Thursday, December 10, 2009

Fitness tips for menopause - why physical activity matters

While I'm not quite at the menopause stage, I thought it appropriate to post this on my 45th birthday!
Thanks to the MayoClinic.com newsletter - a great article about why physical activity is important for women facing menopause:

Fitness Tips for Menopause

While the article in whole is a great read, I felt like the part about the benefits are especially important:

Whether you've exercised faithfully for years or you haven't been physically active, physical activity during and after menopause offers many benefits. For example, regular physical activity can:

Prevent weight gain. Women tend to lose muscle mass and gain abdominal fat during and after menopause. Even slight increases in physical activity can help prevent weight gain.

Reduce the risk of breast cancer. Physical activity during and after menopause that results in weight loss may offer protection from breast cancer.

Strengthen your bones. Physical activity can slow bone loss after menopause, which lowers the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

Reduce the risk of other diseases. During and after menopause, the risk of various chronic conditions — including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes — increases. Regular physical activity can counter these risks.

Boost your mood. Physical activity during and after menopause can improve your psychological health.

Yours in Health, Wellness, and Beauty,
Sharron C. Grzybowski
Co-Founder of STOP, Stop the Obesity Pandemic
Independent Beauty Consultant


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