Blog
Dive into the Ally Atkins Fitness Blog, where I share inspiring stories, expert tips, and the latest trends in fitness and wellness
to keep you motivated and informed on your path to a healthier, happier you.
How Coming off the Pill Forced me to Change
What I Wish I'd Known About the Pill, Progesterone, and Adenomyosis At 17, like many women, I went on the pill. I came off it to have my two daughters, returning to it after my second daughter was born when I was 32. I stopped taking it altogether at age 36. What...
Germ Theory vs Terrain Theory: A Forgotten Truth
We were all taught that germs cause disease, but the truth is more complex. In the 19th century, two scientific giants clashed: Louis Pasteur, who gave us the now-dominant germ theory, and Antoine Béchamp, who proposed terrain theory - a radically different view of...
Osteoporosis – The Importance of Muscle!
Strength Training, Strong Bones & the Secret to Reversing Osteoporosis As women, we often don’t think about our bones until they start to hurt—or worse, break. But by then, it can be too late. Osteoporosis is often called the “silent thief,” gradually robbing bone...
Heart Palpitations in Mid-Life & What You Can Do
In my late 30's and early 40's I suffered terrible heart palpitations. There were times I thought I was having a heart attack. If you’ve ever felt heart palpitations, especially coupled with anxiety you will know they're not pleasant and they can come in different...
Energy Crashes, Belly Fat & Insulin Resistance
Why Insulin Resistance Increases in Women Over 40 – And How to Improve It Naturally Once we hit 40, many women notice changes in energy, weight, and cravings that weren’t issues before. One key reason? Insulin resistance. It’s a hidden driver behind belly fat, brain...
Ashwagandha – what nobody is talking about
There's a lot of hype around Ashwagandha and it's incredible benefits for women over 40, helping to reduce stress and improve sleep. It works brilliantly for some people and can be a massive support so I couldn't understand it when I found it didn't work for me. It...
Frozen Shoulder – What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You
Frozen shoulder can feel like it comes out of nowhere — one day you’re fine, and the next your shoulder feels stiff, painful, or just… stuck. If you’re a woman over 40, this might sound familiar. But here’s something most doctors don’t tell you: Frozen shoulder isn’t...
Is water the most important daily habit?
Do you feel you're making a lot of lifestyle changes but still feeling like you've been run over by a bus? The single biggest difference to my daily well-being has been drinking more water. If I don't then I feel sluggish, tired, foggy and anxious. I can't focus...
Women should be able to do 11 full push ups? Really??
You may have seen the recent viral claim: “All women should be able to do 11 full push-ups to be considered healthy.” Statements like these are unfounded and actually make my blood boil. Women have enough to think about and, like many one-size-fits-all health “rules,”...
Healthy breakfast options – ideas to help
I'm often asked what I eat for breakfast so have put together a few options. It's important to mix it up and try not to have the same thing every morning so you give your body a good variation. Think about the following 3 points when planning your breakfast. Add...
the importance of diet through menopause and beyond
When it comes to menopause, we often focus on hormonal changes and their impact on the body. However, one key aspect that often gets overlooked is the role of nutrition—specifically fibre, vitamins, and minerals—in supporting not just your gut health but also your...
HRT – is it necessary Post menopause?
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has long been touted as a solution for managing menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. While it can be effective during the menopausal transition (peri-menopause), the necessity of HRT after...
zone 2 training – what, why, how?
As we navigate through our 40's, hormonal shifts like perimenopause and menopause introduce new challenges to maintaining health and fitness. While the traditional advice of "work harder, sweat more" might feel tempting, research from experts like Dr. Stacy Sims...
Constipation and declining hormones over 40
As women get older, hormonal shifts cause many changes in the body. One common yet often overlooked issue is constipation. The decline in oestrogen during menopause impacts digestive health, often slowing down bowel movements and making it harder to stay regular. Why...
Breakfast – is it the most imortant meal?
The old saying, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day," rings true, especially as women age. While the importance of a healthy breakfast is often talked about, it becomes even more critical for women over 40. As the body undergoes changes related to...
Vitamin a – the unsung hero for women
Vitamin D has gained a lot of media attention, particularly since the Covid pandemic and it's role in immune health. If you're not taking Vitamin D3 then please start. It's the sunshine vitamin and we especially need it here in the UK during Autumn and Winter. BUT,...
