Foot Pain After 40? Why Your Shoes Are Hurting You | The Forties Formula

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by podiatrist Paul Macaulay to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of women's health: foot health in midlife. From pregnancy and perimenopause to years of wearing the wrong shoes, our feet go through enormous changes that can affect everything from plantar fasciitis and bunions to knee pain, hip pain, back pain, balance, and long-term mobility. Paul explains why most women are wearing the wrong shoe size, how hormones change our tendons and ligaments, why "comfortable" shoes aren't always the healthiest choice, and the simple changes that can dramatically improve foot health for decades to come. Chapters: 00:00 | Why Women Ignore Foot Pain for Too Long 00:57 | Why Your Feet Affect Your Whole Body 03:12 | Why Women Keep Buying the Wrong Shoes 05:26 | The Biggest Mistake People Make When Buying Running Shoes 06:40 | Finding the Right Shoe for Your Foot Type 08:21 | The Shoe Sizing Mistake Most Women Make 10:29 | How Pregnancy Permanently Changes Your Feet 12:27 | Why You May Need Different Shoes After Pregnancy 14:45 | Have Fashion Choices Damaged Our Feet? 16:18 | The Smarter Way to Wear Heels 18:00 | How Perimenopause Changes Your Feet 20:40 | The Most Common Foot Problems After 40 22:03 | How Many Pairs of Shoes Do You Actually Need? 24:26 | Barefoot Shoes: Helpful or Harmful? 26:43 | The Best Exercises for Stronger Feet 31:17 | Why Strong Calves Matter More Than You Think 31:45 | Can Your Feet Cause Knee, Hip & Back Pain? 33:51 | Do Orthotics Really Work? 36:16 | Are There Any Stylish Heels That Are Actually Good? 39:03 | The Shoe Brand Paul Macaulay Recommends 42:42 | Do Reflexology & Foot Soaks Actually Help? 45:13 | The Best Foot Care Routine for Healthy Feet 48:41 | Do Toe Spacers Actually Work? 50:16 | The Best Strength Exercises to Prevent Foot Pain 54:04 | Paul's Forties Formula 55:04 | Final Thoughts About our guest Paul Macaulay is a podiatrist specialising in foot pain, biomechanics, running injuries and lower-limb rehabilitation. Through his clinic and educational content, he helps people understand how better footwear, stronger feet, and smarter movement can improve long-term mobility, performance and quality of life. About your hosts Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition. https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/ Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health. https://www.instagram.com/coachamanda/ Support the podcast If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe and share this episode with someone dealing with foot pain, bunions, plantar fasciitis, or anyone who wants to stay active and mobile through midlife. You can also support the show by Buying Us a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula