top of page
Search

Laila Ali: Why I Stopped Trying to Outwork My Hormones

Writer: Dr. Mindy Pelz
Dr. Mindy Pelz
Aug 17
3 min read

EP361 with Laila Ali




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:


  • 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 Mentioned:



Meet the Guest

Laila Ali

Laila Ali

Laila Ali is an undefeated boxing world champion, wellness advocate, entrepreneur, author, and television host. The youngest daughter of Muhammad Ali, she built a legacy of her own with a 24–0 professional record, including 21 knockouts, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022.


Since retiring from boxing, Laila has built a multifaceted career across wellness, food, television, and entrepreneurship. She is the author of Reach and the bestselling cookbook Food for Life, creator of Laila Ali Spice Blends, and founder of the Laila Ali Lifestyle Brand. She has hosted and appeared on numerous national television programs and continues to advocate for women’s health, sports equity, nutrition, and purposeful living.


Today, Laila lives in Georgia with her husband and two children and continues to inspire others to live stronger, healthier, and more intentionally.




Never Miss an Episode

If these conversations support you, I’d love to keep them coming directly to you.



This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional about your individual situation.

Comments

bottom of page