The Older Sister Talks Menopause Fitness | The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC

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Christy tipped me off to a website to check out for all of us “older” sisters. It’s called Changings Ways from Estroven and it is really great. There is tons of information on there. They have workout plans and workout schedules. There are workout videos. My favorite though was the workout tips by Deb Horn. She makes perfect sense about so many of the things going on for so many of us. Check these out. I think you’ll agree.

1. Exercise early in the day. It will help boost your metabolism and keep calories burning throughout the day.

2. Menopause, shmenopause. When it comes to exercise, don’t always act your age. Kick a ball. Throw a Frisbee. Push your husband on a swing. Exercise is not all jogging and pushups. Acting like a kid is a workout!

3. Women lose a half a pound of muscle each year, starting at the age of 25. You don’t have to lift weights to take care of your muscles. Strength and resistance training using your own body weight strengthens your muscles just as well as dumbbells.

4. After the age of 40, we tend to not fit into our jeans. Tighten your waist while watching your favorite show. Perform an abdominal exercise during the commercials three times a week to strengthen and tighten your abdomen

5. It’s never too late to get in shape. Even if you have never exercised, beginning a fitness routine TODAY will have a huge impact on your wellness.

6. Involve your inner circle. Tell your family you are embarking on an exercise program to help relieve that moody, menopausal “you” they have been seeing lately. Those close to you will encourage and support you and may even join in.

7. Fight off “hot and sweaty” by doing something hot and sweaty. Break a sweat at least once a day and your hot flashes won’t seem so bad.

8. Grab a fitness buddy. Working out with a friend who is going through the same thing will help keep you on the right track. You are less likely to skip a workout if you know someone is counting on you. Plus commiserating with a pal can help you feel less alone.

9. Did you accomplish your personal fitness goal today? Pat yourself on the back. Menopause can cause depression, and sometimes makes us extra hard on ourselves. Acknowledging your OWN accomplishments, no matter how small, will help keep you positive.

10. Try a new fitness class or workout routine. As you get older you are less likely to venture outside of your comfort zone. Today, say: “I’ll try.” Take a dance class and if you can’t finish the whole thing, at least you went for it.

11. Indulge yourself without calories. We all know menopause wreaks havoc on our appetite and metabolism. Cravings can be intense. Try not to give in to temptation; instead of rewarding yourself with food, treat yourself to a manicure or a movie for a job well done.

What do you think? So many of these hit home with me. With our new challenge having just started, these tips are going to help me keep focused on my goal of a slimmer, healthier me for the warmer months ahead. Go and check out the website. I think you’ll be happy you did. Thank you for the tip, Christy! This “older” sister needs all the help she can get.

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