Embracing a Holistic and Sustainable Approach to Weight Loss
The Toxic Culture of Weight Loss
From a young age, many of us are taught that thinner equals better. We’re surrounded by headlines warning us of health risks, magazine covers promoting the latest diet, and social media influencers selling “wellness” that’s really just restriction in disguise.
This culture has trained us to believe that weight is the root of all our problems—and that losing it is the ultimate solution. But here’s the truth: weight is not a behaviour, and obsessing over it often does more harm than good.
For many women, especially in their 40s and beyond, this narrative leads to a lifetime of dieting, body shame, and emotional distress. It disconnects us from our own bodies, erodes trust in ourselves, and contributes to disordered patterns around food.
Do You Really Want to Lose Weight? Or Do You Want to Feel Better?
When women tell me they want to lose weight, I always ask: Why?
Not because weight loss is wrong—but because your “why” matters deeply.
Is it about wanting to feel confident again?
Is it about having more energy, more ease in your body, more freedom around food?
Or is it something you feel obligated to do, because the world tells you that you should?
When the goal of weight loss comes from a place of fear or shame, it often sets us up for struggle and disappointment. But when it comes from a place of love, curiosity, and care—it can become part of a deeper healing journey.
A New Approach: The Three Foundations of Sustainable Change
1. Nutrition – Eating for Hormonal Balance, Not Punishment
Forget calorie maths and rigid food rules. What your body really needs—especially in midlife—is nourishment that supports hormonal balance, blood sugar stability, and satiety.
This means eating in a way that:
Keeps your blood sugar steady
Supports your liver and gut (both key in hormone detoxification)
Helps you feel full and energised—not deprived
You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be consistent and kind.
This might look like adding more fibre, healthy fats, and protein—not cutting more out.
And importantly, it’s not about following a generic meal plan.
It’s about tuning in to what your body responds well to. That’s the sustainable piece.
2. Healing Your Relationship with Food
If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of yo-yo dieting, binge eating, emotional overeating or "starting again on Monday," you know how exhausting it is.
Food has become more than fuel. It’s comfort, rebellion, control, distraction—all tangled up in shame.
A healthy relationship with food means:
You can enjoy food without guilt
You recognise emotional vs physical hunger
You don’t fear hunger—you honour it
You eat from a place of connection, not control
Pleasure is not indulgent.
It’s powerful.
When you allow yourself to enjoy your meals, your body feels safer, digestion improves, and stress reduces. This is where freedom begins.
3. Body Acceptance – Embracing the Body You Have Today
You do not have to love every inch of your body to respect it.
But healing begins when you stop fighting it.
Perimenopause can bring weight gain, softness, and changes you didn’t expect.
The old strategies don’t work—and trying to “get your old body back” can become a painful obsession.
What if you could meet this version of yourself with compassion instead?
Body acceptance is not the same as giving up.
It’s about creating a foundation of care and respect so that your choices come from love, not from fear or punishment.
When you accept your body, you stop putting your life on hold. You start showing up now.
Embodiment: The Missing Link
One of the most overlooked tools in sustainable weight care is embodiment—the practice of listening to and living in your body, rather than constantly trying to fix it.
When you’re embodied, you can:
Sense your hunger and fullness more clearly
Recognise stress cues before they escalate
Choose food that nourishes without needing to follow a plan
Trust yourself again
Embodiment reconnects you to your body’s wisdom.
It teaches you to be in your body, rather than manage it from the outside.
This is not quick-fix territory.
It’s long-term, loving change.
It’s Time to Change the Conversation
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about denying that weight matters to you.
It’s about creating a life that supports your health, energy, confidence, and peace of mind—with or without the number on the scale changing.
When you shift your focus to:
Hormonal balance
Emotional wellbeing
Self-trust and compassion
Nourishment over restriction
… weight loss, if it happens, becomes a byproduct of healing, not the proof of your worth.
You deserve better than the diet cycle.
You deserve to feel free, supported, and at home in your body.
Ready to Begin?
This approach takes courage. It asks you to question old beliefs and trust a slower, more meaningful process.
But it works—because it’s built around you, not against you.
If this resonates with you book a 30-minute complimentary call with me. Let’s explore how to create real, lasting change in your life.
Some lovely feedback I received from my clients over the years:
“Since working with you, I have learned to love my body and treat it with kindness. Not only have I lost weight, but I also feel more confident and happy in my own skin.”
“Thank you for guiding me through a holistic approach to weight loss. It's not just about the food, it's about addressing the underlying issues that were holding me back.”
“Working on my mindset has been a game-changer for me. I no longer punish myself with extreme diets or exercise; instead, I focus on nourishing and loving my body.”