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Episode 987 min

Why Build Muscle During Menopause? 4 Key Reasons

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In this episode

If menopause has you watching belly fat creep in and muscle definition fade, this short episode explains why building muscle matters so much right now. Nikkiey Stott hasn't gone through menopause herself, but she has coached thousands of women who have, and she starts with two foundations she says belong in your routine every day: managing your macronutrients and strength training.

From there she walks through four reasons those foundations matter. Nikkiey explains that the decline in estrogen and testosterone during menopause affects muscle mass and bone density, and that resistance training plus balanced nutrition helps you build muscle and reduce body fat through it. She covers the mental side too, describing how strength training releases endorphins that help buffer mood swings, anxiety and low moods, and how loading your bones supports bone strength, balance and fewer falls.

The fourth reason is the one she calls most important and most overlooked: metabolism. As metabolism slows with age, muscle acts as a calorie-burning tissue working behind the scenes. By training, building muscle and eating well, she says, you make weight maintenance far more achievable and can move through menopause with confidence and strength.

Key takeaways

  • Make two things daily foundations during menopause: managing your macronutrients and doing strength training.
  • Nikkiey explains that declining estrogen and testosterone in menopause affect muscle mass and bone density, and resistance training is a strong way to counter that.
  • Tracking macros helps you get the balance of nutrients that supports muscle repair and burning body fat.
  • Strength training releases endorphins, which Nikkiey describes as the brain's natural antidepressants and painkillers, helping buffer menopause mood swings.
  • Weight-bearing bones like the legs and spine respond to the stress of resistance training by getting stronger and thicker.
  • Strength training also improves balance and coordination, which lowers the risk of falls, one of the leading causes of fractures as we age.
  • Each added pound of muscle burns extra calories throughout the day, so building muscle helps offset the metabolic slowdown that comes with age.

Questions answered

Why should women build muscle during menopause?

Nikkiey gives four reasons: strength training and good nutrition help counter hormone-related muscle and bone loss, improve mental wellness, increase bone strength, and raise your metabolic rate.

Does strength training help with menopause mood swings?

According to the episode, resistance training triggers a release of endorphins, which Nikkiey calls the brain's natural antidepressants and painkillers, helping buffer the mood swings, anxiety and low moods that menopause can bring.

How does lifting weights help bone density in menopause?

Nikkiey explains that when bones are stressed they go through remodeling, removing old tissue and replacing it with new. Weight-bearing bones like the legs and spine respond by getting stronger and thicker, which helps ward off osteoporosis.

Can building muscle help with a slowing metabolism after 40?

Yes, in the episode's view. Muscle works as a calorie furnace, with each added pound burning extra calories through the day, so strength training, building muscle and eating optimally make weight maintenance more achievable.

Why track macros during menopause?

Nikkiey says macro tracking ensures you get an optimal balance of nutrients, which supports muscle rejuvenation and effective fat metabolism so you can build muscle and reduce body fat.

Full transcript

Nikkiey: Real quick, if you want to learn more about macronutrients and understand that methodology on how they can help you achieve your body composition goals of changing the way your body looks, I put together a free 15-minute training where I dive into macronutrients and how you can control your body for the rest of your life with them. That link is in the description below. Click on it after listening to the show today.

If you're navigating the menopause journey and feeling overwhelmed with body changes, if you're worried about accumulating unwanted belly fat and losing your muscle definition, I'm going to share with you four compelling reasons that will help you understand better why building muscle, managing body fat effectively, and revitalizing your well-being are so important during menopause. Make sure to stay until the end because the fourth one is the most important one of all.

Ladies out there who are going through menopause, it can be a tough time for your body, but don't worry, I'm here to help. Now, I personally have not gone through menopause myself, but I've helped thousands of women who have.

Before we dive into the four essential reasons, it's crucial to emphasize two foundational elements that should be integrated into your fitness routine every day and are the backbone to the reasons today: understanding and managing macronutrients for optimal nutrition, and engaging in strength training exercises. Now, let's get into these four reasons why those fundamental elements of strength training and optimal nutrition are so freaking important.

