Time Flies: How I Lost Fat and Gained Muscle After 50 In this episode, I'll share how I lost fat and gained muscle after 50 and discuss how I improved my body composition. There's a winning score at the end of this decade, but I was down by some significant points halfway through. Here's how I Caitlin-Clarked the strategy and came out ahead. How I’ve added 4 lbs of lean muscle, lost 4% body fat from 50 to 60 I’ve added 4 lbs of lean muscle and lost 4% body fat this last decade. In between, I gained 12-14, or 13 lbs, of inflammation and also lost that! Before I start, you need to know that I’ve been thinner. It’s no longer the goal. I’m kind of sick of it. For 40 years, I’ve watched the #1 motivator for women to exercise is weight loss. I’ve watched fitness professionals cover each other’s bodies, knowing the science and intelligence of what is genuinely fitness. However, they still wish they had someone’s body they perceived as better than their own. I’m really over it. If that is your number one goal, it may happen while you focus on something else, but it probably will NOT happen if you’re chasing the weight. We still haven’t gotten the fact… fact… that you will attract and get to keep what you focus on. This is no longer woo-woo, pseudoscience. It is simply a fact. I WANT energy, strength, and the ability to hike the Grand Canyon well into my next 40 years. In the process, I will probably optimize my body composition, not because I’m chasing weight loss but because I want to do everything I should have been doing all along. Serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin play a big part in how I gained muscle after 50, and we often forget about this. We get fleeting hits from exercise itself and long-lasting enjoyment from memories of living on the bucket list. The other thing I realized just this week (approaching my 60th birthday) is that for way too long, I left things I love in my closet, saving them for … I’m not sure what. That ends. I wear fancy pants for dinner today and whenever I want to. Apparently, I had to be 60 to give myself permission. Here’s How I Gained Muscle After 50 The exercise & lifestyle changes that happened in this last decade: I prioritize protein and non-starchy veggies [over something low fat] I will eat dessert if I want it, but just last, and if it’s not that good, I can skip it. I focus on eating enough rather than eating less. I prioritize walking and weight training (even over HIIT) I implement recovery strategies daily, only now waiting until I need them. I lift heavy at a minimum once weekly but usually twice. I cycle training very consciously. I use explosive power and fast twitch agility 2-3 times weekly. I rest consciously between sets of exercises for the same muscle group. I recover like it’s my job after challenging workouts. I have food at the right time, rest and sleep, hydrate, and add 4 tools that help too. My gut health is a TOP priority. ANY sign is not optimal, and I fix it NOW. Tools I Use to Enhance Recovery or Boost Performance RELIGIOUSLY: Epsom salt baths (be sure there is NOTHING added) Sunlighten Sauna: https://www.flippingfifty.com/sauna Power Plate: https://www.flippingfifty.com/PowerPlate Code: Flipping50 Weighted Vest see my pics in Amazon store from https://www.flippingfifty.com/resources One More Thing About Gaining Muscle After 50 Someone watched a video of Moses this week and commented, I wish I could get excited about nothing. "A dog's life" is no joke. I leave him to go to the grocery store, and he has to hug me for a few minutes before letting me put groceries away. He's so excited I came back. If you can get excited not just about the big things - the Grand Canyon in September – or a wedding in October – but about the things that happen EVERY DAY, then you're living well. Take charge of your quality of life. By consistently tending to the little things, you'll find that the big things will fall into place. I have no intention of letting my goals get smaller as I get older. They're getting more significant. I hope yours are too. And I hope you're not putting them off. It won't get convenient… until we can't choose it anymore. Don't wish for that. Curious about the supplements I use to support muscle? Stay tuned for the next solo episode, where I'll share all the details. Resources: Stronger: https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger Power Plate: (Save with code: Flipping50) https://www.flippingfifty.com/powerplate Blood Glucose Monitor: https://www.flippingfifty.com/myglucose What When Why to Exercise summit 2024: https://www.flippingfifty.com/wwwexercise Other Episodes You Might Like: Less Belly Fat: https://www.flippingfifty.com/less-belly-fat How Much Protein Do You Need After 50: https://www.flippingfifty.com/how-much-protein-do-you-really-need-after-50-research-update-on-more/ Muscle Protein Synthesis in Menopause: How to Plan Pre and Post Workout https://www.flippingfifty.com/muscle-protein-synthesis-in-menopause/

Toxins, like unwelcome party guests, invade our systems, disrupting crucial sex, stress, and thyroid hormones. This reminds us of the damaging effects of toxins and the preventive steps we may utilize to lessen the impact of toxins that could disrupt the hormones in our bodies. It all boils down to equipping ourselves with facts and simple solutions to support our body's natural detoxification processes and improve our sex, stress, thyroid hormones, and overall well-being. My Guest: Dr. Wendy Myers is a Naturopathic doctor and founder of Myersdetox.com. She is an anti-aging, heavy metal detox, and bioenergetics expert and the #1 bestselling author of Limitless Energy: How to Detox Toxic Metals to End Exhaustion and Chronic Fatigue. Wendy is also the host of a top-rated podcast, the Myers Detox Podcast, about protecting your health with detoxification. She will provide insights on how toxins affect your sex, stress, and thyroid