Fasted workouts for women over 40
Fasted workouts, or exercising on an empty stomach, have gained popularity for their potential fat-burning benefits. I've noticed a number of fitness enthusiasts promoting such workouts because they believe it'll help maximise fat loss by forcing the body to tap into...
Sweating – a very important process
In today’s world, personal hygiene is crucial, and antiperspirants have become a daily staple for many. Designed to keep you dry and fresh, they promise to prevent sweat and body odour. However, there’s growing concern about the potential dangers of using...
Why is Muscle so Important for Women over 40?
Engaging in regular skeletal muscle-strengthening activities offers numerous health benefits for women over 40. You don't need to be doing an hour at a time, in fact 30 minutes 3 times a week is great! Here are several ways in which building and maintaining skeletal...
Why Exercise Motivation Is so Tough
Do you feel like you have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other? Your devil may be constantly pulling towards chocolate and wine while the angel is desperate to make good choices so you can feel better? Welcome to the battle of the brains! We all have a...
Should 10,000 steps be a daily goal?
Setting a goal of 10,000 steps per day is a common recommendation for physical activity, often suggested as a benchmark for maintaining good health. However, it's important to know that this number is based on zero research and was actually a marketing ploy from Japan...
The Best Types of Exercise for Over 40’s
It's true to say that exercise matters but the best forms of exercise for long term health can be confusing. As we head through our 40's, 50's and beyond the aches and pains can creep in. Back pain is common as well as knee pain, hip problems and shoulder tightness. I...
Insulin Resistance and Muscle Mass
Strength training is increasingly important as we get older but is especially important during peri-menopause when we have decreasing muscle mass along with fluctuating hormones. Our muscles naturally decline as we age and this becomes more apparent as we go through...
Strength Training and Bone Density
Does strength training improve bone density? Yes absolutely it does! That's your simple answer but I'll of course go into more detail..... Strength training can involve body weight training or using resistance bands or dumbbells to add force and increase lean muscle...
Weight Gain Around your Mid-riff? What to do?
Many women struggle with weight gain around the mid-riff, even when they haven't changed anything about their diet or lifestyle. Although changing your exercise routine is important, it is only part of the solution. This blog post will help you understand what is...
Chronic Constipation – My Experience
I suffered from chronic constipation for years, which became worse after my first daughter was born and much worse after my second. I felt tired all the time and every morning I woke with a headache. I had no idea how to fix it and visited doctors over the years. I...
Brain Health, Exercise and Nutrition
My previous post is all about stress, what it is and how it can negatively impact the body. Here I'll delve a little bit more into the impact on the brain in particular because it's so relevant in this day and age with cognitive decline seemingly becoming more common....
The Dangers of Stress and What You Can Do
Before reading this post I'd just like to put out a little disclaimer that I'm not a medical professional and if you feel unsure then of course consult your doctor. Personally I'm a huge fan of self-healing and the power of exercise and nutrition to heal from within,...
The many Benefits of Balance Training
Balance trains your body as a unit, which is fundamental to your overall health: Loss of balance creeps up on us as we get older and it almost feels as though it's a surprise when we find we're ‘suddenly’ a bit rubbish at it….. Truth be told the human body is...
Core Function and Why it Matters
I first completed my advanced core function course over 3 years ago and recently decided to revisit it and do the whole course again. I have to say I'm so pleased I did! Some of the more complex aspects of the course make so much more sense now that I can use the...
The importance of strength
My particular focus with my app and the routines that I do is strength training and there is very good reason for that. As we age, strength training is crucial for maintaining the ability to have an active independent lifestyle. The average 70 to 75 year old will...
Why your bum matters
The gluteus maximums, medius and minimus (bum muscles) are the largest and strongest muscles in your body yet they are often ignored. These muscles work to extend, rotate and stabilise the hip and it is the control of this extension and rotation that is very...
Is running bad for you?
I know a number of people in their mid 40’s who are experiencing aches and pains and are wondering whether they should stop running. Impacting the same joint over and over again without any consideration for the rest of your structure is never a good idea. You...
Bicep curl technique
I was at the gym whilst on holiday recently and there was a guy doing bicep curls using weights that were clearly too heavy for him. He was using momentum to curl the weight, he wasn’t fully extending his arms, his elbows were all over the place and his trunk was...
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