Jane Cleary - The Midlife Movement

15/03/2026

Random thought from this morning…

I realised I have a very specific way of putting my shoes on.
I go sock, shoe… then the other sock, other shoe.
Finish one foot, then move to the other.

And it suddenly struck me… that’s probably not how I was taught as a kid. Surely most of us were told to put both socks on first, then our shoes.

So how did I end up doing it this way?

Now I’m wondering if there’s actually some psychology behind these little habits we do without thinking. Or if it’s just something that developed over time and stuck.
I might have to go down a little rabbit hole and see if there’s any science behind it.
So now I’m curious… (small things, right?)

Do you do:
sock → shoe → sock → shoe
or
sock → sock → shoe → shoe

And if you’ve never thought about this before, chances are you’ll notice it tomorrow morning (sorry). 😄

12/03/2026

Why we’re doing this exercise...
Because strong core muscles aren’t just for looking good this summer. They’re for real life.
They help you carry groceries without throwing your back out, wrestle stubborn jar lids into submission, and get up off the floor without making that mysterious noise we all seem to develop after 50.

This exercise strengthens the deep core muscles that support your spine, improve balance, and keep you steady on your feet — all things that become increasingly important as we get older.

Think of it as future-you insurance.

Because the goal here isn’t just a strong core today.
It’s being the woman who is still strong, capable, and slightly intimidating in the best possible way well into her 70s and 80s.

The kind of woman who can still open her own jars.
And possibly someone else’s too. 💪

12/03/2026

If a woman says she hasn’t eaten all day, people act like she deserves a trophy.

Meanwhile if someone says they had three proper meals and a snack, suddenly we’re all very concerned.

Women have been trained to believe that the goal is to eat as little as humanly possible.

And if you’re using a GLP-1 medication and your appetite drops?
Well now you’ve basically unlocked expert level dieting.

But the body doesn’t see it that way. Your body sees fuel running low.
And when that happens it gets protective.

Metabolism slows.
Muscle becomes harder to maintain.
Energy drops.

Which is why midlife fat loss is far less about eating less…
…and far more about nourishing your body properly.

Because the goal isn’t to become the woman who can survive on the least food.
The goal is to become the woman who is still strong enough to open her own jars at 85.

09/03/2026

Apparently at this stage of life we’re all meant to quietly navigate hormones, sleep chaos, random belly fat and moods that arrive uninvited…
without talking about it.

Hard pass.

If you’re new here, this little video will give you the quick “who the hell is this woman” introduction.

Pull up a chair. Midlife is a wild ride and we’re not doing it alone.
X

08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day.

A special shout-out to midlife women everywhere…
who were apparently supposed to start fading gently into the background around now.

You know the script.
Be grateful.
Slow down.
Accept the creaky knees, the mystery weight gain and the fact that your body now wakes you up at 3am for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
Oh… and maybe take up watercolours.

Instead, what I’m seeing is this:
Women in their 40s, 50s and beyond deciding they’re not done yet.
They’re lifting (freaking heavy) weights.
They’re learning how to actually fuel their bodies.
They’re realising the diet industry sold them absolute nonsense for 30 years.
They’re discovering muscles they didn’t know they had… and opinions they’re no longer interested in softening.

It’s quite inconvenient for the idea that women become invisible after a certain age.
Midlife women are out here getting stronger, louder, wiser and far less tolerant of BS.
Which, frankly, is magnificent and worth celebrating everyday - not just today!

And if you’re currently in the middle of the hormonal rollercoaster —
hot, tired, occasionally ready to launch a shoe at someone for chewing too loudly…
You’re in very good company.
You’re not falling apart.
You’re just arriving at the part of life where you stop giving a s**t about making everyone else comfortable.

So here’s to women who are:
proud of who they are
laughing louder
taking up more space
and finally putting themselves somewhere near the top of the priority list.

About time really.
Happy International Women’s Day to the women who refuse to quietly fade out.

Because we’re only just warming up.
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07/03/2026

Build strength for long-term health.

The Deadhang is one exercise I 'prescribe' for all my female clients. Not only do you build strength but you also -
- condition you tendons and ligaments to prevent injury
- decompress your spine (and it feels sooooo good afterwards)
- build grip strength (to open all those jars for the grandkids)

Start with 10-15 seconds and then gradually increase the time.
This isn't an exercise just for the gym. Next time you are walking past a playground - jump on the monkey bars!

