Emotional Eats Podcast: What Women Over 40 Really Need to Know About Food, Hormones, and Their Bodies Without the BS

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ If you've ever felt frustrated, stuck, or conflicted about that last bit of weight, this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and permission to choose health, peace, and sustainability over constant striving. In this episode, Kim tackles a question she hears constantly from midlife women and clients: What about the last five to eight pounds? Should we keep pushing, or is there a point where the body is actually asking for safety, stability, and compassion instead of more effort? Kim shares why this topic is complicated, emotional, and deeply tied to decades of diet culture, especially for women over 40 navigating perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. She reframes weight loss for midlife women to look consider body trust, metabolism, hormones, nervous system safety, and long-term health rather than scale obsession. You'll hear why holding onto weight, especially in the midsection, is often a protective response rather than a failure, and why doing "all the right things" does not always mean the body is ready to let go of more. Kim explains the difference between fat, inflammation, water retention, and body composition, and why the scale alone is not the best tool. Topics covered include: ·       Why the last five pounds are often the hardest in midlife ·       How diet culture keeps us blaming ourselves instead of listening to our bodies ·       The role of safety, stress, and the nervous system in fat loss ·       Why under-eating can stall progress even when habits feel "clean" ·       How protein, fiber, and food volume support metabolism ·       The impact of skipping meals, especially breakfast ·       Strength training, progressive overload, and why muscle matters more than scale weight ·       Non-exercise activity and why daily movement counts more than you think ·       Inflammation, alcohol, sugar, gluten, and individual food sensitivities ·       Why midlife bodies respond better to gentleness than pressure ·       Tiny shifts versus overhauls and why patience matters ·       Choosing between feeling leaner versus weighing less ·       Letting go of perfection and redefining success at this stage of life Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   Other links Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast. LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ If you are a woman in your 40s, 50s, or 60s who keeps promising yourself you will "start fresh" on Monday, the 1st of the month, or January 1, this episode is for you! That all or nothing pattern is not only exhausting, it is really hard on your hormones, your nervous system, and your midlife body. In this conversation, Kim shares how to ditch the giant overhaul and instead build a handful of tiny daily habits that your body can actually handle. These small shifts support your blood sugar, nervous system, and hormones so that your energy, mood, and midsection can finally start to feel better without another extreme diet or punishing plan. You will hear why starting now matters more than starting perfectly, and how waiting until "after the holidays" or "when life calms down" is keeping you stuck. Kim explains how these simple habits help calm cortisol, support insulin, protect your precious midlife muscle, and create the consistency your body is desperately craving. Instead of giving you a rigid checklist, Kim walks you through a menu of ten tiny habits that you could add into your day. You are not meant to do all of them at once. You will learn how to choose just two or three that feel realistic for your life right now and let those become your new normal. From how you start your morning, to how you eat, move, unwind, and prepare for tomorrow, each small choice is designed to be doable, repeatable, and kind to your midlife body. If you are tired of starting over, this episode will help you start smaller, start gentler, and actually stick with it. In this episode, you will learn: ·       Why starting now beats waiting for Monday, the first, or January ·       How all or nothing plans spike cortisol and make midlife weight loss harder ·       The connection between tiny daily habits, insulin resistance, and belly fat ·       Simple ways to build a calmer morning, more satisfied meals, and better sleep ·       How to pick just 2 or 3 tiny habits so you can feel successful instead of overwhelmed ·       Why your midlife body responds better to consistency, safety, and structure than perfection Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   Other links Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast. LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ This fun, lighthearted episode has a big dose of truth underneath it. Kim is 59 and officially in her "not gonna do it anymore" era, and if you are in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, you will feel this in your soul. As we move through perimenopause and post-menopause, our identity gets clearer, our tolerance for nonsense drops, and we finally start owning what we will and will not do with our time, energy, body, and brain. In this episode, Kim shares her personal "not gonna do it" list with humor and honesty. From refusing to diet and starve just to see a certain number on the scale, to breaking up with pants that dig into her waist, to officially retiring from kale, peppers, and uncomfortable shoes, this is a celebration of comfort, clarity, and self respect in midlife. She also talks about the deeper stuff, like not saying