If you’ve ever thought, “I’m working out harder than ever, but my body just isn’t responding,” you’re not alone.

You’re not imagining it. When inflammation is high, exercise becomes a double-edged sword. The right kind of movement can help heal but the wrong kind, or just too much, can make everything worse.

Women in midlife have been taught that exercise is the fix for everything. Gaining weight? Work out more. Tired? Push through. Stressed? Go for a run. But here’s what’s really happening under the surface when inflammation is running the show. Your body is already in a state of internal stress. Cortisol is elevated. Recovery is slower. Joints are stiffer. And when you add high-intensity training or long-duration cardio to the mix without the right foundation, you end up triggering a cortisol cascade, inflaming the body even further.

This is one of the biggest reasons why so many women hit a wall in menopause. The workouts they used to love, or at least tolerate, suddenly stop working. They feel puffy afterwards, not leaner. They’re sore for days. They can’t sleep. They’re wired but tired and frustrated they’re “doing everything right” and not getting results.

The truth is, their bodies are trying to protect them and doing that by resisting........

© Castanet