Twenty years ago, I dug Valentine’s Day chocolates out of the trash.

And that moment kicked off 15 years of restriction, rules, all-or-nothing dieting, and solid disordered eating patterns that I didn’t even recognize at the time.

In this episode of Mastering Menopause, I’m sharing the story of the Valentine’s Day that changed everything — the 1,200 calorie era, the keto obsession, intermittent fasting, marathon training, and the years of believing I just “couldn’t be trusted” around food.

I was really good at losing weight.

I just sucked at maintaining it.

I lived in the constant cycle of:
• Restrict Monday through Thursday
• Blow it on the weekend
• Start over on Monday
• Create new rules
• Break them
• Beat myself up

I stopped baking cookies for my kids.
I wouldn’t keep “trigger foods” in the house.
I truly believed I had no control.

Until I learned how to eat in a way that actually supported my metabolism instead of fighting it.

In this episode, I talk about:

• How restriction creates obsession
• Why 1,200 calories isn’t the solution
• The mental freedom that comes from tracking macros properly
• Why protein is the secret sauce
• The difference between control and food freedom
• And how I can now have two chocolates and move on with my life

This is especially for the woman in her 40s or 50s who feels stuck in the restrict–binge–restart cycle and thinks menopause is the reason she can’t maintain weight loss.

It’s not.

Your metabolism just needs a different approach.

If you’re ready to break the cycle, I’m currently enrolling for the FIT AF Metabolic Fat Loss Accelerator — a 4-week program where we spend:

• 2 weeks at true maintenance
• 2 weeks in a precision fat loss phase
• With macro guidance, workouts, and real food freedom

https://go.katalystfitness.net/fatloss-accelerator

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it.

You don’t have to live at war with your body or food anymore.

Thank you so much for listening, please share with a friend and subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

If you want to see how I can help you on your journey, book a quick 10-15 minute call so we can chat about your goals!
https://www.menopotmeltdown.com/quickchatnow

Now accepting clients! Fit AF 90 Day Program

https://go.katalystfitness.net/fit-after-fifty

Free No BS Menopause Secrets Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kathykatalyst/?ref=share

For all my social links: https://go.katalystfitness.net/kathykatalyst

Do you have a question that you would like answered on the show? Please ask your question here:
https://go.katalystfitness.net/podcast-question-entry

Have a personal question? Email me at kathycote9142@comcast.net

Check out the Mastering Menopause Macros Course on making weight loss in menopause easy by tracking macros. All the tips and tricks that my clients and I have used!

https://www.menopotmeltdown.com/mastering-menopause-macr...

How I Finally Found Food Freedom- My 20 Year Disordered Eating Story