Ep. 103 | Why Eating Less and Exercising More Backfires in Menopause
Are you eating less, exercising more, and still not seeing results in menopause? You've probably been told it's a willpower problem—but that advice is flat-out wrong.
In this episode, I break down why "trying harder" backfires in midlife, why your symptoms aren't a sign of weakness, and what your body actually needs to reset.
It's Not Willpower—It's Your Stress Hormones
When you restrict calories and push harder with exercise during perimenopause and menopause, you're not fixing the problem—you're feeding it.
Your body interprets restriction and overexertion as stress. And when cortisol is already elevated from hormonal changes, adding more stress just makes everything worse: weight gain, fatigue, cravings, and metabolic slowdown.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Why calorie restriction and over-exercising fuel stress hormones instead of fixing them
How cortisol, metabolism, and your nervous system collide during menopause
The three things that actually help your body release weight and energy (without diets or quick fixes)
An introduction to my 3R Framework—Regulate, Rebuild, and Reignite—and how it flips the script on everything you've been told about menopause care
Is This Episode For You?
If any of these sound familiar, this episode will give you the clarity you've been missing:
Eating less but gaining weight or staying stuck
Working out harder but feeling more exhausted
Blaming yourself for not having enough discipline
Feeling like your metabolism is "broken"
Experiencing increased cravings despite trying to be "good"
Frustrated that the harder you try, the worse you feel
This isn't about willpower. It's about understanding what's happening hormonally and giving your body what it actually needs to heal.
Resources
Take the Free Menopause Quiz
Find out what's really driving your symptoms.
https://cindistickle.com/quiz
Learn More About It’s Not Just Hormones™
https://cindistickle.com
Connect with Cindi
Book a Menopause Hormone Clarity Call
https://calendly.com/cindistickle/menopause-hormone-clarity-call
Join my Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsmenopause
