Why losing weight and boosting energy after 40 feels so hard (and the solution that actually works)

When I meet someone new, there’s always the inevitable question:

“So… what do you do?”

I say,

“I’m a health coach. I help women over 40 boost energy, naturally master hormones and feel confident in their skin - without sacrificing all the joys in life.”

Cue the curious head tilt, and a look that says: Okay… but what does that mean?

Some politely nod. Others lean in and ask the question I love most:

“So how does that work?”

The best way I can explain it?

Transforming your health is like climbing a mountain. It’s always better with a guide.

Finding the right support to beat low energy and weight gain after 40.

Imagine you’ve decided to take on a life-changing trek - let’s say Kilimanjaro.

It’s exciting, but also daunting. You know you’ll feel amazing having achieved it, but the path ahead is unknown, the weather unpredictable, and there’s a real risk of getting lost along the way.

You wouldn’t wing it with a quick Google search or just copy what someone else is doing on Instagram, right?

If you’re smart, you’ll find a mountain guide. Someone who knows the terrain, can spot the hidden pitfalls, and won't let you wander off a cliff when the fog rolls in.

Someone you can trust, that's walked the trail, who knows the safest paths, where the tricky spots are, and how to pace the climb so you actually make it to the top.

A good guide will start by listening to you.

• Why do you want to climb?

• What’s your past experience?

• What’s important to you about this journey?

In health coaching, this is like the first stage of my RISE 40+ programme- Reflect.

We explore what’s been holding you back, whether that’s sugar cravings, stubborn weight gain in perimenopause, or feeling constantly tired no matter what you do.

We start where you are.

Small changes that help balance hormones and increase energy for women over 40

A mountain guide doesn’t take you straight to the steepest slope. They start with easier paths - breaking in your boots, waking up muscles you haven’t used before, and adjusting to the altitude.

In health coaching, small steps might look like:

• Tweaking your breakfast to skip the 3pm crash.

• Add two short walks into your day instead of a punishing gym schedule.

• Improve sleep habits before tackling bigger changes.

As you start to implement actions, we focus on small, sustainable tweaks that build strength and confidence without overwhelm.

Client story:

Lisa, a brilliant but overwhelmed Mum and business owner had no energy after 40. She was surprised when we started with small changes.

“Really, is that it?” she asked.

We began with just a few simple, realistic goals to help her boost energy naturally. Like adding more nutrition at breakfast by positioning a jar of nuts and seeds on the countertop to boost protein intake.

Steady, deliberate, and completely achievable for where she was at. She described it as “really gentle… completely achievable." This pace meant she was winning from day one. As Lisa put it, “It just spiralled up… it felt really positive.”

Those small wins built her confidence and created lasting momentum. She began adding her own things and her progress began snowballing. Within weeks she was sleeping better, feeling more hopefult and positive and went on to lose 8lbs and clear her acne.

How to stay on track when life gets busy

As the journey up the mountain continues, the climb gets steeper, the landscape changes. There are loose rocks to slip on, boulders to navigate, and moments where the path seems to disappear entirely.

On a health journey, these “boulders” might be:

• Challenges maintaining healthy habits on holiday

• Managing meal prep during busy work weeks when cooking feels impossible

• Hormonal changes after 40 that make weight loss feel slower than it used to.

• Finding time for exercise when you're at capacity

Your guide helps you around these obstacles, maybe by showing you a better route, lightening your load, or teaching you how to use your tools.

In health coaching, that might be:

• meal planning strategies for a busy week

• finding stress relief techniques that work for you

• adjusting nutrition to work WITH your changing hormones, not against them.

• carving out time for you

Avoiding the trap of falling back into old habits

Sometimes on the mountain, you wander off the marked path. Without a guide, you might panic, waste energy going in circles, or worse - give up entirely and head back down.

Instead, your guide calls you back and helps you rejoin the path.

In coaching, this could be supporting you after a period of emotional eating, helping you find time for movement again after a stressful season, or reminding you of your “why” when motivation dips for weight loss after 40.

Client story:

Cecile had tried countless times to improve her health, but every time life got busy, she drifted off course.

Together, we built small, realistic steps that fit her life, so getting back on track never felt like starting over.

She said having a personalised plan - plus quick support when she wobbled - kept her moving forward without the guilt or pressure she’d felt in the past.

The goal isn’t about perfection - results come with progress and persistence, with someone cheering you on all the way.

Reaching Your Summit: What Success Really Looks Like

When you finally reach the summit, your guide celebrates with you. You take in the breathtaking view, realise how far you’ve come, and feel a rush of pride and accomplishment.

In health coaching, your summit moments might be:

• Waking up with natural energy instead of hitting snooze five times

• Wearing your favorite jeans and tucking your shirt in

• Feeling confident in photos instead of hiding behind everyone else

• Getting quality sleep and feeling truly rested

• Having sustained energy all day without the 3pm crash

• Feeling in control of your eating for the first time in years

We celebrate these wins - because recognising your progress is part of what makes lasting weight loss and energy changes stick.

How to maintain your results long-term

Here’s something many people forget: coming down the mountain safely is just as important as the climb up.

Without ongoing support, it’s easy to stumble back into old habits.

That’s why I offer follow-on packages for women who’ve reached their goal but want to maintain their weight loss and energy levels long-term.

This might mean navigating new challenges like menopause, changing work schedules, or stressful life events, while holding on to the energy, confidence and health you’ve worked so hard to build.

Why I could be the guide for you

I’ve walked this path myself, multiple times. I've taken the wrong turns, stumbled over the rocks and mapped out a clear path.

I’ve overcome stubborn weight struggles and have found sustainable eating habits that don’t exclude wine, chocolate or joy.

I quit smoking, addressed my relationship with alcohol and made exercise something I love and am eternally committed to.

I healed my cystic adult acne and hormone imbalance after coming off the pill.

I recovered from chronic stress and burnout, and rebuilt my health after 40 with a focus on hormone support, brain health, and long-term energy.

But all of this took me a long time to work out on my own. Each challenge a whole new mountain to climb.

If only I knew about health coaching back then. I would have invested in a heartbeat. Not only would it have saved me lot of time, but also a lot of struggle and feeling lost too.

What I learned over time is that the same healthy habits that eventually helped me to heal and rise into this much more exciting phase in my life, are the ones that will continue to support my quality of life well into my old age.

Now, as a certified health coach trained at the College of Naturopathic Medicine, with additional training in mindfulness and meditation, I combine science, strategy, and compassion to help my clients create results that truly last.

I don’t just dole out another cookie cutter diet and exercise plan and say “good luck.”

I support you on your unique journey to greatness - dialling in on the 5 core pillars of stress, sleep, nutrition, movement and hormones - all without sacrificing the joys in life.

Because what's more important to me than anything is that we all live life to the fullest and enjoy every step of the journey.

Ready to RISE?

If you’re a woman over 40 who:

• Feels drained and wants her energy back naturally

• Wants to lose weight sustainably without restrictive dieting

• Is tired of trying to figure this out alone

• Is ready to feel in control of her health again

My RISE 40+ programme is your first step towards the summit.

And if you’ve already climbed your mountain, started losing weight or getting fit but want to keep it going - especially through menopause, busy schedules, or stressful life changes - my follow-on packages help you stay on track without slipping back into old habits.

Because here's what I know for sure: You deserve to feel amazing at every age. Your best years aren't behind you - they're waiting at the summit.

📩 Book your free consultation call today, let’s plan your route to the top. Because trust me, the view from up there? Absolutely worth it.

with love,

Nancy

the non-judgy health coach.