hormones. Questions We Answer in This Episode: What’s your background? Why did you get into the health field? [00:03:50] Why do you think so many people have low hormone production today? [00:13:47] What metals reduce adrenal sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone? [00:15:33] What metals interfere with and reduce thyroid hormones? [00:17:18] How can you best assess your toxicity levels? [00:19:04] Can you give us some simple detox tips for the listeners to begin increasing their energy today? [00:20:32] Where can listeners download your free Detox Checklist with your favorite detox tips? [00:27:38] What is your favorite and most effective detox protocol? [00:28:47] Where can the listeners find you and learn more about your work? [00:31:00] Connect with Wendy Myers: Website: https://myersdetox.com/ Watch the docuseries: http://www.theheavymovie.com On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyersDetox/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WendyMyers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MyersDetox/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myersdetox LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymyersdetox Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyersDetox Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MyersDetox/ Resources: Stronger: https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger Energy Bits (Chlorophyll): https://www.flippingfifty.com/energybits Detox Carbon 60: https://www.flippingfifty.com/c60 My Infrared Sauna: https://www.flippingfifty.com/sauna HTMA: https://remede.com.au/comprehensive-testing/functional-pathology/hair-tissue-mineral-analysis-htma/ Other Episodes You Might Like: Restore Hormones to Factory Settings? More Science for bHRT https://www.flippingfifty.com/restore-hormones/ Sexual Wellness AMA with Women’s Sexual Health Expert Lyndsey Harper https://www.flippingfifty.com/sexual-health-expert/ Mothers and Daughters Hormones and Health Literacy https://www.flippingfifty.com/hormones-and-health-literacy/

For Less Belly Fat, Lift Weights: Muscle Loss is Fat Gain in Menopause For less belly fat, the deep visceral type that isn’t just vanity, it’s deadly, lift weights. While yes, High Intensity Interval Training (or HIIT) is notably recognized by science as a means for removing fat, it may have more positive impact on the over-the-top, er muffin top fat. Weight training improves total body fat, abdominal belly fat and improves lean muscle resulting in “re-composition.” The influence of weight training decreases the risk of heart disease associated with waist girth. For women 35 or more inches at the waist is a heart health risk factor. However, if you’re a smaller woman, I think it’s important to note that less than 35 may still be a risk factor. Look in the mirror, and what do you see? If you carry your weight in your belly - an apple shape, more than a pear - you’re still at higher risk. Let’s do something about that. A few facts I know by heart and wish I didn’t: 3-8% of muscle mass every decade beginning at age 30 15% loss of muscle strength each decade starting at 50 1-2% loss of muscle mass every year starting at 60 How that matters: 50% of women over 50 have insulin resistance Muscle mass loss can be prevented and or muscle mass can be gained by weight training plus nutritional and lifestyle habit strategies. Yet fewer than 20% of women are lifting weights at least twice weekly. If we could dig into that deeper we would likely find a much smaller percentage of women over 50 are strength training. Is a diagnosis all we're waiting for? Are we holding off till it's more convenient? Nothing good ever is. Throughout time, there’s been about 2 studies showing that there may be spot-reducing with core work. But that’s over 4 decades. When research produces strong evidence, minds have to be changed, but in my point of view, if you spend more than five minutes a day working out your core and hope to lose visceral belly fat, you will see improvements in your body. What else matters when you’re lifting weights and potentially don’t see the changes occur: Aim for 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight Take 5gm creatine daily Aim for at least 2.5 -3.0 g leucine per 25-30 gram protein at multiple meals for elderly and more for young adults (where does that leave you midlifer?) Lift weights at least twice weekly for all major muscle groups Perform multiple sets Meet daily sleep needs Avoid under eating (a situation of low energy availability) Walk daily Avoid excessive cardio (Keep cortisol and blood sugar levels in control) Connect with Debra Atkinson: Website: https://www.flippingfifty.com/ On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Flipping50TV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flipping50tv or https://www.instagram.com/flipping50 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debraatkinson or https://www.linkedin.com/company/flipping50 Resources: Stronger: https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger Power Plate: (Save with code: Flipping50) https://www.flippingfifty.com/powerplate Blood Glucose Monitor: https://www.flippingfifty.com/myglucose HIIT: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/high-intensity-interval-training/ Other Episodes You Might Like: Low Energy Availability in Menopause? Eating Too Little to Feel Good or Age Well https://www.flippingfifty.com/low-energy-availability-in-menopause/ How Much Protein Do You Need After 50: https://www.flippingfifty.com/how-much-protein-do-you-really-need-after-50-research-update-on-more/ Weight Gain in Perimenopause and Menopause https://www.flippingfifty.com/weight-gain-in-perimenopause-and-menopause/ 10 Comprehensive Ways Resistance Training Revolutionizes Menopause Health https://www.flippingfifty.com/resistance-training-revolutionizes-menopause-health/ Exercise Physiology Plus Menopause Physiology for the Midlife Exercise Rx https://www.flippingfifty.com/midlife-exercise-rx/

