In your research for your book, Strong Women, Strong Bones, did you find that a weight-training regiment alleviates perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms, i.e., night sweats, hot flashes, disorientation, and insomnia? I ask this because over the last three months (and a new trainer) I have found that I no longer am experiencing any side effects of menopause, which I have had for the last several years.

While we don't have any conclusive research on the effects of strength training on relieving perimenopausal symptoms, such as night sweats and hot flashes, we have received numerous letters from women who have reported improvements. Colleagues of mine here at Tufts have seen great improvements in quality of sleep with strength training - which is good news for perimenopausal women who are having problems sleeping. I very much encourage women, especially midlife women, to strength train. The exercise may actually be changing hormone levels just enough to make a difference in perimenopausal symptoms and it certainly improves overall quality of life.