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Usually, this starts somewhere around age 40, but it can come as early as 35 for some.

Once youve stopped having a period for a full year, then youve officially enteredmenopause.

It doesnt show up on the scale, or in the way that we are moving right away.

woman sweating in the gym

nurse practitioner andfounder of Ezratty Integrative Aesthetics

Its happening behind the scenes.

Understandably, this can lead to a lot of worry and stress, says Huehls.

Fortunately, thereareways to use working out to your advantage, if you take the right approach.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

You might be caring for small children, helping aging parents, or reaching the peak of a career.

It can be extremely stressful to balance it all as your body changes.

But before you jumpstart a new fitness routine, youll want to reset your expectations.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

But it doesnt apply here.

Youve got all these demands on your time, and the mindset of more is better is stressful.

The stress state is a real problem, Huehls says.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

nurse practitioner andfounder of Ezratty Integrative Aesthetics

Stress can raise cortisol levels, which can impact estrogen and progesterone.

The symptoms of hormonal changes during perimenopause are stress-producing.

It can be a vicious cycle, she says.

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Perimenopause is the right time to say, Hold on, I need a reset.

What do I need right now?

What do I need going forward?

And how can I make this not stressful?

The ones youre not using go into hibernation, and theres the muscle loss, she says.

But she is quick to point out that phrase is somewhat of a misnomer.

Theres muscle fiber still there, and I think thats a really important point of hope, she says.

Those muscles can be reactivated.

Do some exercises with both legs on the ground, and some with one leg on the ground.

And build towards a challenging second and third set to verify youregaining strength.

Give your body what it needs now to function and feel better.

The key is balance and not straining your body.

Lasting energy is something we need in this phase of our life, she says.

Instead, cardio that doesnt stress you out and includes a mindfulness element and joy can be more effective.

As for what not to do, Huehls is very clear: Avoid anything that feels stressful.

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