Honestly, Carly

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 uncomfortabl...

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 muscl...

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 k...

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...

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 c...

We've just had the Easter break here in the UK (and have the May bank holidays to look forward to next month!) so I wanted to give you a bitesize nugget of an episode on something that's been coming up with my clients.

Ever noticed how you feel better on holiday… even when you’re moving less, drinking more wine (!), and completely out of your usual routine?

In this short, punchy episode, I’m unpacking what’s actually going on - and why it’s not that your routine at home is broken.

Because he...

I nearly ticked "sedentary" on a medical form.

And I'm a personal trainer.

I had to tick a box describing my activity level - you know the ones. Sedentary. Lightly active. Moderately active. Highly active.

And for years, I’ve ticked the top one without thinking.

This time… I actually read it.

And realised I couldn’t.

Despite being a personal trainer. Despite training regularly. Despite doing all the “right” things… I was, at best, lightly active.

Some days? Probably sedentary!

In this episode, I’m...

HIIT has got a bad reputation in the midlife fitness world. And honestly? I think it needs new PR.

In this episode, I’m digging into why high intensity interval training has been painted as the villain for women in their 40s and beyond, and why I think that’s a massive oversimplification.

Because the problem isn’t HIIT itself.

The problem is poor programming, too much of it, no progression, and expecting random online workouts to do the job of proper training.

I’m talking about why HIIT still deserves a place...

Do you keep searching for the perfect training plan… but never quite stick to one?

You’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m unpacking a conversation I’ve been having on repeat with so many women lately:

And here’s the truth…

In midlife, chasing the “perfect” plan might actually be the thing holding you back.

Because your body isn’t static anymore.

It’s changing. Constantly.

So instead of handing you a rigid programme, I’m shari...

Last week I did something I’ve never done before.

I went for a DEXA scan.

And it didn't just tell me about how my bones are doing - it made me think about the whole conversation around getting fitter and stronger in midlife.

In this bitesize episode I’m sharing:

• What a DEXA scan actually is and what it measures

• Why bone density declines during perimenopause and menopause

• What your results might reveal

• Key risk factors for reduced bone density in midlife women

• Why stre...

In this episode of the Honestly, Carly Podcast, I’m joined by an incredible guest, Dr Katie Armstrong, GP of 20+ years and founder of Clinic51, a private GP-led women’s health and menopause clinic.

This is not “just an HRT chat”.

We talk about the real-life overlap between medicine and lifestyle, why perimenopause can feel like you’ve got 20 tabs open in your brain, and how to think about symptoms as information, not a personal failure.

This conversation will change the way you think about the menopause transition.

WHAT WE COVER

After last week’s complete guide to strength training in midlife, my inbox lit up.

Grip strength.

Starting weights.

Body Pump.

Pilates.

Rest periods.

Pull-ups.

Protein.

“Do women really need different training to men?”

So this week, I’m answering your most asked questions - giving you the honest truth about what actually matters when you want to get stronger in midlife.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 on last week's podcast yet, I’d recommend starting there for the foun...

Strength training is having a moment… but loads of women are still confused about what to actually do. In this episode, Carly breaks down why strength training matters more in midlife, what it’s doing inside your body (muscle, bones, joints, metabolism), and how to train in a way that genuinely works (no-flinging-weights-around nonsense!).

In This Episode:

In this episode, I share my biggest training mistake of last year and what it taught me (again!) about midlife fitness, perimenopause, training intensity, cortisol and recovery for women in their 40s...

Last summer I trained for an event I was really excited about.

I had the plan.

I had the experience.

I had the knowledge.

What I didn’t have… was the right intensity balance.

We’re talking about:

Midlife weight gain can feel confusing and frustrating - where did that little bit of extra padding come from? And why is it so hard to shift?

In this episode, Carly breaks down what’s really happening in your body where your weight's concerned during perimenopause and menopause, and shares her practical, no-nonsense roadmap for losing weight in a healthy, sustainable way.

But we might not start where you think!

No detoxes. No extreme diets. No punishment.

