In this episode Mary delves into the nuances of exercise for women during menopause and perimenopause.

Mary discusses the physiology of exercise she learned as a student of Dr. Stacy Sims (Menopause 2.0), emphasizing the importance of both heavy lifting and high volume workouts for muscle growth, metabolic health, and overall resilience.

The episode covers why and how exercise should be adapted for midlife bodies, examining the benefits and differences between high intensity and high volume training approaches.

Mary also provides practical tips she gained as a certified Women's Coaching Specialist (Girls Gone Strong) on developing a sustainable exercise routine that includes cardiovascular training, interval workouts, and strength training.

Resources

• Why HIIT Matters for Women’s Body and Brain Health by Dr. Stacy Sims
• Take your health journey during menopause further with the Midlife Belly Fat Reset, a FREE guide to help women kickstart their fitness journey. Visit https://subscribepage.io/bellyfatreset

00:54 The Psychology and Physiology of Exercise
01:18 Why Exercise is Crucial During Menopause
01:55 Adapting Exercise for Midlife Bodies
03:22 Heavy Lifting vs. High Volume Training
06:13 The Benefits of Heavy Resistance Training
08:08 High Volume Lightweights and Their Role
10:06 Combining Heavy Lifting and High Volume
11:28 Ideal Exercise Amounts for Menopausal Women
15:52 Practical Tips for Starting Your Fitness Journey
17:57 Conclusion and Free Resources

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Meet your Host:
Hi, I'm Mary, a Licensed Menopause Champion, certified Menopause Doula, and Women's Coaching Specialist supporting high-achieving women embrace their transition from peri- to post-menopause.

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with my exclusive Menopause Intelligence Course, an 8-module, self-paced learning journey to empower you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team.

I also deliver corporate education seminars, helping forward-thinking organizations create a menopause-friendly workplace and design policies to accommodate employees at work while fostering a positive and supportive organizational culture.

Click on the link to learn more 👉🏼👉🏼 https://emmeellecoaching.com/workplace

Find me on Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this solo podcast episode, Mary closes out 2025 and welcomes in 2026 through reflections on numerology and Chinese astrology. This final episode of the year offers another guided meditation in the Goddess Series.

Highlighting the significance of the universal year one and the year of the horse, the episode encourages women to reflect on their past nine years, trust their instincts, and embrace new beginnings with courage and wisdom. The guided meditation focuses on integrating body wisdom with soul wisdom, fostering a sense of trust, and initiating forward movement.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
01:32 Numerology and the Significance of 2026
02:41 Reflecting on the Past Nine Years
03:44 Divine Feminine Energy in 2026
07:24 Guided Meditation: Portal to 2026
15:46 Closing Thoughts and New Beginnings

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Support the show

Meet your Host:
Mary is a Licensed Menopause Champion, certified Menopause Doula, and Woman's Coaching Specialist supporting high-achieving women to embrace their transition from peri- to post-menopause.

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course, an 8-module, self-paced learning journey to empower you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team.

Mary also guides organizations to create a menopause-friendly workplace, helping forward-thinking organizations design policies to accommodate employees at work and foster a positive and supportive culture. Click on the link to learn more 👉🏼👉🏼 https://emmeellecoaching.com/workplace

Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

Today's episode features Dr. Sara Tariq, an internal medicine physician at Northern Virginia Family Practice with over two decades of clinical experience.

Dr. Tariq is a dedicated advocate for systemic transformation within healthcare, passionately addressing inequities and fostering cultural shifts through relationship-centered care, leadership development and active community engagement.

Dr. Tariq discusses the challenges of navigating midlife weight gain, body image, the stories behind our eating habits. She shares her countelss experiences coaching clients through starting on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), like Ozempic and Wegovy, to tackle increased stubborn weight that can occur in the menopause transition. These medications, initially developed for type 2 diabetes, are now being used to help non-diabetic women manage weight through appetite regulation and improved satiety.

The conversation uncovers the misconceptions and stigma surrounding GLP-1s, the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies, and the critical role of mental health and mindset in a patient's health journey.

Key Takeaways:

• GLP-1s are evidence-based tools, not quick fixes, and should be used under professional guidance.
• Sustainable health in menopause requires nutrition, movement, sleep, and mindset—not just medication.
• Each woman’s journey is unique. Coaches and providers should listen, empathize, and support women’s agency and choices.
• Empowerment means letting go of shame, focusing on strength and vitality, and seeking credible, compassionate care.
• The power in shifting from a “skinny” to a “strong” mindset and embracing resistance training, self-compassion, and self advocacy.

Contact:

• Dr. Tariq’s clinic Northern Virginia Family Practice
• Finbd Dr. Tariq on Instagram at drsaratariqnvfp

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I would love it if you could support the show. Go into the show notes and click on the button where you read "support the show." You have the option to donate monthly, $3, 5, 8, 10. Be a loyal supporter for as long as you want with recurring fee as little of three as $3 a month, and opt out at any time. Each investment goes directly back into producing episodes with even better content, improved audio quality, and we'll go a long way in bringing great guests onto the show.

Support the show

Meet your Host:
Mary is a Licensed Menopause Champion, certified Menopause Doula, and Woman's Coaching Specialist supporting high-achieving women to embrace their transition from peri- to post-menopause.

Turn your menopause transition into a transfrmation with the Menopause Intelligence Course, an 8-module, self-paced learning journey to empower you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team.

Mary also guides organizations to create a menopause-friendly workplace, helping forward-thinking organizations design policies to accommodate employees at work and foster a positive and supportive culture. Click on the link to learn more 👉🏼👉🏼 https://emmeellecoaching.com/workplace

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.