This week, I’m joined by my very first guest - and what a guest she is!

Sports therapist for over 20 years, certified running coach, university lecturer and all-round queen of movement, Danielle Garfoot joins me to unpack the aches, pains and niggles that seem to creep up just as we hit midlife - and what we can actually do about them.

We go deep into:

• Whether women really are more prone to injuries and niggles in midlife than men
• How pain perception changes in midlife - and how understanding this could be key to moving pain-free
• The difference between a true injury and a “niggle” (and why it matters)
• How your nervous system affects how you feel pain - and how to calm it the f down
• The sneaky role of fear and self-doubt in keeping you stuck and achy
• Why stretching probably isn’t the fix you think it is (even if it feels nice)

If you’ve ever said, “I’m just a bit tight” or “I can’t do that because of my shoulder/knee/hip”, this one’s going to be a total lightbulb moment 💡

This isn’t just about rehab, so even if you’re moving well at the moment, I’d like you to think of this as prehab for midlife. Essential stuff for all of us.

Connect with Danielle

• Find Danielle on Instagram:@dssportstherapy
• Danielle’s website: DS Sports Therapy

If you loved this episode…

⭐️ Please subscribe, share, or leave a quick (5*!) review. It helps more midlife women find this podcast, understand their bodies better (and feel less “tired” - if you listened, then you’ll know!).

📱Come and say hi! Find me on Instagram @carlycorrigall

💖 Want to work with me for free in January? Join The Mini Reboot: Healthy Habits Challenge here.

Just call me the fun sponge (no, not really 😉)

In this episode of the Honestly Carly Podcast, I’m getting into something that’s been coming up again and again with the women I work with - and that I’ve experienced myself:

Why can’t I handle alcohol like I used to?

If you’ve noticed your tolerance has dropped, your hangovers last forever, or that one glass of wine wrecks your sleep, you are not imagining it!

I’m breaking down:

• Why women in perimenopause and menopause struggle more with alcohol
• What’s really going on with those 3-day hangovers (hint: hormones + physiology, it's a heady blend)
• How alcohol impacts hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, and recovery
• The connection between alcohol, sleep, and strength training results
• What it does to your nutrient levels and long-term health (yes, even that “one glass” - sorry!)

As always, there’s no judgment here. Just facts and science to help you become the expert on your body, so you can make informed decisions about what’s right for you.

If this episode gives you a lightbulb moment, please share it with a midlife mate who needs to hear it 💛

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sign up for my free January Healthy Habits Challenge here to get your 2026 goals off to a flying start
• DM me on Instagram @carlycorrigall with your thoughts or questions
• Listen to Ep 8 “How Will I Know (If it's perimenopause)?” for more on symptom spotting.

Further reading:

Topiwala A, Levey DF, Zhou H, et al Alcohol use and risk of dementia in diverse populations: evidence from cohort, case–control and Mendelian randomisation approaches BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine Published Online First: 23 September 2025. doi:10.1136/bmjebm-2025-113913

Alcohol Ingestion Impairs Maximal Post‑Exercise Rates of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis — Parr EB, Camera DM, Areta JL, Burke LM, Phillips SM, et al. (2014)

Sommer I, Erkkilä AT, Järvinen R, Mursu J, Sirola J, Jurvelin JS, Kröger H, Tuppurainen M. Alcohol consumption and bone mineral density in elderly women. Public Health Nutr. 2013 Apr;16(4):704-12. doi: 10.1017/S136898001200331X. Epub 2012 Jul 17. PMID: 22800300; PMCID: PMC10271676.

Balance Menopause: Histamine Intolerance

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If you’re a woman wondering “Is this... perimenopause?” then this is the episode you need in your ears.

In this week’s episode Carly unpacks the most common (and confusing) question she hears from midlife women:

“How do I actually know if I’m in perimenopause?”

With warmth, honesty and a hefty dose of myth-busting, Carly shares:

• What perimenopause really is (and why you can still be having regular periods and very much be in it)
• Why blood tests for hormones can be misleading
• The subtle signs your body might already be giving you
• How mental health shifts: anxiety, rage, brain fog can be linked to hormonal changes
• Why it’s so hard to tell the difference between stress, burnout, and hormone fluctuations
• How to start tracking your symptoms and get support that actually helps

Just FYI (and we’re all grown ups here, so you know this already), but this isn’t medical advice. Carly’s not a clinician: but she is an experienced and qualified midlife specialist PT and coach who’s been there, works daily with women going through and has had enough chats to know when something doesn’t feel right.

You are not imagining it. You are not dramatic. You are not alone.

Whether you're just starting to wonder, or you've been feeling “off” for a while and haven't known where to turn, this episode will help you connect the dots and start advocating for yourself.

Resources mentioned:

💚 The Greene Climacteric Scale – Search it online or use it to support a GP appointment

Want more support?

→ Follow Carly on Instagram and drop her a DM @carlycorrigall

→ Explore The Reboot – Carly’s coaching & support programme for midlife women

Subscribe. Review. Share it with the women in your life who need to hear this!

Because perimenopause might be wild - but we don’t have to go through it confused and unsupported and you absolutely CAN feel fantastic!