Transcript
All I know is I'm really glad I finally picked
up a weight. What's up, you guys? Famous Ashley
Grant here. Welcome to More Movement, Please,
the podcast where I hope to inspire you to move
your body more. Today, I have another awesome
voice note, and this one comes to us from Anne
Brady, and here's what she has to say. If I had
to give one fitness tip for someone in their
40s who wants to lose weight and get healthy,
it would be this. Make strength training the
foundation of your routine. And I know, that
might not be what you'd expect. Most people think
the answer is more cardio, but the real game
changer in your 40s is building and maintaining
muscle. Strength training simply means working
your muscles against resistance. Things like
bodyweight exercises, dumbbells, kettlebells,
or machines. And the key is consistency. Two
to three times a week, every week. Not a quick
12 -week program and then you're done. Just regular,
full -body sessions that challenge your muscles
in a way that feels doable for you. So why is
this important in your 40s? Because your muscles
are the engine that support almost everything
about your health as you age. Muscle mass, muscle
strength, and muscle power are what keep you
moving well, feeling capable, and staying independent.
Muscle is also metabolically active, meaning
it uses energy even when you're not working out.
So the more muscle you have, the more calories
your body naturally burns throughout the day.
This makes weight loss easier and long -term
weight maintenance more realistic. And beyond
metabolism, muscle is what helps you complete
daily activities. Carrying groceries, climbing
stairs, getting off the floor, keeping up with
your kids or grandkids, and moving without fear
or injury. Strength training protects that ability.
regarding weight loss strength training boosts
your metabolism it improves how your body handles
blood sugar supports better energy and helps
regulate the hormones that influence hunger and
stress and as you get stronger every other type
of movement including cardio becomes easier if
you're new to strength training focus on frequency
before intensity aim for two full body sessions
per week include movements that work both your
upper and lower body And once that feels like
routine, then you can add intensity, increasing
the challenge. Things like heavier weights, more
reps, or more complex exercises. The goal is
to build consistency first. Intensity can come
later. If you're in your 40s and you want to
lose weight and get healthy, strength training
is your best investment. It boosts your metabolism,
protects your muscle, supports your joints, and
helps you feel strong and capable in your everyday
life. Start simple, stay consistent, and build
from there. I don't know about you guys, but
I finally started lifting weights, not like crazy
lifting, but I am actually using weights in my
workouts. And I can't help but get tickled whenever
someone tells me, you know, you need to add strength
training to your workouts because it reminds
me of whenever I first started trying to work
out and how my instructor Rhonda would... basically
say to me that she never thought I was going
to lift a weight. She never thought that she
could get me to lift a weight. And I didn't realize.
back then just how important it was to add strength
training to my exercises. And a friend of mine
who used to own a couple of health websites,
she used to say that to me all the time too.
She's like, if you're getting serious about fitness,
you really need to start lifting weights. And
I really didn't understand why it was such a
big deal. I was like, well, if I'm trying to
lose weight, aren't I supposed to just do more
cardio? Shouldn't I just be dieting? Like, isn't
that what I really need to lose weight? Yeah,
okay. That is something you can do to lose weight.
But if you're trying to improve your overall
fitness, then you have to include strength training
in your workouts. And I can tell you guys, I
am so freaking glad that I started lifting weights
and like using weights in my workouts because
feeling stronger, it just feels so much better
than what I was doing before. I mean, I've said
it before and I'll say it again. Zumba is still
my absolute favorite thing to do. That is my
favorite way to work out. But I'm so glad that
I am including strength training because I mean,
being able to lift stuff. being able to do things
like, oh my goodness, it is such. I hate the
word game changer, but it really was like it
really was a game changer for me to add strength
training to my exercises. I do feel like it's
helped give me more endurance. It's helped improve
my fitness overall. And if you're not including
strength training in your workouts, what are
you even doing with your life? I really hope
that this that this episode inspires you that
if you are not currently doing some sort of strength
training in your exercises that you will start
because it. It is everything. And it just feels
so good to be able to lift stuff. And I told
you guys in previous episodes that my goal now
is to seriously start using those 20 pound dumbbells
more often. I'm getting closer and closer. I'm
using them in some of the exercises that I'm
doing, but I'm still not using them quite to
the degree that I want to. I'm getting there.
I can't wait. I'm so excited. I hope that this
message was inspiring for you. I hope you enjoyed
everything that Ann Brady had to share. And I
really enjoyed what she shared. And I would love
to hear from y 'all too. If you'd like to share
a voice note that can be used in this podcast,
I want to hear from you. Go to famousashleygrant
.com backslash fitness. And if you're a person
who's on a fitness journey, just like me, and
you want to share what you're going through,
I want to hear from you. Or if you're a fitness
pro and you want to share, you know. A tip that
I may not have thought of or that I haven't covered
yet, I'd love to hear from you too. So head over
to famousashleygrant .com backslash fitness.
But that's all I've got for you guys today. Onwards
and upwards, my friends. Have you worked out
today?