Do you have some super-friendly fat cells hanging out in places you don’t want? 

I know you’ve been told to starve those fat cells and exercise the heck out of them but what if that advice doesn’t actually work? 

Let’s look at the best ways you can shrink those fat cells while boosting your metabolism.

>Exercise the right way 

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been shown to increase fat burning even at rest. But it is important how you exercise during this season. No more than 2-3 intense workouts per week for a total of around 40 minutes is the recommendation for Wise Women. Too much intense exercise can cause what the body perceives as stress and increase cortisol levels (fat storage). Protein after a workout is essential for muscle repair and blood sugar stabilization. Along with HIIT (low impact counts), strength training is important for reducing bone loss and increasing muscle mass which increases fat...

Decreasing belly fat isn't about one factor. Take a look at each area and choose what to implement to see the results you want.

1. Reduce cortisol

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone. Cortisol imbalances cause weight gain, and weight gain causes cortisol imbalance. This is a crazy hamster wheel that you have to jump off of to find balance.

Choose one area to focus on: 

>>Get more sleep

>>Try an adaptogenic herb like Ashwagandha

>>Find simple ways to reduce your daily stress, and try asking for help.

2. Avoid dehydration

3. Reduce alcohol and caffeine 

4. Focus on anti-inflammatory foods 

Choose foods like clean grass-fed protein, wild-caught fish, free-range chicken, green leafy vegetables, low glycemic fruits, nuts, seeds, natural oils, butter, olive oil, and whole grains. 

5. Avoid insulin spikes 

Keeping your blood sugar balanced is key to decreasing belly fat and increasing your...

Getting older isn’t all bad, in fact there are so many good things about increasing age. But weight gain, increased belly fat and stubborn weight are not a “good” part of getting older. Let’s discover the reasons behind the extra weight and why it can be so hard to lose.

It’s all about hormones. As women, we have been gifted with a plethora of amazing hormones, moving into the menopause season of life causes those hormones to start shifting to new levels. This shift is usually at the root of most of your frustration with weight loss.

While there are a ton of changes you can make on a daily basis to your diet and lifestyle I would highly recommend that you find a Functional medicine doctor to work with you so you can know the hard data behind your symptoms.

Here are some of the key areas to investigate for optimal fat loss:

• Declining Estrogen levels - can cause your cortisol & androgen levels to increase. While hormonal balance isn’t...

Why do we avoid hard things? 

Because we are human 

You’re not alone in your desire to avoid hard things. 

 It is a self-preservational instinct! Hard things can be painful. 

 Yet, we must be careful that we don’t give ourselves the name of “undisciplined”, “lazy”, or “weak”. These may be characteristics that you need to develop, but they are not what define you. You don’t need to wear those labels as name tags. As a matter of fact, the desire to avoid the hard and difficult things in life is found in the nature of your brain. Yep, the brain is wired to avoid pain (aka- hard things) and to seek pleasure (eat the treats). There is a reason why the “road less traveled” is harder than the well-worn path. The well-worn path is easier! That same concept is happening in your brain. The thoughts you think the most are the well-worn paths (literal neuro pathways) in your brain, therefore the...

So, what can you do about hormonal weight gain? 

Well, your plan of action will depend on what hormones are out of whack but these basic actions are a good place to start. 

CHILL OUT. 

When you are stressed, your body produces lots of cortisol to help alleviate the stress. That's why cortisol is called the stress hormone. Chronic stress can lead to weight gain insulin resistance, among other issues. Therefore, your first step to dealing with hormonal weight gain is to deal with the cause of your stress. Meditate, do yoga, practice mindfulness. Whatever you do, try to relax. The less stressed you feel, the better.   

GET SOME REST. 

If you have poor sleeping habits, it's time to work on that.  

People who sleep less have been shown to have higher BMIs. Try to get 7 or 8 hours of sleep a night. This will help regulate your hormones, returning your system to a healthy rhythm. Your body and your brain need to...

Ever fallen down the rabbit trail of shame and guilt when your weight starts to creep up on you and there doesn’t seem to be a good reason why?

Why is it that our first instinct is to blame ourselves for unexplained weight gain? 

But what if your weight gain isn’t about self-control or lack of exercise. What if the thing stopping you from shedding those extra pounds is like a plug in your drain keeping all the nasty dishwater stuck in your sink? You can’t shed the pounds until you figure out what is stopping your body from releasing that extra weight.

If you are dealing with unexplained weight problems, the chances are that your hormones are to blame. 

Let’s look at some common symptoms you may be experiencing if your hormones need support: 

• Rapid weight gain (especially in belly, hips, thighs) 
• Difficulty losing weight (even with a diet and exercise) 
• Anxiety 

• Craving carbohydrates...

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Let’s talk about the factors that help you lose weight and those that keep you from losing weight.

Believe it or not the scale is not the best instrument to measure your fat loss. The scale is only one type of measurement, it’s just a piece of metal, it’s a tool that can give you data but it is only telling you one thing - pounds up, down or the same. Those numbers can be influenced by a number of factors so you can’t take this number too seriously.

Let me suggest 2 better ways to measure your actual weight or fat loss. Measuring your body and noticing how your clothes fit or using a smart scale will give you a more accurate picture or your weight. A smart scale, which I use, will tell you how much fat you have and how much lean muscle. Your goal is to increase your lean muscle and decrease your fat.

...

It’s Christmas in July around here and I have a gift for you - The gift of Fitness!

I’ve got a super streamlined fitness challenge all ready for you and it starts today.

Join my Fitmas in July challenge now!

Each workout is designed specifically for the over 40 woman and I planned out which workout you should do each day to see the best results.

Imagine no longer feeling like you can't find time to exercise.

I'll show how easy it is to add bursts of movement into your day that will make your body feel the difference.

Have you heard about the HUGE Trim Healthy Mama store sale??

As we age, estrogen levels decline which causes inflammation to increase. As inflammation increases, so does unwanted excess belly fat. The more belly fat we have, the more inflammation. 

So, what exactly is inflammation?

Inflammation is the immune system's way of responding to injury or irritants. Chronic inflammation, what we are talking about here, means that your body is responding to problems in your system. This can lead to symptoms that last for months or even years.

When your body is dealing with inflammation it will not release fat readily. So, what can you do?

Let's start with arguably the hardest part, what you put into your body....

What you eat plays a significant role in how your body is able to respond to the changing hormones of peri menopause and menopause. And inflammation is a huge contributor to frustrating stubborn weight and the potential for chronic diseases.

We are not playing games anymore ladies! It is time to pull on your big girl...

Inflammation can show itself as multiple frustrating symptoms that disrupt your daily life.Because these symptoms are “common,” we tend to ignore them, pop a pill, and try to push through our day. But here’s the thing...chronic inflammation can lead to more serious health issues if left untreated.

>>Ready to learn the 7 signs you're overlooking?

#1 - BRAIN FOG

Brain fog, loss of concentration, and an inability to think clearly can be subtle first signs of inflammation. Don’t be quick to write off your brain fog–it may be your body trying to communicate with you and telling you it’s time to make lifestyle changes fast!

#2 - FEELING TIRED ALL THE TIME

If you are tired all the time, you may have inflammation in your body. Sleep is one factor that can lead to inflammation: getting too little sleep (below 7-9 hours) or too much sleep (more than 9 hours) every night can lead to inflammation and make you tired throughout the...