Let’s talk about something every woman over 40 has heard (and maybe tried)—“Just eat less and move more.”

Yes, cutting back on calories will absolutely make the number on the scale go down—at first. But long-term that strategy backfires, big time. In fact, not only does eating less not work for sustainable weight loss, it can actually do the opposite of what you want—make your body store fat and burn muscle. For women in perimenopause or menopause that’s the last thing their bodies need.

Nothing thrives in a deficit , not your relationships, your bank account, your energy, your metabolism, your mood and certainly not your hormones. When you consistently eat less than your body needs, you’re sending a stress signal that triggers survival mode. That signal changes how your body uses energy, stores fat, and prioritizes muscle.

Initially, you may see some weight loss but it comes at a cost. The body starts to shed precious muscle tissue, which is metabolically active and critical for hormone balance, bone density, strength and mood. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism runs. Meanwhile, your body gets better at storing fat to protect you from the next perceived “famine.” That’s why so many women say, “I’m eating less........

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