You Won't Get Bulky... But You Might Get Left Behind: Why We Must Shift the Conversation around Muscle in Midlife

I Used to Be the Fit One: On Letting Go, Starting Again, and What's Actually Still Possible

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing something a bit more personal. Because for a long time, I was “the fit one”. Running was my identity. Exercise felt easy. Handled. Certain. And then my 40s arrived with a very pointed memo: injuries, exhaustion, body changes, niggles, self-doubt… and a growing feeling that the things that had always worked for me suddenly weren’t working anymore. In this episode, I’m talking honestly about what it felt like to let go of that old identity, why starting again in midlife can feel deeply uncomfortable (especially when you’re used to being good at things), and why I now believe this chapter doesn’t have to be about decline at all. We chat about: * Why so many women feel like their bodies have “stopped responding” in midlife * The emotional side of body changes, fitness and identity * The tension many women feel between caring about their appearance and wanting to be a “good feminist” * Why midlife isn’t a full stop… it’s a transition * What I learned from rebuilding my own training approach from scratch * Strength, health span and the alarming decline in healthy life expectancy in the UK based on recent stats * The testing I recently had done with Clinic 51 and why clarity matters more than perfection * Why I believe some women become stronger, fitter and healthier in their 50s and 60s than they were decades earlier * How to stop shrinking your expectations of yourself and your body If you’ve ever felt like you used to be the fit one… this one’s for you. You can find me on Instagram at @carlycorrigall [https://www.instagram.com/carlycorrigall/], and if this episode resonated, I’d love to hear from you. Links: Train with Carly: CLC Fitness – Train with Carly [https://www.clcfitness.co.uk/online-fitness-classes-for-women] The Reboot: CLC Fitness – The Reboot [https://www.clcfitness.co.uk/the-perimenopause-reboot] Clinic51: Prevent 51 Programme [https://www.clinic51.co.uk/prevent51-prevention-health-screening-longevity] https://www.health.org.uk/reports-and-analysis/analysis/healthy-life-expectancy-trends-in-the-uk-a-watershed-moment [https://www.health.org.uk/reports-and-analysis/analysis/healthy-life-expectancy-trends-in-the-uk-a-watershed-moment]

You Won't Get Bulky... But You Might Get Left Behind: Why We Must Shift the Conversation around Muscle in Midlife

This week’s episode is a bit of a rant… but a necessary one. Because despite everything we know about strength training, I’m still hearing the same thing from many women in their 40s and 50s: “I just don’t want to get bulky” So today, we’re unpacking where that belief actually comes from, why it’s so hard to shake (even when you know better)… and what it might be quietly costing you. We’re talking body image, cultural conditioning, and the reality of what happens when you avoid building muscle in midlife. And yes… there’s some very interesting new research in the mix too 👀 LINKS & RESOURCES: * American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand (2026) Resistance Training Prescription for Muscle Function, Hypertrophy, and Physical Performance in Healthy Adults: An Overview of Reviews [https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2026/04000/american_college_of_sports_medicine_position.21.aspx] * Sandercock, G.R.H., Moran, J. & Cohen, D.D. (2022). Who is meeting the strengthening physical activity guidelines by definition: A cross-sectional study of 253,423 English adults. [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0267277]PLOS ONE [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0267277], 17(5), e0267277. [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0267277] * Camille Marcantei, Lore Metz, Ines Ramos, Bruno Pereira, Frederic Dutheil, Sarah De Saint Vincent, Martine Duclos, Laurie Isacco: Energy metabolism in resting and postprandial states might not be influenced by menopausal stage in women, Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2026 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939475326000992] 👉 Feeling inspired? Here's how to take this forward... * It's time to train properly in midlife. Join my Train with Carly membership. All the guesswork taken away and me in your corner: Train with Carly [https://www.clcfitness.co.uk/online-fitness-classes-for-women] * Don't forget to share this episode with the women in your life that need to hear it. This is so important ❤️ * I always love to chat and hear what you think of the podcast so come and drop into my DMs on Instagram, @carlycorrigall [https://www.instagram.com/carlycorrigall/]

