Has running helped you?

[Peripop]

A lot of what I read about exercise through menopause says that high impact stuff like running will trigger stress hormones and stop you losing weight, but im thinking of taking it up anyway because i need to do SOMETHING, i want to be fit. What is your experience of menopausal jogging plz?

I ran before , during and after menopause. Not fast or far. I’d like to think it helped me have an easy menopause but could have been mirena coil if just good luck.

I’ve been going the gym to classes for a year now and it has helped me massively. I have lost weight and been great for my mental health too, feel so much better for going, would definitely recommend.

Doing any exercise will be beneficial and doing something you enjoy means you’re more likely to keep it up. It really helps me mentally as much as physically. I do a mix of running 3x a week, yoga at home, cycle /swim and walk the dog. Plus some strength training when I remember.

That's exactly my experience. I'm not super skinny but I'm fit. I'm peri but finding it all ok so far. I also had some reiki which may have helped my insomnia.

Not really into running but I always do crunches, push-ups, curl-ups, and dips. They help my stomach fats, batwings, and back fat. After doing those, I take a morning walk to clear my mind. Any exercise is good as long as you do it regularly, even if you feel like not doing it.

Running eventually knackers your knees. I'd go for cycling, swimming or brisk walking.

There's a lot of unnecessary worry about cortisol - yes physical activity causes a temporary spike in cortisol but it subsides and helps your body deal with cortisol. Chronic high cortisol from life stress is much more harmful and many women, including me, find exercise is good at dealing with stress.

https://www.drstacysims.com/newsletters/articles/posts/Midlife_Women_Can_and_Should_Do_High_Intensity_Exercise%20 may be interesting.

I have been a runner for 12 years but recently gave it up and ramped up weight lifting and walking, which is often recommended for women after menopause. I am finding I am losing weight quite easily now.

So in my case, I think had running related post menopausal cortisol. It may not be true for you, however.

I did love running a lot, so it wasn’t an easy decision to make. The walking is nearly as good, especially outdoors or in front of Netflix. I saw an exercise physiologist as well and the weightlifting is their go to for women of our age.

I run 3 times a week, just started Pilates and also walk. I find I feel worse if I try and run faster but I do believe running really helps me. I also run with a friend and we support each other. I'm 48 and not gone for hrt or anything yet and don't know if I will.

I know people say running knackers your knees but for me swimming bloody kills my knees (and I hate it and am crap at it( and so does cycling - yes I am weird, yes my body is very weird but I do have a few autoimmune conditions so just blame them 😂 I wear excellent supportive trainers and supportive leggings to help with my weird body. I started running 6 years ago and 5 years ago made a very conscious effort to lose weight and have lost 4 and a half stone. I tend to hover around the same weight now making no effort to lose weight per se. I feel more sluggish than I did but we also have quite a bit of stress in our lives at the moment and have had for the last couple of years, so I like to think that the running helps keep me more even

In my case, I was fine until I got to 48, and then suddenly I was plagued by constant injuries. And I mean constant! I eventually saw a specialist at the Institute of Sports Medecine (after a referral from my physio) and she identified it as peri-menopause related immediately. I’m now on HRT and have stopped running and all plyometrics / anything high impact. I’ve always lifted weights so have continued with that but my cardio is now walking and cycling.

I think you should do whatever you enjoy. But thinking of getting older as a woman you should be doing 3 things. Something for balance like yoga/pilates, lifting weights of some description, and putting some resistance on your bones like walking/skipping etc.

I started parkrun last year in my mid 50s, had only run sporadically before that (done couch to 5k a couple of times). I am one of those who has "sailed through" so no HRT but also overweight and unfit. I am slow because of those and am mindful of my joints and pelvic floor. So I jog with a very low gait. But my fitness is improving, times are gradually improving and I just love it, fresh air, friendly atmosphere. I have also started doing classes and gym more regularly, for years I just did a weekly yoga class which wasn't enough, now most weeks I do 2xyoga, plus maybe barre, body combat, zumba and a gym session, exercise has become a default activity and I feel much better for it.

The lovely thing about running for me ( and I'm by no means a marathon runner ) is it gets me outside in all weathers. I love watching the seasons change and especially in my local park seeing nature, feels so good for the soul.

Plus as an anti social Woman Of A Certain Age I like is a solo activity!

Oh it's also cheap and easy to fit in to the day.

Forgot mention I'm peri menopausal and find it's an excellent way by I clear my head and get clarity when I want to murder every one around me.

I accept that having been a runner for many years my joints and body are getting more of a bashing than if I wasn't but for me the benefits massively outweigh this and I'm hoping it still keeps more ailments away than it causes.

I'm 40. I've been a runner for 15+ years, and done lots of other high intensity cv alongside, like spin classes.
I've actively scaled that right back in the last 6 months and switched to zone 2 cardio (very slow running and power walking on an incline) and weights, based on what I've read about exercise over 40.
I think fundamentally though, anything that gets you out and moving, which you enjoy, is going to be a positive addition to your life.

I've only just discovered that 'weighted vests' exist, so I'm buying one of those to wear for my walking to get more out of it.