In this episode we cover:

This week I’m chatting solo about why goal setting can feel a bit icky in midlife… and why, despite that, I’m still a big fan of having one!

We’re diving into:

You’ll also he...

January can feel like an aggressive group chat you never asked to be added to: fasting rules, at-home tests, supplement stacks, blood sugar panic, and a general sense that you’re Doing Nutrition Wrong.

In this episode, I’m joined by BANT registered nutritionist Amie Parry-Jones to cut through the noise and bring things back to what’s evidence-led, realistic, and actually helpful for midlife women.

We talk intermittent fasting (and why “just skip breakfast” isn’t the universal win people think it is), the rise of testing culture, blood sugar myths, collagen hype, under-fuelling, and the surp...

Cardio has become the pariah of the fitness world for midlife women. Everyone’s got strong opinions about it, half of them outdated, and most of them wildly confusing.

In this solo episode, I'm demystifying cardio once and for all.

What it actually is, what it isn’t, and how it fits into a realistic midlife training week, you'll be pleased to hear without obsessing over zones, fearing cortisol, or binning off intensity altogether.

We talk about:

Pelvic floor issues in midlife are common - but they’re not something you have to “just put up with”. In this episode, I chat with women’s health osteopath and pelvic health specialist Katie Doran (Pelvic Rebel) about leaking, prolapse fears, urgency, and why the usual “just do your kegels” advice often doesn’t work.

You’ll learn why pelvic floor problems aren’t always about weakness, how breathing mechanics and the nervous system affect symptoms, and a few simple, practical tweaks you can try straight away.

In this episode we cover:

The midlife wellness space is loud - especially in January.

Supplements, experts, protocols, promises… everyone seems to have an answer. And if you’ve ever felt confused, sceptical or quietly overwhelmed by it all, this episode is for you.

In this honest conversation, I break down what’s real, what’s questionable, and how midlife women can become more discerning without feeling pressured, panicked or foolish.

This episode is about sharpening your BS radar - and learning how to trust your instincts and intuition again (in a non-woo-woo way!).

In this episode...

If you’re feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the New Year noise already, this episode is for you.

January has a habit of turning the volume right up. Reset. Recommit. Smash it. Go again. And for women who like to do things properly, that pressure can tip very quickly into doing far too much, far too soon 🫠

In this episode, we talk about why the real issue in January isn’t motivation, but overcorrection – especially in midlife, when our bodies, nervous systems and recovery needs have changed.

We look at a calmer, smarter way to st...

Before You Write Yourself Off Until January – Listen to This!

This week’s episode is a little different. Think voice-note, rather than broadcast!

I recorded it knowing that for many midlife women, the run-up to Christmas is a tricky time. You’re still doing the all the things. And then some.

It might also feel like it takes more effort than it used to and this isn't your imagination.

In this mini bonus episode, I talk about why that dip in energy or motivation at this time of year isn’t a person...

This week, we’re time-travelling. Sort of 😉.

I’m looking ahead to 2026 and sharing the midlife fitness trends I know are going to shape how women over 40 train, feel, move and make decisions next year. Not because I’m a trend-chaser (you know me better than that), but because after nearly 11 years in this industry - and a LOT of Google Alerts landing in my inbox every day -  I’ve seen what actually matters, what fizzles out, and what genuinely moves the needle for women in midlife.

From the rise (and fall) of certain programmes...

This week, I’m joined by my very first guest - and what a guest she is! 

Sports therapist for over 20 years, certified running coach, university lecturer and all-round queen of movement, Danielle Garfoot joins me to unpack the aches, pains and niggles that seem to creep up just as we hit midlife - and what we can actually do about them.

We go deep into:

Just call me the fun sponge (no, not really 😉)

In this episode of the Honestly Carly Podcast, I’m getting into something that’s been coming up again and again with the women I work with - and that I’ve experienced myself:

Why can’t I handle alcohol like I used to?

If you’ve noticed your tolerance has dropped, your hangovers last forever, or that one glass of wine wrecks your sleep, you are not imagining it!

