Really appreciate this, Christine! Perimenopause and menopause seem to be having a "moment" right now, so hard to know what is actually evidence-based, so thank you! Side note: not unique to menopause necessarily, but I've also heard it's a good time to learn a new sport for the cognitive benefits, which makes sense to me.
Yes! I've heard that too about the cognitive benefits of learning a new sport. Plus it's kind of fun? I feel like I've gotten to the age where I no longer care if I look like a fool 😂
Thanks for the motivation and information to lift heavy in addition to my running routine. I’m 55, a couple of years through menopause, on hormone therapy. I have a different problem than many women who put on belly fat. I’m actually concerned I’m shrinking. Even though I’m eating the same (minus alcohol—cut that out except for occasional special meals out), my weight is the lowest it’s ever been in adulthood. I’m worried it’s loss of muscle and perhaps loss of bone density. I’m also shorter!?! At my doc visit a couple of weeks ago, they asked my height and I said 5’7”. I’ve always been just a hair under 5’7” so I round up. At least 5’6.5”. Then they measured me and I was only 5’5”! I made them double check and yes, I’m 5’5” now. It freaked me out. Long way of saying, I want to be STRONG and solid and not thin & shrinking. I’m scheduling a bone density test even though it’s been normal in the past and I get lots of calcium from milk & other sources. Your article makes me think I perhaps run too much and don’t prioritize strength & mobility enough.
Sarah! Thank you for sharing this. That desire to be strong and capable has really hit me in the last year or so as I watch more people in my life get older. I'm glad you're scheduling a bone density test and investigating this some more. I hope that they are able to give you some concrete answers and guidance.
I have definitely shifted what I do and added in more work with weights, but I'm still trying to figure out a good rhythm and what I'm missing. Also, the idea of new things is helpful, though, harder to work in. I feel like I had a better mix working with a trainer, but more consistency going to the gym — trying to find a blend of the two.
On the whole, I've been doing more strength training over the past three years and getting more consistent with working out, so I'll call it a win. Oh, and mostly feeling good in my body, so a win there too.
Thank you for writing such a comprehensive post about the importance of weight training as we age! Loved the NYT piece too - appreciate that you gifted the link and also went into more detail - great stuff 💪✨
I love that you're sharing the details that didn't make it into the article, and in a way that's super accessible. Most readers will never appreciate the tens of thousands of words worth of interview transcripts that writers don't have room for:)
Thank you for this! There is info out there but much of it feels overly complicated (I’m in the busiest time of my life and I don’t have the mental space for MORE) or it feels somewhat gate-kept (not quite enough info to build a plan). I particularly appreciate the insight that it’s like a new version of diet culture. Accepting my changing body has been such a practice. Thank you, thank you.
100%!!! Both to the lack of bandwidth and the gatekeeping involved, which is why I wanted to provide some more details and resources for people that's actually usable. The diet culture piece has been a real work in progress for me. It's been really surprising how much it's resurfaced a lot of feelings and thought patterns that I thought I had worked through.
Really appreciate this, Christine! Perimenopause and menopause seem to be having a "moment" right now, so hard to know what is actually evidence-based, so thank you! Side note: not unique to menopause necessarily, but I've also heard it's a good time to learn a new sport for the cognitive benefits, which makes sense to me.
Yes! I've heard that too about the cognitive benefits of learning a new sport. Plus it's kind of fun? I feel like I've gotten to the age where I no longer care if I look like a fool 😂
Thanks for the motivation and information to lift heavy in addition to my running routine. I’m 55, a couple of years through menopause, on hormone therapy. I have a different problem than many women who put on belly fat. I’m actually concerned I’m shrinking. Even though I’m eating the same (minus alcohol—cut that out except for occasional special meals out), my weight is the lowest it’s ever been in adulthood. I’m worried it’s loss of muscle and perhaps loss of bone density. I’m also shorter!?! At my doc visit a couple of weeks ago, they asked my height and I said 5’7”. I’ve always been just a hair under 5’7” so I round up. At least 5’6.5”. Then they measured me and I was only 5’5”! I made them double check and yes, I’m 5’5” now. It freaked me out. Long way of saying, I want to be STRONG and solid and not thin & shrinking. I’m scheduling a bone density test even though it’s been normal in the past and I get lots of calcium from milk & other sources. Your article makes me think I perhaps run too much and don’t prioritize strength & mobility enough.
Sarah! Thank you for sharing this. That desire to be strong and capable has really hit me in the last year or so as I watch more people in my life get older. I'm glad you're scheduling a bone density test and investigating this some more. I hope that they are able to give you some concrete answers and guidance.
I have definitely shifted what I do and added in more work with weights, but I'm still trying to figure out a good rhythm and what I'm missing. Also, the idea of new things is helpful, though, harder to work in. I feel like I had a better mix working with a trainer, but more consistency going to the gym — trying to find a blend of the two.
Oh I hear you!! I too am trying to figure out the right rhythm and how to fit things into my schedule in a way that works for me.
On the whole, I've been doing more strength training over the past three years and getting more consistent with working out, so I'll call it a win. Oh, and mostly feeling good in my body, so a win there too.
Definitely a win! Especially feeling good in your body, whatever that looks like for you.
I love that you’re doing a deeper dive here! Currently experimenting on myself by changing my exercise/running routine. I’m eager to see what happens!
I saw that and love that! I want to hear more about your experiment.
I’m about four weeks in…a cold knocked me out (thanks kids) just as I was gaining momentum! Will report back at the end of September!
Love this article as a masters, menopausal power lifter who is learning new movements!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for writing such a comprehensive post about the importance of weight training as we age! Loved the NYT piece too - appreciate that you gifted the link and also went into more detail - great stuff 💪✨
Thanks for reading!
I love that you're sharing the details that didn't make it into the article, and in a way that's super accessible. Most readers will never appreciate the tens of thousands of words worth of interview transcripts that writers don't have room for:)
OMG so many leftover words!!
Thank you for this! There is info out there but much of it feels overly complicated (I’m in the busiest time of my life and I don’t have the mental space for MORE) or it feels somewhat gate-kept (not quite enough info to build a plan). I particularly appreciate the insight that it’s like a new version of diet culture. Accepting my changing body has been such a practice. Thank you, thank you.
100%!!! Both to the lack of bandwidth and the gatekeeping involved, which is why I wanted to provide some more details and resources for people that's actually usable. The diet culture piece has been a real work in progress for me. It's been really surprising how much it's resurfaced a lot of feelings and thought patterns that I thought I had worked through.