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Do you feel it?

Figure wearing navy blue weighted vest against navy blue background

Allure visuals director Kathryne Hall wearing the Omorpho Women’s G Vest

The pressure to outdo yourselfto one-up the you you were yesterday?

): to eat smarter, train harder, lift heavier.

The latestmenopausal imperative:Beheavier, courtesy of a weighted vest.

Adjustable Weight Vest in black and white color way on light gray background

Its no longer enough, it seems, to log a bewildering number of steps and reps each day.

We must hit these goals while wearing approximately 15 pounds of galvanized steel.

After all, do you even lift if youre not doing a properfarmers carryin your influencer-approvedweighted vest?

Adjustable Weighted Vest in black and gray color way on light gray background

Weighted-vest vibes vary from tactical to nautical to athlete-chic.

Theres a growing, almost-gnawing need to optimize every secondto one-up the you you were yesterday.

A weighted vest fits the bill.

Hyper Vest Pro in gray and black color way on light gray background

Underlying many midlife health woes are disappearing hormones, estrogen being the biggie in women.

All three hormones are critical to our well-beingand all three diminish inmenopause.

In their absence, our bodies dont function as they should.

Weighted Vest in black and gray color way on light gray background

And when even one part falters, there can be profound consequences.

Since many women use weighted vests to help shore up their skeletons, lets start there.

Estrogen stimulates osteoblastic activity, notes Dr. Messer.

Hexgrip Weight Vest in black and yellow color way on light gray background

When estrogen levels decline inmenopause, we no longer have the same degree of bone growth we once did.

This is why hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is FDA-approved to prevent osteoporosis.

Eventually, she explains, ourseesawing bone cellsfall out of balance.

Omorpho G Vest woman wearing a white weighted vest on a black background

This increases our risk of falls, fractures, and loss of independence, Dr. DeSapri notes.

Muscle deterioration affects more than our frames, however.

Fading estrogen also threatens our hearts.

Whats more, blood pressure commonly spikes around menopause.

The evidence supporting weighted vests

Can a weighted vest solve all that?

Not exactlynot on its own, anyway.

Wall push-ups, resistance bands, and yoga can also fortify bones.

As can weighted vestsand theres a surprising amount of science behind them.

Their outcomes were compared to those of women who did the same workoutwithoutthe vest.

While markers of bone growth improved in both groups, only the vest set gained better balance.

In the control group, bone density decreased by 0.6%.

Traditional resistance training has beenshownto lessen the blow.

Dr. Beavers expects the results of her trial to be published in the coming months.

Weighted vests have the potential to enhance certain workouts and keep us strong and steady.

If nothing else, it may encourage us to be more mindful about our posture.

Which isnt to say everyoneneedsto wear one.

Often, older people especially dont have access to weights or theyre reluctant to go to the gym.

Some have never exercised before and dont even own a sports bra, Dr. Reed adds.

Consistency is key, however.

Whatever intervention you use to decrease bone loss, it has to be sustained, Dr. Messer says.

Most of the experts I spoke to prefer the versatility of the latter.

So, if you weigh 120 pounds, your vest should be in the 6-12 pound range.

It helps if it can be fastened or cinched in multiple spots as opposed to just one.

This is the lowest risk exercise with the highest reward.

As always, keep your expectations in check.

But they are backed by legitimate sciencewhich cannot be said for all (most?)

of theproducts being peddled in the menoverse.

A cute, new vest might just motivate you to move more.

Or it may add an air of confidence to your workouts.

Or perhaps inspire other acts of self-care.

(Not long after ordering mine, I booked a bone scan Id been putting off forever.)

All in all, I can think of worse ways to spend 50 bucks.

She went for the 20-pound fixed-weight version; mine adjusts within a range of 4-10 lbs.

It comes with packets of iron sand to customize the weight.

And its made of neoprene, which is soft and breathable.

Its best for walking, she says.

I wouldnt take it to a plyometric-based workout class.

It has adjustable shoulder straps and side cords.

I would definitely use one to help gain bone density.