Just As Well, The Women's Health Podcast

Something that loads of you have been in touch to tell us that you want our help in order to really nail is running. So, whether you’re a total beginner, looking to make running a habit, or a fair-weather runner, keen to use their Government-sanctioned daily exercise time to up their mileage and confidence, this episode is for you. This week, Roisín is joined by Anthony Fletcher, a biomechanics ex...

Body goals have developed a bad rap of late, haven’t they? Before-and-after transformation pictures have been criticised for suggesting there’s a blueprint for a process that’s wholly individual. If your main workout motivation is to get, say, a tighter waist or sculpted arms, that’s seen as being dated - or, by some, straight up unhealthy. And yet, you’ve told us that changing an aspect of your a...

Lockdown life (spending 99% of your time in the house with snacks on tap; tweaked workout schedule; pandemic-induced worry) is causing unprecedented levels of digestive disruption to women right now. But, if you're currently bloated, gassy, or seriously blocked up, we have good news: getting your gut health back on track can actually be pretty simple. Joining host Roisín Dervish-O'Kane to show you...

Work’s a bit different these day, isn't it? Neat desks have been replaced with multitasking kitchen tables, colleagues with noisy family members, and some semblance of work-life balance with a messy mélange of the two. We want things to be business as usual; to get our heads down and plough on, grateful – amidst massive economic insecurity – to still have a job. But, if you’re finding it really bl...

We're two weeks into lockdown life and looking ahead to a sunny Easter weekend spent…indoors. Milestone birthdays are now reduced to a collection of small squares on a laptop screen and everything from holidays to weddings that have been months - years - in the planning have been called off. Of course, there are bigger things going on: people are losing their lives, their jobs and their loved ones...

Regular listeners will know that we normally focus on helping you reach a health or wellness goal. But these aren’t normal times. The novel coronavirus, or Covid-19, is now a global pandemic, and in the UK, we’re facing what the Prime Minister has declared ‘the worst public health crisis for a generation’. Right now, all we - like you - want to know, is how to stay as physically and mentally well...

Regular listeners will know that we normally focus on helping you reach a health or wellness goal. But these aren’t normal times. The novel coronavirus, or Covid-19, is now a global pandemic, and in the UK, we’re facing what the Prime Minister has declared ‘the worst public health crisis for a generation’. Right now, all we - like you - want to know, is how to stay as physically and mentally well...

As the country comes to terms with the new normal of social distancing, self-isolating and staying home, managing your mental health has become more difficult - and vital. In light of this, we’re breaking with our usual format to bring you a bonus episode of expert-backed advice on how to cope in these dramatically-altered times. Here, Clinical Psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd, who has partnered wi...

Regular listeners will know that we normally focus on helping you reach a health or wellness goal. But these aren’t normal times. The novel coronavirus, or Covid-19, is now a global pandemic, and in the UK, we’re facing what the Prime Minister has declared ‘the worst public health crisis for a generation’. Right now, all we - like you - want to know, is how to stay as physically and mentally well...

We suspect you’ve felt the feel-good benefits of diving head first into a bowl of pasta first-hand. But beyond the emotional response that food can trigger, what you eat every day can have a very real impact on the day to day workings of your brain - and how you feel. Enter nutritional psychiatry: a growing field of research that’s unpicking the relationship between food and feelings. Sounds compl...

You can read books about female desire on the Tube and buy a vibrator from Boots. But the statistics tell a different story about the sex lives of UK women. We’re having less sex than we were a decade ago, and we’re having less satisfying sex than men. This matters, since the research is clear that regular, satisfying sex has a positive impact on your mental and physical health. With that in mind,...

It's the personality trait that comes with a cultural stamp of approval. Working hard, striving for better results, never settling - these qualities aren't just socially acceptable, they're actively encouraged. But while your perfectionism can indeed reward you with success, it can also compromise your emotional wellbeing. Research has linked perfectionism with a whole host of health issues, from...

It’s getting lighter in the mornings - news that will either make you want to leap out of bed and do a few laps of the park or remain as committed to your duvet as ever. Mornings are...Marmite. But consciously making the most of them is a goal that even the most dedicated of night owls can strive for. This week, we’ve recruited the help of two women for whom mornings are a matter of professional i...

It’s Valentine’s Day - three words guaranteed to trigger an emotional reaction, be it a warm fuzzy feeling, an eye roll, or something in between the two. So this week, we’re talking about a goal that will feel pertinent to many at the moment, that is, building a healthy dating life. On paper, it’s never been easier to meet someone, but digital dating and mental health don’t always go hand in hand....

Productivity. Box-ticking. Getting more done. A sexy topic, it isn’t. But tackling your to-do list in a timely fashion is a goal worth shooting for - and not just to keep your boss happy. Focusing a little more on how you can best power through your professional obligations can free up precious headspace for the stuff you really want to do. But where do you start? How do you go about changing your...

Oh the sweet relief of the first pay day of the year. But before you gift a chunk of your hard-earned salary to Pret, Eat and others, we have important news: it doesn’t have to be this way. This week, we’re talking meal prep, and why it’s about so much more than having something to eat at lunchtime. It’s a statement of intent about the kind of week you want to have; a way of supporting good nutrit...

Veganuary is in full swing, and whether you’ve gone cold turkey on animal products, adopted a flexitarian approach or you’re giving Meat Free Monday a go, eating in a way that supports planetary health will be on the minds of many at the moment, following recent climate events. But the deeper you delve into ethical eating, the more confused you can become. The recent news that almond milk producti...

The bumper-to-bumper busyness of December feels like a distant memory now we’re all doubling down for the annual January hibernation. But while your body and bank balance will thank you for some quiet time, positive social interactions are vital for your emotional wellbeing. So how can you build a social life that aligns with your health goals? How do you make plans you can’t wait to keep? And how...

The gyms are packed, the streets are lined with joggers and good luck bagging a spot in an exercise class. Whether it’s for weight loss, getting out in nature or the endorphins, doing more exercise is on the minds of many at the moment. But as the fizzy pep of the new year wears off and reality bites, it can begin to feel like a chore. So how can you find a form of exercise you really enjoy? How d...

Weight loss will likely be on the minds of many at this time of year, despite it becoming an increasingly controversial topic within the wellness world. But if you do want to lose weight to improve your health, what does smart, sustainable weight loss look like? What tactics do you need to use in order to achieve it? And what approaches should you steer well clear of? Senior Editor Roisín Dervish-...