If you're like many midlife women, you may be finding that what you did in your 20s and 30s to stay fit and healthy is no longer working. Your hormones are probably going wonky, and your tried-and-true workouts and meal plans are no match for the changes your body is experiencing. You may feel frustrated, confused and/or helpless.
On this episode I chat with Kim Barnes Jefferson, a lifestyle coach who specializes in helping women over 40 get their groove back. Kim says that by age 45, the average woman has been on 60 diets—count 'em, 60! And it can feel like an uphill battle to lose or maintain her weight, build muscle mass and get a good night's sleep—especially through the turmoil of perimenopause and menopause.
Among the takeaways you'll get from tell-it-like-it-is Kim: How to stay centered in the midst of all this midlife uncertainty—both physical and emotional; how to embrace your changing body and find new health-and-fitness strategies that keep you happy, energized and sane; and how to nix the perfectionism that many women of our generation grew up with, while staying consistent with your health and fitness goals.
Kim and I also get into the nitty gritty of diet and exercise strategies—what to eat, how to work out, and how to nurture yourself, in order to meet your body where it is now and feel your best. And Kim answers many of your burning questions, such as: Exactly how much protein do you really need? How much strength training is enough and how do you go about starting with weights? How do you avoid depriving yourself for the sake of fitting into that favorite pair of jeans? Should you weigh yourself on a regular basis (and the answer is more complicated than you think)? And why is cultivating self-love an essential component of any new lifestyle plan?
We also discuss the fad diets and medications of our mother's and grandmother's generation (remember those ubiquitous diet pills?), and Kim offers her take on Ozempic and other trendy drugs currently being used for weight loss. Finally, Kim tells us why it takes courage, not just discipline, to shake up your health-and-fitness routine and see results. Full show notes available at Morebeautifulproject.com.
