Timetable for Strength Training Benefits in Menopause

Oct 4, 2024

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

You’re just a workout, even a warm up set, away from strength training benefits in menopause. In this episode you will learn or get a refresher on just how soon you can expect to get those immediate results we all crave.

Unlike Amazon you can’t get them dropped on your doorstep in a few hours, but you will be pleasantly surprised (or reminded) by the fact that some changes happen in seconds.

Within Minutes these are Happening:

Increased Heart Rate - which means increased blood flow to brain and because of that a decreased level of pain and increased sense of alertness and creativity and problem solving

Release of Anabolic Hormones - testosterone and growth hormone

blood sugar reduction - it's used for the fuel for the exercise, even 10-15 air squats works so of course, if you're lifting with a load or tempo that causes more muscle stress

Release of Neurotransmitters - this occurs more with intense exercise and may take a few minutes but by the end of your workout, dopamine, and

Improved Neuroplasticity - if you're trying to learn a new language or absorb new information you might want to push play while you're working out.

How to amplify these while you workout?

Want more "feel good" hormones ? Play music you love, workout with a friend (and yes, even an exercise video if you feel like the instructor "gets you" and is more than a drill sergeant could do this)

Want to take advantage of learning or inspire a little creativity?

If you're already working on a project, absorb a little content about it before the workout and don't necessarily dwell on it while you workout. Your brain may actually answer questions you ask while you're taking a break from it. But also, listen to that Spanish lesson or informative podcasts while you exercise.

Within days or weeks these strength training benefits occur

Reduce Hot Flashes - in the 24 hours after a moderate or higher intensity workout. The same is not true of low or leisurely activity. A 2012 study in the medical journal Menopause.

Continued Neural Connection - studies show a large part of initial gains - up to 8-12 weeks of training - are still due to that stronger neural connection. During this time, heavier may not be better, especially for women in midlife with history of injury or tendency toward injury.

Blood Sugar Control Improves - reducing insulin resistance issues that negatively impact visceral belly fat, so you will be on the path to reducing total fat as well as directly impacting visceral fat

Strength Increases - due primarily to the neural connection as your brain learns or also strengthens the signaling between brain and muscle while you're learning a new movement pattern or waking up an old one. This isn't yet due to size (or hypertrophy) so the first few weeks you may not see noticeable change but you will already be picking up a heavier weight.

Fiber Size Increases - after those first weeks and as that neural connection continues, muscle fiber size increases, and you'll likely see more tone as evidence.

Changes in Fiber Type - less noted but the anaerobic exercise improves your type two or fast twitch fibers. So important for aging because these are lost without intentional stimulation. These changes will continue and enable more powerful speed and agility work that further enhances your aging process.

Tendons And Ligaments Improve - a big bonus for midlife women who have lost estrogen and are thus more prone to injury. You'll be improving resilience in those for every day activities as well as preparing to do heavier work that will be a greater stimulus for bone and metabolism boosts.

Over Months and (lasting) Years....these strength training benefits occur

Reversed Aging Effects of 179 Genes Associated with Aging - hello game-changer. If you start October 1 by April 1 (no kidding) you'll be younger.

Increased Bone Density - with the right progressive protocol (we don't jump in at the end and we can't stay at the beginning if you're able to do more) significant changes take 9 months to a year for the bone remodeling process. But if you're having an annual DEXA (and I highly recommend you do), you'll have noticeable change with strength training as you also fix any gut issues.

Reduced Risk of Both Sarcopenia and Osteoporosis in Late Life - muscle and bone loss historically have been issues related to metabolic disease and structural issues related to falls, fractures, bedrest, weakness and injury directly related to falls or consequent falls. Resistance training is proven to decrease this risk. But ? Pilates and yoga may be on the continuum... they are on the left... not the right.

Psst. Sarcopenia and osteoporosis BOTH begin in your 30s. Muscle peaks at 25, bone at about 30. Losses of each begin around 30 and 35, respectively. Think about what you were doing. Were you consuming adequate protein? Doing high impact and high intensity resistance training? Were you prioritizing sleep? Or were you on weight loss diets one after the other, skipping meals or skimping on calories, or making poor choices? You may have been doing the best you knew then, or may have been ignoring best in search of short cuts to skinnier obsessions so many women have. You can support a young woman from making the same mistake. Her bones could be better thanks to you.

Other Episodes You Might Like:

What They Don’t Teach Women About Strength Training and should: https://www.flippingfifty.com/teach-women-about-strength-training/

How Does Strength Training Increase Your Metabolism?: https://www.flippingfifty.com/increase-your-metabolism/

Importance of Strength Training for the Midlife Woman: https://www.flippingfifty.com/strength-training-for-the-midlife-woman/

References: