Sandego.net – For many women now reaching midlife, the old fitness message was unmistakable: exercise was meant to make the body smaller. The goal was often framed through appearance, from toned legs and flat stomachs to the era of “Buns of Steel,” rather than through power, mobility or the ability to lift heavy objects.

That message is changing. More women are embracing resistance training, drawn by its role in maintaining muscle, supporting bone health and preserving physical function with age. Yet the growing popularity of lifting has also raised a difficult question: can a movement intended to build strength become another narrow standard for how women believe they should look?…