Episode 121. 2026 New Year, Same Values: Growth, Curiosity & Lifestyle Medicine
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
Welcome to the first episode of Prescribing Lifestyle for 2026! In this special New Year reflection, I share my renewed intentions and direction for both my practice and the podcast. My two guiding words for 2026 are Growth and Grounded — continuing to learn, evolve, and stay intentional without burnout or pressure. Join me as I reflect on: What “growth” and “grounded” mean in my personal and professional life The exciting future of Prescribing Lifestyle: more curiosity, deeper conversations, and “rabbit holes” into medicine, nutrition,...
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Episode 120. Resilience, Menopause & Vibrant Health: My Honest 2025 Reflection
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
This reflective solo episode marks a special milestone: the 120th episode of the Prescribing Lifestyle podcast and the close of 2025. I share openly about my professional growth, personal health journey, and the challenges and wins that have shaped this year. What’s inside this episode Professional growth and expansion How Melbourne Low Carb Clinic has grown from 1 to 5 physical locations across Melbourne (Wantirna, Pascoe Vale South, South Yarra, Beaumaris, Canterbury) plus telehealth across Australia. Collaborations with like‑minded clinics and practitioners, including Aston Rx, Core...
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Episode 119. Building stronger bones with Wutti
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I'm joined by Wutti Oparkcharoen , founder of OsteoStrong South Melbourne, for a deep dive into bone health and how to take powerful, science-based steps to prevent and even reverse osteoporosis. Wutti shares how a personal passion for health and a family experience with osteoporosis led him to bring OsteoStrong to Australia. We discuss the revolutionary, evidence-based approach to improving bone density using "osteogenic loading" — specialized, safe machines that let members generate forces five to ten times their body weight in just 10 minutes per week. We cover: The...
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Episode 118. What our poop tells us with Katie Kirklin
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this fascinating episode, I speak with Katie Kirkland, a certified functional nutrition counselor and registered nurse from Cincinnati, Ohio, who shares her inspiring journey from nurse to functional nutrition coach. Katie opens up about her personal health challenges, including anxiety, depression, gut issues, and cervical dysplasia, and how she transformed her understanding of nourishment—beyond dieting—to a truly individualized, whole-body approach. We explore: The importance of patching health "holes" with a holistic, functional nutrition strategy The vital role of bowel movements...
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Episode 117. How to be an Imperfectionist with Dr Zen Zeng
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I have a heartfelt conversation with Dr Zen Zeng—a concert pianist, conference interpreter, professional speaker, and master teacher whose work bridges music, psychology, leadership, and personal growth. Zen draws on decades of international performance and coaching, sharing her journey from perfectionism and burnout to embracing imperfection and self-compassion. Zen introduces her signature STAGE framework—a practical inward journey designed to help high achievers find sustainable excellence without burnout: S: Stillness—learning how to pause, listen deeply, and...
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Episode 116. Spinal cord injury and burnout with Dr Olivia Ong
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this deeply personal episode, I speak with Dr Olivia Ong, a Melbourne-based GP and rehab physician, about her life-changing experience with a severe spinal cord injury, her journey through rehabilitation, and how she overcame multiple episodes of burnout. Olivia shares vivid memories of the accident, her emergency spinal surgery, regaining mobility, and what it taught her about resilience and mindset. She explains how the rehab system shaped her path and how she developed an evolving approach to recovery and wellness, combining medical knowledge with nervous system coaching and somatic...
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Episode 115. Punch Positive with Lita Mae Button
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this empowering episode, I chat with Coach Lita Mae Button, speaker, nurse, professional boxer, and founder of Punch Positive, joining me all the way from Canada. From battling depression and self-doubt to becoming a national Golden Glove champion and motivational coach, Lita shares her powerful story of resilience, courage, and transformation — one punch at a time. We explore how boxing, both physical and symbolic, can heal the mind, build confidence, and teach you to “step back in the ring” against life’s toughest challenges. Lita also breaks down her unique mindset...
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Episode 114. Self Love for Permanent Weight loss with Marleen Mour
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this inspiring episode, I chat with Marleen Mour — speaker, coach, and founder of the Self-Love for Permanent Weight Loss Movement. Marleen shares her journey of losing 49 kg, transforming her mindset, and helping thousands of women around the world ditch diet culture and lose weight — permanently. We discuss how freeing yourself from guilt, restriction, and emotional eating leads to lasting transformation — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Her story is one of courage, self-discovery, and radical self-love. 🌿 What We Cover in This Episode ...
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Episode 113. From Flow to Function: Lymph, Lipoedema, Pelvic Floor & Bowel Health Explained with Physiotherapist Amelia Santos
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I speak with physiotherapist Amelia Santos, an expert in lymphatic health, lipoedema, pelvic floor, and bowel function. Amelia explains how she became a leading clinician in pelvic floor and lymphatic therapy, and shares essential insights on often-misunderstood conditions like IBS, lipoedema, lymphedema, and chronic bowel and pelvic floor challenges. We explore: How pelvic floor physio can help with IBS, chronic constipation, and incomplete bowel emptying, especially when medical tests have ruled out other causes The differences between lipoedema and lymphedema, why they're...
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Episode 112. Salad with a side of Fries with Jenn Trepeck
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I sit down with health coach, podcaster, and consultant Jenn Trepeck, host of Salad with a Side of Fries. Jenn shares her personal journey from the business world into health coaching—a shift sparked by her own experiences with endless diets, weight struggles, and ultimately, finding a sustainable wellness approach. I loved hearing how Jenn escaped the diet rollercoaster and dedicated her career to helping others do the same. We dug into her health coaching philosophy, which centres on four key elements: low glycemic impact nutrition, focusing on body composition, building...
info_outlineIn this episode of Prescribing Lifestyle, I’m sharing something very personal—I wrote a book!
I never set out to become an author, but after years of working as a Lifestyle GP and seeing how small, consistent changes transform lives, I felt the urge to put it all into a book. This episode takes you behind the scenes of that journey—from joining the Ultimate 48-Hour Author Retreat to pressing send on my final manuscript.
Whether you’re curious about writing, lifestyle medicine, or just love hearing a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode is for you.
What you'll learn in this episode:
→ Why I decided to write Prescribing Lifestyle: A Doctor’s Prescription for Lasting Weight Loss and Vibrant Health
→ How I planned, wrote, and submitted a full book while running a clinic
→ What mindset shifts helped me finish it (even when it felt awkward or overwhelming)
→ Why this book is an extension of my mission to empower patients
→ The surprising parallels between writing a book and making lifestyle changes
→ What to expect in the book—and why it’s not about perfection
📌 Mentioned in this episode:
- Prescribing Lifestyle is now available for pre-order via www.mlcclinic.com.au
- My first book: Low Carb Made Easy
- Ultimate 48-Hour Author Retreat
- The mantra that got me through: This is simple. This is easy. This is fun.
💬 Let’s Chat:
Have you ever wanted to write a book or take on a creative project that felt “too big”?
Send me a DM on Instagram or share your thoughts in the comments!
Connect with me:
Instagram → @dr_charlton_lifestyle_gp
Facebook → Dr Charlton Lifestyle GP
Website → www.mlcclinic.com.au
🩺 This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your GP before making changes to your health or lifestyle.
💚 Small, consistent changes lead to big results over time.
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder—it’s never too late to start.