Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. Today we are pleased to welcome community member George Mckinty as our guest! George is a bodybuilder from Wales who follows the Overcoming MS Program. He speaks with Geoff about adopting the Overcoming MS lifestyle, the unique aspects of being a man diagnosed with MS and exercise tips if you live with daily MS symptoms.

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.

01:15 George’s MS diagnosis and how he discovered Overcoming MS

04:00 Optic neuritis

05:20 Family history and genetic predisposition to MS

05:56 Adopting the Overcoming MS Program

08:27 Being a man diagnosed with MS

10:33 Accepting the diagnosis

12:02 Symptom management

13:34 Working out with MS symptoms

16:40 The 300 Challenge to support the Overcoming MS Charity

19:10 Positive outcomes from being diagnosed with MS

23:16 Tips for those just starting to adopt lifestyle changes

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.

• Follow George on Instagram @GeorgeMckinty
• Learn more about the 300 Challenge and how you can get involved
• New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. Today we’re talking to Denise Iordache, a Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapist, who specialises in sleep and stress reduction. Because addressing sleep disturbances is important for overall health and managing MS symptoms, Denise and Geoff discuss ways to fall asleep, stay asleep and quickly fall back to sleep should you wake up in the night.

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.

01:05 Denise’s career and expertise

02:57 The mechanics of sleep and why it’s important

06:13 How much sleep do we really need?

10:00 The circadian rhythm, light exposure and the internal body clock

15:02 Sleep hygiene and the optimal bedroom setup

18:00 How to set up a bedtime routine

20:55 How to prevent waking in the night and how to fall back asleep if you do

25:15 Mindfulness and sleep

29:30 Keeping a sleep journal

32:26 Assign worry time during the day

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.

• Denise’s recommended relaxation techniques:
  • Box breathing
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Guided editation
  • Schedule your worry time earlier in the day
• Denise’s ‘Top 5 Tips’ for a stress-free bedtime:
  • Optimise your sleep environment: Invest in quality bedding, blackout curtains, and ensure your bedroom is a comfortable haven for rest.
  • Incorporate daily practices: Practice daily exercises such as mindfulness, meditation, self-hypnosis, or deep breathing, to manage stress effectively.
  • Establish a consistent sleep routine: Stick to a regular sleep schedule, creating a calming pre-sleep routine to signal your body that it's time to wind down.
  • Embrace natural light: Spend at least 30 minutes outdoors each day to benefit from natural light, positively impacting your sleep and overall well-being.
  • Reflect regularly: Journal your thoughts and feelings, asking reflective questions to gauge your progress and make necessary adjustments.
• Journalling for wellbeing blog post
• Research discussing Ghrelin and Leptin’s connection to sleep
• New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. Today we’re sharing highlights from our webinar with Sam Josephs, a registered Nutritional Therapist and Overcoming MS facilitator. Sam’s husband was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2002 which has shaped the direction of Sam’s career and gives her the compassion and unique hands-on knowledge to support so many others with the condition. Sam gave us a brilliant breakdown of the diet pillar of the Overcoming MS Program and some great meal and snack ideas.

This past webinar was recorded as part of our Refresh with OMS webinar series. Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.

01:26 Find out about Sam’s background and qualifications

02:40 What is the Overcoming MS Program?

03:59 Diving into the Overcoming MS diet pillar

09:59 How can you feed your microbiome for optimal health?

08:43 The importance of fibre

10:54 What is a wholefood?

12:23 Cooking techniques compatible with the Overcoming MS Program

14:38 Easy and healthy snack ideas

16:34 Batch cooking Overcoming MS friendly meals

19:06 The immune benefits of drinking tea

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.

• If you enjoyed this, why not check out one of our other podcast episodes featuring Sam:
  • S5E8 Family friendly Foods with Sam Josephs Webinar highlights
  • S1E4 The OMS Diet in a Nutshell (Part 2)
  • S1E3 The OMS Diet in a Nutshell (Part 1)
• Overcoming MS Meal planning tool
• New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. We are pleased to welcome Jack McNulty as our guest! Jack is a professional cook and a longtime follower of the Overcoming MS Program. In this episode, he answers questions from the community about fermented foods.

