Once we hit our 40s our bodies naturally begin to lose muscle mass at around 1 percent per year for many women and this rate speeds up during perimenopause and menopause.
This isn’t just about tone or looking sharp walking down a beach...
Muscle is essential for metabolism, balance, bone strength, joint stability, and healthy aging.
The more muscle you preserve now, the stronger, more capable, and more energized you’ll feel in the decades to come.
The good news?
Muscle loss after 40 is not a guarantee.
With the right habits, you can maintain and build lean muscle at any age.
1️⃣ Lift Weights with Intensity
To stimulate muscle growth, your body needs resistance and a challenge
That means...
Incorporating heavier lifting and volume work
Aiming for 2 / 4 full body sessions per week is an ideal target
Training major muscle groups with compound moves like squats, deadlifts, presses, rows ect
Working close to muscle fatigue and or failure is a great option
2️⃣ Protein and More Than You Think
As we age we need more protein to build and maintain muscle due to hormonal changes.
Aim for....
Protein at each meal
A protein source with every snack
Or if you want to be on the button times your bodyweight (kg) by 1.6
That will give you your minimum daily requirement
3️⃣ Support Your Hormones & Stress Levels
Perimenopause brings drops in estrogen, which directly affects muscle, bone, and recovery.
Stress and high cortisol can also contribute to muscle breakdown.
Support your body by...
Prioritizing 7 / 8 hours of sleep (easier said than done I know 😴)
Many women unintentionally lose muscle because they’re undereating or skipping meals.
Your body needs calories and nutrients to maintain strength.
If you’re strength training, make sure you’re fueling, not suffering on little to nothing
5️⃣ Move Daily
Daily movement keeps your muscles active and your metabolism ticking over
Steps (7k steps a day is a great ststing number)
Things like walking to the local shop instead of driving or delivero
Use stairs
Walk on your break
It all adds up
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Strong, healthy muscle is one of the best gifts you can give your future self.
It protects your bones, boosts your energy, supports your hormones, improves your balance, and keeps you capable and confident at every age.
And no matter your starting point, you can begin building muscle today, your body will respond, at any age.
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12/02/2026
Today we take a look at the one and only Nicola Ralph 🥳
Nic has become a strong member of our team over the last year and has increased her training output to include weights and our conditioning classes and the results are showing 💪
Nic is always up for laughs and a joke while still getting the work done 👏
A professional working lady outside of the gym and a bundle of joy inside the gym 🏋️♀️
Nic hit a deadlift personal best last night of 120kg it was awesome....
Here's some words from Nic herself...
'I have joined various gyms over the years, walked in did my little hour session and left.
I would get on a bike and the cross trainer no interaction with others, not enjoyable. It felt like a chore that needed to be completed.
18 months ago I joined Spartan with Simon and a great bunch of people. The group are supportive and encouraging, I feel relaxed and inspired when I train with them.
We can’t wind back time we are all getter older, I am now training to live well and get the long term health benefits.
Tonight I smashed my PB by 25kgs in dead lifting finishing with a lift of 120kg😳
I failed at 105kgs but with Simon’s coaching and encouragement I got there.
Simon knows how competitive I am, he seems to get the best out of me every time and I thank him for that because I feel like superwoman when I leave the session 🤣
Simon with your encouragement and the small adjustments in technique tonight I did it.
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Where It All Began, Where It All Started! The Story...... Spartan Strength Camp
From a young boy who lacked any height, self confidence and had some extra large teeth! Life was pretty difficult to make friends and have any social life. Boo whoo right.
Then i found sports! Then i found the weights room, then i found the Royal Marine Commandos!
Fitness completely changed my life story from a sad young man into a person i could believe in.
After my time with the Royal Marine Commandos I set out with a goal in mind! Change the way the world perceives health and fitness. Make it more fun and accessible to all. Therefore i become a personal trainer.
After working in local gyms and big commercial gyms, i couldn't understand how they where being run and how the clients where treated , just like numbers! There was no real care or attention give to them and their goals.
So i set out with a new improved goal! I would open up my own facility and run it along side my belief systems.
Health and fitness is for all
It should be fun and worked around the clients life
Full support and attention should be given, even outside of the gym/sessions
Each individual should be looked at as such, then research should be done on how best to serve
It’s not about me, its all about them.
Spartan Strength Camp was built on these beliefs and will maintain its high standards.
and provide the service to all clients using the Spartan Strength Camp Facility.