As a personal trainer, I have taken qualifications in order to specialise even further into how to train women through each stage of their lives, with a large part of this involving how to exercise through the peri-menopause and menopause. During this phase of our lives, exercise can feel like the furthest thing from our minds but actually it should be at the forefront.

As our oestrogen levels are starting to drop and our bodies become more prone to distributing fat around our waistline and jawline amongst other areas, it is more important than ever to exercise and in particular include some resistance training in your programme. This will have the benefits of helping to promote the growth of lean muscle mass, which results in a leaner body shape and an increase in metabolic rate.

Furthermore, due to the decline in oestrogen levels during the menopause, women become at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. However, by embarking on an exercise programme and including resistance training in this, you can help to maintain bone density, thereby reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

Not only are there the physical benefits of exercising during this phase of our life, but also the mental benefits that come with exercise, with it helping to improve mood and along with this an increase in self-esteem, something which is essential when dealing with the effects of fluctuating horomes.

Note: Always check with your GP or Primary Healthcare provider before embarking on a new exercise programme.