114: Why 70% of Women Gain Weight in Menopause (With No Diet Changes) w/ Cindy Topel

Weight Loss Doesn't Have to Suck

Weight Loss Doesn't Have to Suck
114: Why 70% of Women Gain Weight in Menopause (With No Diet Changes) w/ Cindy Topel
Jun 19, 2025 Season 1 Episode 1
Kimberly Severson

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This episode is absolutely REQUIRED listening if you're over 37 and wondering why your body suddenly feels like it's working against you. My guest Cindy Topel, a certified menopause specialist, just blew my mind with research that changes everything we think we know about weight gain during perimenopause and menopause. Get this: 70% of women gain weight during this transition with NO change to their diet or exercise. This isn't about willpower or "eating too much" - there are 5 specific biological changes happening in your body that have absolutely nothing to do with calories. And the best part? There are actual solutions for each one.

You'll discover why that stubborn belly fat appeared overnight and refuses to budge, what's really behind those 2-3am wake-ups (spoiler: it's not just "getting older"), and why diets that used to work suddenly don't. Cindy breaks down the science in a way that finally makes sense, plus gives you practical tools you can start using immediately. We're talking about simple changes like the morning protein habit that can improve your sleep, energy, AND workout performance - stuff that actually works with your changing body instead of against it.

If you've been beating yourself up thinking you're broken or lacking willpower, this episode will be a game-changer. You're not broken - your body just needs different support now. After listening, you'll finally understand why you've been struggling and, more importantly, what you can actually do about it. Trust me, this information should be required knowledge for every woman, and I'm honestly pissed that most of us are going through this major life transition with zero education or support.

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Effective Strategies for Losing Weight in Menopause

Take Cindy's Menopause Course

Grab your copy of my free Guide: Weight Loss Doesn't Have to Suck: The No-Diet Approach (including The Hunger Scale - a tool frequently referenced on this podcast)

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I want to hear from you! Have a question or a topic you'd like me to cover on this podcast? Email me at Kimberly@kimberlyseversoncoaching.com

Episode Artwork 114: Why 70% of Women Gain Weight in Menopause (With No Diet Changes) w/ Cindy Topel 1:04:02 Episode Artwork 113: The 12 Skills No Diet Will Ever Teach You 35:51 Episode Artwork 112: Why You Can't Stop Snacking (And How to Fix It) 31:48 Episode Artwork 111: Why Separating Fuel and Fun Foods Sabotages Weight Loss 35:33 Episode Artwork 110: Ice Cream Isn't Therapy: The Emotional Eating Fix 42:57 Episode Artwork 109: We Can Stop Making Weight Loss Feel So Hard 35:01 Episode Artwork 108: Self-Regulation is a Superpower 43:16 Episode Artwork 107: Planning Magic: The Easiest Way to Accelerate Weight Loss 36:05 Episode Artwork 106: Master Your Urges: The Complete Toolbox 45:47 Episode Artwork 105: Why You Quit on Yourself (And Four Ways to Finally Stop) 40:47 Episode Artwork 104: The 'I Don't Feel Like It' Weight Loss Solution 32:47 Episode Artwork 103: Breaking Self-Sabotage: "The Opposite" Approach to Weight Loss 26:04 Episode Artwork 102: Gained Weight? The Freakout-Free Reset Plan 40:53 Episode Artwork 101: The Urge Toolkit: What I Do When Cravings Hit 30:53 Episode Artwork 100: The 10 Skills I'd Master If I Started Over 38:09 Episode Artwork 99: Breaking the Stress Eating Cycle 31:12 Episode Artwork 98: Why Urges Feel Unbearable 36:19 Episode Artwork 97: Breaking the Craving Spell: A New Way to Handle Food Urges 40:03 Episode Artwork 96: The Hunger Scale Deep Dive: Getting to Know Your Body's Signals (Part 2) 38:02 Episode Artwork Ep # 95: The Hunger Scale Deep Dive: Getting to Know Your Body's Signals (Part 1) 40:34 Episode Artwork Ep # 94: The Missing Link Between Stress & Emotional Eating w/ Erin Wallen 42:38 Episode Artwork Ep #93: The Problem with Aggressive Health Goals (That Nobody Talks About) 34:19 Episode Artwork Ep #92: Food Is Not Your Friend (And That's Good News) 31:17 Episode Artwork Ep #91: Tackling Overeating & Sweet Urges w/ Eric Severson 46:22 Episode Artwork Ep #90: How to Lose Weight Without Missing Out 34:18