Ladies…STRENGTH TRAIN!
My mother was the queen of aerobics class and the treadmill. Averaging 105 pounds all through life, she exercised for general physical and emotional health. As my journey and education in the fitness world progressed, I began to encourage my mom to incorporate strength training into her routine. Even as a certified personal trainer she would give me the all too common response, “I don’t need to lift weights. I do not want to get bulky”. It wasn’t until her routine doctor’s visit ordered a bone density test that she began to change her mind. Hearing from the doctor that her bone density had decreased and she had osteopenia was an eye opener that she had some changes to make. At age 65 my mom trusted in me to coach her in the gym. We started with basic strength training three days a week using a combination of machines and weights. After just a few months she was able to perform push ups on her toes, increased her strength and built lean muscle. Now at 71, she still goes to the gym for strength training 2-3 days a week. She may be petite, but she has strong muscles to protect her bones!
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