The best way to work out during and after menopause

(UCLA Health) — It’s no secret that your body goes through some pretty significant changes before, during and after menopause. You may notice weight gain, an increase in fat (especially around your middle) and a decrease in muscle strength — just to name a few things.

The good news is that exercise can help you cope with all those changes. The key is making sure you’re doing the right kind of exercise. Learn about the best types of exercise for menopause so you can stay fit through your 50s — and beyond.

As we get older, it’s natural to lose some muscle mass. Research has shown that this loss starts as early as our 30s. From 30 to 50, adults lose between 3% and 8% of their muscle mass per decade. Starting at age 50, muscle loss speeds up, and you lose 5% to 10 % of your muscle mass each decade.

For women, the drop in estrogen that comes with menopause makes these changes in body composition even worse. Not only do we lose muscle faster post-menopause, but we also tend to gain more fat. (…)