Older-shmolder! How taking control of your biological age can help you live longer, better. This episode is going to have something for everyone in your life. From the food you eat and daily habits you have, you will findout how to reverse your old age before it even happens. My Guest Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is an award-winning clinical researcher of biological age reversal using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her virtual and in-person Functional Medicine clinic. She is the author of the book, Younger You and Program based on her ground-breaking 8-week clinical study and follow up case series that resulted in a 3-year and 4.6-year average reversalof biological aging, respectively. She also has a Younger You companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics. Dr. Fitzgerald is an educator at the Institute for Functional Medicine(IFM), and is an IFM Certified Practitioner. She regularly lectures internationally and hosts the podcast New Frontiers in Functional Medicine. Questions We Answer in This Episode: What prompted you to write this book (Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better? [00:03:36] What is DNA Methylation? [00:09:19] Why should you include mushrooms in your diet? [00:14:15] Which is more advantageous when it comes to biological age? Plant-based or animal-based products? [00:16:44] Talk to me a little bit about exercise. So what did you find was key? [00:23:38] How important is joy? [00:26:59] That period of time you were going through a really hard time. Is there any equivalent to that with resilience in life? [00:31:29]   Connect with Dr. Kara Website: You can keep up-to-date with Dr. Fitzgerald’s work and programs by joining her e-newsletter list here https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com On Social: On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kara-fitzgerald-b77265b Twitter: https://twitter.com/kfitzgeraldnd?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author   Other Episodes You Might Like:  The ABCs of Metabolic Mastery for Midlife Women https://www.flippingfifty.com/metabolic-mastery/ What Are the Real Secrets to Longevity? https://www.flippingfifty.com/real-secrets-to-longevity/ Low Energy Availability in Menopause? Eating Too Little to Feel Good or Age Well https://www.flippingfifty.com/low-energy-availability-in-menopause/   Resources Resources: YOUNGER YOU: https://youngeryouprogram.com/book/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sH9mkOeXhBDRryJwsQjOKIV34QOMg2rT/view?usp=drive_linkhttps:///www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger

If you’re losing tone, can’t seem to get the results you deserve for the time and energy you spend, you can blame it on part on muscle protein synthesis in menopause. What you did that worked isn’t going to.  In the dance between muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown, you’re MPS is stepping out on you.  It’s going to take more effort to win this tango.  During menopause transition muscle protein breakdown occurs at a faster rate due to lower levels of Estrogen, not to mention testosterone.  Estrogen is a natural stimulus for muscle. The problem is multifaceted. Reduced testosterone (which can start declines much earlier than that in some women). If you’re not sleeping well at night or staying in deep sleep, the times when you do produce testosterone and growth hormone, another important factor in gaining lean muscle, you won’t have those important factors.  Also when you don’t sleep at night, too little/poorly, your cortisol and insulin levels are such that you’re in muscle breakdown and fat storage.  This is when a woman is in the gym, actually doing the things, and feeling as if she’s not getting rewards, or seeing results.  There are two things that stimulate muscle protein synthesis in menopause:  -Adequate protein intake on a per meal basis -Adequate mechanical stress to the muscles (resistance training) That decreased muscle protein synthesis results in an increased need for protein (quality protein)  Sources that are best are high in leucine. Especially if you’re not consuming much protein or find it hard, you want to lean into leucine. Plant proteins unfortunately don’t have much leucine to help this process. Best sources are animal proteins like beef, bison or wild meats.  Here’s where I find some blogs, podcasts, even research findings let us down. Suggestions to supplement with leucine would be well-intended potentially for a frail, older adult unable to consume enough dietary protein, unwilling to or and at later stages of life.  But for a midlife woman with the potential for decades ahead of her, the full range of amino acids in the body will be important in her ability to thrive and maintain all areas of health. It’s the difference between hanging on, and better than nothing, and wanting energy and vitality.  In consideration of questions like, should I supplement with leucine? My thoughts are, not in isolation if you’re not getting adequate dietary protein. You may want ALSO to supplement specifically with it post workout, or at meals when you aren’t getting adequate protein but I like to see complete essential amino acids first before isolating with greater amounts of individual. Even though, it is and has always been leucine that is associated with lean muscle gains. I began publishing The Protein Report for women in menopause in 2013. It stemmed from a Protein Symposium I had the honor of co-hosting at Iowa State University in honor of Steve Nissen, who had discovered HMB years earlier. If you’re familiar with products Boost and Ensure, you have some awareness of HMB. The ingredient is used more widely now, not only for the drinks intended to help bedridden frail consume high protein drinks to reduce muscle and strength losses.  