19. The One Where You’re Stronger Than You Think

You’ve probably heard about how important it is to strength train and build more muscle mass, especially through menopause. But are you confused about how heavy you should be lifting and how many reps to do? Is Pilates enough? My guest today is Kate Laird, and that’s what we’re here to break down. How do we shift our focus from weight loss to strength, confidence and healthy ageing? Should we be avoiding cardio because it spikes cortisol? How do you stay motivated to exercise when life gets busy? We cover all this and more in this episode.

Key takeaways:

• Why Pilates and circuit training aren’t cutting it if you want to prevent age related muscle loss
• How training for strength and not weight loss can help your sex life and how much care you’ll need as you age
• What to include in your weekly workouts if you’re going through perimenopause or postmenopause

If you’re noticing body changes and you’re ready to ditch the scale, and focus on strength, healthy ageing and feeling comfortable and confident in your body, then get on the waitlist for Dr. Sarah's Midlife Metabolism Demystified workshop, coming in the Fall 2024.

Kate Laird is a personal trainer and owner of Love Your Body Fitness in Ottawa. Kate understands what it’s like to be busy. She is a re-partnered single mom, runs her own business and continues to prioritize her fitness. She loves to have her butt kicked when she is not kicking someone else’s! Kate has been in the fitness and yoga industry in Westboro for over 16 years. Her certifications over the years have included CrossFit® Level 2 Trainer, Personal Training, Group Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness, Resist-A-Ball, Aquafit, Power Yoga, Tune Up, and more. She is experienced in working with all levels of ability, from high-end athletes to seniors. Kate’s experience sets her apart in her ability to help you reach your goals (be it weight loss, increased energy, increased strength, anything!).

Learn more about Kate and Love Your Body Fitness on Instagram or at loveyourbodyfitness.ca.


Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the healthcare they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca.

The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.