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.

01:35 What is fermentation and how does it fit with the Overcoming MS diet?

04:17 What do you need to begin fermenting at home?

08:07 Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

11:33 Dairy-free yogurt and kefir

18:07 Making kombucha

20:33 Homemade sourdough bread from a starter

28:23 Pickling vegetables

33:28 Koji, a cultured mold to make miso and soy sauce

37:45 Making apple cider vinegar

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.

• Try Jack’s recipes for fermented foods here:
• Read Jack’s newsletter at substack.com/
• New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. Today we’re thrilled to welcome Yvette Sargood as our guest! Yvette is an Overcoming MS facilitator and a meditation teacher who lives with MS and follows the Overcoming MS program. In this fascinating episode, Yvette talks to Geoff about meditation and mindfulness, as well as her personal journey with the MS Program, including disclosing her diagnosis to her employer and how she overcame her chocolate cravings! There’s lots of useful information and tips in this episode (including a discussion on chocolate replacements!) We hope you enjoy it – let us know what you think!

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.

01:18 Yvette’s MS and Overcoming MS journey

07:05 The progress made on DMTs and discrimination since the 1990s

09:01 The benefits to starting the Overcoming MS program even long after diagnosis

11:26 The decision to start a disease modifying therapy

14:59 Her difficulties in adopting the Overcoming MS program

16:27 Overcoming her chocolate cravings and chocolate replacements

18:51 Maintaining a healthy weight on the Overcoming MS program

20:23 The benefits of following the Overcoming MS program

22:54 Disclosing a multiple sclerosis diagnosis to your employer

26:01 Becoming an Overcoming MS facilitator

27:46 What is mindfulness and why is it important for people with MS?

32:53 Misconceptions about meditation and stress reduction

35:42 Tips for people new to the Overcoming MS program

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.

• Download the Headspace app for meditation
• Learn more about Disease Modifying Therapies for MS
• Listen to a podcast featuring OMSer chef
• Read Yvette’s article on executives and disability
• Learn more about mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn
• Join a mindfulness course with Yvette through MS-UK
• Become an Overcoming MS volunteer
• To take part in the next Pathway to Overcoming MS course email events@overcomingms.org
• New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. Today we’re sharing the highlights from our ‘Ask Aaron’ webinar, recorded in front of a global audience, with the incredible Dr Aaron Boster. Dr Boster is a board-certified neurologist who specialises in MS, and we’re delighted to have him answering a huge range of questions from our community! From medications to MRI’s and pregnancy to cold showers, Dr Boster gave us so many brilliantly informative answers - we hope you find this episode really useful. Let us know what you think!

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.

Topics and Timestamps:

01:49 Defining benign MS

05:05 How to get the most out of your time with your neurologist

09:32 The DMTs that help with brain atrophy

09:46 MRI’s as a way to show the rate of brain atrophy

18:20 Aubagio for secondary progressive MS

22:11 The future of Ocrevus dosing guidelines and becoming pregnant on ocrelizumab

26:31 Treating MS-relating dystonia

28:37 Treatments for MS-related bladder dysfunction

35:15 Low-dose Naltrexone for MS

39:00 The benefits of cold showers

39:38 Immune reconstitution therapies

43:22 Managing MS with diet and exercise

To join us live for the next webinar or watch the original presentation head to our website overcomingms.org

Dr Boster was on five previous Living Well with MS episodes:

• S1E11: Making the Right Medication Choices
• S2E17: Lifestyle Choices and Their Impact on MS
• S3E43: Let’s Talk About Sex (and MS)
• S5E5 Webinar highlights from Ask Aaron with Dr. Aaron Boster
• S5E36 Webinar Highlights: Ask a Neurologist with Dr Aaron Boster
• Check out Dr Boster’s popular YouTube channel covering all aspects of MS
• New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page 
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.