Exercise Your Way Through Menopause
Exercise Your Way through Menopause
With talk on the news of heart disease and the threat of obesity, it seems as if everyone may have gone fitness crazy overnight. Exercising one’s way through menopause might seem like the title of the latest infomercial but in truth, it’s a proven way of combating those inner demons that many attribute to the changing hormones in a woman’s body. How can exercise help and what kinds of exercises are recommended for the menopausal woman? Read on to learn more about exercising your way through menopause.
The first step in any fitness plan is to consult your doctor and make sure that it’s all right for you to take part in it. Talk to him about the kind of exercise that you want to do and your purpose for doing it, and be sure to bring up any health concerns or questions that you might have in regards to it. If he feels the method that you’ve chosen will be too stressful or difficult for you, be sure to ask him for healthier alternatives, better suited for you.
Exercise is a wonderful way of taking one’s mind off of what is happening to her body and the discomforts involved. At a time where the levels of hormones in a woman’s body are dropping, she finds herself faced with a slower metabolism and a body that doesn’t want to shake those pounds as easily as it used to. Whether you decide to jazzercise with the girls down at the fitness club or go for a solo walk along the beach, exercise is bound to be beneficial. In addition to controlling weight and giving yourself something to focus upon, it also helps in the prevention of heart disease, aids in digestion, and helps to improve self-esteem.
It’s quite common for women to look down upon themselves, when they enter menopause. This is the end of their childbirth years, as well as carrying the stigma of being a woman’s ‘golden years.’ Not all women look forward to menopause. For many, it’s a feeling of being cast away or becoming less desirable. Exercise grants a dose of self-esteem and a feeling of being in control, rather than being carried away by things you have no power over.
So what types of exercises are best? This is entirely up to you and your doctor, the two of you needing to work together and decide on a level of fitness that’s best for you. A brisk walk in the early morning hours can be quite refreshing, or you may enjoy hopping aboard a bike and going for a ride. Fitness classes at the local gym can also provide an outlet and can often help you to make new friends; dance classes also have similar effects but offer a chance to learn something new and exciting while you’re getting your exercise (and imagine how good you’ll look, next time you decide to cut up and let go.
For some, stretching exercises are best, and the use of lightweights or exercise balls can help provide exercise outlets without risking the strain of overexertion or concussion to the legs. Yoga is also a good form of exercise, combining stretching with self-reflection and the calming effects of meditation. Some also find certain forms of martial arts to have similar effects. In truth, there are many different kinds of exercise and, whether you are one who likes to slowly stretch down and touch your toes twenty times or if you’d rather be up and trying your hand at kickboxing, exercise will help raise your spirits.
Exercises can also be done on a more personal level, as well. Some women, going through menopause, find themselves suffering from a condition known as stress incontinence. Stress incontinence is when the muscles that control the flow of urine are too weak to prevent some from leaking out of the bladder, when a woman coughs, sneezes, laughs or picks something up. While there are adult pads, which can be used to absorb accidents like this, they are often bulky and embarrassing. Special exercises, known as Kegels, can be used to strengthen these muscles and prevent these mishaps.
To do a Kegel exercise, next time you go to the bathroom, try to stop yourself from urinating, mid-flow. The muscles used there are the ones that you will be strengthening; by allowing yourself to urinate and then stopping mid flow, over and over, will help to strengthen that muscle and prevent future moments of incontinence. An additional bonus is that it is said that strengthening the Kegels will increase sexual pleasure.
There are many different methods of exercise and the key is choosing the one that is right for you and then sticking with it. Helping to cope with the trials of menopause, losing weight and helping to keep you healthy are all benefits of exercise. So why not go out and give it a try; set a new goal for yourself today and meet that challenge!