Honestly, Carly

Carly Corrigall
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  • Health & Fitness

If you're a woman over 40 and your old workouts have stopped working, your jeans feel tighter, and your brain can’t decide if it’s burnt out or buzzing - you’re in the right place. This is midlife, just not how they sold it to you. Honestly, Carly is where fitness, hormone health, and real life collide. Hosted by Carly Corrigall, midlife PT (and former lawyer), each week we get honest about what it actually takes to feel strong, confident and capable over 40, without overtraining, overcomplicating, or outsourcing your self-worth to scales and step counts. Expect science-backed strategies you can use today, the pep talk you didn't know you needed, and more than the occasional “oh my god, SAME.” This is the podcast to help you train smarter, feel better, and make this your strongest chapter yet. Educational content only; not a substitute for medical advice.

  1. 1d ago

    51: What My Old Training Diaries Taught Me About Fitness in My 40s

    What My Old Training Diaries Taught Me About Fitness in My 40sI’ve been reading my old training diaries. And frankly, this episode was in danger of becoming Carly Reads Her Old Diaries and Calls Herself a d*ck for 25 Minutes. Because there is A LOT in there. And I'm sharing it with you here (as we all like to nose in someone else's diaries, right?!). But underneath the comedy, there was a pattern. More miles. More sessions. Faster pace. Get everything done. Therefore: fitter. These days, I train substantially less than I did in my late 30s and early 40s, but I consider myself far healthier overall. So in this episode, I’m asking: what does being “fit” actually mean? We’ll talk about why fitness isn’t one single thing, why doing more exercise doesn’t automatically make your training better, and why the right training depends on what you actually want your body to be able to do. Because the question isn’t simply: Am I doing enough? It’s: What am I training for? And does the way I’m spending my precious time and energy actually reflect that? If you’ve ever thought I used to do so much more than this or wondered whether you should squeeze another workout into an already packed week, this one’s for you. In this episode:What my old training diaries revealed about my relationship with exercise, food and my bodyWhy my marathon and ultramarathon training wasn’t “wrong”The difference between run-specific fitness and being fit more broadlyWhy strength used to be little more than a tick-box for meThe problem with measuring consistency by whether you completed every planned sessionWhy more miles, more sessions and more intensity don’t automatically equal better resultsWhat my training looks like now and why everything has a jobThe question I now use instead of “Am I doing enough?”What I’d really like to tell the younger woman who wrote “feeling heavy” in her training diary If this episode has made you realise you could do with some help zooming out and working out what actually matters for your body, goals and life, that’s exactly the sort of thing we work on inside The Reboot. 👉 Find out more about The Reboot here Oh and don't forget to follow the podcast and, if you're feeling extra-nice, leave a review. It really helps me to reach more women ❤️

