HIIT Training, Cortisol Belly, and Perimenopause: Should You Break Up?
When Hillary Duff recently shared that she changed the way she trains during perimenopause, it sparked a bigger conversation: Are women over 40 doing the wrong workouts?
If you've spent more than five minutes on social media lately, you've probably seen someone say:
"Stop doing HIIT. It's causing your cortisol belly."
Then someone else says women over 40 should only walk.
Another person swears by lifting heavy.
And suddenly you're left wondering...
What am I actually supposed to do?
As a woman who has spent years coaching clients through different seasons of life—including perimenopause—I think this conversation deserves a little more of a conversation.
What the “Pilates Shake” Actually Means for Building Lean Muscle
If you've ever taken a Pilates-inspired strength class, you've probably experienced it.
Your legs start trembling.
Your arms begin shaking.
Your core feels like it's vibrating.
And somewhere around the halfway point of the movement, you start wondering:
"Is this normal?"
Or maybe you've heard someone say:
"If you're shaking, you're building muscle."
Then someone else chimes in:
"Nope. That's just a Pilates thing."
So...who's right?
The answer is somewhere in the middle.