HMB is another supplement question that more frequently comes up today. Should you supplement with HMB. Potentially if you’re struggling with the ability to consume high quality protein sources and you’re at high risk (low body weight, frail, fine boned, weak), it may be something to consider.  I also hesitate to suggest it to anyone without first looking at food logs and having you assess what you’re consuming from whole foods.  Good News About MPS in Menopause A study in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2022) shows that when women in menopause increase dietary protein, good things happen that can offset potential muscle breakdown AND fat gain. There is a “protein hypothesis” (first published in 2005 in Obesity journal) that goes like this: when you’re not getting adequate protein, the body will signal hunger. Unfortunately, if protein isn’t the choice, often excess calories are consumed (with less satiety AND less micronutrient density) and still the protein need is incomplete. Muscle preservation doesn’t occur, while excess food is stored as fat.  You’re not as likely to overeat protein. In fact, these studies showed that when the percent of protein intake was increased, the total calories or energy consumed was either the same or reduced, but in most cases high protein was inversely related to total caloric intake. That is, you eat more protein, you consume less energy. If you’re seeking a caloric deficit, without feeling deprived, and you want to spare muscle loss and even gain lean muscle while losing fat, protein is the way to go. Again, satiety is your best friend.  And if you overeat a little more protein than you need, a recent study in Cell Reports Medicine showed that a big bolus of protein can result in a greater and more prolonged anabolic response. It was previously thought that there may be an upper limit of 40 grams by some.  The question still lingers though, what about women? Women in midlife and later, particularly with greater anabolic resistance than men and less muscle mass relative to their own body weight than men.  Post workout protein intake of 20-30 grams was previously sufficient in young adults (and mainly males, note this). For older adults to have the equal muscle protein synthesis, protein requirement post workout was double. That is 40 grams compared to 20 grams.  While it’s still a good idea to consume meals across the day if you’re going to take in fiber, vegetables that are micronutrient dense, if you are occasionally stuck and find yourself faced with not having gotten enough protein, having a bigger amount at a single meal (OMAD) or two larger meals may still support muscle protein synthesis. For most, long term ingestion of one meal a day is not sustainable if you value a social life and quote unquote breaking bread or pairing protein with loved-ones. But if you’re fasting, you may need to worry less about  If you’re seeking a caloric deficit, without feeling deprived, and you want to spare muscle loss and even gain lean muscle while losing fat, protein is the way to go. Gain Muscle in Spite of Anabolic Resistance According to the new recommendations by the International Society of Sports Nutrition, position stand for female athletes to counter Anabolic resistance – they should have at least 10 grams of protein before or immediately after exercise. In spite of the recently mentioned ability to potentially absorb a large bolus of protein, women in later stages of life with greater anabolic resistance may still find spreading doses of at least 30-40 grams or more over multiple meals 3-4 hours apart more beneficial. Summary of Muscle Protein Synthesis in Menopause: At the very least, for high intensity intentional exercise beyond going for a walk, break the fast. Consume calories. Ideally higher in protein for resistance training exercise, and including protein for high intensity interval training. Resources:  Power Plate with the Flipping 50 community code: Flipping50 https://www.flippnigfifty.com/PowerPlate STRONGER Tone & Define: https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger Other Episodes You Might Like:  3 Steps to Gain Lean Muscle in Menopause https://www.flippingfifty.com/gain-lean-muscle/ It’s Not Just About How Much Protein | Menopause Fitness https://www.flippingfifty.com/how-much-protein/ References: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.17290?af=R https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2005.00178.x?_gl=1*1ijremv*_gcl_au*OTUxOTIyNjcyLjE3MDgwODkzNDM. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/obr.12131 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666379123005402 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37221858/

Restore before more is the number one tenant of Flipping 50. In this episode we visit the concept that you restore hormones using bHRT.  Whether you are or you aren’t. I’d say most women I know in 2024, are open to and already having conversations around hormone replacement.  In our 10th year at Flipping 50, we’ve been discussing pros and cons and what happens with body composition, bone density, muscle mass and brain health during menopause. We touch on the anecdotal evidence we have from thousands of participants, and fewer but more intimate, private clients who use or choose not to use bHRT and the results they get.  In this episode we introduce a new guest to the show who’s book “Restore” takes look at the benefits of bHRT. Whether you are, aren’t or your on the fence about ability to restore hormones and the effects on short and long term health, I think you’ll like this episode.  