  2. Oct 1

    50: My Top 3 Exercises as a Midlife PT

    If I could only choose THREE exercises to do for the rest of my life, what would make the cut? Think Desert Island Discs for fitness... except apparently eight records, a book and a luxury item is far too easy. I'm allowing myself one lower-body exercise, one upper-body exercise and one core exercise. And honestly? Choosing them was ridiculously hard. In this episode, I'm revealing my three current favourites and why they've earned their place. But there's a bigger point here, because the best exercises for me aren't necessarily the best exercises for you. Whether you're training for strength, bone health, running performance, balance, muscle, injury prevention or simply to make everyday life feel easier, every exercise in your programme should have a job. So we're creating a fitness capsule wardrobe: fewer random exercises, more of the ones that actually do something useful for YOUR body and YOUR goals. In this episode, we cover: Why the lunge is possibly my favourite exercise for runners (and about 700 different ways I can use it to make you swear at me)Why unilateral training is so useful for strength, balance and stabilityWhy the press-up might be the ultimate bodyweight compound exerciseThe reason I'm not a fan of knee press-ups if your goal is to progress to full onesThe universally hated core exercise that's made my top threeHow to work backwards from YOUR goal to choose the exercises that deserve a place in your training And if your current exercise programme consists mainly of saved Instagram workouts, random YouTube sessions and whatever you happen to fancy that day, we'll talk about why that might be the real problem. Inside The Reboot, we take exactly this approach: looking at what you're trying to achieve, what you're currently doing and what your body and your life can realistically accommodate, before creating your own personalised exercise prescription. Because you don't need another enormous list of exercises. You need to know which ones have a job to do for you. 🎙️ PLUS: a little podcast update We've made it to Episode 50! From here, Honestly, Carly is moving to a fortnightly schedule. I know lots of you are still catching up when the next episode lands, so I'm giving you a little more breathing space to listen, digest and actually put some of this stuff into practice. I'll be back in your ears in two weeks. And with another 49 episodes already waiting for you, I'm not exactly leaving you short of listening material... 😁 Find me: Instagram: @carlycorrigall Work with me: The Reboot: personalised support with your training, nutrition, recovery, sleep and wider lifestyle - discover more here: The Reboot Train with Carly: live online Strength and HIIT classes, plus replays so you can fit your training around your life (and not the other way round): Train with Carly

  3. Sep 24

    49: How Heavy Should I Be Lifting?

    “How heavy should my weights be?” It’s one of the questions I’m asked most often by women starting strength training (and quite a few who’ve been doing it for years). And my irritating answer is: it depends. Because a weight that’s challenging for a squat might be completely inappropriate for a lateral raise. And the right weight for you when you’re learning a movement isn’t necessarily the right weight six months later. So in this episode, we’re getting VERY practical about what “lifting heavy” actually means. We’ll talk about: 🏋️‍♀️ Why beginners don’t need to rush to lift heavier weights 🧠 The neuromuscular adaptations happening when you first start strength training 💪 The difference between doing a strength workout and actually training for strength 🔥 How to tell whether your weights are genuinely challenging enough 📈 Why progression doesn’t always mean adding more weight 🪶 When lighter weights are absolutely the right choice 🛒 And my completely unsponsored guide to buying dumbbells for training at home, including what I’d buy, what I probably wouldn’t bother with and why I’m firmly Team Hexagon. If you’ve been using the same dumbbells for years, or you regularly finish a set knowing you could happily have carried on for another ten reps, this one is especially for you. Because you don’t need to lift the heaviest weight you possibly can. But if you want your body to adapt, at some point you do need to challenge it. And sometimes, yes, that means buying some heavier bloody dumbbells. Train With Carly If you’d like structured strength training with plenty of coaching, options and prompts to help you keep progressing, you can join me live online every week inside Train With Carly - check out my classes here. Come and chat with me on Instagram @carlycorrigall - I'd love your questions for a future podcast!

  4. Sep 17

    48: Why You’re Still Thinking About It Instead of Doing It

    September has arrived. But if you spent the summer telling yourself you’d sort your health and fitness when September came around, and you’re now thinking perhaps after half term, after Christmas or when life calms down… this episode is for you. Because waiting isn’t neutral. Even when you’re exercising, eating well and trying to do all the “right” things, continuing with an approach that isn’t giving you the results you expect still has a cost. In this episode, I’m looking at: • The difference between consciously choosing maintenance and repeatedly kicking the problem down the road • Why doing more of the same isn’t necessarily a plan • The surprising amount of headspace health and fitness confusion can consume • How repeatedly feeling stuck can begin to erode your confidence • Why the answer probably isn’t another workout, supplement or complete dietary overhaul • How to identify the signals your body is already giving you • What could realistically change over the next 12 weeks • Why you don’t need to feel completely ready before taking action Three months from now, December will arrive either way. You could reach it promising yourself that January will finally be the month you sort everything out. Or you could look back and feel extremely glad you started when you did. The September Start for The Reboot is now open until Friday 18 September. The Reboot is my three-month programme for active women over 40 who are already doing plenty of the “right” things, but aren’t getting the results they expect. Together, we’ll work out what’s already working, identify what’s missing and adjust the balance across your training, nutrition, recovery and mindset, so you can feel stronger, fitter, clearer and back in the driving seat by Christmas. Find out more and join the September Start here: The Reboot Come and find me on Instagram: @carlycorrigall

  5. Sep 10

    47: Are Menopause Fitness Plans a Scam?

    A few big fitness accounts have been making a pretty bold claim recently: menopause-specific fitness programmes are a SCAM. You might expect me to be personally affronted by this as someone who has created programmes specifically for women in midlife who are experiencing the perimenopause and menopause. And on one level - I am (because I’m absolutely not a scammer 😆)… but also… I’m not 🧐 So in this episode I’m examining whether we actually need anything menopause-specific at all? In this episode, I’m talking about what I got spectacularly wrong as a newly qualified PT, why writing the “perfect” programme is actually the easy bit, and what 12 years of coaching women has taught me about the difference between information and coaching. We’ll talk hormones, recovery, ageing, injuries, pelvic floors and the sheer amount of LIFE that tends to be happening by our 40s and 50s. I think you’ll feel seen! So are menopause-specific programmes a scam? As ever, there’s a LOT more nuance hiding behind the Instagram headline. Let’s get into it. 🎧 ‼️ AND IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE THIS WEEK… 🎟️ WATCH MY FREE 20-MINUTE VIDEO If you’re an active woman over 40 doing all the “right” things but not getting the results you expect anymore, I’ve made this for you. I’ll show you why trying to do ALL THE THINGS may actually be part of the problem, and how to work out what deserves your effort, what needs tweaking and what you can stop worrying about altogether. 👉 WATCH THE FREE VIDEO HERE 📱 COME AND FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM For more midlife fitness chat, training advice and general behind-the-scenes ramblings: 👉 Instagram: @carlycorrigall

  6. Sep 3

    46: When Did Midlife Fitness Become a Full-Time Project?

    Protein. Strength training. Steps. Cardio. Sleep. Fibre. Creatine. Bone health. Mobility. Stress. Recovery… Excuse me, but when exactly do we get to clock off? 😵‍💫 In this episode of Honestly, Carly, I’m asking why looking after ourselves can suddenly feel like a full-time bloody project in midlife – particularly when most of us are already doing plenty of the “right” things. Because perhaps the problem isn’t that staying fit and healthy suddenly requires us to do 47 different things. Perhaps it’s that when our bodies and results start to feel less predictable, we respond by trying to control more and more variables. We’ll talk about why the relationship between what you do and how you feel can become a little fuzzier in midlife; the endless cycle of tweaking training, food, supplements and routines; why one rubbish week doesn’t necessarily mean something needs fixing; and the question I’d rather you ask instead of “What else should I be doing?” Because your health and fitness should give you more capacity for your life – not become another enormous project to manage. PLUS: The Reboot is getting a September shake-up 👀 If you want feeling absolutely incredible in midlife to feel less like a full-time job, The Reboot is the place where I show you how. For the first time this year, I’m running a live September cohort of The Reboot, with a group of women all starting together. Want to be the first to hear when it goes live? Drop me the word SEPTEMBER in a DM on Instagram and I’ll make sure you’re first in the know. 👉 Find me on Instagram: @carlycorrigall 👉 Find out more about The Reboot: The Reboot

