Behind the Body: Fat Loss, Metabolism & Muscle for Women Over 40
If you're a woman in your 40s or 50s struggling with perimenopause or menopause weight gain, this podcast is for you.
I'm Andrea Cutuk, a double-certified nutrition and fitness coach. I lost 20 pounds in my mid-30s and have maintained it for 10 years, through perimenopause, hormonal shifts, and real life. I'm not someone who lost weight six months ago and started a podcast. I'm someone who's lived in this body, figured it out, and has been maintaining the results long enough to know what actually works and sticks.
Every Monday, Behind the Body covers the real reasons women over 40 gain weight, can't lose it, and what to actually do about it. No generic advice. No extreme diets. Just honest, science-backed strategies built for your hormones, your metabolism, and your lifestyle in this phase of life.
Topics we cover:
- Building a body you're proud of in a sustainable way
- Perimenopause weight gain and why your body is changing
- Fat loss after 40 without restriction or deprivation
- How to boost metabolism and build a stronger body composition
- Sustainable weight loss strategies that work long-term
- Strength training for women over 40 - where to start and why it matters
- Hormone-related weight gain, cortisol, and belly fat
- How to lose fat without giving up restaurants, wine, your social life, or sanity
This isn't about motivation or 90-day challenges. It's about understanding the reality of menopause and perimenopause weight gain, and building habits that last.
New episodes every Monday.
📩 Join the BTB newsletter: https://behindthebody.com/newsletter
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Behind the Body: Fat Loss, Metabolism & Muscle for Women Over 40
How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain This Holiday (Without Giving Up Your Favorites)
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Grab the free Thanksgiving Healthy Recipe Guide (includes nutritional info and calorie-reduction options): https://behindthbody.kit.com/holidayrecipes
Many people approach Thanksgiving thinking they have two options: restrict all day and binge at dinner, or say "screw it" and start over Monday. Both strategies fail.
In this episode, my sister Monica joins me to break down exactly how to navigate Thanksgiving when you're trying to lose weight or maintain in your 40s and 50s. Monica lost 120 pounds over the last year at age 53, and this is her first Thanksgiving at her new weight.
What we cover:
The 5 Thanksgiving Diet Derailers (and how to avoid them):
- Anticipation anxiety that makes you restrict before the meal (then overeat)
- The guilt spiral that turns one indulgent meal into a 4-day bender
- Social pressure to eat someone else's cooking
- Disrupted routine that eliminates your normal structure
- Alcohol consumption lowers inhibitions and adds empty calories
Our actual Thanksgiving strategies:
- How Monica approaches cooking and hosting without overeating
- Why I front-load protein and water instead of restricting
- The "little bit of everything" approach that satisfies without overdoing it
- How to handle leftovers when you love Thanksgiving food
- Making lower-calorie cocktails that still taste incredible
Plant-based cooking hacks that don't sacrifice flavor:
- Monica's famous mushroom lentil Wellington that even meat-eaters love
- How to make stuffing with Hero Bread (high protein, high fiber)
- Reduced-calorie mashed potatoes the whole family requests
- The psychology of getting people to eat healthy food without telling them it's healthy
The maintenance mindset:
Monica shares how she transformed her relationship with food at 53, from "I can't eat this" to "I don't eat this" without feeling deprived.
This isn't about perfection. It's about enjoying Thanksgiving while staying aligned with your goals, because one meal doesn't derail or define you, but the story you tell yourself about that meal absolutely can.
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Join my BTB newsletter for weekly insights, wellness strategies, updates, and no sugarcoating, straight to your inbox every Tuesday morning → https://behindthebody.com/newsletter.
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New episodes every Monday.