The One Thing I Will Now Do Before My Morning Walks

For the longest time, my husband and I had a system. He’d claim the early mornings (5–8am) as his time while I wrangled breakfast, packed lunches, and got the kids ready for the day. Come evening, he’d take over the bedtime routine so I could squeeze in some study or quiet time.

It worked. Sort of.

But lately, I’ve been shifting my focus to something I’ve neglected for years: 

My sleep. 

And with better rest has come earlier, more peaceful mornings. It just so happens the boys got me The 5 AM Club as a birthday gift this year ... great timing, right? One morning, hubby slept in, and I saw my chance. I threw on my sneakers and headed out the door for a walk. 

Bliss.

Then something interesting happened.

I popped on a podcast, and about 10 minutes in, I stopped in my tracks. Dr. Stacy Sims was dropping some serious truth bombs about women, stress, and exercise and I literally did a U-turn back home to make myself a protein shake.

Here’s why:

So much of the fitness advice we’ve been fed over the years? It’s been based on research done on men. Not us. Not our beautifully complex, hormonally shifting, mum-life-living bodies.

One of the biggest takeaways for me? When we wake up, our cortisol (that’s your stress hormone) is naturally elevated. So going for a brisk walk or jumping into a workout without anything in our stomach actually adds more stress to our already overloaded system.

And for those of us already feeling stretched, anxious, or running on empty... that’s the last thing we need.

In fact, pushing through a fasted walk might be sabotaging the very goals we’re chasing like feeling calm, losing belly fat, or reclaiming our energy.

So what’s the solution? Something so simple, I was surprised I didn't know this beforehand.

Have a little something to eat before you move. It doesn’t have to be big or fancy. Try:

• Half a banana

• A few spoonfuls of yoghurt and oats

• My go-to: a quick protein shake with collagen

Fueling first helps lower cortisol, protect your muscles, and tells your body, “Hey, we’re safe. You can let go of that cortisol belly fat now.”

So if you’re on a mission to feel better, manage stress, and actually see results from those early morning walks like me, try this small shift. 

Join the free Burnout Recovery Mini Course for women who want to restore their energy and avoid burnout without sacrificing their ambition. Sign up here