The Mistake High-Functioning Women Make That Kills Their Progress
- Deb Goodge
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
If you’re a smart, hard-working woman over 40, you’re great at solving problems. You lead meetings, manage your home, help aging parents, and keep things running for everyone.
But there’s one place where working harder isn’t helping you. It’s actually why you feel stuck, tired, and like your body has changed, no matter how hard you try to get back on track. The mistake isn’t that you’re not disciplined or not trying hard enough.
The mistake is trying to work out and eat the same way you did in your 20s and 30s.
You might be doing the same tough boot camps, cutting a lot of calories, or thinking "all or nothing"—the same way you did when your body and routine were different. But instead of seeing results, you end up burned out, hurt, and frustrated.
It’s time to work with your body, not against it.
Why the "Old Way" Stops Working After 40
When you were younger, you probably had more time, more energy, and your body could bounce back faster. You could get through a tough workout after a bad night's sleep, skip meals, and still feel okay.
Now? Life is busy. You’re juggling work, family, and lots of responsibilities. There’s no extra time for long workouts or energy for strict diets that leave you tired and irritable.
More importantly, your body isn’t the same as it was before. As you go through perimenopause and beyond, your body reacts more to stress, including the stress hormone cortisol. When you add life stress to tough workouts and eating too little, your body stops making progress. It holds onto weight to protect you, and you feel tired all the time.
The Cost of Repeating the Cycle
Here’s what happens when you try to use your old routine from your 20s now that you’re in your 40s:
You can’t stay consistent: You push hard for a few weeks, get tired, and then stop.
You feel like you’ve failed: You start to see exercise as something you have to do as a punishment.
You stop trusting your body: You think you’re doing everything right, but nothing works.
But maybe the real problem is that you’re using an old plan for a new stage of life.
A New Approach for Your Current Season
If you want to feel strong, capable, and confident again, you don't need to push yourself harder. You need a plan that matches where you are right now.
Here are three simple changes that will help you feel stronger and more energetic.
1. Train for Strength, Not Punishment
Don’t think a workout only works if you end up worn out. Pushing too hard just makes you more tired and stressed the rest of the day.
Try short, simple strength workouts (about 30–45 minutes each). Lifting weights helps you build muscle that keeps your body healthy, supports your joints and bones, and shapes your body—without making you feel worn out.
2. Fuel Your Body, Don’t Restrict It
You don’t have to eat less and less to see results. To do your best at work and at home, your body needs good food for fuel.
Eat enough protein and whole foods to boost your energy, mood, and hormones. Think of food as something that helps your body feel safe, so it can let go of extra weight. Try to have balanced meals that fill you up, not diets that leave you feeling hungry.
3. Build Structure, Not Willpower
You don’t need more motivation; you already work hard. What you need is a simple system that fits your real life.
Consistency is easier when you make a plan that can change with your life. If work gets busy or your child is sick, your routine can adjust. You need a support system that helps you stay on track and lets you make changes without feeling like you have to start over every week.
Stop Starting Over
The REVIVE program is made for women who are tired of forcing old ways to work. It’s for women who know they can succeed but just need a plan that works with their lives, not against them.
My clients are getting stronger, eating better, and feeling good in their bodies again—no extreme diets or crazy workouts needed.
If you want to feel strong and full of energy again, stop following tips that worked for your younger self. You don’t need to be stricter with yourself. You just need a plan that fits who you are today.