Fifty2Pilates

I DIDN’T EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN…

I’ve debated writing this post for a while because I know everyone has a different relationship with alcohol.

This isn’t about telling anyone what they should do. It’s simply about sharing how mine has changed.

For years, I enjoyed a glass of wine without a second thought.

But somewhere in my early 40s, things started to shift.

The next day wasn’t just a hangover.

It was nausea. Fatigue. Headaches. Anxiety. Restless sleep.

At the time, I couldn’t understand it.

Had I suddenly lost my tolerance?

Now I know that hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can affect the way we process alcohol. As we age, we generally have less body water to dilute alcohol, lower levels of the enzymes that metabolise it, and alcohol can worsen sleep, recovery and many menopausal symptoms.

These days, I drink very occasionally.

Before I order a glass of wine, I genuinely ask myself:

“Do I really want this?”

Sometimes the answer is yes.

A celebration.
A beautiful meal.
A really good glass of wine shared with people I love.

But if I’m teaching Pilates the next morning… or heading to the gym… it’s an easy decision.

For me, it’s simply not worth how I know I’ll feel the next day.

What surprised me most is that even my taste buds have changed. Sometimes I think I fancy a glass of wine, only to realise after a few sips that I don’t actually enjoy it anymore.

I’m not sharing this to tell anyone to stop drinking.

I’m certainly not judging anyone else’s choices.

I still enjoy the occasional really good glass of wine in the right setting, with the right company.

But midlife has taught me to stop asking:

“Will I enjoy this tonight?”

…and start asking:

“How do I want to feel tomorrow?”

For me, that question has changed everything.

Has anyone else found their relationship with alcohol changing in midlife? I’d genuinely love to know. 🤍

For years, many women were told the goal was to get smaller.
Eat less.
Do more cardio.
Burn more calories.
But midlife changes the conversation.
From our 30s onwards, we naturally begin to lose muscle mass, and menopause accelerates that process.
That’s why my focus has shifted.
I’m far less interested in being the size I was at 23 than I am in being strong enough to enjoy life at 63, 73 and beyond.
Strong enough to travel.
Strong enough to carry my own bags.
Strong enough to hike, lift, move and stay independent.
For many women, that means lifting heavier than we think.
Not recklessly.
Not ego-lifting.
Just enough to give our muscles a reason to adapt.
My own approach combines Pilates, strength training, daily movement and recovery because no single type of exercise does it all.
The goal isn’t just to live longer.
It’s to live well.
What are you prioritising in this season of life... strength, mobility, energy, confidence, or something else? 🤍

📍 Newcastle, I’m here!

I’m so excited to be teaching at Reform Studio | A Designed Wellness Method | NE1 over the coming months, and this is where you’ll find me this week.
I’ll be teaching both Reformer and mat Pilates classes, with a focus on strength, mobility and moving well.
If you’re local and have been thinking about giving Pilates a try—or you’re already a regular—I’d love to welcome you to class.

If you’d like to book a space or have any questions, just send me a DM or click the link in my bio. And if you know someone in the Newcastle area who’d enjoy these classes, I’d really appreciate you sharing this post with them. 🤍