Hi friends,
We hosted family this week, which meant I got to step back into one of my other roles:
Island tour guide.
And every time we have visitors, I’m reminded why we live here.
The beaches.
The beauty.
The pace of life.
The warm air that immediately fixes my mood.
And also…
The traffic.
Let me give you a little inside look at island life.
Over the past 50 years, the number of cars in Barbados has grown from about 40,000 to 180,000.
On an island that is only 21 miles long and 14 miles wide.
So yes… you can imagine how that’s going.
Now — on paper, this is actually a good thing.
More cars means a stronger economy. More people can afford them. More movement, more opportunity.
But in reality?
It creates congestion. Frustration. Bottlenecks everywhere.
Because the system didn’t adapt to handle the growth.
And as I sat in traffic this week (again), I couldn’t help but think:
This is exactly what I see happening in women’s bodies in their 40s.
Heading toward menopause is not a bad thing.
In many cultures, it’s a rite of passage. It marks the end of the childbearing years, the end of the monthly hormonal rollercoaster, and the beginning of a phase where you get to just… be.
Honestly? Sounds pretty great.
But the transition to get there?
That’s where things feel messy.
During perimenopause, hormones become more erratic as your body prepares for this shift.
And what I see most women do in response is this:
When their body stops responding…
they do more.
More cardio.
More workouts.
More intensity.
It feels logical.
But in many cases, it makes things worse.
Because during hormonal transition, your body often needs:
• more intentional strength work
• better recovery
• less random volume
Not just more effort.
It’s the same problem Barbados is having.
More cars without a better system doesn’t create efficiency.
It creates traffic.
More workouts without the right strategy doesn’t create results.
It creates burnout, fatigue, and frustration.
This is where most workout plans fall apart — they’re not designed for what your body needs now.
You don’t need to work harder.
You need a better plan.
That’s exactly what I’m teaching in my upcoming workshop:
“Why Your Body Isn’t Responding to Workouts Anymore — And the Strength Model That Fixes It.”
If your workouts feel like they’ve stalled, this will help you understand why — and what to change.
👉 Save your spot: HERE!
And if Barbados wants to consult on traffic strategy…
I have a few thoughts. 😉
Coach Joanie
We introduced our guests to jumping, swinging, sliding and swimming at The Boatyard while they were here. I always forget how many fun things there are to do on this island.
A HEADS UP FOR THE COMING WEEK! I'm going to be switching tech platforms over the next few days. This never comes without hickups. So if you find yourself opening your email next Friday and think to yourself, gee, I don't have a message from Joanie, please check your spam. And if I'm still not there, shoot me a message ([email protected]) because your email may have been lost in the transition. Fingers crossed for a seamless transition.
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