As we head into 2026, it’s time for a small mindset shift that can make a big difference to how we feel and move as we age.

This is a conversation I have almost daily with people interested in training.

Someone tells me: “I’m not ready to weight train yet. I’m just going to walk for a while first.”

Walking is wonderful. It’s functional, it clears your head and it absolutely counts as movement. But here’s the part most people don’t hear often enough. Weight training doesn’t need to come later. In many cases, it should come first.

There’s a belief that lifting weights is only for people who are already fit or experienced. That somehow you need to earn the right to lift weights by doing loads of cardio first. In reality, weight training is one of the most supportive things you can do for your body, especially as we get older.

For women in perimenopause and menopause, this becomes even more important.

Hormonal changes naturally lead to a loss of muscle mass and bone density. If we don’t actively work against that, our bodies quietly start to feel weaker, slower and more prone to aches, pains and injuries.

Weight training helps maintain muscle, protect bones, support joints and improves balance. These are things cardio alone simply can’t do.

Cardio is great for heart health, endurance and our mood. But cardio can also be overdone. Long sessions, done frequently, without strength work to balance them, can leave you tired, under-fuelled and sometimes even feeling softer instead of stronger. More is not always better.

Weight training, however, teaches your body how to work. It improves posture, makes daily tasks easier and helps you feel more capable in everyday life.

Carrying groceries up the stairs, lifting luggage while travelling, getting up off the floor, keeping up with your kids or grandkids. This is real-life fitness.

And no, lifting weights does not mean you need to lift super heavy kettlebells or spend hours in a gym. It can be simple, intentional and completely appropriate for where you are right now. Light weights, good form and consistency go a very long way. And when you are ready, you can progress to heavier weights.

So as we move into 2026, consider this your permission slip to stop waiting. You don’t need to be “ready” to weight train. Weight training helps get you ready for day-to-day life.

No big new year resolutions, no extreme promises. Just keep your walks. Keep your cardio. But start prioritising strength. Intentional movement, intentional strength and intentional care for the body you live in every day.

Your future body will thank you for it and it will feel stronger, steadier and far more confident along the way.

Stay strong and B-Active for Life.

• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Look for BActive For Life Fitness on Facebook