When you think of muscle mass in women, does your brain immediately jump to the image of ultra-muscled competitors and quote-unquote meatheads? Building muscle mass as a female athlete does not look like this image most of the time, yet women are still afraid of getting bulky. In this episode, I want to dive into what building muscle mass as a woman really looks like and the massive benefits for your overall health and longevity that can come from it. Key Takeaways If You Want to Get Deeper Into the Conversation Around Muscle Mass, You Should: Stop letting society tell you that you should be afraid of getting ‘too bulky’ Dive deeper into the topics touched on in this episode  Learn and explore how muscle mass can improve your longevity and quality of life Muscle is More than Aesthetics For so long, the conversation around muscle mass has stopped at the aesthetic value. But the truth is, building muscle as a female athlete, especially a female athlete over 40, is about so much more than aesthetics. I want to challenge this conversation and urge you to dig deeper into the benefits that building muscle mass and getting strong can have for you. Building muscle mass can help with your insulin sensitivity, boost your bone strength, enhance your longevity and quality of life, decrease the risk of falls, improve your cognitive health and cardiovascular function, and much more. It's time for the conversation around muscle mass to focus on those things, rather than just the aesthetic value of muscle. Quality of Life Matters Longevity is one of the key benefits of building muscle mass. But I don't just mean longevity in terms of living to 120 without the functionality or independence you want in order to live your life fully. I am talking about an all-encompassing longevity that not only maintains and improves your quality of life but gives you the confidence to keep going.  When it comes to muscle mass in females, the benefits are so far beyond the exterior. If you are looking for a way to preserve your freedom, gain confidence, improve your quality of life, and age in a way that makes you look and feel good, strength training is crucial to your success. Are you ready to dive deeper into muscle mass than what lies on the surface? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page. In This Episode Understanding why some women are afraid of muscle and lifting heavy (4:44) Different roles that muscle mass plays which can be associated with longevity (6:47) The broad role your metabolism plays in relationship with your muscle tissue (10:09) How your muscle mass can regulate your blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity (12:23) Why your adolescence can have a significant impact on your menopause transition (14:31) Quotes “When it comes down to things, we have to build muscle if we want to experience some kind of sculpting or toning or any of that.” (2:35) “The conversation, in my opinion, is lacking some of the deeper reasons why muscle plays very crucial roles in the body, and how those are associated with longevity.” (6:02) “Our capacity to move through life, to do those activities of daily living, to perform physical exercise, which is also a very clear health-promoting habit. Those are associated with better longevity and improved quality of life.” (8:57) “It is really important to lean on things like exercise, or specifically strength training or resistance training, to help us improve our insulin sensitivity. Exercise is a really important tool in your toolbox.” (13:55) “We've talked about here mobility and physical activity, the sit-to-stand test, why this matters for discussions of quality of life, overall wellbeing, independence, being able to have mobility, and complete activities of daily living as well as physical exercise.” (18:21) Featured on the Show Apply for Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here Full Show Notes Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Insta