Women's Health series #3: Movement for menopause

In perimenopause and beyond, women can lose muscle mass and bone density while simultaneously gaining weight—an average of five to eight pounds—often in places like the belly where fat has never settled before. The host, Chris Swell, a life and health coach, explains that this happens because fluctuating and declining hormone levels, especially estrogen, cause fat stores to increase and even marble muscle tissue. Belly fat in particular raises the risk of heart disease, so the issue is not merely aesthetic. On top of the physical changes, there is a mental toll: women often feel confused and upset when their usual diet and exercise routines stop producing the same results. The episode offers a practical framework for adjusting movement habits to work with the body's new biology rather than against it.

Why old exercise routines stop working