Lindsay ZahnerHealth and Wellness Coaching

If you’re a woman over 40, strength training is no longer optional. Here’s why.

27 Sept 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:09

In this YouTube monologue, Lindsay Zahner recounts her 18‑month journey from heavy‑lifting enthusiast to injury‑induced rehabilitation and back to strength training. After tearing her pectoral in a boating accident, she shifted from barbell‑centric workouts to physical therapy, bands, and bodyweight exercises. Through this experience, her motivation evolved from aesthetic goals to health‑focused priorities essential for women in their late 30s and beyond. She emphasizes five key benefits of strength training for women over 35: preserving bone density to prevent osteoporosis and falls, supporting mental health, reducing chronic disease risk (e.g., type 2 diabetes), maintaining a healthy metabolism, and building neural pathways for cognitive sharpness. Concluding with a supportive call‑to‑action, she offers to help viewers design personalized strength‑training programs that fit their lifestyle, abilities, and preferences, aiming for long‑term independence and functional strength into older age.

Chapters

So I wanted to share a bit about my journey over the past year and a half because I know a lot of you struggle with consistency or even just getting started on your own health and wellness routine. About 18 months ago, I was smashing PRs and lifting heavy when I tore my pec in a boating incident. Strength training had always been the number one thing that kept my mental health steady, and suddenly I went from heavy barbell work to physical therapy, banded exercises, and bodyweight movements. And just yesterday, I restarted my strength training routine for probably the 5th or 6th time. But here's what's interesting. My motivation for training has completely changed. What started out as moving my body for aesthetics has now shifted to something much deeper. Maintaining bone density to avoid osteoporosis and falls later in life, which protects my independence as I age. Supporting my mental health. Reducing the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes. Keeping my metabolism healthy and fast. And building new neural pathways to keep my brain sharp. In my late 30s, these things are infinitely more important to me than what I look like in a bikini. If you're a woman over 35, these should be your priorities too. And if you don't know where to start, reach out and I'll help you create a strength training program that fits your lifestyle, abilities, and preferences. Here's to being able to get up off the toilet without help when we're 80.