Strength training is often highlighted as an essential part of any fitness routine, especially as people get older. It helps maintain muscle mass, which naturally declines with age. However, many women avoid lifting weights due to the common but outdated belief that strength training causes bulky muscles. Instead, women tend to focus on Pilates or cardio exercises. But a fitness coach says that after age 35, relying only on Pilates and cardio is not enough.
Tara LaFerrara, a strength and mobility coach who shares fitness advice on Instagram, explained on May 22 why women over 35 should make strength training a priority.
What Changes After 35?
Women often notice signs like weakness and fatigue after turning 35. These symptoms are sometimes dismissed as normal aging, but Tara says that muscle loss is actually the main cause. She warns that this loss begins earlier than many expect and can be slowed down with strength training.
“If you are a woman over 35 and not doing any strength training, you will face a rude awakening,” Tara said. “Your body will start to slow down, get weaker, and you may feel more aches and pains. This is not just aging; it’s muscle loss. After 35, we lose muscle every year, and muscle is very important. It supports your metabolism, bone density, energy, and your ability to recover from challenges.”
Cardio and Pilates Alone Are Not Enough
Although cardio and Pilates offer benefits, they do not build muscle mass like strength training does. Tara emphasizes that these exercises alone might cause women to fall behind in their fitness goals.
“Cardio and Pilates are not enough,” Tara said. “You need to lift weights, squat, push, pull, and press. It’s not about getting bulky or muscular. It’s about getting strong enough to manage aging on your own terms. If you are tired of feeling like your body is working against you, start working with it. Pick up some weights. Your future self will thank you.”