Reason number one: strength training and optimal nutrition help to tackle hormone fluctuations. Menopause brings about a decline in pivotal hormones like estrogen and testosterone. These aren't just names that you see on a medical sheet. They're the backbone of muscle development and maintenance. And as they decline, the repercussions aren't just superficial. They echo deep within, leading to diminishing muscle mass and bone density. These changes can even make simple activities a challenge, increasing vulnerability to injuries.

However, resistance training stands as a beacon of hope, offering a potent approach to strengthening muscle mass and, importantly, preserving bone density. The latter is a shield against osteoporosis, which is a potential byproduct of the hormonal tides of menopause. Optimal nutrition, focusing on macronutrient tracking, ensures that you intake an optimal balance of nutrients, which is fundamental for muscle rejuvenation and effective fat metabolism for you to burn body fat. Together, these factors assist in muscle development and a reduction of your body fat during menopause.

Reason number two: increased mental wellness. While the tangible benefits of resistance training, such as increased muscle mass and bone density, are indisputably recognized, its impact on the mind's landscape often goes underappreciated. The intense hormonal shifts during menopause aren't just abstract concepts. They manifest in real, palpable mood swings, making women more susceptible to emotional lows, including heightened anxiety and episodes of depression.

Delving deeper into the neurochemical dance that unfolds during resistance training, it's noteworthy how this form of exercise acts as a therapeutic intervention. When engaged in such activities, the brain takes the cue to release a surge of endorphins. These aren't just any chemicals. They are the brain's very own natural antidepressants and painkillers. They cover the mind with a sense of euphoria and well-being, providing a buffer against the mental strains that menopause can introduce. In essence, weight training, strength training, resistance training, whatever word you want to use, doesn't merely sculpt the body. It serves as a fortress safeguarding mental equilibrium during life's hormonal storms.

Reason number three: increased bone strength. As I touched on earlier, resistance training plays a pivotal role in enhancing bone density, a crucial factor in warding off osteoporosis. When bones experience stress, they undergo a process called remodeling. This process involves both the removal of bone tissue and its replacement with new tissue. Weight-bearing bones, notably those in the legs and the spine, are particularly receptive to these beneficial stresses from resistance training. Such exercises stimulate the bones to augment their strength and thickness.

Beyond the direct benefits to the bones, resistance training also fine-tunes an individual's balance and coordination. This is significant, as improved balance directly correlates with a reduced risk of falls, a common concern as we age, and one of the leading causes of bone fractures.

Hey guys, love so much that you guys are listening to this podcast. If you ever want to have the video version of this, which usually has more effects and all that good stuff for those of you who are visual learners, check out the YouTube channel, WarriorBabe, if that's what you like. Either way, keep enjoying the show.

Reason number four, and the most important reason that often gets overlooked: increased metabolic rate. Age, while bringing wisdom, unfortunately tends to slacken our metabolism. This slowing down isn't just a number on the paper. It manifests physically by reducing our capacity to burn calories even when we're seemingly inactive. This can culminate in daunting weight management challenges, especially during life stages like menopause.

However, there's a fascinating nuance to our body's physiology. Our muscle tissue operates as an almost covert calorie furnace. Each added pound of muscle easily burns additional calories throughout the day, working behind the scenes. By strategically investing your time in strength training, building muscle, and eating optimally, we not only rejuvenate our metabolic rate, but also equip our bodies with a more efficient calorie-burning mechanism. This metamorphosis transforms weight maintenance from a seemingly insurmountable challenge to a more achievable endeavor. Say goodbye to menopause belly fat here.

Now, for a comprehensive explanation of these insights and practical measures, click on the link provided below. I put together a free training that delves much deeper than where we went today. While the journey through menopause can be daunting, it's entirely possible to go through it with confidence, strength, and informed understanding.

Hey guys, real quick. If you're interested in taking your body to the next level, lose body fat, build more muscle, feel more confident, do it alongside one of our 30-plus professional coaches. Work one-on-one with her to eliminate all of the guesswork that you may have. And all you need to do is just do the work that she tells you to do to get to those goals of yours. Now, to learn more, click the link below this podcast and apply to our VIP program right now.

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