Menopause made me stronger
How a community of women over 50 is redefining fitness, focusing on strength, confidence and long-term health over quick fixes.
Every January brings the familiar chorus of “New Year, New You” promises: the quick fixes, detoxes and short-term goals. For many women over 50, however, the focus has shifted from trying to change who they are to building lasting strength for the years ahead. That is the philosophy behind We Are Fit Attitude (WAFA), the women-only health and fitness club founded by Anna Jenkins in Tooting and online.
Jenkins believes that fitness at this stage of life should be about long-term confidence, not temporary resolutions. “New year, be you,” she says. “It is not about undoing Christmas or chasing a smaller body. It is about playing the long game and being stronger for life.”
For decades, the fitness industry sold women the idea of exercising to become less – fewer inches, lower calories, smaller jeans. But in recent years a quiet revolution has taken place. Across the country, women in their fifties, sixties and beyond are discovering that exercise is not about shrinking; it is about strength, stamina and self-belief.
At WAFA, women train using dumbbells, resistance bands, kettlebells and body weight. Sessions are designed to be adaptable for all abilities, whether in person or online. Jenkins explains: “It is about progressive overload, not punishment. We start where each woman is and build from there.”
Many of the club’s members begin their journeys feeling uncertain or self-conscious. “So many women join us hating their bodies and what stares back in the mirror,” Jenkins says. “But within six weeks, something changes. They become less critical of themselves, focussing more on how they feel – stronger, more capable, more at home in their bodies.”
The benefits extend far beyond appearance. As expert female exercise physiologist Dr Stacy Sims notes, strength training helps counter the natural loss of muscle and bone strength that accompanies menopause.
Jenkins, who is navigating perimenopause herself, knows first-hand how symptoms can influence energy and motivation. “As they creep in, it is easy to find reasons to move less,” she says. “Strength training helps you stay mobile, steady, balanced and independent – it keeps you moving through life.”
For WAFA members, the rewards are physical and emotional. Irena, 60, says: “You cannot stop ageing, but you can decide how you age – and I want to do it feeling strong.” Hazel, 62, recalls feeling “stiff, overweight and achy” before joining: “A year on, it has transformed my life.” Routine and consistency matter too. Rebecca, 58, adds: “One of my biggest achievements is that I have made strength training a habit. It is just part of my day now.”
This shift from cardio obsession to strength and function reflects a broader cultural change. Women who once felt sidelined in gyms are now claiming the weights area as their own. “It is not just for gym bunnies or bros,” Jenkins says. “It is for every woman who wants to feel capable.”
For women embracing their next chapter, fitness is not about chasing youth or perfection. It is about taking up space, staying strong and moving with purpose. “Do not fear the weights area; you belong there,” she says. “Find a space that welcomes you and teaches you how to lift safely. Every woman deserves to grow stronger, one rep at a time.”