32: 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 ReviewsSandercock, 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. PLOS ONE, 17(5), e0267277.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👉 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 CarlyDon'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