Dr Ciara Vizzard | Ageing well is a question of mindset over matter | When we tell people they're frail, they often become it | F&T#29

Ciara Vizzard is a doctor working in geriatric medicine in the UK who is a passionate advocate for ageing well.In this episode, we talk about what actually shapes how we age long before we’re old: muscle mass, mobility, mindset, food, sleep, habits, and the quiet accumulation of lifestyle choices most people only start thinking about too late. We get into why muscle is protective (for bones, blood sugar, recovery and independence), what people misunderstand about weight, metabolism and ageing, and how fragility is often taught rather than inevitable.We also explore mindset – from recovery outcomes and placebo effects to why retirement can quietly harm people, how belief shapes health trajectories, and why gratitude, connection and purpose matter just as much as training plans. Along the way, we touch on women’s health, hormones, falls, rehab, mythology, video games, Dickens, Sardinia, and what ageing well actually looks like in practice rather than theory.This one’s for anyone thinking about longevity, quality of life, or how to build a body – and a mindset – that supports you later, not just now.Catch up with Ciara:[email protected] & ThinkingForget six packs – we look at six pillars of fitness: physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional and financial.The newsletter goes out on Wednesday mornings; this week's is the perfect accompaniment to the pod: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/p/be-careful-what-you-ask-for-this-xmasNew episodes land on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Wednesday evenings, and on YouTube on Thursday mornings.Subscribe / follow:Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/fitness-thinking/id1840384710Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kFI7JcGD6kSUfYa4RPPl5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitnessandthinkingSubstack: https://fitnessandthinking.substack.com/Want to help? I’m looking for an editor/producer and a social media manager.Get in touchEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessandthinking/