Why menopause weight won't shift, and what actually helps
You are doing the things that used to work. Eating reasonably well, moving when you can, trying to be sensible. And the weight is not shifting, or it is slowly creeping on, mostly around your middle, and nothing you used to rely on seems to touch it.
If that is you, you are not doing it wrong. Something has changed in how your body works, and once you understand it, you can do something about it.
What changes in perimenopause and menopause
As oestrogen and progesterone decline, your body starts handling food and fat differently. Insulin sensitivity tends to drop, which makes it easier to store fat and harder to release it, particularly around the abdomen. At the same time, muscle becomes harder to hold on to, and because muscle is where you burn a lot of energy, your metabolism quietly slows. Add in the broken sleep and higher stress of this stage of life, which push up cortisol and drive cravings, and you have a body that responds completely differently to the same habits.
None of that is a lack of discipline. It is physiology. And it is workable.
Why eating less and moving more stops working
The old advice to cut your calories and do more cardio can actually backfire in perimenopause and menopause. Eating too little can lower your metabolism further, raise your stress hormones, and cost you the very muscle you need to keep. Punishing yourself harder is rarely the answer.
What works is the opposite of restriction. It is supporting your blood sugar, protecting your muscle, looking after your gut and your stress, and eating in a way that works with your changing hormones rather than against them. No calorie counting, no cutting out the foods you love, nothing you cannot sustain.
How I help
I am Daisy Tappenden, a Registered Nutritional Therapist (BANT, CNHC) and Level 3 Personal Trainer (CIMPSA), working with women across the UK.
I do not hand you a diet. We start with a thorough 60-minute consultation to understand your full picture: your hormones, your history, your sleep, your stress, and what you actually eat and enjoy. From there you get a personalised nutrition and movement plan built around your life, not a template. We then work together with a follow-up every two weeks to adjust the plan and keep you supported, because knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different things.
Because I am also a personal trainer, the movement side is built in properly, not bolted on, which matters for protecting muscle and metabolism through perimenopause and menopause.
What this can look like
One of my clients, Alice, came to me at 48 having gained around two stone over a few years, sleeping badly and struggling with symptoms she could not explain. We worked on her blood sugar, gut health and stress, without calorie counting or cutting out the foods she enjoyed. Over three months she lost a stone, was sleeping through the night, and had far more energy.
Is this you?
The women I work with are done being told that weight gain at this stage is just something to accept. They want to understand what is actually going on and take meaningful action, with proper support rather than another diet they will abandon in a fortnight. If that sounds like you, we will get on well.
Why work with a registered nutritional therapist
As a member of BANT and registered with the CNHC, I work to evidence-based standards and a strict professional code, and I keep my clinical knowledge current. Nutritional therapy works alongside conventional medicine, not against it. I work with your GP where it is relevant and refer on if anything falls outside my scope.
What clients say
"I had hormonal issues and mobility issues related to excess weight and I wanted things to change in a sustainable way ... I started seeing results straight away. The steady weight loss helped my mobility, and in turn allowed me to become more active. I was less tired and did not feel the need to snack between meals ... Daisy was clear to stress that any changes shouldn't be restrictive. It needs to become a lifestyle rather than a fad, and that helped me to obsess over weight loss less and just focus on how I felt."
Tina, 56
"Before I started working with Daisy my symptoms were rosacea, weight gain, and generally not feeling great about my diet ... I feel a lot better in my body as it feels leaner and stronger and my skin feels a lot clearer in general."
Zuzanna, 40
"Before I started working with her, I was about a stone overweight, struggling with anxiety, and dealing with quite a lot of bloating ... I did have some initial reservations, mainly whether I'd be able to stick to it and if it might feel too restrictive, but those concerns quickly disappeared. After 6 months ... I've lost the stone I wanted to, my anxiety is now completely manageable, and the bloating has pretty much gone. Daisy also supported me through lowering my HRT dosage ... Even when I occasionally slipped off track, there was never any judgement, just friendly, supportive advice to help me get back on course."
Karen, 60
"I initially contacted Daisy as I was perimenopausal ... Over the course of 6 months Daisy helped me improve my mood swings, energy levels, fitness and diet ... I've dropped 2 dress sizes which has given me more energy and confidence. Daisy is very supportive and helps guide you to make realistic and achievable goals to feel better."
Roz, 48
Ready to take the first step?
Your free 20-minute consultation is an opportunity to tell me what you are experiencing, ask any questions you have about how I work, and find out whether nutritional therapy is the right next step for you. There is no obligation.
Book your free 20-minute consultation. or explore the Women's Health Nutrition Packages to find out more about how we work together.