yes just to avoid making someone uncomfortable, not being the emotional life raft for everyone, and no longer apologizing for who she is. You will hear Kim talk about: ·       Why she refuses to diet, starve, or obsessively track every calorie at 59 ·       Her new rules for pants, jeans, and clothes that actually feel good on a midlife body ·       Why kale and peppers did not make the cut and how to build a healthy way of eating without forcing foods you hate ·       People pleasing, smiling on command, and no longer shrinking herself so others feel comfortable ·       Phone and text boundaries, bedtime rules, and why nighttime talking is a no ·       Saying no to loud, standing-room-only events, endless small talk, and group expectations that drain your energy ·       Letting go of the pressure to have a perfectly clean house while still creating a home that feels good ·       Claiming quiet time, alone time, hobbies, and things that bring simple joy (yes, including crocheting and reality TV) ·       Not overexplaining, not minimizing her needs, and learning to voice emotions without over sharing ·       The decision to stop apologizing for who she is after a lifetime of earning this version of herself Kim reminds you that your "not gonna do it" list is not negative or rebellious. It is about clarity. It is about finally knowing what works for you and what does not, and having the courage to honor that. Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Brain.fm   Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes   Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast.   LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes   Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ Feeling better in post-menopause isn't just about food and workouts. In this second half of the series, we shift into the emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle habits that quietly change everything. These are the simple, powerful practices that helped me finally sustain the physical habits from Part 1 )see link below), feel grounded, reduce cravings, and step into this stage of life with more confidence. In this episode, you'll hear about: ·       How grounding practices and emotional regulation made a bigger difference than I expected ·       Why nature, light exposure, and simple daily rhythms help calm your body and lower stress ·       The surprising role hobbies, puzzles, and new interests play in cutting cravings and boosting joy ·       Why midlife connection, community, and support matter more than ever ·       The lifestyle cleanups and boundaries that make your body feel safe enough to actually change If you haven't listened to episode 131, go back for the first five "cheat" habits that cover the physical basics (see link below). Put all ten together and you have a simple, sustainable framework for feeling strong, steady, and confident in post-menopause. You are not doing midlife alone. You deserve to feel nourished, grounded, and at home in your body again. Click here for Part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/131-post-menopause-belly-fat-these-5-fixes-feel-like/id1686639038?i=1000738110571 Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Brain.fm   Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes   Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast.   LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes   Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ If you've ever looked in the mirror and wondered why your midsection has changed even though you're doing everything "right," you're not imagining it. Once you hit your 40s, 50s, and 60s, the rules shift. Your hormones, metabolism, stress response, and cravings all change, and no one told you how to work with this new phase of your body. This episode kicks off a two-part series where Kim breaks down the first five foundational shifts that helped her feel better fast. These aren't complicated, restrictive, or punishing. They're simple, realistic changes that helped reduce inflammation, calm stress, support hormones, and bring back energy and confidence. Part one focuses on the physical foundations. Part two next week will dig into the emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle pieces that keep you grounded and consistent. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why your midlife body responds differently (and why it's not your fault) The first step Kim recommends before changing anything in your routine How to think about food in a way that supports hormones and metabolism The type of movement that becomes essential as you age A daily pattern that helps calm stress and cravings naturally Why This Episode Matters Midlife isn't about dieting harder. It's about understanding what your body actually needs now. These five "cheat code" foundations helped Kim lower inflammation, feel stronger, stabilize her mood and cravings, and find her footing during a chaotic season of life. If you've been feeling confused, stuck, or frustrated with midlife changes, this episode will give you clarity on where to begin and what truly makes a difference. Next Week: Part Two Part two continues with the final five shifts that support emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle health during midlife. Make sure you're following the podcast so you don't miss the rest of the series.   Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Brain.fm   Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes   Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast.   LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes   Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.