HYROX athlete Lucy Procter on ADHD, PMDD and the Pressure to Perform

By popular demand, we’re revisiting one of the most popular episodes of Just As Well: Claire’s conversation with Hannah Waddingham. The Emmy-winning actor and singer talks candidly about resilience, confidence, motherhood, career setbacks and finding the courage to take up space. Hannah also shares what she has learned about ageing, self-belief and building a life on her own terms. It’s warm, funny and honest — a conversation about navigating change, overcoming doubt and refusing to let other people define what’s possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucy Procter is one of the world’s leading HYROX athletes. At just 23, she has already competed at the highest level — but behind her remarkable rise is a story of late diagnosis, masking, burnout and learning to understand her body. In this honest conversation, Lucy opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult, struggling to make and maintain friendships at school, and mistaking anxiety, overwhelm and “freeze days” for laziness or a lack of discipline. She also shares the impact of PMDD on her mental health, body image, heart rate, training and performance, alongside the difficult journey of losing — and ultimately regaining — her menstrual cycle. Lucy explains how she changed her fuelling, recovery and approach to training, and why rest is now an essential part of her career. As a Red Bull athlete, Lucy is competing on the world stage while learning how to work with her neurodivergence rather than against it. This is a candid conversation about ADHD, autism, PMDD, elite sport, body image, self-compassion and building a healthier, more sustainable future. Keywords: Lucy Procter, ADHD, autism, AuDHD, PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, women’s health, elite sport, HYROX, female athletes, menstrual health, lost period, RED-S, overtraining, burnout, body image, fuelling, recovery, Red Bull athlete, neurodivergence, Just As Well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clara Amfo joins Claire Sanderson for an honest, funny and inspiring conversation about the health reset that has changed how she feels in her body and her everyday life. After years of running on and off, Clara explains how training for the London Marathon prompted her to take a more structured approach to her health — prioritising strength training, nutrition, sleep and recovery. She shares how learning to fuel properly, build muscle and train consistently has made her feel stronger and more powerful, both physically and mentally. Clara also opens up about receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, the relief of understanding her brain, and the ways it has influenced her relationship with food, dopamine, focus and time. She discusses body image and the pressure women face to become smaller, including how people’s attitudes towards her changed when her body changed. Plus, Clara reveals the simple habits that help her manage a busy career spanning television, radio and podcasting — and explains why putting herself first has become non-negotiable. PhD Nutrition | Feel Good Science | PhD | Feel Good Science Keywords Clara Amfo, Just As Well, Women’s Health UK, Claire Sanderson, ADHD in women, adult ADHD diagnosis, late ADHD diagnosis, neurodivergence, ADHD symptoms, ADHD and food, dopamine seeking, body image, women and body image, health reset, health overhaul, running, London Marathon, marathon training, strength training, women who lift, building strength, nutrition, fuelling for running, protein, sleep and recovery, wellness habits, women’s health, feeling strong, confidence, self-care, busy women, mental health, health and fitness podcast Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are everywhere — but are they the answer to food noise, cravings and long-term health? Claire Sanderson speaks to nutritionist and author Kim Pearson about what GLP-1 medications can and cannot do, their potential risks, weight regain after stopping treatment, muscle preservation and the growing pressure for women to become smaller. They also explore the psychology of cravings, the impact of sleep and stress on appetite, ultra-processed foods, strength training and Kim’s practical approach to improving health without extreme dieting. This is a nuanced conversation about weight, health and the changing culture around women’s bodies — without telling women how they should look. Keywords: GLP-1s, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, weight loss medication, food noise, cravings, women’s health, body image, smaller bodies, weight regain, muscle loss, strength training, nutrition, ultra-processed foods, healthy eating, sleep and appetite, perimenopause and weight, Kim Pearson, The Nozempic Diet, Just As Well, Women’s Health UK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Louise Newson challenges the belief that HRT automatically increases breast cancer risk—and explains why the type of hormone, the dose, and the individual woman all matter. She discusses: What the famous 2002 study actually found Why estrogen-only and combined HRT can have different risks Why some women need higher doses because they do not