EATING HEALTHY & GAINING WEIGHT IN MIDLIFE: What you need to know

Over the years, I've heard so many upset, frustrated women express the same thing;

“I don’t understand what’s happening. I’m eating healthy, I’ve actually been eating less. I’m exercising. And I’m still gaining weight. What's wrong with me?”

Often times the women are embarrassed, believing it's somehow their fault, or that they are broken. Sometimes there's even a little fear behind it. Fear that they’re losing control of their body. Fear that this is just “what happens” in midlife. Fear that this is the beginning of the slide — more weight, more exhaustion, more symptoms, less joy. Fear that they have to just accept it, and live with it.

Let me say this clearly, so you can breathe:
You are not broken. It’s not “just aging.” You can take back control and extra weight and all the other symptoms the world tells you are “normal” are not something you have to live with.

Something very real is happening — but it’s not a lack of willpower or discipline. You are not weak, or broken.

It’s your metabolism and hormones adapting to a new life phase. And once you understand what’s actually going on, you can give your body the love and support she needs to thrive, instead of fighting against it.

Most women I meet have a long history of trying to “eat healthy”, which usually means eating less. Smaller portions. Cutting carbs. Skipping meals. “Being good.” And that works at first — until it doesn’t.

By the time we reach perimenopause and menopause, the feminine body has more often than not lived through decades of on-and-off dieting, stress, late nights, pushing through with less, and caretaking everyone else’s needs before our own.

I blame the diet industry. Diets lie. They teach women that the only way to be healthy is to shrink themselves. To eat less. To become less. To deprive themselves.

But nothing thrives in a deficit, especially not your metabolism. When the body isn’t getting enough fuel — especially protein and healthy carbs — it shifts into conservation mode. It slows down your metabolism at the time in our lives when that is the last thing we need. Your body hangs onto fat, particularly around the midsection, because belly fat is a protective mechanism triggered by the stress.

So when you say, “But I’m eating less… shouldn’t I be losing weight?” Your body hears, “I’m not getting enough nourishment. I need to store energy to keep myself safe.”

That’s not sabotage. That’s survival.

In midlife, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone begin to shift. And those shifts affect everything from mood and memory to sleep and muscle mass.

When estrogen dips, insulin (your blood sugar hormone) becomes less efficient. That means the same healthy foods you’ve always eaten can now cause blood sugar spikes — which triggers fat storage, especially around the middle.

When progesterone falls, stress tolerance drops. Which is why so many women say, “I used to be able to handle anything. Now even little things feel overwhelming.”

And when testosterone declines, the body loses muscle more easily — muscle is the engine of your metabolism.

So if you’ve been doing the same things you’ve always done, and you're in midlife, your hormones have changed. Meaning your results will change. Not because you’re doing something wrong — but because your body needs different support now.

One of the most important truths to remember is:

Your metabolism is fueled by consistency, not restriction. Women in midlife especially need frequent, regular meals, balanced blood sugar, and enough protein and carbs to stabilize hormones.

We do not need less. Not elimination. Not fasting until you can’t see straight. Not living on salads and smoothies.

Food is your foundation. It’s your hormone support. It’s your metabolic support. It’s literally the difference between surviving and thriving.

And no, carbs are not the enemy. They are your energy. When balanced, they help regulate cortisol, build muscle, and keep your brain sharp.

What matters isn’t avoiding carbs — it’s pairing them intentionally with protein and healthy fat to create stable blood sugar.

That stability is what pulls the body out of fat-storage mode and into fat-burning mode.

This isn’t just about the number on the scale. It’s about feeling like yourself again. About getting your energy back, thinking clearly, enjoying food without guilt, and feeling strong, steady, and confident in your body.

Most women tell me, “I just want to feel like me again.” And that is absolutely possible — when you stop fighting and punishing your body and start listening to it. Your symptoms aren’t failures, they’re messages. Your body has been speaking, and this is your invitation to respond.

Start by giving back, not taking away. Add a protein to every meal. Include healthy colouriful carbs, especially in the morning, to calm cortisol and stabilize energy. Drink more water than any other beverage. Fill your nutritional gaps. Prioritze sleep. And most importantly, show yourself the same love and compassion you would if you were speaking to your bestie.

Midlife isn’t about shrinking, it’s about stepping into your next chapter with strength, clarity, and vitality. Make this your relaunch so you can love your body and love life.

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re fighting your body, I have a free video that walks you through how to fuel your body in a way that supports your hormones, stabilizes blood sugar, and reignites your metabolism — without dieting, restriction, or deprivation.

Click here to watch and take the first step to feeling like you again.