Thrive past 40!

Many of my clients come to me asking for help with newly diagnosed medical conditions or sudden weight gain. Typically, they are eating pretty well, exercising regularly and have always enjoyed good health so what has changed?

This month I am excited to share with you my free online Masterclass where we cover this in more detail - you can register for free by clicking here

In the meantime, I’d love to give you a little insight into what is changing and what you can do to help yourself not just survive but really thrive throughout your 40s, 50s and beyond.

For women, our 40s mark a key change in our hormone levels with declining oestrogen and progesterone levels, can lead to increased fat accumulation, particularly around the abdomen. Metabolic changes, including decreased metabolism and insulin resistance, also play a role. Lifestyle factors like diet, physical activity, and stress further contribute to weight gain.

I would often recommend some blood tests to understand what may be causing the issues - insulin or glucose levels, iron levels, inflammatory markers, liver and thyroid function are all important baseline tests for this age. If your GP isn’t monitoring this, it is worthwhile checking to see if they will cover these on Medicare. If not, we can arrange a comprehensive blood test covering 36 markers for under $200.

Another area to assess is gut function. Many of put up with regular bloating, constipation or even mild pain after eating, but this is not normal! Any changes to your bowel habits should be checked out by your GP or gastroenterologist, but assuming there is nothing more sinister it can be very effective to address your diet. IBS, SIBO and even IBD respond incredibly well to dietary changes. My aim is always to increase the range of foods you are able to enjoy so please seek help from a nutritionist with extra training in digestive health who promotes diverse, not restrictive, diets.

Food-wise, it is important to understand what foods work for you. Managing hormone changes to help with weight loss needs a personalised approach. However, following a whole foods diet that is rich in fibre, quality animal or plant proteins and healthy fats is a great starting point. If inflammation is an issue, look at oily fish for it’s omega 3 fats, as well as brightly coloured fruits and veggies for their anti-oxidants to help reduce chronic inflammation.

Finally, remember to eat enough. Cutting calories won’t help in the long term as your body needs fuel to function best. Reducing foods that are energy dense, but nutrient poor is a great strategy. This includes cakes, alcohol and soft drinks but calculating every morsel that enters your mouth can be very inaccurate.

Changing your diet for the long term requires a mindset-shift as you are prioritising your long term health, so it needs to be sustainable change. Short term restriction may be needed to kick start some change, but I find there should always be enough room for fun foods too.

I work with you to develop a long term healthy eating plan that allows you to reach your health goals, and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic disease while still enjoying your food. I would love to help you find your food freedom to help you thrive after 40! I offer a free mini-consult to discuss what you need help with and I will map out what I think may be your best route. Click here to book your free session.