Menopause, Running & Real Talk: What Older Female Athletes Should Know — with CLAIRE CALLAGHAN

Send us Fan MailFeel like midlife movement advice is either “just walk more” or “go beast mode or go home”? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not doing it wrong.For perimenopausal and menopausal women, movement isn't about shrinking, snapping back, or forcing intensity when your body’s screaming for support. It’s about learning to move with your body—not against it—when hormones, energy, and life feel like a moving target.This week on the pod, I sit down with the brilliant @physioclairecal—a chartered physio with over 25 years of experience working with elite athletes, postpartum moms, perimenopausal women, and everyone in between.We cover the stuff no one tells you, including: 🔹 The massive research gaps on women and movement 🔹 Why strength training is non-negotiable in midlife 🔹 What’s actually worth your time (and what’s just BS) 🔹 Weighted vests: hype or help? 🔹 Navigating hormonal chaos, confidence dips, and starting small without shameClaire gets it—because she’s lived it, researched it, and built care systems around it. (Yes, we basically discovered we’re cross-the-pond twins.)Whether you’re newly postpartum or knee-deep in perimenopause fog, this episode meets you where you are—with zero shame and all the strength.🎧 Hit play, and let’s talk about what fitness really looks like for women in the middle.👇 What’s one outdated fitness rule you’re still unlearning? Let’s hear it in the commentsTime Stamps1:00 Introduction4:00 parallels with postpartum and perimenopause/menopause8:27 social media and mixed messages12:33 running and the generational gap15:30 how to start strength training21:45 combating outdated information24:34 introducing strength training34:08 reanalyzing old assumptions36:42 returning to running46:07 Is running bad for you?53:26 rapid fire questions#PerimenopauseFitness #MidlifeStrength #WomensHealthPT #PelvicFloorPT #PostpartumToPerimenopause #FitnessForMoms #HormonalHealth #StrengthInMidlife #ClaireCallaghan #drpagliano #paglianoperimenopause #PostpartumRecovery #EvidenceBasedFitness #NoMoreFitnessBS #RealMovementForRealWomenCONNECT WITH CARRIEIG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/Website: https://carriepagliano.comCONNECT WITH CLAIREIG: https://www.instagram.com/physioclairecal/Website: https://www.clairecallaghan.comThe Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