Move It, Own It

Just Us Girls, back with some real talk about perimenopause and exercise. If you’re noticing your body feels different when you work out lately—maybe your energy dips faster, recovery takes longer, or motivation swings wild—welcome to the club.

Why does working out feel tougher now?

Perimenopause is all about shifting hormones—especially estrogen and progesterone—that impact your muscles, joints, metabolism, and even mood. Lower estrogen can make muscles a bit more prone to fatigue and slow down recovery. Plus, it can affect sleep quality and energy levels, making workouts feel harder than they used to.

But here’s the good news: staying active is one of the best ways to support your body through this change. Exercise can boost your mood, protect bone density, help manage weight, and improve sleep.

How to work with your changing body:

1. Listen & Adapt: Some days will feel stronger than others. It’s okay to scale back or swap high-impact for gentler moves. Your workout is yours, not a competition.

2. Prioritize strength training: Building muscle helps combat natural age-related loss, supports metabolism, and keeps joints stable. Aim for 2-3 sessions a week.

3. Mix in low-impact cardio: Walking, swimming, cycling—these can improve heart health and stamina without stressing joints.

4. Don’t forget flexibility & balance: Yoga, Pilates, or simple stretching improve mobility and reduce injury risk.

5. Focus on recovery: Perimenopause can slow healing. Prioritize sleep, hydration, and consider gentle recovery days or restorative activities.

Bonus tip:

Fuel your workouts with balanced meals rich in protein, healthy fats, and whole grains. Your energy depends on what you put in!

Remember, your body is evolving, not failing. Exercise through perimenopause is about honoring your strength and giving yourself grace as you move forward.

Call To Action: Got workout wins or struggles? Hit reply—I’d love to hear what’s working for you!

Stay strong,

Just Us Girls