By: Elizabeth Honeycutt
When it comes to weight loss for women over 40, the outdated advice of “eat less, move more” often does more harm than good. As a Functional Medicine Practitioner and founder of Nutrition the Natural Way, Dani Conway has helped thousands of women undo the damage of chronic dieting. For those stuck in the cycle of calorie counting, endless cardio, and yo-yo results, a more tailored, science-supported approach may be a better solution.
Sustainable weight loss isn’t about sheer willpower—it’s about biochemical individuality.
Why Dieting Fails Women Over 40
Picture this: a busy professional woman living in Brisbane, juggling a full-time career, raising teens, and trying to squeeze in workouts between errands and emails. For years, she’s followed various diet trends—from low-fat to low-carb, juice cleanses to intermittent fasting—all in the pursuit of weight loss. And while some may have worked temporarily, the weight always crept back, often with added fatigue, irritability, and bloating.
By the time she reaches her 40s, she feels more challenged. Despite eating less and exercising more, the scale won’t budge. Sleep is often disrupted, energy levels feel lower, and cravings are harder to manage.
That’s because hormone shifts play a significant role during this time. Estrogen levels begin to decline, cortisol can rise more easily under stress, and insulin resistance may quietly settle in. Add years of chronic yo-yo dieting, under-eating, and intense workouts to the mix, and it’s no surprise the body may feel like it’s in “survival mode.”
The empowering news: these metabolic changes are natural, but they’re not necessarily permanent. Women don’t need to impose more restrictions—they need a strategy that works with their individual biochemistry, not against it.
The UNdiet Approach: What Actually Works
Dani Conway’s signature method focuses on moving away from the diet mentality and embracing customized metabolic nutrition. This involves:
- A personalized approach to ideal macronutrient intake, ensuring that women are eating enough for their body and metabolism.
- Moving away from restrictive “diet foods,” while optimizing meal timing and satiety to support weight and fat loss.
- Incorporating strategies that support hormone balance and gut health restoration.
In her Wellness Collective, a growing number of women—including clients from Australia—have experienced positive transformations by following this approach. Weight loss becomes more achievable as a result of healing—not through punishment or deprivation. Conway further personalizes her approach with one-on-one clients, using functional bloodwork and innovative testing to “test, don’t guess” in order to identify subclinical imbalances that could be impacting weight loss.
Key Factors to Address for Weight Loss Over 40
Let’s break down what seems to matter most:
- Leptin and Insulin Resistance
These are two important factors that can affect fat loss. Leptin is the satiety hormone. If it’s out of balance, the brain may not get the message that it’s full. Insulin resistance can lead to blood sugar instability and the tendency to store fat, especially around the belly.
- Chronic Under-Eating
Yes, eating too little can contribute to weight stalls, and even potential weight gain. Many women in midlife unknowingly slow their metabolism by under-eating over time. The body responds by holding onto every calorie, interpreting the situation as “famine mode.”
- Nutrient Deficiencies
Micronutrients such as B12, magnesium, and zinc are crucial for thyroid function, hormone production, and energy metabolism. It’s common for women to have lower levels of these nutrients, especially after years on restrictive diets.
- Gut Health and Detoxification
The gut and liver are key in hormone processing. If either of these systems is sluggish, the entire system may feel off-balance. Bloating, fatigue, and weight gain could be signs that something is amiss. A customized protocol can help restore balance.
Fueling Before Fasting: A Smarter Way to Intermittent Fast
Fasting has potential benefits—but it’s not one-size-fits-all, especially for women over 40. Conway teaches her clients to “fuel before fasting”, which means:
- Ensuring adequate protein and healthy fat intake while optimizing macronutrient balance and meal timing throughout the day.
- Transitioning to fasting windows that align with hormone cycles, varying the approach so the body doesn’t “adapt” over time.
- Avoiding extended fasting until the metabolism is rebalanced first.
This method aims to prevent the hormonal backlash and burnout that many women experience on more generic intermittent fasting plans. Women navigating menopause or perimenopause, particularly in Australia, may find this approach beneficial for long-term energy and hormone balance.
It’s Time to UNdiet Your Life
Weight loss over 40 doesn’t require suffering—it requires a thoughtful strategy. When women nourish their bodies, support their hormones, and tailor their nutrition to their unique needs, their bodies often respond with increased energy, clarity, and potential fat loss.
This is the approach Conway helps women achieve through her programs, like the Weight Loss Accelerator, and through her one-on-one coaching. Every woman is different. That’s why no single, universal plan works for everyone long-term.
Whether based in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth, the message remains clear: midlife transformation is possible when women embrace nourishment instead of restriction and “stop starving, and start living!”
Want to learn more? Visit Nutrition the Natural Way to join the growing community of women redefining wellness in their 40s and beyond. You can also download her complimentary guide, “Hormones, Hot Flashes, and High Fat!”
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While the strategies discussed may be beneficial for some individuals, results may vary. Before making any significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional or a qualified nutritionist to ensure that any approach is suitable for your personal health needs. The article does not claim to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. Always seek professional advice before beginning any new health regimen or treatment.