My Guest: Dr. Gregory J Brannon is a surgeon, public figure, and founder of the leading Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) practice Optimal Bio where he oversees seven offices across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. In addition to his current role of Physician and Medical Director at Optimal Bio, Brannon uses over 30 years of medical experience to educate others on taking ownership of their health. Dr. Brannon is the author of the 2020 published book, The Hormone Handbook: Optimizing Your Health Through Bioidentical Hormones, and will publish a second book in Spring 2024 titled “Restore.” Prior to spending 30 years as a successful private practice OBGYN in Cary, NC, Dr. Brannon completed his medical residency at University of Southern California Women’s Hospital, Los Angeles, and then served as assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of North Carolina School of Medicine, with work at Wake Area Health Education Center. Brannon’s OB/GYN experience sparked his interest in hormones and how they work within the body. Impressed and inspired by his experience with BHRT, Brannon opened Optimal Bio in Cary, NC in 2012. Optimal Bio is a BHRT practice dedicated to bringing people’s bodies back to the optimal levels they were initially designed to maintain. Questions We Answer in This Episode: What’s the longest documented use to date of bHRT? What is some of the best research – documentation of the effects of bHRT on women who’ve taken them for decades vs have not on bone, muscle, brain health? Tell us about the research cited in your upcoming book “Restore” as they relate to women a BHRT seeking to restore her hormones. Connect with Greg: Website: https://optimalbio.com/ On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptimalBioBHRT Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/gregbrannonmd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherawadmd?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name   https://www.instagram.com/optimalbio/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRWEkzCUh_CHIBGB5dae5rw Resources:  Upcoming book “Restore” which will be released on March 12, 2024. “Restore” is already available for preorder on Amazon, Target, Walmart and wherever books are sold. “Restore” in ebook form will be available via Kindle as of mid-January 2024. Additional Books: Nobody Wants You Healthy – Mark Richards  Estrogen Matters – Avrum Bluming, Carol Tavris Obesity Code – Dr. Jason Fung Other Episodes You Might Like:  A Hormone Therapy Roadmap: What, When & Why https://www.flippingfifty.com/hormone-therapy-roadmap/ What Women Need to Know about Hormone Replacement Therapy https://www.flippingfifty.com/what-to-know-about-hrt/ Your Hormones and Heart Health https://www.flippingfifty.com/hormones-and-heart-health/

Picture the headline: Resistance training revolutionizes menopause health. It’s that simple.  It’s 2024. We still hear both about the use of HRT or reasons (perhaps outdated) not to. We hear about both animal protein and the plant protein advocates.  With this simple method of – humor me – hormone enhancement – there is no argument. We all know we need to be doing it. We all understand the benefits of being strong and vibrant. But lest you confuse a need to lose fat with the need to gain lean muscle, this is for you.  Lifting already? Then you’ll love these reminders. After all, the placebo effect is in full swing at all times. It’s either working for or against us. So those things you’re doing that you know are good for you, amplify them with the scientific evidence and think your way to even better results.  This episode captures the broad spectrum of positive changes resistance training can bring to menopausal women, from physical improvements like visceral fat reduction and bone density increases to more general benefits like enhanced mood and sleep quality improvements. Each of these is directly tied to signs and symptoms of menopause.  Give a Woman a Weight and Change Not Only Menopause, But Her Health the Rest of Her Life Before we dig in, in the rhythmic play off the children’s story book, “When you Give a Mouse a Cookie”… When you give a woman a weight… (or when you pick one up yourself)  You:  Enhance her strength Improve her fat free mass Reduce her total fat Reduce that deadly visceral belly fat Support overall hormone balance Alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression Enhance her sleep Improve skin health Increase bone density Enhance Gait and Stability  Women who lift, lift the world. Theirs and the world at large. How Resistance Training Revolutionizes Menopause Health 1. Enhance muscle strength – directly tied to longevity (link to recent episode on testing your own longevity) supporting daily activities and reducing the risk of falls. Beyond that however, for bone density benefit, heavy lifting will require muscle strength.  2. Improve fat-free mass, aiding in a healthier body composition during menopausal transition. The combination of 1 and 2 together, notably known as “recomposition.” You’re not literally turning fat into muscle. But you are indeed able to lose fat and not just avoid loss of muscle, but add muscle. This does require some careful effort. For those without much consistent strength training, using a caloric deficit with a high protein intake make effective. The longer your consistent resistance training experience however, and the older you are, you may need a surplus of calories high in protein to overcome the anabolic resistance that occurs with aging.  3. Support total fat mass reduction, addressing weight gain concerns during menopause. Over 5600 postmenopausal women in one hundred studies reviewed showed exercise training effectively increased muscle mass and fat-free mass, and decreased fat mass, body fat percentage, waist circumference and visceral fat. (more on visceral fat coming up). Further this study in Frontiers in Endocrinology in 2023, found combining RE and aerobic exercise(not same session) helped increase muscle and decrease fat, while RE plus combined training – which includes doing aerobic activity and strength training in the same session – helped boost muscle mass most. The reason it likely didn’t impact fat as much I suspect is because intensity in the aerobic activity won’t be as high. You either won’t go as fast or against as much resistance even though it may “feel hard.”  4. Reduce Visceral Fat.  