I’m breaking down:

If you’re a woman wondering “Is this... perimenopause?” then this is the episode you need in your ears.

In this week’s episode Carly unpacks the most common (and confusing) question she hears from midlife women:

“How do I actually know if I’m in perimenopause?”

With warmth, honesty and a hefty dose of myth-busting, Carly shares:

You’re not imagining it. If you're a woman over 40, chances are, your belly has changed.

And no - it’s not because you’ve “let yourself go” or need another app telling you to track your macros and count your calories.

In this week’s episode of Honestly, Carly, we delve into what’s really going on with midlife belly fat - and why the usual generic advice around losing weight doesn’t cut it for women in the perimenopause and menopause years.

From fluctuating hormones to insulin resistance, sleep-deprived cortisol chaos to stress-snacking an...

Feeling pulled in 12 directions by suggestions to “do Reformer Pilates/lift heavy/run a marathon/walk everywhere”? Same.

We're over-complicating exercise for women over 40s and nobody has the time or energy for it.

In this episode we cut through the noise with an evidence-based, midlife-friendly blueprint:

You know that feeling when everything’s ticking along nicely - workouts going well, meals vaguely balanced, smug morning walk energy - and then life happens?

Half-term. Deadlines. Broken boilers. Teenagers. Parents. The lot.

In this episode, we’re talking about the real reason so many smart, capable midlife women struggle to stick to healthy habits (hint: it’s not lack of willpower or knowledge). It’s the all-or-nothing mindset that creeps in when perfectionism meets everyday chaos. This is where we ditch it.

In this episode we walk through:

💡 The biggest mis...

When your trusted routine suddenly stalls in midlife, it’s not you - it’s the strategy. 

In this episode, Carly explains why “doing more” backfires in midlife, how to stop the scattergun fixes (a cupboard full of supplements, anyone?), and the simple plan: tune in, audit stress, and polarise your training (hard vs easy) so workouts start working again.

Carly unpacks the classic midlife spiral: the weight creep, the constant fatigue, the niggles - and the urge to do everything to try and fix it ASAP, only to end up distrusting your body a...

Let's tackle the midlife myth head-on: “Am I beyond help?”. From creaky knees and constant tiredness to the “good for your age” narrative, this episode unpacks why you are not broken, why it’s not too late, and how small, consistent choices (plus a kinder mindset) create big change.

We’ll look at how the cultural script around older women ("she looks amazing for 45") messes with motivation, why aches, niggles and feeling less-than-energised don’t mean the start of decline, and how to replace the “I’m broken” story with “I’m under-informed”. You’ll learn to meet your body where it is, build...

In this episode of Honestly, Carly, we zoom out from the “it’s just your hormones” narrative and look at the full picture of midlife physiology. 

Yes, oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone are changing - but so are your stress loads, recovery capacity, sleep, and the cumulative “patchwork quilt” of your life (and don't we know it?).

Carly explains in plain English how the hormone rollercoaster affects your workouts and your body; why cortisol is leaving you more tired-but-wired than an under-slept toddler; and why you're playing whack-a-mole with niggles. Understanding what's going on with your...

Welcome to the very first episode of Honestly, Carly!

Today, Carly's sharing her own midlife story - from confident (maybe even a bit cocky?) PT and keen runner who thought she had it all figured out, to realising something had shifted. Slower recovery, recurring niggles and unexpected weight gain around the middle despite “doing everything right.” 

This show exists to share those honest lessons so you can feel better (maybe better than ever?) without the overwhelm or feeling like you're the only one.  Midlife isn’t a slow fade: it can be your stro...

Welcome to Honestly, Carly - the truth about being strong, sane and seen in midlife.

In this introductory trailer, meet your host, Carly Corrigall, lawyer turned PT and fitness coach, who's on a one-woman mission to show you that midlife isn't a moment to shrink, fade, or fall off the edge of your own priority list.

Honestly, Carly… is your weekly reset button - a straight-talking podcast where we don’t sugarcoat what’s hard, but we don’t pretend progress depends on perfection, either.

Part science, part swe...