Your midlife body (and beyond) will love you for it.

04/03/2026

Sulphur burps.

Not exactly dinner table conversation… but if you’re on a GLP-1 medication, you’ve probably heard someone mention them or experienced them yourself.
They’re one of those side effects that can catch people by surprise, especially when starting the medication or increasing a dose.

So I’ve put together a simple guide explaining what’s going on and what may help, including:
• why they happen
• common triggers
• small changes that may reduce them

If they're problematic for you, or you just want to understand what’s happening in your body, you can download the guide here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18czsbWk5q_UOyjD55db7Xh6TK1qqSDBz/view?usp=share_link

This resource is also a little preview of the kind of practical support and education that will be included in The GLP-1 Bodywise Project for Midlife Women, which I’ll be launching soon.

04/03/2026

Today I attended a seminar by AUSactive (Australia’s peak body for the exercise and active health sector) on GLP-1 medications and their relationship with eating disorders — and it reinforced why staying educated on this space is so important.

These medications aren’t going anywhere. More and more midlife women are either using them, considering them, or coming off them. And as someone who supports women with their relationship to food and their bodies, I believe it’s my responsibility to stay on the front foot with what’s happening.

Here’s what’s concerning…
GLP-1s suppress appetite and change hunger cues. For some, that can feel like relief. But when someone has a history of dieting, restriction, bingeing, or body image struggles, appetite suppression can sometimes mask — not heal — the deeper patterns underneath.

What’s also emerging as a big issue is what happens after the medication. When women stop due to reaching a goal weight, side effects, supply issues, or finances, hunger often returns strongly. Weight regain can happen. And if there hasn’t been work done on mindset, coping tools, and relationship with food, it can feel destabilising and emotionally distressing.

Another big takeaway? Access without proper support is becoming far too common. In Australia, there’s discussion about moving toward mandatory collaboration between a GP, dietitian, and mental health professional when prescribing these medications — which I think highlights just how significant their impact really is.
This isn’t about judging anyone who chooses to use them. It’s about understanding the whole picture.

My role in all this isn’t medical. But it is to ensure that if you are navigating this space — on, off, or considering GLP-1s — you’re supported in building a relationship with food and your body that doesn’t depend on a medication to feel in control.

I’ll always keep learning. I’ll always keep you informed. And I’ll always advocate for approaches that protect both your physical and mental wellbeing.

You deserve that level of care 🤍

03/03/2026

Shared from Margaret L., 63 - Florida, USA.

***

I wanted to share my experience with Jane’s 1:1 online coaching for anyone who’s curious — especially if you’re on a GLP-1 like I am and wondering how it all fits together.

I’m 63 and I’ve been dieting on and off since my thirties. You name it, I’ve probably tried it (twice - haha!!). What I hadn’t tried was actually learning how to eat (and move) properly for the stage of life I am currently in, not what I had been as a younger girl.

When Jane first increased my calories, I’ll be honest — I panicked. After decades of eating less and less, the idea of eating more felt completely wrong and my appetite was sometimes non-existent. I was convinced I’d gain weight overnight. Then came the macros… and my brain nearly short-circuited. It felt really overwhelming at first. But I 'ditched the bathroom scale' as Jane asked me to, which helped with my anxiety - AND gave me back all the hours I had spent jumping on and off that thing, hoping the needle would go down (even by a little bit).

But she didn’t just hand me numbers (like I had initially expected). She taught me what they meant. Slowly, it started to make sense. The fear settled and my frustrations eased.

Three months after finishing our time together, I can honestly say the biggest change wasn’t just physical. Yes, I lost inches. Yes, my clothes fit again (and I’ve had to restock half my wardrobe). But more importantly, the habits I've learned actually stuck.

I stopped tracking and training for a short period over Christmas (because life got in the way a bit - with a new grandbaby) — but I realised the structure had actually become second nature to me now. I was doing everything I had learned without even thinking about it. Big win!

Living with a retired chef is its own challenge — decadent food appears like clockwork - especially when we have guests over. The food noise can still be loud at times for me - even on the meds. But I’ve learned something powerful: sometimes all it takes is a simple, firm 'NO - that is not for me any more'.

One phrase Jane shared with me has become a bit of a personal motto: Be brave enough to be bad at something new. Trying new foods and exercises at my age can feel awkward. But awkward is how we grow, right?

