When the diet just doesn’t work anymore …

When the diet just doesn’t work anymore …

by Debbie Gallimore | Jun 5, 2026 | Blog, Health and Wellness, News, Stress and Anxiety, Tips

If you’re over 40 and you feel that your body stops responding to you usual diet, exercise and lifestyle habits that have kept you well, energised and feeling like you then this one is for you.

I hear time and time again what women are quietly thinking as part of my role as a health professional, and you can see the relief in speaking their inner thoughts out loud:

“I’m sick of thinking about food all day”

“I want to feel comfortable in my clothes”

“I look in the mirror and don’t recognise the person staring back at me”

“I just want to feel like me again”

“I think I’m broken”

“My body is different to other peoples, and it makes me sad”

“Part of me thinks I should just accept where I am, and I want to but another part of me feels I want to be happy and feel good – it’s a constant battle!”

The most frustrating part is you’re trying. You’re doing all the things….

You’re cutting back

You’re fasting

You’re taking the supplements

You’re walking 10k per day

You’re eating “healthy”

You’re eating your body weight of protein (don’t get me started on this the image below says it all!)

You’ve tried everything Instagram is chucking at you like Keto, intermittent fasting, counting calories, increasing cardio, cold water plunging, supplements and HRT but it seems nothing is working, and you feel like your body is working against you.

The help you’re looking for seems to be

“Just eat less”

“Just take HRT”

“Move more”

…. And my favourite “You just need better willpower”

No wonder at this stage of life when were already tired from balancing all the plates, you’re exhausted and overwhelmed by this whole bloody thing we call middle age.

Yes, perimenopause is a change in hormones but it’s just not that simple. To support symptoms of weight gain, sleep, digestion, anxiety, cravings, energy and body composition we need to look at a much bigger picture than oestrogen and progesterone alone.

When I say bigger picture, I mean:

Hormones

Thyroid

Stress hormones

Blood sugar

Energy production (ATP)

Metabolism

Digestion

Liver clearance

Inflammation

Movement

Sleep

Fun and connectivity

Food intake

You are not broken

You just need to know that sex hormones is only part of band, you need to work with the whole orchestra to get you back in sync.

That’s what my 12 Week Nutritional Programme - Hormone Harmony does. We work on all the orchestra to bring the harmony you need to start feeling like your amazing self.

So, if you’re feeling deflated, frustrated or just fed up of feeling the way you do, schedule a call and we can come up with a plan that truly works for you:

About The Author

My culinary upbringing lacked a maternal figure, often featuring frozen and highly processed meals. In my teenage years, I formed an emotional connection with sugary treats. The more I tried to shed pounds by dieting and excluding certain food groups, the stronger my cravings became. I found myself trapped in a cycle of bingeing and purging that seemed
impossible to break free from. Does this sound familiar?