As many of us enter the next phase of our lives, we're seeing AND feeling the difference in our bodies. That can sometimes make us feel not so beautiful. But It's important to understand what's happening to our bodies so that we can start to make the necessary changes and/or adjustments to feel empowered and rejuvenated. 

Let's face it. Some of us are dealing with those nagging 15 lbs that won't go away, or can barely bend over and touch our toes or flabby arms that are starting to look like bat wings. 

Whatever stage of life you're in these things are for certain as we get over 35. One, our skin tends to lose its elasticity as we age and two, it's easier to gain weight due to excess fat accumulation and hormonal imbalance. While we can’t turn back time, we can help our bodies perform better during this transitional time—with exercise. Weight lifting is integral for women over 35 and is an easy exercise that women of ANY age can do to firm up the body. 

By incorporating weights into your workout routine for just 20 to 30 minutes a day, you can see big changes in how your body ages. A consistent strength training workout benefits you in the following ways:

• Builds bone density
• Builds muscle mass
• Decreases body fat
• Improves mental health
• Increases sex drive
• Improves sleep
• Lowers the risk of chronic disease
• Increases flexibility and mobility 

So let's try this quick upper body workout from Melissa Neill:

You can also check out a few of our other favorite women over 40 killing the exercise game.  We could all learn a lot from these beauties.

• Claudine Cooper // @fitwit3
• Ellen Ector // @ellenectorfit
• Halley Berry // @halleberry

Regular exercise is no doubt good for your body and a fit body definitely gives you confidence which makes you feel even more beautiful. So don't be afraid to hit those weights. You owe it to yourself, and your body. Stay positive and you're going to love the results... A more radiant, more gorgeous you whose true beauty shines from within.