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What if your body doesn't need more pressure? What if it needs better conditions? In this week's Friday Fable, we meet a gardener who is frustrated by a little plant that simply won't grow. More water, less water, more sunlight, more effort... nothing seems to work. Until someone stops looking at the plant and starts looking at its environment. This gentle story is a reminder that living with a chronic condition isn't always about trying harder. Sometimes it's about noticing what your body needs and changing the conditions around it. The right amount of movement. More recovery. A different routine. Adjusting expectations. Finding the things that help you feel supported rather than constantly pushing through. We aren't failing because our bodies need different conditions. Sometimes we simply need to tend to the garden a little differently. 🌱 Stay sparkly ✨

What if managing a chronic condition wasn't about fighting your body, but learning how to work with it? In this episode of The Dizzy Diaries, we're talking about what it means to work with your chronic condition rather than constantly pushing against it. Living with POTS, dysautonomia or another chronic condition can sometimes feel like you're constantly trying to get back to the person you were before. But instead of judging ourselves by what we used to be able to do, we can start paying attention to what our body is telling us now. We'll explore how to reflect on your day and week, recognise patterns in your symptoms and energy, identify what helps and what drains you, and make small changes to create an environment where you can actually thrive. And when it comes to exercise, this doesn't mean giving up or doing less forever. It means finding the right starting point, adapting when needed, and building consistency in a way your body can tolerate. Your body isn't the enemy. It's giving you information. So let's become curious about it, rather than critical of it. ✨ Stay sparkly ✨ This podcast is not a substitute for medical advice, and I recommend discussing any concerns with your healthcare provider. Course: https://www.tovewoodexphys.com/pots-online-course Tracker: https://www.tovewoodexphys.com/resources

What do you do when your symptoms suddenly change? Sometimes we can anticipate them. Sometimes they arrive completely unexpectedly. And when they do, it's easy to feel frustrated that the plan we had isn't working anymore. In this week's Friday Fable, we're heading out to sea with a sailor who learns an important lesson: you can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Living with a chronic condition means our bodies can be wonderfully, frustratingly dynamic. What works one day might need adapting on another. A strategy that helps when symptoms are mild may need to change when they're more intense. It means you're responding to the information your body is giving you. Whether it's changing how you exercise, taking a different approach to your day, allowing more recovery, or simply adjusting your expectations, sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is change direction rather than fight against the current. Because we are dynamic humans, and our approach can be dynamic too. 🌊 Welcome to another Friday Fable from The Dizzy Diaries. Stay sparkly ✨

Why does POTS make you dizzy? Why does your heart race? And why can everyday tasks leave you completely exhausted? In this episode of The Dizzy Diaries, we’re breaking down 3 common POTS symptoms: dizziness, racing heart (tachycardia) and fatigue. I’ll explain the physiology behind what’s happening in your body, why these symptoms can feel so frightening, and how understanding your POTS can help replace fear with confidence. 🧠 We’ll unpack:• Why standing can cause dizziness• Why your heart rate increases• POTS fatigue when your body is working harder than the average individual• How exercise can help improve tolerance over time Because when you understand why your body is doing something, it can feel a whole lot less scary. 🎧 Listen now, follow The Dizzy Diaries, and share this episode with someone navigating POTS or dysautonomia. Until next time, stay sparkly! ✨ This is not a substitute for medical advice, its a fun podcast turning the science into understandable concepts. If you are unsure about anything always consult your healthcare provider.

What if the reason you keep getting stuck is that you’re expecting a bridge when life only offers stepping stones? This Friday Fable turns the pressure to do everything into a gentler, more sustainable truth: progress does not have to be huge to count. If you have ever felt like exercise, recovery, or self-care only matters when you can do it perfectly, this story will land hard. One kinder decision for yourself today.

🌟 Are you waiting for the "perfect" day to start exercising? You're not alone. Many think that if they can't do their old workout routines, there's no point in exercising. But here's the truth: exercise isn’t an all-or-nothing game. Every little bit of movement counts. Just 5 minutes of activity sends signals to your body to adapt and grow stronger. It’s not about perfection; it’s about consistency. Think about it: can you walk a bit further today? Can you recover faster? Those are wins worth celebrating! So, if you’ve been holding back, remember: Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can today. Your future self will thank you! #DizzyDiaries #ExerciseConfidence #MovementMatters #ChronicIllness https://www.tovewoodexphys.com/pots-online-course

Inspired by our previous episode on self-advocacy, this fable explores the courage to trust your body, honour your experiences, and let your voice be heard, even when others can't see what you feel.

Grief doesn't only follow the loss of a loved one. Sometimes it follows the loss of the life you thought you would live. In this gentle Friday Fable, we meet Eli, a gardener whose greatest joy was climbing the terraces of his beautiful hillside garden. When he can no longer make the climb, he's forced to confront the painful reality of letting go of the life he once knew. Through unexpected friendships and new ways of nurturing what still remains, Elian discovers that grief and hope can grow side by side. Inspired by this week's clinical episode on grieving life with chronic illness, this story explores the heartbreak of changing dreams, adapting to a new normal, and finding beauty in a life that looks different from the one you imagined. Sometimes the garden changes shape. But it can still bloom.