absorb patches or gels properly Why menopause symptoms can include joint pain, palpitations, insomnia, low mood and brain fog Why women are still being prescribed antidepressants instead of hormones The difference between progesterone and synthetic progestogens Why a blood test may not tell the whole story Whether HRT can protect future bone and heart health This is a frank conversation about medical misinformation, women being dismissed, and why “one dose fits all” medicine may be failing women. Buy The Power of Hormones here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Hormones-misinformation-hormones-healthier/dp/1399749935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sex psychotherapist Kate Moyle returns to Just As Well to answer the questions women are often too embarrassed to ask. From a disappearing libido, stress and motherhood to menopause, orgasms, body confidence, infidelity and erectile dysfunction, Kate explains why desire changes — and why that does not mean there is anything wrong with you. With Claire Sanderson and Gemma Atkinson, this is a frank, reassuring conversation about rebuilding intimacy, communicating with your partner and having sex that feels good for you now. Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Living longer is one thing — but how do we make sure those extra years are healthy, strong and fulfilling? Dr Tamsin Lewis joins Claire Sanderson on Just As Well to cut through the longevity hype and share what genuinely supports a longer healthspan. From the hidden impact of chronic stress and the importance of muscle, rest and community, to HRT, supplements, GLP-1s and whether expensive NAD drips are worth it, this is a practical, refreshingly honest guide to ageing well. Plus: the one habit Dr Tamsin believes delivers more benefit than we realise — and why women need to stop putting themselves at the bottom of the list. Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noticing more hair in your brush, a thinner ponytail or widening around your parting? Hair loss can be frightening – but understanding what’s causing it is the first step towards tackling it.  In this episode of Just As Well Claire Sanderson and Gemma Atkinson are joined by leading trichologist Annabel Kingsley to explain why women experience hair loss during postpartum, perimenopause and menopause – and how stress, rapid weight loss, GLP-1 medication and low iron levels can also trigger shedding.  Annabel reveals how to tell normal shedding from a potential problem, when hair loss may be reversible and when to seek expert help. She also shares the changes that can support healthier hair growth, from getting enough protein and carbohydrates to looking after your scalp properly.  Plus, she separates fact from fiction on collagen, biotin, red-light therapy, minoxidil and expensive hair products – and explains why taking supplements without a blood test could make matters worse.  If you’re worried about hair loss, this practical and reassuring episode will help you understand what’s happening – and what to do next.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever gone to the doctor knowing something wasn’t right, only to feel dismissed? Women’s health advocate Cherry Healey joins Claire Sanderson on Just As Well to explain why women are still struggling to be heard—and how to advocate for yourself when your symptoms aren’t being taken seriously. They discuss recurrent UTIs, the perimenopause symptoms too often mistaken for depression, why heart problems can be missed in women and the signs we should never simply “put up with”. Cherry also shares her own experience of fighting for UTI treatment, the HRT prescription that changed her life and the practical steps you can take to make your voice heard in the consulting room. This episode contains a discussion of suicide. Sponsored by Femfresh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can a diagnosis sometimes do more harm than good? Claire Sanderson and Gemma Atkinson are joined by consultant neurologist and bestselling author Suzanne O’Sullivan to explore why more people are receiving medical labels—and whether those labels always lead to better health. Suzanne explains the important difference between misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis, and why finding an abnormality doesn’t necessarily mean it will ever make you ill. The conversation covers the rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses, the risks of medicating children too readily, health anxiety, wearables, full-body scans and the impact of constantly monitoring our bodies. They also ask whether ordinary sadness and anxiety are becoming overmedicalised, and how we can raise awareness of menopause without making women fear it. Suzanne’s views have attracted criticism, but her argument isn’t that people should ignore symptoms or avoid medical care. Instead, she wants us to ask: what will this diagnosis give me, what harm could it cause and will it meaningfully improve my life? Suzanne O’Sullivan’s latest book is The Age of Diagnosis. This episode is for general information and discussion and should not replace personalised medical advice. Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices