For many women over 40, cardio brings up memories of the 90s and early 2000s – endless hours on the elliptical, chasing a smaller body, and pushing through with Red Bulls and salads. It was an era marked by toxic fitness culture, and the fallout left a lot of us burnt out, swearing off cardio completely. But now, with energy, stamina, and health markers changing in midlife, it might be time to take another look at how cardio fits into your life.

In this episode, we explore what it means to rebuild a healthier relationship with cardio. From my personal journey – burnout from endurance sports, swinging the pendulum into strength training, then finding my way back to cardio on my own terms – to practical ways you can ease it back into your routine, this conversation is about healing from old patterns and creating balance. You’ll also hear answers to common questions about what counts as cardio, how to tell if it’s moderate or vigorous, and how to weave it in with your lifting.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why so many women over 40 have a complicated history with cardio

• The role of diet culture and body ideals in shaping our relationship with endurance exercise

• How to reframe cardio as a supportive tool instead of punishment

• Practical ways to bring conditioning back without burnout or dread

• Guidelines for balancing cardio with strength training so both work together

• Simple strategies for starting small and progressing over time

Motivation for working out episode

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