“Join me for this quick menopause belly move today!!! Try this core exercise for one minute on each side every day to help that problem area that so many of us have!! Plus…it helps with ab strength, back health, and improving balance!!” Austin captioned the video. “Think of it as ‘Denise’s Daily Habits’…start with this one and then build on it…small, simple steps WILL add up!! Take action and build healthy daily habits toward betting on yourself!! YOU are always worth it!!”
In the video, Austin stands on her yoga mat in a matching workout set and sneakers (we spy the Easy Spirit x Denise Austin Mel EMOVE Walking Shoes in the white colorway!). Imposed on the video is a bit of text that reads: “I’ve gotten through this phase of life happy and healthy, and you can too!”
The “menopause belly” move Austin demonstrates in the video is a variation of a standing crunch. She begins with her feet planted slightly wider than shoulder-width distance apart, her right arm above her head, and her left hand on her left hip. She then lifts her left knee toward the right side of her body while lowering her right elbow to meet it.
“Pull right here and touch—reach and pull across,” Austin says as she performs the move. “Feel as though you’re pulling up and in the abdominals, and you’re tightening up your tummy.” She adds that this move targets the “lower abs” in particular. Per Austin’s caption, she recommends you do this exercise for one minute on each side.
While Austin performs this move without any equipment, easily amplify the exercise by holding a single hand weight in your working arm to add even more strength training benefits.
Austin’s followers loved the simple, informative video. “Thanks again for the best exercises and advice, which is always positive and inspiring,” one follower commented. “You are an inspiration. Thank you for all you do,” another added. “Love this standing core move!” another chimed in.
But what is a “menopause belly,” anyway? Also known as “hormonal belly,” many women going through menopause experience a shift in hormones causing belly fat. The body experiences a decline in estrogen with the onset of menopause which can “create a shift in body composition which favors fat distribution towards the center of the body, around the abdomen,” Krista Gonzales, M.D., endocrinologist and educator at Pritikin Longevity Center previously told Prevention.
It’s important to note that while adding effective core exercises (like this one from Austin) to your routine may help tone a targeted area, you can’t pick and choose where you lose weight on your body. A balanced approach that includes cardio, nutritious eating habits, and weight training is key to overall weight loss, experts say.
If you’re looking for more of Austin’s top cardio and core moves, check out our favorites below.
