Susie Hathaway (center), with students Carolyn and Diane, says that research shows strength training reduces bone loss in women over 50.
In our 90s we’d like to still be living at home, walking easily, and feeling good enough to do things that are fun. It’s a vision worth going for. And here is a DVD to help make that vision a reality: Susie Hathaway’s Safe Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention.
It’s a full-body workout that strengthens muscles, improves balance, and helps to maintain sound bones. A personal trainer certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and an active volunteer with the National Osteoporosis Foundation, Susie offers a workout designed to be safe for women over 50 and challenging enough to produce profound results.
Research has shown that strength training slows down the bone loss that women experience during and after menopause, strengthens the bones, and reduces the chance of fractures. Many women notice they feel stronger by the third week of doing Susie’s program.
Susie Hathaway leads regular strength-training classes in Fairfield.
I enrolled in Susie’s strength training class in Fairfield after a wrist fracture. Bone density tests showed I was on the brink of osteoporosis. Without realizing it, I’d lost a lot of my strength over the years and was tripping and often falling (which is how I broke my wrist). I thought about where my vitality was heading and decided not to go there. I had to do something. That’s when a friend told me about Susie’s strength training class.
I enrolled, even though I’d never been athletic and had never worked with weights. I liked Susie’s training right away. It was easy enough for me to begin soon after the cast came off my wrist, but the graduated levels of the exercises helped me improve and get stronger week by week. I also liked how it was based on scientific research.
One year into strength training, my bone density tests showed improvement, and my strength had increased dramatically. I felt better than I’d felt in ages. After doing Susie’s program for four years, I find that my new strength makes everything easier, and my balance is so much better that I simply don’t fall down any more. I’m physically stronger and more active than I was 15 years ago, and I’m having way more fun.
For years, Susie’s students have begged her to put her strength-training class into a DVD format so they could share it with friends in other states, or to use themselves when they can’t make it to class.
And now she’s done it. The DVD has all the content of Susie’s class. There’s also a 40-minute bonus section that explains how strength training affects bone strength, gives guidance on safety, demonstrates proper techniques for maximum results, and offers equipment selection tips. Now, when I can’t make the class, I use the DVD. I get a great workout in my own home, with all the benefits of Susie’s tips and pacing.
I even bought an extra copy to send to my sister.
Safe Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention is available at SusieHathaway.com or Amazon.com.