Hi Reader,

“I’m so frustrated with how my body is recomposing itself,” Jane said.

She continued, “ I could do anything in the past to manage my weight. I had an active lifestyle. But now, I’m tired and uncomfortable in my body. My old weight control tricks don’t work anymore. I feel broken.”

In her thirties and early 40s, Jane enjoyed hiking, strength training, and the occassional yoga class with friends.

She followed various ways of eating (diets) over the years, switching up the plan whenever she got bored.

It didn’t matter what food rules she followed, they worked. The weight came off. Until she turned 48.

Weight management stopped working for Jane. Frustrated and worried about her health, she showed up in my online office.

Weight gain is the number 1 concern I hear from women over 40.

For 2 reasons. One, the constant bombardment from social media and wellness culture that women should manage their weight as they age.

Two, it’s assumed if you manage your weight, you manage the natural process of aging.

“Don’t get frumpy and fat!” That’s the message I heard growing up from women over 40.

But here's the problem with the term weight management (and aging management).

It denotes your body is broken, and needs to be fixed - especially if your body size is above the cultural thin ideal.

Weight management programs are designed to help you control your weight. To fit it into an arbitrary size box that may or may not align with your body's genetics or ideal body weight.

You know how insidious diet culture is. But what if you still want to lose weight?

It's difficult and uncomfortable to accept our bodies change as they age.

It's normal to be concerned about weight gain and even desire weight loss.

Diet culture has convinced us that health comes from thinness. But here’s a different perspective.
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I use the term weight concerns instead of weight management because it validates the desire for weight loss without subscribing to rules about food or exercise for the sole purpose of intentional weight loss.

Here's what I mean. Watch this 9-ish minute video:

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Here's the kicker (in a good way).

When you practice behavior-based health goals, you honor your weight concerns without dwelling on them.

You accept that your weight may or may not change. Easier said than done!

When you practice health-promoting behaviors consistently, no matter how low you set the bar, you will feel better in and about your body.

Feeling better is the best motivation any day, no matter how chaotic life feels.
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Next week we’ll get into the gritty details on why you need carbs after 40 - especially if you want to be active, maintain muscle, and sleep well.

I’ll also share the current research on Intermittent Fasting.

Until then, have a great weekend savoring food and your body!

Amanda

PS: Language matters! I hate the term weight management. Instead I say weight concerns because it validates the desire for thinness without subscribing to rules about food or exercise for the sole purpose of intentional weight loss.

Here's what I mean. Watch this 9-ish minute video​

References:

(PMID: 11528356)

(PMID: 22978257)