All posts tagged: midlife

A trainer who works with midlife women shares the exact 10-minute workout she recommends for beginners

A trainer who works with midlife women shares the exact 10-minute workout she recommends for beginners

Published by Jenni Sidey

Holly Fivian is a personal trainer and the founder of Holsm, a strength training platform for midlife women. When she starts training her clients, she doesn’t get them to focus on weight-loss targets or strength goals. Instead, she encourages them to find a way to move that is enjoyable, works for their body, and has longevity. Latest Videos FromFit&Well With that in mind, she’s shared her simple (and enjoyable) five-move workout for beginners, which is the same routine she programs for her clients. “They repeat these same fundamental movements alongside their posture, diaphragmatic breathing and deep-core work until they really own them,” Fivian explains. You may like Holly Fivian’s 10-minute fundamental beginner’s workout Fivian’s workout consists of five moves: Glute Bridge Squat Press-up Mountain climber Plank shoulder tap Do the exercises for the suggested number of sets, timings and rest periods to get yourself a roughly 10-minute workout. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. Fivian recommends trying this five-move workout for six to eight weeks, or …

I’m dating after divorce – why are midlife men only after one thing?

I’m dating after divorce – why are midlife men only after one thing?

Published by Daniella Wilson

“Dear Mariella, do you have any tips for building self-confidence and resilience as a middle aged recently divorced woman? So far, I’ve only met men who are after one thing…” I have a number of friends in their fifties and sixties who are single, or single again. Often this is by choice, but whether on purpose or through necessity, frequently a solo midlife was not in their game plan. Annoyingly, middle-aged men seem to partner up pretty swiftly – and in direct opposition to the effort they put in to remain healthy and attractive. Plus, they inevitably carry more baggage than a travelling circus (as do we).  Yet mature single men (and I am generalising) appear imbued with quite extraordinary self-confidence. As the patriarchy is still in charge, I suppose that much of this is because they’ve always been told that they are marvellous. Women don’t often have this innate self-love – and cultivating this is my first piece of advice for dating in midlife. Mariella Frostrup shares her midlife dating advice, from confidence to embracing hobbies …

NHS midlife health MoT slashes risk of early death, study reveals

NHS midlife health MoT slashes risk of early death, study reveals

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Attending a midlife health MoT reduces the likelihood of dying in the decade following the appointment, according to new research. The NHS Health Check provides a 20-minute consultation for people aged between 40 and 74, aimed at identifying their risk of developing specific medical conditions. Following their assessment, patients receive personalised guidance tailored to their personal results. The study analysed records from more than 150,000 London residents compiled between 2009 and 2023. Investigators evaluated the mortality risk of 42,000 individuals who accepted an invitation for an NHS Health Check, contrasting their outcomes against 116,000 people who chose not to participate. Those who underwent at least one appointment were projected to have a 32 per cent lower risk of death over a 10-year period compared with those who never attended a check. Older people eligible for the check appeared to reap the …

When Friends Never Disappoint: AI Companions in Midlife

When Friends Never Disappoint: AI Companions in Midlife

Published by Jenni Sidey

I’ve completed a lot of research into friendship across the lifespan, and what has always been a given is that friendships are voluntary relationships between two people. That “chosen” nature of friendship has always made it something special. These relationships are built on mutuality, reciprocity, and genuine fondness for one another. But today, the face of friendship doesn’t always look like it used to. As the friendship recession leaves people struggling to maintain close social connections, millions of people are now turning to AI friends for companionship, emotional support, and connection. These artificial intelligence companions can, in some ways, rival person-to-person friendships, but they also may pose unexpected hazards to the human relationships that sustain us in the real world (Yong et al., 2026). AI Friends Are Always Up for the Adventure Most of us have had to disappoint friends when we had to “cancel” or turn down an opportunity to get together or enjoy an adventure together. We’ve also all suffered the disappointment that comes when friends cancel on us. This is an early …

The Democratic male’s midlife crisis

The Democratic male’s midlife crisis

Published by Sam Flores

When Graham Platner ran for Senate, he came with an irresistible, dream candidate profile: a plainspoken veteran and man of the people who was ready to change careers from oyster farmer to politician. Platner, who turned 40 during the campaign, found immense support from other male Democrats close to his age who saw his campaign as the breath of fresh air the party needed to stay relevant. Even when his many skeletons came tumbling out of the closet — the Nazi tattoo, the Reddit posts, retweeting far-right podcaster Stew Peters and others — they only doubled down in their support. Each scandal was followed by another high-profile endorsement from a senator or influencer. Only when women accused him of rape and sexual assault did they finally drop their support, leading to his exit from the race in July. The Platner fiasco revealed how a subset of male Democrats show symptoms of a midlife crisis. Typically, a man’s mid-life crisis occurs between his 40s and 50s when, having achieved a stable economic and sociopolitical status, a …

Study finds three midlife health factors that could delay dementia for 13 years | Dementia

Study finds three midlife health factors that could delay dementia for 13 years | Dementia

