It’s also transformed my relationship with my body and the number on the scale.
Why I stopped prioritizing cardio over building strength
I’ve long had a regular fitness routine.
But like many women, I’d always prioritized cardio over building strength.
First, I like cardio.
Thanks tonewer research2, we can now label that concept a myth.
The quantity of calories matters, of course.
But the most important aspect of nutrition is about the nutrientquality3of what we eat.
In short, weight management and overall health are much more complicated than simple math.
They involve complex hormonal processes that are tied to ourmetabolic health status.
However, improved metabolic health may helpease5symptoms.
And guess what helps make us more metabolically healthy?Muscle mass6.
I knew I needed to be gaining muscle rather than losing it.
After that, you’re in postmenopause.
Estrogen helps protect us frominsulin resistance9, and research shows that insulin resistance oftenincreasesaround menopause.
Plus, insulin resistance and weight gain are linked.
Often, excess weight can lead to insulin resistance, and vice versa.
Otherhormonal changesduring perimenopause impact our feelings of hunger or fullness.
These are some of themany reasons menopause can be associated with midlife weight gain.
Perimenopause10, and the corresponding decline in estrogen, is traditionally a time when wegain fat and lose muscle.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Muscle is more metabolically healthy10than fat.
After learning all of this, I was sold.
I knew I needed to be gaining muscle rather than losing it.
Twelve weeks is an accessible goal and goes slightly beyond theaverage time13it takes to form a habit.
One caveat: I’m not going to discuss weight.
Aside from gaining muscle, I wasn’t focused on changing the number on the scale.
However, I will note that, as a big plus, weight has now become irrelevant to me.
My only regret is not starting earlier.
If you’re ready to begin or progress your weight training, check outthis approachable guide to resistance training.
