Back in 2022, I started running a couple miles every day to show up in solidarity for my client who was preparing for a triathlon. I continued this for almost an entire year until it backfired.

[Click here to watch a FREE workshop that I just re-filmed discussing WHY running can have a negative impact on hormones for some women.]

But before I share that story, let me tell you about my history with running...

Besides the 1-mile runs required during the Presidential fitness tests that we begrudgingly did in the 90's, the first time I participated in a race was my school's Turkey Trot in 8th grade. I want to say it was like 3 miles but it felt like a marathon to me.

I came in last place. As if being 12 years old wasn't hard enough, getting sympathy claps as I crossed the finish line was absolutely mortifying.

Let's just say I didn't attempt running again until I got to college 😂.

I've had strong Norwegian viking thighs since I was a kid. I could never share clothes like all my girlfriends were doing and didn't find a pair of jeans that fit me until my late 30's. I'd always get that huge gap in the waist but could barely walk because my athletic legs were breaking the seams.

I've always just felt like I was built different.

[Picture on the left: a couple days after gnarly tumble I took during one of my runs towards the end of 2022. Picture on the right: 2 years later, down 15 pounds with zero running and mostly walking.]

And now I know why: my endomorph body is a type 2 muscle fiber machine. It's a powerhouse of strength designed for heavy lifting, sprinting and explosive power movements. But endurance training? Long runs? Not so much.

Most people who gravitate easily towards running are usually ectomorphs who have plenty of type 1 muscle fiber. 

[Want to learn more about body types and exercise science? Get our Awaken Your Movement course for FREE when you join 1:1 coaching by May 31.]

So, what was I thinking by adopting this running routine at age 39?

To be fully honest, I was watching a lot of videos by David Goggins at the time, and he apparently speaks to my inner masculine!

He's a motivational speaker for a reason.

Yes, David, I need to embrace the suck and stay hard!

Yes, David, if you can run 40 miles a day and then do assault bike sprints and a kettlebell circuit while your blistered feet are bleeding, I can suck it up and crank out 3 measly miles.

Yes, David, humans have become 'soft' and lazy - we need to challenge ourselves with enough stress to be adaptable and resilient. 

And while I enjoyed pushing myself mentally by taking on something new that I was definitely not good at whatsoever (which is always exhilarating), I somehow glossed over the part where I am a woman and have a completely different physiology than David Goggins.

Running 3-4 miles a day for almost a year worked well for me until I turned 40. 

I started to experience a cascade of negative effects, including: 

Here are some of the negative side effects I noticed after running daily for almost a year at age 40 despite nothing changing with respect to my diet:

• Massive inflammation
• Joint pain, especially in my knees
• Multiple falls and injuries
• Weight gain
• Insatiable appetite, hungry after super balanced meals
• Intense irritability not tied to just my luteal phase 
• Poor sleep
• Stress and anxiety through the roof that was not mitigated by anything that normally soothed me

I honestly thought I was in perimenopause. 

But once I stopped running, focused on stress management, and cleaned up my cycles (circadian, cortisol, sleep, etc.), everything changed.

I lost weight, inflammation dropped, my muscles started popping, my appetite regulated, I slept like a champ and most importantly: I now do less intense exercise than I ever have in my entire adult life and yet I have been easily maintaining my leanest physique.

Once I cracked the code regarding the delicate approach required to keep women's hormones balanced, I couldn't stop sharing with everyone around me. So, I made a training to share this important information which is the foundation to a new program we'll be launching soon, Awaken Your Cycles.

Click here to watch an in-depth hormones workshop about the unique approach to stress that most women are overlooking, especially as we age.

Men, you'll want to watch this, too, if you have any women in your life and want to better understand what is happening from puberty to menopause.

Feel free to share the link with friends and family. We truly hope this information is valuable to you! 

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