Taking Care of You Isn't Selfish. It’s a necessity with Alex Smallman

Take A Breath

July 21, 2026 ∙ 46 mins
Episode 49

About

When you're the one everyone relies on, it's easy to believe your own needs can wait. You keep going. You juggle work, family, the mental load and everyone else's expectations, telling yourself you'll slow down when life gets quieter. 

But what if looking after yourself isn't selfish at all? What if it's the very thing that allows you to keep showing up without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode, I'm joined by Alex Smallman, founder of Ubermummies, personal trainer and mum to three-year-old identical twin boys.  

Alex shares her fertility journey of six and a half years, IVF, and becoming a first-time mum at 40. We also talk about the challenges of perimenopause, the chronic joint pain that left her searching for answers, and how HRT, movement and simple lifestyle changes helped her feel like herself again.

This conversation is an honest reminder that taking care of yourself isn't something to squeeze in once everything else is done. It's the foundation that allows you to show up for your life and care for the people you love without constantly running on empty.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Alex's infertility journey, IVF, and becoming a first-time mum at 40.
  • The realities of balancing motherhood, business and perimenopause.
  • What helped Alex regain her energy, confidence and quality of life.
  • Why consistency and commitment matter more than perfection.
  • Simple ways to support your wellbeing without adding more pressure.

Whether you're navigating perimenopause, motherhood, or simply feeling stretched by the demands of everyday life, this episode will remind you that your wellbeing matters. Because the more supported your body and nervous system feel, the more capacity you have to enjoy your life instead of simply getting through it.

To find out more about Alex go to:

https://www.instagram.com/ubermummies

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

Information

Podcast

Take A Breath

Episode

49

Date

July 21, 2026

Length

46 mins
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    On this week’s Tuesday Motivation, Lucyband I are chatting about the importance of movement. As we get older, we naturally lose both muscle and bone mass, so keeping our bodies moving is one of the best investments we can make in our long term health and wellbeing. We talk about how consistency matters more than […]

  • Invisible Abuse, Early Menopause, and the Hidden Stress Women Carry

    The Menopause Mastery Show | Invisible Abuse, Early Menopause, and the Hidden Stress Women Carry | Episode 287 with Melissa Rymer 🌿Welcome to The Menopause Mastery Show!  When Menopause Isn’t the Whole Story: The Hidden Impact of Narcissistic Abuse Many women assume hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, and emotional overwhelm are simply part of […]

  • 215 | 6 Simple Ways To Turn On Fat Burning After 40

    What if your body hasn’t forgotten how to burn fat—it just needs a new set of instructions? So many women reach perimenopause or menopause and suddenly feel like everything that used to work has stopped working. You may be eating less, exercising more, and trying harder than ever, yet the scale refuses to move and […]

  • PCOS to PMOS: Metabolism, Menopause, and GLP‑1s in Active Midlife Women with Carla DiGirolamo, MD, PhD (Episode 282)

    Could you have PCOS and not know it? You sure can, says reproductive endocrinologist and menopause specialist Dr. Carla DiGirolamo, who is hopeful that the recent renaming of the condition from “polycystic ovary syndrome” (PCOS) to “polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome” (PMOS) will help raise awareness—and improve care. This episode breaks down what PMOS actually is, […]

  • Annette O'Toole Shares Her Secrets to Healthy Aging, Confidence & Hollywood Success: REPLAY

    Annette O’Toole, the acclaimed actress best known for playing Hope McCrea on Netflix’s hit series Virgin River and Martha Kent on Smallville, joins us for this inspiring replay conversation about her remarkable career, aging in Hollywood, marriage, motherhood, and finding lasting success in an ever-changing entertainment industry. Fans of Annette O’Toole will enjoy hearing behind-the-scenes […]

  • 93: Menopause makeover with Dr. Sanam Zahedi

    Have you looked in the mirror lately and wondered why your body suddenly feels unfamiliar — even though you're taking care of yourself the same way you always have? Menopause can bring changes that affect not only how we look, but also how we feel in our bodies and ourselves. In this episode, Dr. Jessica […]

  • Episode 226 – Heart Health After Menopause and Cancer: Don't Panic, But Don't Ignore This Either

    Heart disease is one of the biggest long-term health concerns facing cancer survivors after menopause. But before you panic, there is a lot more within your control than you might think. Just recently, I’ve seen several social media posts talking about how our risk of heart disease increases during menopause, especially if you’re not taking […]

  • Why Working Harder Stops Working After 50 (And What to Do Instead)

    This episode is sponsored by Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist. Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist.- Become a health & fitness coach who finally speaks midlife women’s language. Learn how to design workouts that balance hormones that actually get results for women in menopause. Other Episodes You Might Like: Previous Episode – What I Would Do […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    Why Women Gain Weight on the Same Diet as Men: Fueling, Fasting, and Biology with Dr. Stacy Sims

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Dr. Stacy Sims to unpack why so much fitness and diet advice built on male physiology leaves women confused about why the scale will not move, and why weight loss can feel so much harder for women than […]

  • Ep. 227 – Menopause Weight Loss with Sarah Kennedy

    This episode is a re-airing of a listener-favorite (and for good reason), Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back Sarah Kennedy, founder and CEO of Calocurb, for a candid look at why weight management during perimenopause and menopause feels like an uphill battle. The truth is, the average woman gains around 22 pounds during the menopause transition—and […]

  • Ep 536: Why Saying Yes Is Keeping Women in Menopause Stuck With Emotional Eating

    What if one of the biggest reasons you’re emotionally eating during menopause has nothing to do with food? In this episode, I share a coaching conversation that uncovered a pattern I see in so many women in menopause. The habit of saying “yes” when your body is desperately asking you to say “no.” We often […]

  • 83 – Why are women still leaving work because of their hormones?

    We’re losing experienced, talented women from the workforce because hormonal symptoms are still being overlooked, misunderstood and too often left untreated. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Mecky McNeil, a former GP and health educator who is leading work to improve understanding of hormones and menopause in workplaces across Europe. Having […]

Take A Breath

A podcast for creating practical calm in the messy middle of midlife. This is your space to pause.  Because life in midlife is full-on. Between work, family, menopause, and the mental load, your nervous system can easily end up in constant overdrive — leaving you feeling exhausted, reactive, and overwhelmed by even the smallest things.  […]

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