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The Hormone-Friendly Diet: What to Eat During Menopause to Lose Weight, Beat Belly Fat, and Balance Blood Sugar

Does It Feel Like Your Body Is Playing by a Whole New Set of Rules?

If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, you might be wondering: “Is it just me, or has my body switched the playbook?” The reality is, menopause really does change the rules when it comes to food, weight loss, and how our bodies handle blood sugar and fat storage. You might be doing “all the right things,” eating healthy, moving your body, and STILL seeing the scale go up—especially around the belly. If that sounds familiar, let me just say: you are NOT alone. In fact, you’re in very good company.

This new season comes with its own set of challenges. Our hormones shift, our metabolism slows down, and suddenly the tried-and-true diets from our 30s and 40s just don’t cut it anymore. It can feel discouraging and downright confusing! But here’s the good news—there is hope, and ...

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How To Lose 15 Pounds and Beat Menopause Weight Gain

Are you struggling with menopause weight gain and stubborn belly fat? 

As hormones shift in perimenopause, it can feel impossible to lose weight—but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Today, I’m sharing an inspiring conversation with my client, Colleen, who joined my Blast the Belly Fat Bootcamp and transformed her health. She lost 15 pounds, reduced her menopause belly fat, and, more importantly, regained her energy and confidence—all while homeschooling and welcoming a new grandbaby!

Why Colleen Joined the Bootcamp to Lose Weight During Menopause

Colleen had been considering working with a coach for 8 to 10 years but never made the leap. Like so many midlife women, she was trying to figure things out on her own, but menopause weight gain and lack of accountability made it challenging.

Her biggest challenge? Staying consistent. Her family wasn’t on board with her weight loss efforts, and she fel...

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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 health and decision-making.

For instance, I’ve been deal...

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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 disrupted—often du...

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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 last. You might eat to feel better, but once the euphoria fades a...

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 I stalled and thought, you know, there were other thin...

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 thoughts. 

 You can choose what you think and believe; you do...

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 didn’t want to make more than one meal! But...

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

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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 “mature” season. You need to increase the frequency of ea...

 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 may be in menopause but still suffering from n...