If you’re either moving close to your menopausal years or are already in them, there are some important things that you need to be taking into account.  Your body is going to be undergoing many changes at this point and if you’re like many women, some of these can be causing some discomfort and anxiety.

Weight gain is likely at this point and hot flashes will become a regular occurrence, instantly sending your body temperate soaring.  You may find that your moods are rather in-stable as well – one minute you’re feeling great and the next, emotions have come over you.

Different women experience different side effects as they go through their menopausal years, but that said, many of the treatment methods are the same.  One of the best treatment methods to help get you through menopause is getting on a good weight lifting workout program.

Let’s look at why you should be doing this and what you may experience while doing it.

Why Weight Lift?

The benefits for weight lifting during or before menopause are many.  First, it’s critical that you’re doing everything possible to protect your bone and joint health during these years as once your period stops, you are going to be at a higher risk for developing osteoporosis.

Weight lifting is the best method to combat bone loss as it’s the best weight baring exercise out there.

In addition to boosting bone health, a good weight lifting program is also going to keep your metabolic rate strong, assisting with the prevention of fat gain.
On top of that, weight lifting will help to reduce the chances that you start to lose lean muscle tissue as you go about the coming years, which would also cause your metabolism to grow sluggish and put you at a higher risk of body fat gain.

Finally, weight lifting is a great way to decrease stress and anxiety.  Menopause is a stressful time for most women and doing a good program can help keep your emotions in check.

What To Expect

So now that you know the benefits of weight lifting, what can you expect as you get started?

First, you may encounter a bit more fatigue when in the pre-menopause or menopause years compared to earlier on in your life, so take a moderate and lower approach to your training. Push yourself but don’t overdo it.

Remember that you don’t need to be in the gym for hours each week as long as you have a proper program developed by a professional personal trainer.
Second, you may notice your body does overheat much more frequently as you go about your weight lifting program due to the hot flashes that can occur, so be sure to wear breathable clothing and always carry water on hand to stay properly hydrated.

Keeping yourself hydrated will help assist with temperature regulation and ensure that you feel your best.
So there you have a few of the key points you need to remember about exercise during your pre and post-menopausal years.  Make sure that you don’t overlook the benefits weight training has to offer.