Linda Wilkin took up weight lifting in her 30s, after she checked her rear view and saw with dismay that her behind wasn't where it used to be.
Even more important for her was the physical strength and youthfulness that came from weight lifting.
"The problem is that women lose five pounds of muscle every decade of life once they hit their 20s.
That loss translates to approximately a 5 percent reduction in resting metabolic rate, which means they're using fewer calories every day," fitness researcher Wayne Westcott said.
During the first 10 to 12 weeks, the brain and muscles have to learn to communicate and can delay noticeable results, which often causes people to drop out, she said.
To start out, Wilkin urges newcomers to get a personal trainer who is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, which requires a bachelor's degree in exercise science and passage of a written test.
Many women, particularly those over 40, are hesitant to hit the weights because when they were growing up, weight lifting was mostly a man's domain, Westcott said.
Research shows that weight lifting strengthens bones and connective tissue and reduces lower back pain, cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and the risk of colon cancer.
It wasn't just the surgery that helped her lose the weight, but also daily workouts that include water aerobics, Pilates and weights, she said.
"I have not lost a pound since December but I've gone down two dress sizes, from a 12 to an 8," said Orta, a retired probation officer.
Her father was a boxer and professional football player, so she was always active growing up.
She's been heavy since she was 6, and morbidly obese since her 20s, when her father died and she began taking care of her mother.