Rethinking All the “Shoulds” of Menopause with Maria Luque, PhD (Episode 283)

2026-07-22

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In this episode, we welcome back exercise scientist Maria Luque, PhD, to talk about her new book New Moves in Menopause: A Fearless Guide to a Stronger, Healthier, Saner Midlife and the mindset shift it asks of midlife women. Maria explains why she moved beyond traditional “fix your body” fitness narratives to focus on helping women feel better in their bodies through movement and create their own personalized “map” for midlife. She shares how becoming a mother to her daughter Charlie forced her to confront her own...

In this episode, we welcome back exercise scientist Maria Luque, PhD, to talk about her new book New Moves in Menopause: A Fearless Guide to a Stronger, Healthier, Saner Midlife and the mindset shift it asks of midlife women. Maria explains why she moved beyond traditional “fix your body” fitness narratives to focus on helping women feel better in their bodies through movement and create their own personalized “map” for midlife. She shares how becoming a mother to her daughter Charlie forced her to confront her own body image struggles and led to the “Charlie Test,” a practical filter women can use to reframe negative self-talk and diet culture messages. We explore how to untangle fitness from aesthetics, bring joy and play back into movement, and build a baseline of daily activity that supports real-life adventures, quality of life, and menopause-specific needs.

Dr. Maria Luque is a fitness expert, menopause coach, Air Force veteran, former health science professor, and founder of Fitness in Menopause. With a PhD & MS in Health Sciences and over two decades of expertise, she's one of the most credentialed and trusted voices in women's midlife fitness—and the menopause coach to Halle Berry. Her book, New Moves in Menopause – A Fearless Guide to a Stronger, Healthier, & Saner Midlife, offers practical information as well as transformational explorations that help women understand what's happening in their bodies, build mental and physical strength and engage with midlife as a time of freedom, rather than a collection of symptoms. You can check out her new book at NewMovesInMenopause.com

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