Exercise can lessen mood changes and many of the other things women experience in the years leading up to menopause. Things like disrupted sleep, cognition challenges (aka brain fog), and weight gain.
Dr. Richardson underscores that exercise is important during all phases of life, but particularly when women are faced with the chaotic hormonal patterns of the menopause transition. Full transcript below.
Transcript
Welcome to Interviews with experts, today we share a clip from our interview with Dr. Marcie Richardson, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist. Dr. Richardson is also the Director of The Menopause Center at Atrius Health and an Assistant Clinical Professor, Harvard Medical School.
Why exercise is important as hormonal patterns start to change.
In this clip, Dr. Richardson shares her take on exercise.
It’s critical all the time, throughout the lifespan. Not just during perimenopause. But I think exercise you know the recommendations are that you have to exercise five or six days a week for more than 30 minutes. I think that’s unrealistic for women who have childcare responsibilities and are working or if they are just doing child care. What I tell my patients, is you have to exercise three times a week. And I think three times a week is doable. And I think three times a week you can maintain and even get a little bit stronger.
I also tell people that the first step in an exercise program is mental. You have to think about it. What am I going to do. What can I see myself doing for thirty or 40 years.? And when am I gonna do it? You’ve got to figure it out for yourself fan then you just gotta do it.
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