Why Knowledge Isn’t Always Power in Midlife Fitness

You already know what to do. So why isn’t anything changing? If you’re a midlife woman who’s read the articles, saved the workouts, listened to the podcasts (including this one 👀)… but still feels stuck when it comes to your fitness, strength or body composition - this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth (and this might sound odd coming from the host of a podcast who wants to educate and inform): More knowledge isn’t the answer. In this episode, I’m diving into the gap between knowing and doing - and why so many smart, capable women stay stuck in the “I know I need to…” loop without ever seeing real results. We’ll talk about: * Why information feels productive (but often keeps you stuck) * The difference between an information problem and an execution problem * How inconsistency and “scattergun” training are holding you back * Why midlife fitness results take longer than you think (and what to expect instead) * The mindset shift that finally gets things moving If you’ve ever thought, “I know what I should be doing… I’m just not doing it” - this one might feel a little close to home. Good. That’s where change starts. 🚀 READY TO STOP CIRCLING AND START SEEING RESULTS? If you’re done overthinking and want a clear, structured approach to your training… 👉 Come and train with me inside Train with Carly You’ll get: * Structured strength + HIIT classes designed specifically for midlife women * Intelligent intensity (no more living in the mid-zone) * A rolling programme of classes which are designed especially for midlife bodies, so you can stop second-guessing and just get on with it Start here: Train with Carly [https://www.clcfitness.co.uk/online-fitness-classes-for-women] You can try a class for £7 and feel the difference for yourself. 📣 ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? * Share it with a friend who’s stuck in the “I know I should…” loop * Leave a review (it genuinely helps more women find the show 🙏) * Come and chat to me on Instagram: @carlycorrigall [https://www.instagram.com/carlycorrigall/]

The Power of the Pause - Why Your Rest Days are Working Harder than You Think (with Karen Wilson)

This week I'm joined by yoga teacher and mindset and self-care specialist, Karen Wilson, for a conversation that challenges one of the most persistent myths in midlife fitness: that more is always better. If you've ever felt guilty on a rest day, pushed through a workout when your body was begging you to stop, or wondered why doing all the things still isn't producing the results you want, this episode will reframe all of it. Karen brings a grounded, practical lens to nervous system regulation, breathwork and recovery, and together I think we make the case that intensity and rest aren't in opposition. They're in partnership. What You'll Hear in This Episode * The stress bucket: why everything goes in, the good stuff and the bad, and what happens when it tips over. * Why your capacity and your capability are two completely different things, and confusing them is costing you more than you realise. * What's actually happening in your muscles on a rest day, and why that day is doing more work than your hardest session. * The nervous system in plain English: what sympathetic overdrive actually looks like, and the subtle signs you might be missing in yourself. * How breathwork and yoga aren't the soft option. They're the performance tool most women are leaving on the table. * Why the women who train hardest are often the least good at recovery, and what to do about it. * Karen's ANCHOR framework, and how tiny practices woven into your day are more powerful than one big weekly session. * The teeth brushing analogy that will change how you think about daily practice. A Line That Will Stay With You "Capacity doesn't equal capability. You can have all the skills in the world and still have nothing left to give." Find Karen Wilson Karen's website, programme details and upcoming workshops are linked in her website here - www.samanyayoga.co.uk [www.samanyayoga.co.uk] You can connect with Karen on Instagram @Samanyayoga [https://www.instagram.com/samanyayoga/] AND IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE... Come and tell me what you think over on Instagram - I always love to get your messages. I'm @carlycorrigall [https://www.instagram.com/carlycorrigall/] If you can spare the time to rate and review the podcast then that would be incredible too, it really helps me to reach more women.

Doing All The Workouts...But Not Seeing Results? This is Why

If you’re doing all the workouts… ticking all the boxes… and still not seeing the results you used to - this episode is for you. Because more often than not, it’s not about how much you’re training. It’s about how hard you’re actually working. In this episode, I’m breaking down why intensity matters (especially in midlife), the difference between movement and training, and why living in that comfortable “middle zone” might be the exact thing holding you back. This is the most common training mistake I see when clients come to work with me, so absolutely no shame if you feel called out by this one! 🎯 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY This week, I want you to: 👉 Pick one workout 👉 And genuinely push to an 8/10 effort Not for the whole session Just for those key moments that actually drive change 📥 FREE RESOURCE If this episode has hit a nerve and you’re thinking “ok… but how do I actually do this?” - I’ve got you. Download my free Training Tweak Guide, where I walk you through exactly how to dial up your effort (without burning out): 👉 Grab the Training Tweak Guide [https://www.clcfitness.co.uk/tweak-guide-signup] 💪 WANT MORE SUPPORT? If you want that extra nudge (and someone telling you when to push), you can try one of my strength + HIIT classes inside Train with Carly: 👉 Train with Carly [https://www.clcfitness.co.uk/online-fitness-classes-for-women] 💬 LET’S CHAT Got questions or thoughts from this episode? Come and find me on Instagram: 👉 @carlycorrigall [https://www.instagram.com/carlycorrigall/]