Laura’s story
Laura, 52, is a mother of two teenagers and runs her own research consultancy. Years of desk work left her feeling stiff, weak and low in energy. Although she had been attending Pilates twice a week, she never considered herself ‘an exerciser’ and avoided gyms altogether. The thought of sore muscles, injury or being judged in a gym filled her with apprehension.
At the same time, Laura was aware of the growing conversation around strength training for women in menopause—especially for bone health and long-term resilience. But between self-doubt, a busy family and professional life, and her dislike of exercise, she felt stuck.
When Laura engaged EmpowerHer, she found a safe and supportive space to explore movement in a way that worked for her. Initial assessments included strength, mobility and cardiovascular fitness tests, as well as a DEXA scan to capture her muscle mass and bone density. This data helped create a personalised plan and gave Laura a clear starting point.
Over the next six months, Laura and her coach steadily worked through a program that combined strength, mobility and cardio training—adapted to her and her lifestyle. She built skills in the technical aspects of lifting heavy with safety and correct form, ensuring that she remained injury-free. Her coach tracked her progress, provided regular feedback and celebrated milestones, ensuring Laura could see and understand the tangible improvements she was making. Along the way, they worked on reframing the myths and traditional expectations about exercise that had impacted Laura’s motivation, commitment and enjoyment.
At her 6-month reassessment, Laura had increased her strength by 25%, improved her VO₂ max and gained bone density. Just as importantly, she began to appreciate that these changes were not only improving her day-to-day energy and confidence, but also helping her to future-proof her health—building the strength and resilience she will rely on well into her seventies and beyond.
For Laura, the greatest reward was the shift in how she viewed herself. With a structured, evidence-based program and consistent support, she replaced doubt with a growing sense of capability and accomplishment. Stronger in body and clearer in mind, she now carries that confidence into her professional work, her family life and her own vision for the years ahead.
‘I’d never considered myself an exerciser, and gyms intimidated me. My EmpowerHer coach designed a program that fit my life and tracked my strength, mobility and cardio fitness. We celebrated lots of small (and big!) wins along the way. Six months in, I’m stronger, more mobile and more confident than I’ve felt in years. I never thought that the gym would become somewhere that I can’t wait to get to, but I love how it makes me feel.’ — Laura
