From PE Trauma to Physical Literacy: How I Found Confidence in Movement in My 40s

If you’d asked 14-year-old me whether I’d ever enjoy exercise, the answer would have been a very firm no. PE was something to be endured, not enjoyed.

The choices felt limited. We were split into “boys’ sports” and “girls’ sports” and, in my opinion, the boys definitely got the better deal. I hated hockey and netball, and wanted to play football or basketball, but this was the 90s. A time of pointless gym skirts, friends who mysteriously had their period every week, and intimidating “sporty girls” (which, spoiler alert, I was not). I quickly learned to step back from anything that looked like sport.

Fast forward to the 2000s, and like many women, my only brush with fitness came via gyms that promised thinness. From Z-list celebs flogging fitness DVDs to Heat Magazine’s dreaded circle of shame (really showing my age here), the message was loud and clear: exercise was punishment for eating, not something that could make you feel powerful.

Why Girls Step Back From Sport

Turns out, my story isn’t unusual. Research shows girls consistently have lower “physical literacy” that’s confidence, competence, and motivation to be active compared to boys at every single age group (Women in Sport, 2023). By secondary school, fewer girls enjoy PE compared to boys (Youth Sport Trust, 2022).

Why? There are a few big reasons:

• Lack of role models – if girls don’t see women enjoying sport and movement, they don’t picture themselves there.

• Unwelcoming spaces – many gyms, sports clubs, and pitches still feel male-dominated or cliquey.

• Confidence – fear of being judged, feeling “not good enough,” or even just not wanting to get sweaty.

  
  

And yet, the bit that often gets missed in all the research is this: it’s not just about sport. It’s about movement. It’s knowing how to move your body that gives you the confidence to try sport in the first place.

The Turning Point in My 40s

Three years ago, I found myself walking into a gym called West End Workouts (@westendworkouts). The vibe was totally different to anything I’d experienced before. It was a supportive community, welcoming at every level and ability. It focused on strength and fitness for health not thinness with group PT sessions which made it into a community.

Now, don’t get me wrong - sometimes those sessions felt like an hour of hell. But the good, empowering kind of hell. Not the “stuck on the top field in freezing rain, legs turning blue, trying to play hockey when no one knows the rules” kind of hell.

We did strength training, resistance work, cardio, core etc.. And over time, something shifted. I realised I had more stamina to play with the kids. I could carry a child, their scooter, and three bags without breaking a sweat (mum goals right there). Most importantly, I began to trust my body.

Stick me on a hockey pitch now and I’d give it my best shot, not because I’ve secretly discovered hockey skills, but because I finally have the stamina, strength and confidence to try.

What Movement Has Taught Me

So despite never being a “sporty girl,” I am now an active woman. And that came from developing my physical literacy through strength and movement  at the ripe old age of 41.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Confidence comes after action. I didn’t walk into the gym feeling confident. I built confidence by showing up.

• Strength feels better than thinness. There’s nothing like the rush of lifting a barbell you couldn’t budge last month. Strength is power.

• Movement is joy, not punishment. Once I stopped using exercise as a way to “fix” myself, it became something I actually look forward to.

  
  

Why This Matters for the Next Generation

I think a lot about how girls will experience sport and movement. Thankfully, times have changed, there are no more strict “boys’ sports” and “girls’ sports,” and there are some amazing role models out there now. But we still need to make sure girls don’t dismiss sport altogether just because they don’t see themselves as “sporty.”

The most important thing girls can do is learn how to move their bodies, and develop their physical literacy. That way, by the time they hit their teenage years, they have the confidence to keep trying, rather than dropping out, and definitely don’t have to wait until their forties to find their place again.

Movement is for all girls, not just the sporty ones. Because if we want girls to stay active, and let’s face it, it’s essential for both their physical and mental health, we need to shift the conversation.

It’s not about being the best, the fastest, or the thinnest. It’s about having the tools and confidence to move. As the marketing manager for Movement Park it's my job to tell as many girls and women as possible that it all starts with physical literacy. Develop that and you can take on anything!