Resistance training has been shown to effectively promote decreases in visceral fat in the absence of caloric restriction. That is, no change other than adding resistance training. In still another study published 2023, reduction in visceral belly fat was significant compared to non-resistance trained control group whether participants did 2 or 3 times weekly RE. The impact was observed to be significant across both obese and non-obese individuals, as well as across different age groups, indicating its broad applicability for fat reduction during menopause. 5. Support hormone balance.For pre- and post-menopausal women’s unique physiological needs, muscle is essentially an endocrine organ. You will support more optimal insulin levels, decreasing the need for it and therefore decreasing fat storage. You will experience less negative impact of cortisol compared to cardio. You’ll also boost natural testosterone levels, pick up where estrogen levels dropped in menopause, and so much more.  5 More Ways Resistance Training Revolutionizes Menopause Health 6.  Alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety by releasing endorphins and improving mood. Similar to the way that there are reduced negative effects of stress with brief periods of rest between sets allow those sensations to normalize a bit before being increased again with the next set, resistance exercise can provide optimal mini exposure to elevated heart rate for anxiety, without negatively tipping the scale, which helps enhance resilience. Enhance Gait Speed and Stability.  By improving muscle strength and mass, resistance training can contribute to better balance, gait speed, and overall mobility. Gait speed is directly related to longevity with a minimum speed of 3.0 set for determining a good baseline. Walking speeds of 3.3. Or greater are associated with greater bone density benefit through ground forces than slower speeds. Gait speed typically slows with instability or fear of falling. Stronger muscles support joints and can prevent falls, which is crucial as bone fragility increases with age. This was a repetition range of 8-15 with an average of 60s rest between 2 or 3 sets. Changes were improved with as little as 6 weeks of twice weekly RE. 7.  Improve Skin Health by improving circulation and potentially boosting collagen production. Resistance training has a more positive impact on thickening the skin dermis, counteracting the thinning of skin from loss of collagen fibers with age.  8.  Increase Bone Density. Both research and anecdotal evidence from our own Flipping 50 community provides evidence that reversal of bone loss is possible through RE. Resistance training places stress on the bones, stimulating bone formation and increasing bone density. This is particularly beneficial during menopause, a period when women are at increased risk for osteoporosis due to declining estrogen levels. Once thought to be the best exercise, the collective approach now includes high impact exercise, yoga and other weight bearing time daily, as well as resistance training. For those unable to lift heavy, tools like weighted vests and whole body vibration (Power Plate is my choice- https://www.flippnigfifty.com/PowerPlate). 9.  Enhance sleep quality, aiding in better rest and recovery, as well as overcoming the insomnia that can occur during menopause. A study conducted by researchers at Iowa State University and presented at AHA Conference in March 2022, found resistance training helped reduce time to fall asleep and also increased sleep time  more than aerobic exercise among exercisers who did 3x a week resistance training Resistance Training Studies and Menopause Health Among the studies there are a lot of variables. Some smaller, some vast reviews of literature as mentioned with over 5000 women, and variations of 2 or 3 times weekly, 3 or 4 sets, the percent of 1 RM to muscle fatigue did vary as it almost always does when looking at a large body of knowledge. What does come out clearly though is:  Multiple sets each session 6-8 sets for each muscle per week  Higher intensity (heavier with fewer repetitions improved results over low intensity light- with more reps)  Post menopausal women don’t respond as well with less stimulus and require more volume from multiple sets x heavier weight and potentially greater frequency of HIIT or high intensity  Because of the increased anabolic resistance women experience in post menopause (older) they will require more protein to achieve the same muscle protein synthesis  Even if the goal is to go heavy for optimal bone density, all exercisers should start with higher repetitions and lighter weights with emphasis on good form.  Based on a simple principle of fitness: progressive overload. While a low load more frequently might be a logical way to begin and build a foundation of connective tissue health and train the brain so to speak. This neural component can’t be rushed by heavy weight. It will take the time it takes – about 6-8 weeks of a program. A time when proper form and body mechanics is very important. Yet for women crushed by time, fitting it in, twice weekly can be a bigger advantage and allow for functional workouts, like body weight yoga sessions between without undue fatigue or adrenal stress.  Are you lifting? If you or a woman you know needs to begin, share this with her. For an online solution that’s been built for and helped women in menopause for a decade, join the STRONGER Tone & Define 12-week program.  