The Verve Clinic

17/12/2025

I finished Couch to 5K today - and it feels like a quiet win 😊

Third attempt in 15 years, and this one stuck.

Not fast, not fancy, lots of laps of the park… but consistent.

And I wasn’t alone — there were plenty of us in our 50s and 60s doing it together online.

It’s never too late to start again, and small, steady steps really do add up 💚

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16/12/2025

Once your liver has done the hard work of processing oestrogen (Phases 1 & 2), Phase 3 is all about getting it out of the body.

If oestrogen metabolites move through the gut and bladder efficiently, they leave the body as intended. If things slow down, some can be reactivated and reabsorbed, adding to your overall oestrogen load.

This is where your gut — and the estrobolome — really matters.

The good news? Supporting Phase 3 doesn’t need to be complicated.

Simple daily actions that really help:

• Eat a wide variety of plant foods across the week (veg, fruit, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices)
• Prioritise fibre — variety usually takes care of this naturally
• Stay well hydrated
• Move your body every day (walking absolutely counts)
• Support bowel regularity (magnesium can be helpful for some people)
• Aim for 1–2 comfortable bowel movements per day

And yes — hydration matters too.
For most adults, weeing around 6–8 times per day is a good sign you’re drinking enough.

Phase 3 is less about perfection and more about flow — keeping things moving gently and consistently.

Next up: how all of this fits together — and what happens when oestrogen clearance struggles.
Save this post to build your oestrogen detox toolkit 💚

13/12/2025

Sometimes simple really is best. Red cabbage, brown sugar (or erythritol) and red wine vinegar — that’s it.

Red cabbage is one of those underrated winter veg:

✔ affordable
✔ keeps well in the fridge
✔ freezes beautifully once cooked

It’s an easy way to add extra veg to meals, especially when you’re cooking for one or two.

Recipe:

600g red cabbage, finely sliced
70g brown sugar or erythritol gold
150ml red wine vinegar

Simple, versatile, and goes with almost anything.

06/12/2025

Feeling overwhelmed as we head into December? These three gentle habits can make such a difference:

1️⃣ Nourishing breakfast
Breakfast doesn’t have to look the same every day — just choose something that truly fuels you. A cooked breakfast, ground nuts and seeds to make a “porridge” with some berries, a smoothie, toast with smoked salmon, avocado or eggs or something simple on oat cakes.
A nourishing start = steadier mood, fewer cravings and better energy.

2️⃣ Winter daylight
With the shortest day approaching and dark commutes, daylight becomes essential. Just 10 minutes outside helps regulate your circadian rhythm, lifts your mood and improve sleep. First thing or at lunchtime would be perfect.

3️⃣ A daily moment of hygge
A bath, a cup of tea, a quiet page of a book… tiny rituals that help your nervous system calm down. Little pockets of rest can completely shift how you feel at this time of year.

Small steps. Big impact. Start now and you’ll feel the difference all month. 💚

26/11/2025

Six months ago, we made the tough decision to close our bricks-and-mortar clinic. Not because we didn't love it, but because we knew it was time for future proofing.

What you don't see in this video:
🤔 The buskers that made brain fog feel like working in a pub
🤔 My work split between two places (and my mind feeling the same)
🤔 Everything needing to be carried up (and down) six flights of stairs
🤔 The quiet worry of "if one of us became ill how would we ever manage this move?"

What you also don't see:
😍 The nourishing winter lunches I now make at home
😍 The extra daylight I see popping in and out
😍 The quick chat with my son when he gets home from school
😍 Reaching my C25K goals now I don't have to tackle a mountain of stairs afterwards!
😍 Clarity from having everything in one place

None of this would have been possible without my husband who built me the garden office of my dreams 🙏

Sometimes the bravest decisions quietly change everything...

What big (or small) midlife moves have you made to future proof your health?

14/11/2025

Dark runs, cold mornings, a dog obsessed with squirrels, and my latest experiment - a bulletproof mocha.

It sets me up for the best part of the day - helping clients move towards their own health goals one small step at a time.

What sets your day up well?

07/11/2025

Healthy doesn't have to be complicated - just real food, a little love and that simple joy of making something.

Kale crisps are one of those easy wins: quick to make, full of goodness and oddly therapeutic when you hear that crunch as you massage the leaves.

05/11/2025

I started running (well, a very light jog!) because I knew it wouldn't get easier if I waited. I'm choosing my hard - out of my comfort zone now, or losing strength and mobility later.

The 3 and 5 minute intervals this week feel like a mountain (embarrassing to admit with an ultra runner son!) but I'm trusting the couch to 5k process.

Anyone else decided that winter is a good time to start?! How's it going for you?

03/11/2025

Ever wondered why one hormone can affect everything? It's because your body is wired with hormone receptors everywhere! It's one connected system, not random chaos.

When those signals fade, you can feel it in your mood, sleep, energy, focus, digestion. The good news? You can help those messages travel more clearly.

Try front loading your protein and complex carbs earlier in the day. A protein rich breakfast and balanced lunch helps steady cortisol, stabilise blood sugar and keep your hormones in sync.

Smaller shifts early in the day = more balance all day long.

01/11/2025

If oestrogen is the key, every cell has a lock 🔐

That's why the effects of menopause show up everywhere - brain, mood, muscles, skin, sleep. Your body is adapting, not malfunctioning.

One of my earliest signs was an ache all over, like I was coming down with flu, but it was actually my body adjusting to less oestrogen.

Which symptom surprised you most then you realised it was hormone related?

30/10/2025

Ever feel like your body's sending mixed messages lately? Mood swings, hot flushes, energy dips...

Your hormones are your body's WiFi signal and when the signal changes in menopause every system feels it.

The good news? You can strengthen that connection. Smart food choices, regular movement, good sleep and stress recovery will help your hormones communicate more clearly.

💚 small changes, powerful ripple effects.

23/10/2025

This is a huge step forward, let's hope it actually happens!

Despite the change - which will happen in 2026 - campaigners warn some women will lose out because the number who attend is too low.