Published by Sam Flores

Scientists claim to have identified three health measures in middle age that can ward off dementia for more than a decade. Having normal blood pressure, no type 2 diabetes, and not smoking between the ages of 45 and 65 were associated with almost 13 additional years, on average, of dementia-free life, a study shows. The research also suggested that, no matter how many risk factors people had, women lived longer without dementia than men, and that white people had more dementia-free years than black people. The findings were published in the medical journal Neurology. Researchers from NYU Langone Health analysed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (Aric) study, which began in 1986 and followed Americans for decades into late life, measuring midlife vascular risk factors and dementia. In the new analysis, researchers looked at 12,409 people with an average age of 56 who were free of dementia. Participants were assessed for three risk factors: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking. They were then followed for about three decades, with an average follow-up …

These ‘healthy habits’ could actually be making you hungrier in midlife

These ‘healthy habits’ could actually be making you hungrier in midlife

Published by Daniella Wilson

As we hit midlife, many women notice a shift in appetite. Suddenly, we feel hungrier, experience intense cravings and find ourselves constantly thinking about food, despite trying hard to eat healthily. The frustrating part is that most of us are doing exactly what we’ve always been told is ‘good’. Eating low-fat foods. Skipping breakfast. Munching on rice cakes rather than bread. Cutting back on carbohydrates. Yet instead of feeling in control around food, we feel permanently peckish and exhausted by the mental load of trying to eat as little as possible. “Women often blame themselves or think they lack willpower,” says registered nutritionist Emma Bardwell, who recently appeared on the Second Act Unpacked podcast. “But many of the eating habits women have been encouraged to follow for years are actually very poor at supporting fullness, particularly during perimenopause and menopause.” Hormonal shifts during midlife can affect sleep, blood sugar regulation, body composition and appetite signalling, while stress and poor sleep can further increase hunger hormones and cravings. The fact is, the restrictive, low-calorie approaches many …

What Victoria Beckham’s no-show at Mel C’s wedding reveals about midlife friendships

What Victoria Beckham’s no-show at Mel C’s wedding reveals about midlife friendships

Published by Daniella Wilson

When Melanie C got married at the weekend to her model boyfriend Chris Dingwall it was almost a Spice Girls reunion. Geri Halliwell, Mel B and Emma Bunton were all in attendance, and the bride even wore a silk Adidas tracksuit in a nod to her Sporty Spice days. All that was missing for them to drunkenly recreate Wannabe on the dancefloor at 1am was Victoria Beckham, who missed Mel C’s big day to attend the World Cup Final in New York. © Getty ImagesVictoria Beckham brought her fashion A-game for the 2026 World Cup game Many people have seen the fact that VB didn’t make Mel’s Big Day as a Big Snub, and our reader poll revealed that 43% of you think friends come first, and Victoria was wrong not to prioritise the wedding. But I think it simply reveals an uncomfortable – and relatable – truth. This is just what happens to your friendships when you hit midlife.  I’m currently planning my wedding aged 41, and I fully expect to have plenty of …

This J-beauty cream broke the internet – and now midlife women can’t get enough off its ‘incredibly luxurious’ glow

This J-beauty cream broke the internet – and now midlife women can’t get enough off its ‘incredibly luxurious’ glow

Published by Daniella Wilson

Seven years ago, Japanese-inspired skincare brand Tatcha broke the internet with the launch of its Dewy Skin Cream, before finally bringing the cult favourite to the UK four years later. Since then, the bestselling moisturiser has garnered an impressive following that includes celebrities, with Selena Gomez, Meghan Markle and Nicola Coughlan all among its fans. AT A GLANCE The Dewy Skin Cream is a cult favourite among beauty fans and celebs, including Meghan Markle  The formula plumps the skin, and contains red algae, hyaluronic acid and biomimetic squalane Midlife women are raving about its anti-ageing powers: smoother wrinkles, less texture and a healthy glow Japanese beauty – often shortened to J-beauty – has a minimalist philosophy that focuses on a few simple steps and a few simple, but efficacious, ingredients. That’s why The Dewy Skin Cream combines Japanese botanicals with clinical powerhouses.  And as we’re in an era of skincare fanatics loving products that combine natural and clinical ingredients, it’s easy to see why the formula is having a resurgence among midlife women in 2026.  …

How to support your cortisol rhythm in midlife

How to support your cortisol rhythm in midlife

Published by Daniella Wilson

According to my algorithm, I should do a ‘cortisol detox’ or, at least, adopt a ‘low cortisol morning’ routine. But for many women entering midlife, that kind of advice lands at the exact moment things feel most demanding. Adding yet another item to an already incessant to-do list can feel like a step too far. What’s clear, though, is that after a long stretch of feeling permanently tired but wired, I need to pay more attention to my stress response.  “Midlife is a unique physiological transition,” women’s wellbeing expert and founder of Clinic Dr Paris, Dr Parisha Acharya, tells Hello!. “As oestrogen and progesterone begin to fluctuate, many women notice they become more sensitive to stress.” Progesterone has calming effects on the brain, she adds, “so as levels decline, women may experience increased anxiety, disrupted sleep and a feeling of being less resilient than they once were”. Simultaneously, many of us are juggling careers, ageing parents, young children and changing relationships, the doctor notes, “so the demands placed on the nervous system are often higher …