Coach Donna explains why long, intense cardio often backfires for women in midlife: hormonal shifts (estrogen, progesterone, insulin, cortisol) can increase belly fat, disrupt sleep, and cause muscle loss.She outlines a smarter approach — prioritize strength training, shorten or lower cardio intensity, support recovery and increase protein — and gives a simple homework to reduce cardio this week.

Coach Donna explains why midlife weight gain isn’t a failure of willpower but a hormonal shift, and how increasing protein and lifting heavier helped her lose 25 pounds and regain energy.She shares a simple, practical plan: add protein at every meal and snack, prioritize resistance training, and seek support to navigate midlife changes.