  7. Aug 27

    45: My Exact Workout Week as a 45-Year-Old PT

    Apparently, people want to snoop on my Strava to see how I train. So I thought I'd save you the detective work... 👀 In this episode, I'm laying out exactly what my training looks like right now at 45, with access to all the latest knowledge as well as over a decade of experience as a PT. But there's a rather important caveat. Because while looking at what somebody else does can give you ideas, blindly reverse-engineering their training plan is rarely the answer. Your body, history, goals, injuries, lifestyle and stage of life all matter. And doing someone else's workouts won't magically give you someone else's body. We talk about: the three main elements I build my training aroundhow much I actually do each weekwhy repetition beats throwing loads of random workouts at your bodythe extra 10 minutes I do every day, and why you might not need towhat's conspicuously absent from my routine (hello, stretching, yoga and Pilates...)why your training needs to change when your goal changesand the simple training audit I'd encourage every woman to do as we head into autumn. The big takeaway? Every workout in your week should have a job. You don't need to do everything. You need to know what your body needs, what you're trying to achieve, and build your training around that. Also mentioned: 🎧 Ep10 Stretching Is Not The Answer (and other things you didn't know about midlife aches and pains) with Danielle Garfoot - listen here on Apple and here on Spotify 💪 Want to try Train with Carly? Your first PAYG class is £7! Tap here for more: Train with Me ✨ Want my help creating your own bespoke exercise prescription? That's exactly what we do inside The Reboot - find out more here: The Reboot ⭐️ Abs of steel in 10mins a day? Check out PerimenoCore Come and find me on Instagram @Carly Corrigall

  8. Aug 20

    44: Summer Got You Feeling Puffy, Unfit and Out of Routine? Start Here

    Do you feel like you’ve got a LOT of work to do on your body this September? Maybe you feel puffier and more bloated than usual. Your clothes are fitting differently, your fitness seems to have disappeared and your normal routines have gone completely out of the window. Before you launch yourself into a September detox, diet or punishing workout plan, I want you to hear this: you’re probably not as far behind as you think. After a summer of heatwaves, holidays, disrupted sleep, different food, a few more treats and drinks, and perhaps a lot less movement and training than usual, it’s hardly surprising if you don’t feel quite like yourself. In this episode, I’m looking at what might actually be going on and, more importantly, what I’d do about it. We talk about: Why hot weather can leave you feeling puffier and more bloatedThe summer “treats and tastes” that can add up without us really noticingWhy you might feel less fit after a more sporadic few weeks of trainingWhy there is no wagon to fall off or climb back ontoThe importance of sleep and getting your usual anchors backA quick note on HRT, heat and transdermal preparationsWhy September should be an opportunity to recalibrate, not punish yourselfThe simple approach I’ll be taking myself over the next few weeks Because before you start trying to change your body, it might be worth asking a different question: What do I need to put back into my life to feel like me again? Give yourself a little time, get your normal rhythms back and then decide whether anything else actually needs to change. 🎧 Mentioned in this episode: Listen to my episode with sleep specialist Laura Murphy for much more on improving your sleep - it's Episode 42: Sleeping Badly in Midlife? Let’s Fix That (with Laura Murphy of The Sleep Shift) 💪 Want help getting your exercise routine back? Come and join me inside Train With Carly for 30-minute strength and HIIT workouts you can fit around real life, 52 weeks of the year. ✨ Want support with the bigger picture? If it’s not just your workouts and you’d like help with your training, food, sleep, stress, habits and feeling good in your body again, The Reboot is where we work on all of this together. 💌 Want to chat about your next step? Drop me a DM on Instagram - I'm @carlycorrigall And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who’s currently looking at September and thinking, “Right. I need to sort myself out.”

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About

If you're a woman over 40 and your old workouts have stopped working, your jeans feel tighter, and your brain can’t decide if it’s burnt out or buzzing - you’re in the right place. This is midlife, just not how they sold it to you. Honestly, Carly is where fitness, hormone health, and real life collide. Hosted by Carly Corrigall, midlife PT (and former lawyer), each week we get honest about what it actually takes to feel strong, confident and capable over 40, without overtraining, overcomplicating, or outsourcing your self-worth to scales and step counts. Expect science-backed strategies you can use today, the pep talk you didn't know you needed, and more than the occasional “oh my god, SAME.” This is the podcast to help you train smarter, feel better, and make this your strongest chapter yet. Educational content only; not a substitute for medical advice.

Information

  • Creator
    Carly Corrigall
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Carly Corrigall
  • Show Website
    Honestly, Carly

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