Living with a chronic illness isn't just about managing symptoms. It's remembering medications, preparing for appointments, chasing referrals, adapting plans, grieving the life you expected, and carrying an invisible mental load that few people truly see. In this episode of The Dizzy Diaries, Exercise Physiologist Tové Wood is joined by the co-founder of Found Health, Arad Cohen-Halls, to explore the emotional side of chronic illness. Together, they discuss what it means to become an "expert patient", why navigating healthcare can feel like a full-time job, and how grief, identity, and productivity culture can all shape our mental wellbeing. They also share practical strategies for reducing the mental load, preparing for healthcare appointments, building sustainable self-care routines, and finding joy in everyday life, even when life looks different than you imagined. Whether you're living with POTS, dysautonomia, CAH, Long COVID, or another chronic condition, this conversation is a reminder that your experience is valid, your feelings are understandable, and you don't have to carry it all alone. In this episode, we cover: • The hidden mental load of chronic illness • Becoming an "expert patient" and navigating the healthcare system • Preparing for appointments and advocating for yourself • Grief, identity, and adjusting to a changing life • Practical ways to protect your mental wellbeing • Finding purpose and joy in the everyday Quote of the episode: "Healthcare is a two-way street. Ask questions." If this episode resonated with you, we'd love it if you subscribed, left a review, and shared it with someone who could use the reminder that they're not alone. This is not a subsitute for medical advice. Seek further support from your medical team if needed. If you feel you may benefit from the services at Found Health reach out to them: www.foundhealth.co.uk or  Tové  at www.tovewoodexphys.com

Join me for a structured full body resistance workout designed to help you build strength, improve control, and feel more capable in your body.This session is guided by an exercise physiologist and takes you through a complete workout from start to finish, including a thorough warm-up, a targeted main strength block, and stretches to cool down and support recovery.This workout is suitable for home training with weights and can be adapted to suit your current level. Take your time, focus on good form, and rest as needed.What to expect:• Full body resistance training• Structured, guided session• Floor, kneeling, and standing exercises• Warm-up and cool-down includedAlways listen to your body and work within your limits. Consistency over intensity is key.Let’s get stronger together.

Living with chronic illness often means learning how to explain, justify, track, and advocate for symptoms that other people cannot see. And honestly? It can be exhausting. In today’s episode of The Dizzy Diaries, we’re talking about self-advocacy, medical appointments, invisible illness, and the emotional weight of trying to be taken seriously while navigating conditions like POTS and dysautonomia. We discuss:✨ why advocating for yourself feels so difficult🩺 how to communicate symptoms more clearly📝 bringing notes, data, and questions to appointments💛 the emotional impact of feeling dismissed⚡ practical ways to navigate healthcare without burning out This episode is not medical advice, and every person’s situation is different. Please use any tools, ideas, or strategies in a way that feels safe, supportive, and appropriate for you and your healthcare team. If your nervous system has ever turned a simple appointment into a full psychological thriller… this one’s for you.

Today’s episode is a gentle pause. No clinical deep dive.No symptom management checklist.Just five quiet minutes to help your nervous system exhale for a moment. This episode is designed to feel like a safe little corner of the internet. A place to soften your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and remember that rest is allowed here. So grab your tea or coffee, your emotional support blanket, and settle in.

Chronic illness comes with grief that many people never see. Not just grief for health, but grief for energy, spontaneity, independence, old routines, future plans, and sometimes even the version of yourself you thought you would become. In today’s episode of The Dizzy Diaries, we talk about the quieter side of living with POTS, dysautonomia, and chronic illness. The emotional adaptation that happens alongside the physical symptoms. We discuss:✨ grieving your old life and identity💛 the emotional weight of limitation⚡ comparison, guilt, and invisible effort🌙 adapting to a slower life🕯️ finding meaning, joy, and softness again This episode is intended for emotional support, education, and shared experience. It is not medical or mental health advice. Please take what feels supportive, leave what doesn’t, and seek professional support if you need additional help. Sometimes life feels like it changed shape without your permission.

In this episode of The Dizzy Diaries, we’re talking about resilience, growth, and the strength you don’t always see in yourself. Inspired by a powerful reflection on a tiny sapling daring to grow into a strong oak tree, this episode explores what it really means to keep going when life feels uncertain, overwhelming, or physically limiting. If you’re navigating chronic illness, dysautonomia, or a challenging season in your life, this is your reminder that progress doesn’t have to be loud to be real. We dive into: Why growth isn’t always visible in the momentThe science behind consistency, progression, and recoveryHow your body is adapting, even when it doesn’t feel like itThe importance of rest as part of the process, not a setbackAnd why looking back at how far you’ve come can be one of the most powerful tools you haveSometimes strength looks like pushing forward.Sometimes it looks like pausing, reflecting, and starting again. Wherever you are in your journey, this episode is your reminder that you are more capable, more resilient, and more prepared than you think.

In this Friday Fable, I tell the story of a village emerging from a long winter - where the return of sunlight sparks bursts of energy, celebration, and rebuilding… followed by unexpected exhaustion. This story is my way of gently exploring something I see all the time in chronic illness, and something many of us experience ourselves: feeling worse after a “good” day. Through this metaphor, I reflect on what it means to live with limited or fluctuating energy - where doing more on a high-energy day can lead to delayed crashes, fatigue, and setbacks. Not because you’ve done anything wrong, but because your system is still rebuilding. In this episode, I share: • A softer way to understand the “good day → crash” cycle• Why pacing and consistency matter more than intensity• A different perspective on progress that isn’t all or nothing• A reminder that recovery is built in small, repeatable steps Like early spring, healing doesn’t arrive all at once. It flickers.It builds.It asks for patience. If you’re learning how to work with your energy instead of against it, this is a soft place to land. Happy Friday 🌿