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Feel 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 shame

Claire 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👇 What’s one outdated fitness rule you’re still unlearning?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 comments

Time Stamps

1:00 Introduction

4:00 parallels with postpartum and perimenopause/menopause

8:27 social media and mixed messages

12:33 running and the generational gap

15:30 how to start strength training

21:45 combating outdated information

24:34 introducing strength training

34:08 reanalyzing old assumptions

36:42 returning to running

46:07 Is running bad for you?

53:26 rapid fire questions

#PerimenopauseFitness #MidlifeStrength #WomensHealthPT #PelvicFloorPT #PostpartumToPerimenopause #FitnessForMoms #HormonalHealth #StrengthInMidlife #ClaireCallaghan #drpagliano #paglianoperimenopause #PostpartumRecovery #EvidenceBasedFitness #NoMoreFitnessBS #RealMovementForRealWomen

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH CLAIRE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/physioclairecal/

Website: https://www.clairecallaghan.com

The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.

This show has been a long time in the making!

You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.

If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!

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