05/09/2025
THE ROAR RECS FOR MAKING MUSCLE
All the cardio in the world won't cut it. Research on active women, especially past age 40, shows that even high levels of aerobic activity doesn't translate into any meaningful changes in lean body mass. The only solution is STRENGTH TRAINING. I mean high-intensity power training - heavy lifting for pure strength. This kind of training stimulates your neuromuscular system, activating the maximum amount of muscle fibers. It also keeps those high-energy, powerful type II muscle fibers engaged, which is essential because those are needed for speed, and they're the first to go. I hear from so many perimenopausal women that they feel as if they suddenly lost all strength and power (before any issue with losing lean mass). This is not a misnomer, we see that there is a distinct drop in force generation BEFORE we see any loss in lean mass. This is directly related to estrogen's influence on myosin's binding ability with actin (a weaker bond means a weaker muscle contraction), and the systemic loss of the anti-inflammatory effect of estrogen, reducing the regulation of muscle inflammation and the satellite cell function (meaning, more inflammation reduces the feedback for building new muscle cells) and reduces the quality of the muscle, before overall lean mass loss.
The best part is that the benefits of strength training are nearly immediate. Even before your muscles get bigger and stronger, you wake up sleeping muscle fibers and develop neuromuscular connections that result in strength gains after just a few sessions.
How to optimize your strength-training results:
- LIFT HEAVY
Challenge and stimulate your muscles so they break down and repair bigger and stronger.
- HOW HEAVY IS TOO HEAVY?
Pick up a weight and lift it 8 times. How hard were the last two reps? You have chosen the right weight if you are barely able to eke out that final rep while maintaining good form.(Heavy Resistance Training is a journey, start consistent, with good form, then add load over time; we don't want injuries!!)
- LIFT OFTEN
Aim for 2-3 days a week.
- MIX IT UP
Variety is your friend when it comes to making muscle.
Anything you'd add?
Research links here:
https://bit.ly/43hv19v
https://bit.ly/4375CxQ
https://bit.ly/44twf2A
https://bit.ly/3GJHyd8
https://bit.ly/42Z1ykN
