Just over a year ago, I was tiptoeing back into my beloved gym after a long break.
Years, actually.
Chronic fatigue. Depression. A body with joint pain that felt heavy and unpredictable.
I deeply missed movement, but I didn’t have the energy or joy to meet it.
What I didn’t know at the time was that the flatness, the exhaustion, the itchy skin, urinary urgency, aching joints and general sense of “what is wrong with me” were all part of perimenopause. And for me, late-stage perimenopause.
Most women sit in this phase for 7 to 10 years before menopause. No one had joined those dots for me.
Under the care of my gynaecologist, I started HRT.
Within a week, I felt like myself again.
Not magically fit. Not bouncing off the walls.
But clearer. More resourced. Capable of showing up.
So I went back to the gym. Gently. Carefully. With a lot of respect for my energy.
At first, it was light sessions and lots of rest. I was just happy to be back in a space that had always felt like home. By the end of 2024, I was training a couple of times a week, but not consistently.
Early 2025 changed things.
I joined a group class gym and committed to going once a week with a friend. One solid, non-negotiable anchor. On the other days, I walked or did light sessions on my own.
Nothing dramatic. Nothing extreme. Just consistency.
With guidance from my support team and regular DEXA scans, I slowly increased from one to two, then three strength sessions a week. Walking filled the gaps.
Fatigue management stayed front and centre.
I stopped pushing through and started listening.
Late last year, something shifted again.
I felt like I had the capacity for another strength session per week.
Then, after months of thinking about it, running finally stuck a few days before New Year’s Eve.
Not because I forced it.
Because my body was ready.
This is the pattern that works for me.
Start small. Show up. Let the habit settle. Then build.
So my Q1 2026 fitness plan looks very different to this time last year. My energy is different. My resilience is different. My confidence in my body is different.
Here’s what it looks like now:
3 to 4 strength sessions a week
2 runs a week
1 long walk
Extra walking when life allows
On paper, it might sound like a lot.
In reality, it feels sustainable because I grew into it.
Some weeks need reshuffling. Life still happens.
But this is my baseline now.
My goal isn’t a body goal.
It’s a quality-of-life goal.
I’m taking a proactive approach to my health, preserving muscle, healing my dysfunctional metabolism, supporting my bones, protecting my energy, and giving myself the best chance at a strong, capable, enjoyable midlife and beyond.
Slow builds count.
Gentle returns count.
Consistency beats intensity, especially in this season.
A lot of this is what I write about in Choose Yourself.
Learning how to stop pushing, start listening, and build a life that actually fits where you are now.
The presale is open if you’re in a similar season and want something steady to come back to. Until February 1, 2026, you can preorder the ebook for $10 off.
If you’re starting again, or starting for the first time, you’re not behind. You’re right on time.