I have a serious problem with the advice that many personal trainers and health care professionals give women. In many cases it’s worthless, and in some cases it’s counterproductive. Let’s start with aerobic exercise after menopause.

 

Aerobic training is not the type of exercise that menopausal women need to deal with potential bone loss. At menopause, estrogen levels decrease, making women more susceptible to osteopenia (low bone mineral density), eventually followed by osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones). At this point in their lives, to make their bones stronger it is especially important that women emphasize strength training; the research coming out of Finland is very clear that strength training is the best form of exercise to prevent osteopenia. Now don’t misunderstand me. I’m not against all forms of energy system training, as interval training is fine, but long, slow distance training is self-defeating at menopause because it is associated with greater bone loss.