navigating NHS and Private Healthcare

    Finding the right healthcare can be surprisingly difficult. Who should you see? Should you wait for the NHS or consider going private? How do you compare providers, understand waiting times, work out what you’re entitled to — and know whether the person you’ve found online is actually reputable? In this episode I’m joined by Roxanne Stevenson Brown, founder and CEO of Find Care Compare, a platform designed to help people navigate NHS and private healthcare options in one place. We talk about why healthcare has become so difficult to navigate, the growing overlap between NHS and private care, Right to Choose, reviews versus actual clinical outcomes, and why women so often become the unofficial “chief medical officers” for their entire families. We also discuss Roxanne’s bigger ambition: making healthcare information easier to access regardless of who you know, where you live or how well you understand the NHS. Find Care Compare: findcarecompare.com

  4. Aug 25

    At 50 She Was Struggling. At 73, She’s Fitter Than Ever

    Christine Hobson was struggling with her health in her 50s. She had arthritis, poor sleep, low mood and found everyday movement increasingly difficult. Then, in her 60s, things changed. Christine took up running after retirement, completed her first London Marathon — and eventually went on to complete more than 100 marathons, including one in Antarctica. She later discovered strength training and powerlifting too. Now 73, Christine has a refreshingly different perspective on ageing: we spend far too much time worrying about what movement might do to us, and not enough worrying about what happens when we stop moving. We talk about: Starting exercise later in lifeArthritis, pain and the fear of movementStrength training and osteoporosisWhy fitness keeps your options open as you ageStaying socially connected after retirementThe danger of gradually allowing your world to get smallerWhy it is never too late to startThis is a conversation about much more than exercise. It’s about staying capable, curious and engaged with life as you get older.

  5. Aug 18

    When menopause arrives overnight

    Breast cancer treatment can save your life, but what happens when the treatment itself triggers an immediate menopause? In this episode I’m joined by journalist Carissa Casey, who shares her deeply personal experience of surgical menopause following breast cancer treatment. While her cancer was successfully treated, she found herself facing severe insomnia, joint pain, recurrent urinary tract infections, weight gain, mood changes and a body she barely recognised—all without ever feeling properly prepared for what lay ahead. Together we explore: Why surgical menopause is so different from natural menopauseThe impact of suddenly losing oestrogen overnightBreast cancer, tamoxifen and the difficult conversations around treatment decisionsWhy recurrent UTIs are so common after menopause—and what can helpThe gaps in menopause support for women after cancer treatmentThe importance of informed decision-making and asking questionsHow misinformation and expensive supplements can fill the void when women aren’t getting the support they needThis isn’t a conversation about criticising cancer treatment. It’s about recognising that surviving cancer is only part of the journey, and that women deserve honest conversations about what comes next. Whether you’ve experienced menopause yourself, support someone who has, or work in healthcare, I hope this discussion leaves you feeling better informed and better equipped to ask questions. If you found this episode helpful, please consider following the podcast and leaving a review. It really does help more people discover these conversations.

  6. Aug 11

    Fat Loss Without the Myths: What Actually Works (and Why It Feels So Hard)

    We’re surrounded by conflicting advice on fat loss. Hormones, fasting, metabolism, supplements, menopause, "starvation mode"... it's no wonder so many people feel confused. In this episode I'm joined by coach and author Emma Storey-Gordon to separate evidence from marketing and discuss what really helps women lose fat—and, more importantly, keep it off. This isn't a conversation about quick fixes. It's about understanding the science, the psychology and the realities of everyday life. We discuss: Why a calorie deficit still matters (and why that's not the whole story)The biggest fat loss myths doing the rounds onlineWhy smart people often struggle with weight lossTracking calories: helpful tool or unnecessary obsession?Why weekends quietly sabotage progressThe role of habits, environment and decision fatigueWhy maintenance is the hardest—and most important—part of fat lossHow ageing changes the challenge without making success impossibleWhy comparing yourself to your younger self (or someone else) is rarely helpfulEmma combines a science background with more than a decade of coaching real women, bringing together evidence with practical strategies that actually work in everyday life. You can reach her and pre-order the book here: ESGfitness.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/esgfitness/pre order link: https://ebury.lnk.to/thefatlosscoachforwomenand substack: https://esgfitness.substack.com/

  7. Aug 4

    The changes we don't choose.

    None of us gets to choose every turning point in our lives. For GP and author Dr Clara Doran, that turning point came during maternity leave when persistent symptoms eventually led to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. But this isn't really a conversation about MS. It's about what happens when life suddenly stops following the plan you thought you had. We talk about the uncertainty before a diagnosis, the pressure many of us feel to keep going even when we're struggling, and why carrying on isn't always the same thing as coping. Clara also shares how her diagnosis led her to explore brain health, sleep, rest, creativity and the everyday habits that quietly shape how we think, feel and function. If you've ever faced a life change you didn't choose or simply feel exhausted by trying to keep all the plates spinning, I think you'll find something here. Why uncertainty is often harder than certaintyReturning to work after a life-changing diagnosisThe hidden cost of "just coping"Why rest is not a luxuryBrain health beyond supplements and biohacksThe importance of creativity and joyLearning to accept a different future without giving up hopeBooks mentioned Doctor Interrupted — Dr Clara DoranHeads Up: How to Look After Your Brain So It Will Look After You — Dr Clara Doran

  8. Jul 14

    The truth about supplements in mid-life

    Are collagen, magnesium and greens powders really worth your money? If social media has convinced you that every woman over 45 needs a cupboard full of supplements, you’re not alone. In this episode, GP and strength coach Dr Lynette Ewart looks at why midlife women have become such a major target for supplement marketing, what the evidence actually says, and which supplements may genuinely be worth considering. You’ll hear about: Why supplement companies target midlife womenThe difference between marketing claims and scientific evidenceCreatine, vitamin D and vitamin B12Why “natural” doesn’t automatically mean effectiveThree simple questions to ask before buying any supplementThis isn’t an anti-supplement rant. Some supplements have an important place in healthcare. But before you spend money on the latest powder, gummy or capsule, it’s worth knowing what the evidence really shows. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it really helps more people find evidence-based health information.

See All (60)

About

Hosted by Dr Lynette Ewart, a GP in the NHS for 20 years and a passionate personal trainer specialising in strength training. A practical, evidence-informed health and fitness podcast for people who want clarity without hype. Most weeks, you’ll hear Pocket Prescription — short, no-nonsense episodes answering real questions about strength training, health, ageing, and risk. Once a month, I sit down with a guest to explore a topic in more depth. The video version of Pocket Prescription episodes is available on YouTube.

Information