{"id":28041,"date":"2022-01-17T10:52:54","date_gmt":"2022-01-17T18:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/?p=28041"},"modified":"2023-08-17T09:11:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T16:11:43","slug":"menopause-exercise-the-depression-or-well-being-determinant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/all-mfn\/menopause-exercise-the-depression-or-well-being-determinant\/","title":{"rendered":"Menopause Exercise: The Depression or Well-being Determinant?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Wonder if your menopause exercise prescription makes a difference? It turns out your hormone ride during menopause deems exercise more necessary than ever. Your hormones reveal more than your likelihood to store belly fat or hot flash.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-28043\" src=\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mature-senior-woman-home-exercise-yoga-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mature-senior-woman-home-exercise-yoga-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mature-senior-woman-home-exercise-yoga-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mature-senior-woman-home-exercise-yoga-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mature-senior-woman-home-exercise-yoga-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mature-senior-woman-home-exercise-yoga-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mature-senior-woman-home-exercise-yoga.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Research published in the <em>Menopause Journal<\/em> says your likelihood of being depressed or feeling positive lies in your physical activity level. The study addressed menopause, movement, and mental well-being.<\/p>\n<p>One of 7 levels of physical activity was assigned to each subject:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>I do not move more than is necessary in my daily routines;<\/li>\n<li>I go for casual walks and engage in light outdoor recreation 1 to 2 times a week;<\/li>\n<li>I go for casual walks and engage in light outdoor recreation several times a week;<\/li>\n<li>Once or twice a week, I engage in brisk physical activity(eg, yard work, walking, cycling) that causes some shortness of breath and sweating;<\/li>\n<li>Several times a week (3-5), I engage in brisk physical activity(eg, yard work, walking, cycling) that causes some shortness of breath and sweating;<\/li>\n<li>I exercise several times a week in a way that causes rather strong shortness of breath and sweating during the activity;<\/li>\n<li>I do competitive sports and maintain my fitness through regular training.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><strong>Which level describes you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Based on that you fall into one of these categories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Low (1 to 3)<\/li>\n<li>Medium (4 and 5)<\/li>\n<li>High activity (6 to 7)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Subjects in the study with the highest level of activity had the lowest incidence of depression and the greatest sense of well-being.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the bottom line.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s most interesting is that researchers measured not only self-reports of depression but hormone levels. So the study was both objective and subjective.<\/p>\n<p>Given we\u2019re in a time when positive mood, attitude, optimism are so important to how we get from day to day, this is just one more message to get moving.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>There\u2019s More<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/all-mfn\/13-reasons-the-right-exercise-matters-more-in-menopause\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Menopause<\/a> has historically been associated with negative feelings about aging and with greater incidence of depression than in younger women or same age men. The proper menopause exercise prescription, however clearly has the ability to change your well-being.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, many women report that this is a time of great life satisfaction.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Menopause Exercise Rx<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>The high activity level word descriptions used in this study are exact descriptions of the High Intensity Interval Training and strength training to fatigue that are a necessity for women who want to flip 50 feeling not just well, but outright full of energy and vitality during and beyond COVID19.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25409\" src=\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trainer-resistance-band-senior-woman-client-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trainer-resistance-band-senior-woman-client-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trainer-resistance-band-senior-woman-client-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trainer-resistance-band-senior-woman-client-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trainer-resistance-band-senior-woman-client-600x400.png 600w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trainer-resistance-band-senior-woman-client-400x266.png 400w, https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trainer-resistance-band-senior-woman-client.png 1348w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Often when I talk about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flippingfifty.com\/the-after-50-fitness-formula-for-women-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>After 50 Fitness Formula for Women<\/em><\/a>, and a critical part of it &#8212; <strong>\u201cLess Exercise, More Food\u201d<\/strong> &#8212; inevitably an audience member will comment. She may say something like, <em>\u201cI\u2019m so glad you said women over 50 need less exercise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I get nervous with that simple statement. Because like a recent podcast I created about \u201cModerate Exercise,\u201d that is too open to interpretation.