I know those feelings well, because I've been there.

At 38, I found myself in a Nordstrom dressing room, trying on my third size up in jean shorts. Those fluorescent lights are terrible! I sat on that bench and broke down. I didn't recognize myself anymore, and I felt so disappointed and discouraged.

I wasn't lazy. I was doing cardio, eating salads, following all the 'healthy' advice. But my metabolism had completely shifted, and I had no idea the rules had changed.

Here's what I learned:

After 35, we start losing muscle mass faster than ever, which completely shifts our metabolism. That 'skip meals and do more cardio' strategy? It's making everything worse.

When I stopped cardio-ing myself to death and started eating actual meals with protein, carbs, and fats, and lifting weights that actually challenged me, everything changed. Not just my physical body, but my entire relationship with food, fitness, and my body.

Today:

At 44, I eat French fries and drink wine without worrying that I"m going to "blow up" or set myself back. My metabolism works with me now. We’re BFFs.

Through Behind the Body, I teach women over 40 what works for us. Not what worked at 25. Not what works for your skinny friend. What works for us, in these bodies, in these decades.

You don't need another meal plan you'll quit in two weeks. You need to understand exactly how much to eat, what to eat, and how to move, without giving up wine, carbs, or your life.