Laila Ali: Why I Stopped Trying to Outwork My Hormones

Laila Ali spent years training to win. As an undefeated professional boxer, her body was her career. She knew exactly how to train harder, eat less, and make weight when she needed to. Then perimenopause changed the rules.

In this episode of Live Like a Girl, Laila joins Dr. Mindy for an honest conversation about what happened when her old strategies stopped working, why she eventually stopped trying to outwork her hormones, and how fasting helped her build a completely different relationship with her body.

They talk about long fasts, exercising while fasting, food noise, refeeding, sugar cravings, body image, the scale, stress, and what it means to train for health instead of performance.

Laila also shares how she talks to her teenage daughter about fasting, why she refuses to make healthy eating feel like punishment, and the lesson she learned from becoming a boxer against Muhammad Ali’s wishes: sometimes the most important thing you can do is listen to the spark inside you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Laila stopped trying to outwork her hormones • How fasting changed her relationship with food and control • What she learned from doing longer fasts • How she exercises during a fast • Why refeeding matters after an extended fast • How she thinks about weight, muscle, and body image now • Why stress can derail even strong health routines • How she talks to her daughter about fasting • Why she no longer counts macros • What Muhammad Ali taught her about following your own path

__ Resources & Supplements Mentioned

A Spark of Greatness by Laila AliLaila's Organic Spice BlendsZero Fasting AppFast Like a GirlQualia Creatine+ • (use code MINDY for 15% off) Infrared SaunaRed Light TherapyElectrolytes • Bone Broth • (use code MINDY10 for 10% off)

__ More on Laila Ali

A Spark of Greatness by Laila AliLaila's Organic Spice BlendsFood for Life by Laila Ali • Website: lailaali.com • Instagram: @thereallailaali • Facebook: @LailaAli For more resources related to today’s episode, visit the podcast episode page: drmindypelz.com/ep361

__ Connect with Dr. Mindy:

Join Reset AcademyWatch the episodes on YouTubeFollow Dr. Mindy on InstagramSubscribe to Dr. Mindy’s newsletter for tools and research on fasting, hormones, and metabolic health Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, fasting routine, or lifestyle.