Resources:  Power Plate with the Flipping 50 community code: Flipping50 https://www.flippnigfifty.com/PowerPlate STRONGER Tone & Define: https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger Other Episodes You Might Like:  What Are the Real Secrets to Longevity? https://www.flippingfifty.com/real-secrets-to-longevity/ Power Plate Benefits | Prior Skeptic to a Believer https://www.flippingfifty.com/power-plate-benefits/ References: Broman-Fulks, J. J., Kelso, K., & Zawilinski, L. (2015). Effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise versus resistance training on cognitive vulnerabilities for anxiety disorders. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 44, 240-251. Isenmann, E., Kaluza, D., Havers, T. et al. Resistance training alters body composition in middle-aged women depending on menopause – A 20-week control trial. BMC Women’s Health 23, 526 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02671-y Kang S, Park IB, Lim S-T. Changing Levels of Myokines after Aerobic Training and Resistance Training in Post-Menopausal Obese Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Sustainability. 2020; 12(20):8413. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208413 Keating CJ, Cabrera-Linares JC, Párraga-Montilla JA, Latorre-Román PA, Del Castillo RM, García-Pinillos F. Influence of Resistance Training on Gait & Balance Parameters in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 11;18(4):1759. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041759. PMID: 33670281; PMCID: PMC7918150. Nilsson S, Hammar M, West J, Borga M, Thorell S, Spetz Holm AC. Resistance training decreased abdominal adiposity in postmenopausal women. Maturitas. 2023 Oct;176:107794. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107794. Epub 2023 Jul 6. PMID: 37421844. Nishikori S, Yasuda J, Murata K, Takegaki J, Harada Y, Shirai Y, Fujita S. Resistance training rejuvenates aging skin by reducing circulating inflammatory factors and enhancing dermal extracellular matrices. Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 23;13(1):10214. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37207-9. PMID: 37353523; PMCID: PMC10290068. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/?_ga=2.43661667.795188704.1646150369-78844285.1609356599#!/10553/presentation/99

It’s no secret weight gain in perimenopause – or menopause transition and post menopause – is different. It doesn’t respond the way you would have predicted it should. It doesn’t come on at the same rate or in the same place as you think it should.  My guest today is an  MD and yet she’s first a woman who also entered midlife and experienced much of the same you may have. She also defaulted to many of the same tactics a woman with a heartbeat would. So this episode is just a simply basic discussion about what happens, and why and what to do about it and why your default effort may fall short. My Guest: Heather Awad, MD is a Family Medicine and the founder and CEO of Vibrant Weight Loss Age 50+ where she helps professional women over age 50 lose weight for the last time through a virtual platform. She offers a simple system that saves them time and helps them achieve their health and weight loss goals. They discover how to say no to foods they don’t want without using willpower, and create an eating protocol that they will enjoy going forward so that their weight loss is permanent. Dr. Awad is also the host of the Vibrant-MD podcast where she talks about weight loss, women’s health, and food. Questions We Answer in This Episode: Why do women so often gain weight with perimenopause and menopause? Are there hormonal factors? Are there cultural factors in play here too? What’s dangerous about menopause belly fat? Many women describe that the methods they used in the past don’t work anymore. Why is that? What about eat less and move more?  How do you find people most easily lose weight at midlife? Many women feel stuck with their weight gain starting at midlife. What would you tell them? Many people are so hard on themselves about their weight–is this a good motivator? What else gets in the way of people losing weight at midlife? Connect with Heather: Website: https://www.vibrant-md.com On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathervibrantmd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherawadmd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherawadmd?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vibrant-md-podcast/id1583628433 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heatherawadmd7858 Resources:  Exercise Planning Guide https://www.flippingfifty.com/5-part-exercise-planning-guide/ Home Gym  https://www.flippingfifty.com/perfect-home-gym-how-to/ Other Episodes You Might Like:  WHY YOU MAY BE EATING TOO LITTLE To LOSE WEIGHT | women over 50 https://www.flippingfifty.com/eating-too-little/ How to Boost Your Metabolism in Midlife the Non-Dieting Way https://www.flippingfifty.com/boost-your-metabolism-in-midlife/ Easy Healthy Habits Start Here: Effortless Kitchen Hacks https://www.flippingfifty.com/healthy-habits/

Low energy availability in menopause is a key concern, especially if you’re both trying to exercise and combine that with fasting and you could easily be there. In this episode I’ll help you answer whether you’re in a state of low energy availability leaving you with too little energy to feel good during or after menopause. Exercising too much without results? Try a reset. The 5 Day Flip is free. https://www.flippingfifty.com/5dayflip Low energy availability or LEA, is defined as having limited energy available to support your normal body functions once your energy expended through exercise is subtracted from your total dietary energy intake.  Living too long or too often in LEA will  negatively impact your skeletal muscle as well as your bone because osteoblasts and osteoclasts can’t properly do their job. More injury in connective tissue, stress fractures, and increased risk for osteoporosis or accelerated bone loss and inability to reverse losses.  