The Secret to Weight Loss Over 40 (It’s Not Just Calories & Exercise!)

Let’s talk about something that so many of us struggle with—losing weight after 40. If you’ve ever felt like no matter what you do, the scale just won’t budge, I want you to know you’re not alone. And guess what, it’s not just about eating less and moving more.

I used to believe that weight loss was all about calories in versus calories out. I can’t even remember how many times I signed up for Weight Watchers, lose a few pounds, then quickly gain it all back. But after turning 40 (and especially after a tough year with my health), I’ve learned that our bodies change—and so should our approach to weight loss.

Why Traditional Dieting Doesn’t Work After 40

When we were younger, cutting a few calories and hitting the gym was often enough to drop a few pounds. But as we age, our metabolism slows down, our hormones shift, and stress plays a bigger role in how our bodies hold onto fat—especially around the midsection.

Here’s what’s really going on:

👉 Stress & Cortisol: When we’re stressed, our body produces more cortisol, which signals the body to store fat, not burn it.

👉 Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, and insulin can lead to increased belly fat and stubborn weight loss resistance.

👉 Insulin Resistance: Over time, our bodies can become resistant to insulin, making it harder to regulate blood sugar and leading to increased fat storage, especially in the midsection.

A large study of over 22,000 postmenopausal women found a significant number had insulin resistance—even without a diabetes diagnosis—putting them at higher risk for serious health issues. Another research showed that approximately 53.5% of postmenopausal women were insulin resistant, nearly three times the rate observed in premenopausal women. Study 1 | Study 2

Insulin resistance also affects your mental health which affects stress and cortisol levels which again, affects your weight.

👉 Gut Health & Cravings: If your gut microbiome is out of balance, it can lead to inflammation, low energy, crazy cravings, and difficulty losing weight.

My Personal Journey with Weight & Gut Health

Last June, I got very sick with pericarditis. That’s a condition where the lining around your heart gets inflamed. Thankfully it’s not fatal, and most people fully recover. However, it’s a tough recovery. I ended up in the hospital for a week, placed on several medications, and told to REST. A lot. For clarity, my illness was unrelated to COVID-19 or vaccines. In fact, the doctors have no idea why I got it. They believe it was viral. and although it’s quite rare, it can happen to anyone, at any age. Sorry, that’s not very comforting, I know. Anyway, the medication I’m on causes terrible food cravings, weight gain, exhaustion, mood swings, insomnia, and a lot of gastrointestinal issues. To be honest, it’s really shaken my confidence. I definitely don’t feel like myself, and I’m struggling with feeling good in my own skin. On top of that, I haven’t been able to exercise for almost a year, which makes things even more frustrating.

Since I am still on mediacation, and I still can’t hit the gym, I’ve decided to take a different approach.

I’m focusing on healing from the inside out, and that means paying attention to my gut health, stress levels, and insulin balance. Because here’s the truth: if your gut isn’t happy and your hormones are out of whack, your body will fight against your weight loss efforts.

What’s Helping Me Get Back on Track

I realized that sustainable weight loss isn’t just about one thing—it’s about working with your body in multiple ways. Here’s what’s been making the biggest difference for me:

✅ Working on gut health – A healthy gut microbiome helps reduce inflammation, curb cravings, and improve digestion. To do this, I’m taking Probiotic supplements and adding a lot of fermented food into my diet.

✅ Lowering cortisol – Managing stress is key to stopping the body from holding onto excess fat. I’m using several strategies to balance my cortisol levels, including drinking Happy Juice every day, which supports a healthy stress response, improves my mood and motivation, and helps me avoid emotional eating. I’ve also reduced all excess activities, go for gentle walks, and am prioritizing getting a good nights sleep.

✅ Balancing insulin – Keeping blood sugar stable prevents spikes and crashes that lead to cravings and fat storage. There’s a few things I’m doing to keep my blood sugar and insulin levels low. First, I’ve gone back to eating a low carb diet. Honestly I feel great eating this way, because it helps keep my energy levels stable

I’m also taking a supplement called GBX Fit – The first-ever QUADbiotic weight loss supplement designed to program the gut microbiome for weight loss, help reduce cravings, help reduce inflammation and bloat, and can even help you lose inches. It’s not a magic pill (nothing is), but works with your body instead of against it. And that’s what makes all the difference.

Sustainable Weight Loss is About More Than Just Dieting

If you’ve been feeling frustrated with your weight loss journey, I want you to know that it’s not your fault. It’s not about willpower, and it’s not about starving yourself.

I’m not going to deny the fact that cutting calories can help you lose weight, and sometimes quickly, but will it stay off? I’ve done Weight Watchers, and calorie counting, and even a doctor supervised 500 calorie HCG program. While they all took of some pounds, they didn’t solve the root cause of the problem, which for me was insulin resistance, high cortisol, and poor gut health. So if you want to get off the calories in, calories out hamster wheel, it might be time to take a different approach.

It might be time to:

✅ Support your metabolism in the right way
✅ Balance hormones & stress levels
✅ Nourish your gut so your body can let go of excess weight
✅ Eat in a way that works with your body, not against it

I’m still on this journey myself, and I know how hard it can be. But I also know that small, sustainable changes lead to real, lasting results.

If you’re struggling with weight loss after 40, especially with insulin resistance or hormonal shifts, I encourage you to consult a healthcare professional who understands these unique challenges—and to be kind and patient with your body as you explore what works best for you.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, remember you’re not alone—I’m on this journey too. 💕 To help you get started, I’ve created a free guide called “Low Carb For Real Life – No Counting Guide” that makes low-carb eating simple and sustainable, no calorie or carb counting required.

I’m focused on healing and regaining my health, and I’ll be sharing more tips and insights here soon. Come back anytime—you’re always welcome.