Do women really need a menopause workout?
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Liz Birenbaum, 60, works out at her home in Chappaqua, New York, on June 5.
PHOTO: FRANCES F. DENNY/NYTIMES
Liz Baker Plosser
- Menopause causes muscle and bone loss, so strength training and aerobic exercise help protect health and reduce risks like fractures and heart disease.
- Fitness brands now offer menopause-focused workouts, but some experts say the basics of effective training remain the same at any age.
- Women find menopause-branded programmes motivating and supportive, but consistent, progressive strength and weight-bearing exercises are key for healthy ageing.
AI generated
NEW YORK – Liz Birenbaum, 60, had spent most of her adult life dreading strength training. But this spring, when she was 12 years post-menopause and still navigating symptoms like hot flashes and broken sleep, she found a programme specifically designed for women in her stage of life.
After being laid off from her job during the pandemic, Birenbaum took up tennis and boxing. Both got her heart rate up, but she knew lifting weights was important for protecting her muscle and bone density. So she occasionally forced herself through sets of leg presses and triceps extensions at her gym in Chappaqua, New York.