LEA also can lead to other health disruptions that are commonly blamed on the umbrella of “menopause” or hormones. They include irritability, depression, brain fog, poor immune function, low libido, and GI issues like constipation and diarrhea. How do you know if you have low energy availability in menopause?  Here’s a simple equation for figuring EA.  EA = (EI − EEE)/FFM Dietary energy intake (kcal) minus your exercise energy expenditure (kcal) divided by your fat free mass (FFM) in kilograms (kg) Suggestions are for total to be 45 calorie/kilogram ffm Anything less than 30 calories/kilogram ffm is considered LEA and putting you at risk for real health concerns within days.  Track your calorie intake for 3-5 days to get an average. I don’t recommend doing this excessively. But it can be valuable periodically. Find that average by adding all the days total calorie intake and dividing by the number of days you tracked.  Plug your calories burned into an app to determine for a female with your weight the calories expended for activities beyond daily activity of life. Play pickle ball 2 hours? Count it. Worked out 45 minutes? Count it. Walked 30 minutes at 3mph? Count it. Get a total calories expended in exercise for the day.  It’s easier than you think to check for Low Energy Availability: Use that average total calories.  Subtract your daily caloric expenditure from exercise.  Divide that number by your fat free mass in kilograms. (remember kilograms is weight in pounds divided by 2.2)  Calculate fat free mass. Take Body fat % x body weight. If your body fat percent is 25%, then .25 times your body weight. So 130 lbs with 22% body fat. Fat mass is 28.6 lbs. 130-28.6 = 101.4 lbs ffm 101.4 divided by 2.2 = 46.2 kg ffm If average daily calories consumed 2100 kcals.  Energy expended with a 45 minute walk + weight training + 10 minutes intervals = 108+ 159 + 120 = 387 kcals expended (rounding up to 400kcals) 2100- 400= 1700 kcals divided by 46.2= 36.7 So based on this, I’m not in an alarmingly low state but low enough to be aware I should consciously start adding quality calories especially around workouts. When you do the calculation, about 45 is a good number to aim for or 50 if you’re training hard regularly. I’m not and some days much less than I’d like to but we all have to remember we may be slowing our metabolism by eating too little and compromising our body’s ability to regulate thyroid, proper immune function, metabolic function, mood or more.  Your exercise may or may not be affected. At first. If you’re an athlete, performance most likely will be negatively impacted. The rest of your life and physical function will suffer first. It might be happening at such a low level you don’t notice it, until cumulative effects set in.  Helpful? Share this with a friend. Low energy availability isn’t something talked about openly often enough. Instead we’re bragging about how long we’re fasting or doing HIIT. Potentially, we’re contributing to the problem: keeping score in the wrong game. RESEARCH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8912784/#B22-nutrients-14-00986 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.869594/full https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/53/10/628 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/15/6679 Resources:  Other Experts who discuss this that you might also find interesting:  Dr. Stacy Sims (doctor of science) https://www.drstacysims.com/ Steph Gadreau https://www.stephgaudreau.com/ Betty Rocker  https://thebettyrocker.com/ Other Episodes You Might Like:  How to Be Confident Now with Betty Rocker | #508 https://www.flippingfifty.com/the-betty-rocker/ More Strength, Less Cardio in Menopause & Beyond https://www.flippingfifty.com/less-cardio-in-menopause/

In this episode we break down the levers for metabolic mastery for midlife women in such easy terms that it is my prediction you will want to listen again. My guest smoothly coaches us through unique messages with examples and specifics. No platitudes or lists in this episode. This will stick.  We talk about habit formation and why we fail at it.  My Guest: Ellie Kempton, founder of Simply Nourished, is at her very core a lifestyle architect empowering women to reclaim their wellness. As a Registered Dietitian with a master’s degree in Functional Nutrition from Bastyr University and a biochemistry degree from the University of Virginia, Ellie curates simplicity out of complex health information and provides care calibrated to support transformation. Ellie’s care is underpinned by functional medicine and catalyzed by behavior design. Questions We Answer in This Episode: What IS metabolic mastery and how do you approach it as a functionally trained dietitian? What elements of metabolic mastery should we prioritize as women when we go through our various “software upgrades” [aging through the decades]? What are the ABCs of sustaining metabolic mastery? What is so powerful about failure along the way? What is the #1 secret to aligned wellness through the life cycles? Connect with Ellie: Website: https://www.simplynourishednutrition.com/https://elliekempton.com/ On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplynourishednutrition Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplynourishednutrition/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-kempton-msn-rdn-561436a0/ The Table Membership: https://www.simplynourishednutrition.com/the-table   Resources:  Exercise Planning Guide https://www.flippingfifty.com/5-part-exercise-planning-guide/ Home Gym  https://www.flippingfifty.com/perfect-home-gym-how-to/ Other Episodes You Might Like:  How to Boost Your Metabolism in Midlife the Non-Dieting Way https://www.flippingfifty.com/boost-your-metabolism-in-midlife/ Easy Healthy Habits Start Here: Effortless Kitchen Hacks https://www.flippingfifty.com/healthy-habits/ 6 Commonsense Steps for Health from Uncommon Motivation #501 https://www.flippingfifty.com/commonsense/