Underperforming, Overreaching or Undertraining?
Discover the differences between functional overreaching, non-functional overreaching, and overtraining syndrome. Learn how to recognise symptoms
Exercise is rarely associated with the word unhealthy — but today, I want to talk about a few disorganised training behaviours that might be quietly holding you back from feeling your absolute best through your reproductive years and into menopause and beyond.
Here's the thing: women are fitter, stronger, and training harder than ever before. It brings me so much joy to witness women stepping into their strength, showing up in spaces that were once dominated by men, and proving what the female body is capable of.
But with performance visibility at an all-time high — especially on social media — comes a whole new kind of pressure. For the driven, ambitious, type-A women out there, that pressure can look like constantly comparing yourself, getting stuck in an “always on” mindset, and feeling like you have to do it all: train hard, recover fast, stay lean, perform consistently... all while riding the wave of hormonal shifts that are totally unique to the female body.
We’ve also seen a rise in some not-so-healthy training behaviours. The ones that might look like “discipline” or “dedication” on the outside — but feel like burnout, exhaustion, or self-doubt on the inside.
So let’s shine a light on some of the most common patterns I see in clinic — the ones that fly under the radar but can seriously mess with your energy, your hormones, and your long-term performance.
We’re not here to tell women to train less. We’re here to help women train smarter — in a way that’s aligned, intentional, and supportive of your body and your goals.
Because you can be strong, resilient, and high-performing — and still honour your body’s need for rest, recovery, nourishment, and hormonal support.
You don’t have to earn your training, punish yourself with it, or push through pain to prove anything.
You deserve to feel good in every season of life.
Let’s train for that.
Kat x
Discover the differences between functional overreaching, non-functional overreaching, and overtraining syndrome. Learn how to recognise symptoms
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