<\/p>\n<p>So let me take some real estate in this post to get clear:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You are not a flower.<\/li>\n<li>You are not delicate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You absolutely need to push limits in your workouts \u2013 for seconds at a time. That\u2019s true when you\u2019re in good times and when you\u2019re in COVID19.<\/p>\n<p>You need moderate amounts of:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>High Intensity exercise that gets you breathless<\/li>\n<li>High Intensity strength training that takes you to muscular fatigue<\/li>\n<li>Fill in with low to moderate exercise that you love<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>It is #1 and #2 above that have the best opportunity to change your hormones for the better, and in doing so changes your mental well-being, your visceral belly fat, your hot flashes and night sweats, and reverses the effects of 179 genes associated with aging.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Careful Clarification<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Advice to do less exercise is often interpreted as advice to do \u201clight\u201d exercise or following a doctor\u2019s vague advice to \u201cwalk.\u201d It\u2019s not enough. And walking 3 or 4 miles a day as many women do in an effort to overcome weight or fat gains in menopause only makes matters worse. Greater volume of the same ineffective exercise will not get you better results.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, you want less exercise. Less than you think, and of the right type (of intense exercise).<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s true that if you\u2019re just beginning you start with habits. We get you hooked and regular first. Yet, yes, you can do interval training when you start. COPD patients and asthma sufferers often do best with intervals. If they can you can. We simply apply a progressive plan for you.<\/p>\n<p>Before you start intervals it may be appropriate for you to \u201crestore before more.\u201d If you\u2019re already exhausted, suffering from mood swings, your first step is to restore yourself with rest, sleep, nutrients and movement, NOT exercise.<\/p>\n<p>Menopause exercise is not a generic prescription for all women in menopause. It should be based on your unique condition now, your current hormone status (assessed by a fitness specialist by your signs &amp; symptoms), and your personal preferences and schedule.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, menopause exercise has the power to make this second half better than the first.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Reprinted from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flippingfifty.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">flipping50.com<\/a> with permission from Debra Atkinson.<\/p>\n<p><em>Debra Atkinson is the #youstillgotitgirl who is flipping 50 and changing the way thousands of women think about their second half. She\u2019s the host of the Flipping 50 TV Show and the Flipping 50 podcast. As a master personal trainer, strength and wellness coach with over 30 years fitness industry experience, she works with women who are pro-aging with vitality and energy. She is an international fitness presenter, author of hundreds of articles and multiple books. Visit her website,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flippingfifty.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">flippingfifty.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Reference:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/menopausejournal\/fulltext\/2020\/04000\/the_role_of_physical_activity_in_the_link_between.6.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/menopausejournal\/fulltext\/2020\/04000\/the_role_of_physical_activity_in_the_link_between.6.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wonder if your menopause exercise prescription makes a difference? It turns out your hormone ride during menopause deems exercise more necessary than ever. Your hormones reveal more than your likelihood to store belly fat or hot flash. Research published in the Menopause Journal says your likelihood of being depressed or feeling positive lies in your physical activity level. The study addressed menopause, movement, and mental well-being. One of 7 levels of physical activity was assigned to each subject: I do not move more than is necessary in my daily routines; I go for casual walks and engage in light outdoor recreation 1 to 2 times a week; I go for casual walks and engage in light outdoor recreation several times a week; Once or twice a week, I engage in brisk physical activity(eg, yard work, walking, cycling) that causes some shortness of breath and sweating; Several times a week (3-5), I engage in brisk physical activity(eg, yard work, walking, cycling) that causes some shortness of breath and sweating; I exercise several times a week in a way that causes rather strong shortness of breath and sweating during the activity; I do competitive sports and maintain my fitness through regular training. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":267,"featured_media":28043,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[198,289,257],"class_list":["post-28041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-mfn","tag-fitness-professionals","tag-menopause","tag-womens-health"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/267"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28041"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33419,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28041\/revisions\/33419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}