The Best Movement for Midlife Women
Are you a cardio queen?
Is cardio the best movement for midlife women? I used to think it was. We’re different in midlife so we have to do things differently and that includes the way we move. All through my 30s and early 40s, I was a runner. I loved that runners high I would get as I felt my heart beating in my chest.
If I wasn’t doing cardio, I didn’t think I was getting in a real workout.
As I continued running in my 40s I noticed a shift. After I would go for a run, I found myself limping throughout the day. All I could think was, “This can not be good for my body!” it was time to ease off of running and try something new. Although running kept my legs strong, my upper body needed to build strength.
I was on the hunt to find new ways to bring movement that supported me in this next season of life.
The best movement for midlife women
For women going through menopause and perimenopause, strength training is MORE important than cardio! It helps you burn more calories than any other exercise which helps us say, “goodbye menopausal belly fat!” Toning up after 50 is so important because it has the power to change your menopause journey for the better!
Have you noticed how menopause brings physical changes to your body? In this season of a woman’s life, muscles and bones get weaker, flexibility decreases, posture and balance become less stable and the dreaded weight gain happens. Strength training is so important as we go through the menopause transition because it slows down physical aging by making your body stronger. Yes, please!!
One big misconception about strength training is that to see the benefits and build up muscle, we need to spend hours on end in the gym. The truth is, even 10-15 minutes a day is helpful. Knowing that has helped me take the leap and make strength training a priority because, in all honesty, it’s not my favorite type of movement!
Strength and Resistance Training
builds strong muscles and bones
prevents weight gain – I know you’re looking for this one!
slows down aging
balances hormones
is a natural mood booster
alleviates stress
aides in the production of collagen and elastin
These benefits of strength training make it the top movement for midlife women!
My favorite ways to incorporate strength training
Strength and resistance training is important but I don’t want to spend a lot of time on them if I don’t enjoy them. I’ve learned if I want it to be sustainable, I have to find things that I enjoy. I’ve tried to hire a personal trainer and take CrossFit classes and decided those are not for me.
If you’ve been part of my community for a while, you’ve heard about my love for Pure Barre. Walking into my first class I knew this was what I was looking for. Pure Barre offers the resistance training I needed; my upper body was responding well and I absolutely LOVED it! Now, as much as I love Pure Barre, I still need to add more strength, core, and flexibility training into my routine.
