33: 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 midlifeThe emotional side of body changes, fitness and identityThe 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 transitionWhat I learned from rebuilding my own training approach from scratchStrength, health span and the alarming decline in healthy life expectancy in the UK based on recent statsThe testing I recently had done with Clinic 51 and why clarity matters more than perfectionWhy I believe some women become stronger, fitter and healthier in their 50s and 60s than they were decades earlierHow to stop shrinking your expectations of yourself and your bodyIf 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, and if this episode resonated, I’d love to hear from you.Links:Train with Carly: CLC Fitness – Train with CarlyThe Reboot: CLC Fitness – The RebootClinic51: Prevent 51 Programmehttps://www.health.org.uk/reports-and-analysis/analysis/healthy-life-expectancy-trends-in-the-uk-a-watershed-moment