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Why Worry Doesn’t Help in Midlife: A Mindset Approach for Women Over 40

You know, I often find myself doing more life coaching than weight loss coaching.

Why?

Because weight loss is a mindset issue, knowing what and how to eat is crucial, but managing our minds to perform consistently is the key to long-term success.

Today, I’m not even talking about food; I want to share a personal experience that also translated into a coaching call. It’s about worry—something we all struggle with, especially in midlife. 

Understanding Worry in Midlife

During midlife, our brains and emotions undergo significant changes. What we once handled with ease may now be more challenging due to hormonal shifts.

As we approach menopause, our propensity to worry can increase, leading to what I call "mental loops."

These loops are repetitive thoughts that keep us stuck in worry, affecting our mental...

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Understanding Hormonal Changes in Midlife

Impact of Hormones on Health

Estrogen and progesterone are key players in our overall well-being. They influence how we feel, how we sleep, how we burn fat, and so much more. When these hormone levels start to fluctuate, especially during perimenopause and menopause, it can throw everything out of balance.

The Role of Insulin and Leptin

Insulin Resistance and Its Effects

You’ve probably heard a lot about insulin resistance lately. Insulin is our fat storage hormone. When our estrogen levels drop, it can cause our insulin levels to fluctuate, which can lead to insulin resistance. This is when our bodies don't use insulin efficiently, leading to fat storage and increased risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Leptin and Appetite Regulation

Leptin is another important hormone. It lives in our fat cells and sends signals to our brain that tell us when we're full. When leptin signaling is...

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How to Stop Eating Your Emotions

Understanding Emotional Eating

Emotional eating is when we use food to make ourselves feel better rather than to satisfy hunger. It’s something I've experienced personally and helped my clients overcome. Conquering emotional eating takes time and daily practice. It’s not about using a simple tool for a little bit and then you're cured; it’s about consistently reminding yourself of the truth.

My journey with emotional eating began when I noticed that sometimes I’d eat out of boredom or when it wasn’t meal time. I wasn’t even hungry! I'd catch myself mid-bite, thinking, "Wait, why am I eating these tortilla chips?" That’s when I began to become aware of my habits.

The Emotional Eating Cycle

The Temporary Relief of Emotional Eating

Emotional eating gives us temporary comfort. It’s that quick dopamine hit that feels great in the moment but doesn’t...

Music provided by https://www.purple-planet.com/ 

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I am so excited to introduce you to Debbie Martin, a friend and fellow Trim Healthy coach.

 She is here today to talk to us about her Trim Healthy and weight loss journey after 50 and with insulin resistance.  

I can't wait to get to all of the good things. First, Debbie will tell us how she stumbled onto the Trim Healthy Way.  

"My name is Debbie Martin. I'm 50 years old. I turned 50 last year and feel so good about it. I am so excited about being 50. I am a mom of five kids. They're not kids anymore; they're all grown, and I've been a wife for 30 years.

I have had trouble with my weight throughout my whole life, and I came across trim healthy way back; I don't remember the exact year, but it was early. I didn't stick with it because I stalled and tried other things, came back to trim healthy, and didn't stick with it again because...

https://www.purple-planet.com/ 

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Are you a woman over 40 struggling with sugar cravings during menopause? 

You're not alone. 

Many women in this stage of life find themselves battling cravings, weight gain, and frustration with slow progress. 

But don’t get discouraged. In this post, we will explore game-changing strategies to help you gain better control over your eating habits and conquer those sugar cravings once and for all.

Why do I want junk food?

Menopause brings hormonal changes that mess with your body; these changes may cause increased sugar cravings and less willpower. 

They are often a result of your brain seeking a dopamine hit, which highly processed foods provide. The dopamine hit isn’t bad, and you can get it by eating fruits or walking. 

"The key is to realize that your thoughts are actually a part of the problem."

The good news is that you can change your...

https://www.purple-planet.com/ 

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Ready to be bored to tears?

At least, I feel like you may be, but in the vein of staying real and showing you how to eat to lose weight in midlife….and keep it off.

Here’s a day in the life of my meals.

I am living proof that simple, boring systems do well to bring joy to your daily meals. Let’s explore the art of simplifying your meals so you are successful in midlife, lose extra weight, and boost your health to feel well. I’ll show you how to use practical strategies and keep meals simple yet incredibly satisfying.

The Power of Systems Over Goals

Picture this: a life where making healthy choices becomes second nature. It all starts with the realization that systems trump goals. Setting a goal is excellent, but without a system, reaching it can be a challenge. Years ago, I worked to build a habit of creating healthy yet easy meals for my family and myself. And I...

Music provided by: https://www.purple-planet.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links.

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Midlife Challenges in Your Trim Healthy Journey

Back in 2012 a couple of my “besties,” Serene and Pearl, searched for answers to sustainable weight loss for women. As they figured out the best ways to fuel with foods for fat loss, I joined their plan and together we lost weight and regained our health. 

The plan (Trim Healthy Mama) they laid out for weight loss is excellent and works for women of all ages but as I’ve moved into my midlife years I’ve learned to make a few tweaks to the basic Trim Healthy plan to make weight loss easier with hormonal changes.

A key concept we often overlook in midlife is to eat plenty of protein. Protein is a key pillar of the Trim Healthy plan and continues to be of utmost importance through your...

 Music provided by: https://www.purple-planet.com/

If losing weight in your 40s were as easy as "calories in, calories out," then I would be out of a job. 

But sadly, it just isn't that easy. 

In fact, you can almost throw out every "diet" plan you've ever tried or heard about because it won't help you lose weight in midlife. In fact, it might do the opposite and cause your body to keep more weight instead. 

It's time to understand how to best support your body with nutrition during perimenopause and menopause and get tools to get through it quickly. 

Right now, you may be in your late 30s or early 40s and wondering why you're experiencing changes in your body that you never had before. You may be moody, anxious, have irregular periods, or have hot flashes. You probably find weight loss more difficult and notice your waistline expanding no matter what you do. These are all common symptoms of perimenopause. Or, you...

There is a lot of resistance about this topic of meal prep and menu planning and because I've been coaching women for several years, I know this is a BIG issue.

First, I want to address this with our mindset. Allowing your brain to tell you how hard this process it, or that you don't have enough time or that you don't know what to fix is not helpful. All those negative thoughts will not help you create a plan that you can sustain. 

When you think those negative thoughts, it brings up the feelings of dread, which then makes you procrastinate, when you procrastinate, you really don't get anything done. And you don't really start or give yourself the opportunity to make good choices. 

What you need to have is a good mindset around preparing and prepping. 

So first, I want you to take some time, and really start cultivating some helpful thoughts, some thoughts like - “Wow, even though I don't love prepping and planning, this will set me up...

Feeling confused?

Not sure what to eat?

Don’t know which Trim Healthy Mama fuels you should put on your menu plan?

Let’s get some clarity.

Optimizing your eating plan during the menopause transition is key to getting weight loss results. 

But, you can’t get those results if you are feeling confused, scattered, and overwhelmed.

Let me give you some peace, some security, and some confidence knowing that you are eating in a way that is blessing your body towards better health, vitality, and fat loss.

First, set your expectations correctly. You cannot be in a place of peace and kindness towards yourself if you are expecting to lose weight fast. Your body is special and needs the time it needs to heal and release extra fat. Give yourself the gift of time.

Next, stop the searching and questioning. The Trim Healthy Mama eating plan is hands-down the best weight loss LIFESTYLE approach. You can tweak it...