I'm going to be honest, this coaching wasn’t a quick fix. It wasn’t magic - but I never expected it to be. It was education, accountability and support. It gave me tools I’ll use for the rest of my life. My aim is to stop using OZ one day and live my best life with the new lifestyle changes I have made.

If you’re considering working with Jane, especially as a middle aged gal confused about weight, hormones and everything that comes with it — I can honestly say it’s been worth it. I'd recommend her in a heartbeat.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is try something different.

02/03/2026

Yesterday, a PT client asked me whether I worked with women using Ozempic. Not for herself — but for a friend who’s just started on it.

And what struck me wasn’t the question itself.
It was the tone. Slightly hushed. Like she was sharing a carefully guarded secret.

GLP-1s are showing up everywhere in midlife now. In friendship groups. In group chats. In doctor’s rooms. Women in their 40s and 50s are using them in increasing numbers.

And yet we’re still whispering.
Still worrying what people will think.
Still feeling like we need to justify it.
Still wondering if it says something more about us.

That’s the bit I think we need to look at.

Midlife changes things. Oestrogen shifts. Bodies respond differently. For some women, a GLP-1 becomes part of their toolkit. For others, it doesn’t.
Neither choice needs defending.

But the secrecy? The judgement? The quiet shame?
That’s unnecessary.

We’re grown women navigating a stage of life that is layered and complex. Using a prescription medication to support your health isn’t something that needs to be hidden from friends and family.

The more important conversation isn’t - should we be ashamed?
It’s - are we doing this properly?

Are we protecting muscle?
Are we strength training?
Are we thinking long term?

I’ve written more about this — about why the whispering needs to stop and what actually matters if GLP-1s are part of your midlife picture.

You can read it here https://www.janecleary.com.au/blog/glp1-midlife-menopause

No more judgement.
No more secrecy.
Just making informed decisions.

27/02/2026

Does this sound familiar?

Most women start fat loss the same way.
They Google TDEE (because they've seen this acronym splashed about in all the weight loss groups).
They plug in their numbers.
They get a calorie target.
They eat below it. Normally 500 calories less because this seems to be the 'trending number' at the moment - so it MUST be correct, right?

But, and here is a big BUT...
Do you actually know what that number means?
Chances are, probably not.

TDEE is just an estimate of how much energy your body might use in a day.
Might.

It doesn’t know:
– if you fidget a lot
– if you pace when you’re stressed
– if you’ve dieted on and off for 20+ years
– if you’re in perimenopause
– if your oestrogen is doing backflips
– if you’re on a GLP-1 and barely hungry

It’s a calculator. Not a crystal ball.

And here’s where things start to really unravel…
You eat below that number.
Your body adapts.
You move less without noticing.
Your energy dips.
Your workouts feel flat.
Your “500 calorie deficit” quietly becomes… not that.
And suddenly you’re frustrated, blaming yourself, thinking you need more discipline or you decide to drop your calories even further, or increase your GLP-1 dose.

But you don't.
You need context.
Especially if you’re over 40.
Especially if you’re using a GLP-1.

Because losing weight without protecting muscle, strength and metabolism is not the win we think it is.

TDEE isn’t bad.
It’s just not the whole story.

If you’ve ever felt like the maths should be working but somehow isn’t — this is for you.

Full video is up. And please send it to a friend who needs to stop blaming herself. 💛

If you’ve calculated your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure), cut calories below it, and wondered why fat loss stalled… this video is for you.Especially i...

22/02/2026

So...
Today I had the apartment to myself.
No boys. No clients. No errands. No excuses.
I decided I’d smash out filming some of the lessons for The GLP-1 Bodywise Project for Midlife Women program I'm creating.

Loved the optimism.

What I didn’t factor in:
- The impressive number of planes apparently scheduled to fly directly over my building on a Sunday
- The upstairs neighbours discovering gravity or the latest dance moves (or pulling out a kitchen - I couldn't decide which)
- Kids out the front absolutely living their best LOUD lives
- Some kind of 'dog frisbee competition' happening outside my window

And because… Sydney in summer… the late-afternoon lightning storm, followed by one anxious dog (Shadow) needing emotional support

So yes.
Filming happened.
Just… with a lot more pausing, re-recording, deep breaths and “WHERE did that noise come from?” than planned.

Lesson of the day:
Midlife women don’t need perfect conditions to get things done — we just get it done anyway. Even if it takes a biiiit longer.

Still proud of what got recorded tho!