Explore Our Latest Blog Posts
Why Lifting Weights During Menopause is a Game-Changer for Your Health
Menopause is a period of a woman’s life when menstruation stops. Hormonal changes associated with menopause can affect physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. This can cause menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and anxiety. At the end of the perimenopause period, your female sex hormone (oestrogen) levels decline for good. This can affect your body in many ways, such as an increased risk of osteoporosis, a bone disease that develops when bone mass decreases. This is because oestrogen is responsible for keeping your bones strong. When oestrogen declines you can lose bone density and be at risk of fractures. However, these risks can be reduced by incorporating strength training into weekly routines as well as other benefits. This blog will explore the benefits of strength training during the menopause. Strength training enhances overall wellbeing Exercise is important for your entire well-being, from brain health to heart health and even hormonal balance. Physical activity stimulates the production of proteins that travel to the brain, supporting neuronal health, growth hormones and key peptides. Specific types of exercise have unique advantages when it comes to menopause. Cardiovascular exercise, for example, is particularly effective in reducing symptoms like brain fog and hot flashes. Strength
How to Lose Fat When You Have 0% Clue Where to Start
It is estimated that 25.9% of adults in England are obese. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, that can pose a health risk. When it comes to losing fat, knowing where to begin can feel very overwhelming. I am here to help you focus on a few key strategies, it then becomes much simpler. Here’s how I’d approach fat loss if my aim was to reduce my body fat mass: Aim to be in a calorie deficit A calorie deficit refers to burning more calories than you consume. Research suggests that a 500-calorie deficit may help with weight loss. The foundation of fat loss is a calorie deficit. When you are in a calorie deficit, your body taps into stored fat for energy. The trick is to do it sustainably, I don’t want to see anyone starving themselves on a 1500 calorie diet.Instead, aim to eat slightly less than your body needs to maintain its current weight. You can easily find out how many calories you will need to consume for fat loss. Either by working with a nutritionist or simply Googling ‘’calorie calculator’’, and tracking on MyFitnessPal. Get as many steps
My Top Tips for Gym Anxiety
My Top Tips for Gym Anxiety Gym anxiety or ‘’gymtimidation’’ as we know has been a universal experience for us starting at the gym for the first time or even after a long break. If you’re worried about how you look, or feel like others might be watching or judging you, you’re not alone! These thoughts are very common and often come from a fear of the unknown. What is gym anxiety? Gym anxiety is associated with the negative thoughts and emotions that arise when someone goes to the gym. These feelings are often tied to concerns about self-image. Research shows that 28% of all women experience some level of anxiety in a gym setting. This anxiety can be especially heightened for women interested in trying powerlifting or lifting weights for the first time, as these areas can feel particularly intimidating due to their reputation as being male-dominated. It’s natural to feel nervous, but remember that everyone starts somewhere, and the gym is for everyone. How to beat gym anxiety 1. Go with a friend Having a workout partner can make a huge difference. Not only does it make going to the gym more enjoyable, but having a friend provides
My Fitness Journey: How Powerlifting Transformed My Life
From overweight and unhappy to strong and confident: My turning point I massively struggled with my weight during my teenage years at high school. My favourite ‘’bullied for being fat’’ memory is from a house party I was invited to by my popular neighbour. During the night, one of the other ‘’popular kids” thought it would be funny to ask me out as a joke, I obviously knew he was joking but the fact that he did it just to make others laugh around him made me realise how being fat is no joke – you will always get moments like this when you are considered a big podgy. It wasn’t all bad though and despite my insecurities, I still had a close group of friends and managed to get by in school. I would have considered myself a happy, “fat” teenager – at least on the outside. My breaking point came out of nowhere, I had just received my third exam result for maths. After resetting the exam twice, I got a big fat ‘’D’’ for the third time! I thought to myself, “I’ve had enough. I feel fat, I feel useless and something needs to change.” That’s when