We lose, we gain… Oh, the diet highs and lows are frustratingly familiar to so many of us, including Rachel Paul, 47. She lost an amazing 145 pounds on a weight-loss reality TV show years ago, only to watch those pounds bounce back onto her body. But what if the secret wasn’t cutting out your favorite foods, but eating them strategically? Rachel discovered that switching between high-carb and low-carb days—while enjoying delicious high-protein ice cream every single night—kept her metabolism fired up and the pounds melting off. Here’s how using Rachel’s delicious diet-cycling approach works wonders for women over 40—with no deprivation!

Why deprivation doesn’t work

Back in 2015, Rachel participated on the TV show Extreme Weight Loss and ditched almost 150 pounds with the help of trainer Chris Powell. “It was quite a year,” she gushes. But her story didn’t end there.

“Pretty much immediately after we shot the finale, I started celebrating,” she reveals. “I went back to exactly what I was doing before.” And before long, she was back up to 365 pounds. She tried new diets, but nothing worked.

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As she aged, she discovered that hormones play a major role in locking stubborn pounds on our bodies, and many diet strategies backfire. She explains, “If you go into too much of a calorie deficit, your cortisol goes crazy.” That’s the stress hormone linked with belly fat. She needed a better way than slashing calories.

How carb cycling reignited Rachel’s metabolism

In 2022, Rachel had a lightbulb moment: What about the carb cycling strategy that had worked on the show? So she gave it another try. Each week, counting her macros, she ate four high-carb days in a row, followed by two low-carb days. The seventh day was a reset day meant to mimic future maintenance.

Rachel paired comfortable carb cycling with exercise. She started hiking and later returned to CrossFit. “It’s like recess for adults,” she says.

Within four months, Rachel was down 50 pounds. After two years, she was down 165 and today she’s happily maintaining a total loss of 193 pounds! “I’m the leanest I’ve ever been,” says the Mesa, Arizona, former dance teacher, who traded size 24s for 6s and melted off 23 belly inches. And she did it all naturally. “No GLP-1s!”

High-protein ice cream made eating healthy more fun

This time around, Rachel truly looked for a sustainable way to eat. That included finding sweet treats that wouldn’t spoil her progress. “This is my life and not a TV show. If I want a cookie, I have one,” she says. “It’s not about extreme weight-loss methods. I can go to dinner and do things I love. There’s no end date.” Case in point: “I have protein ice cream every day,” she says. “It’s very filling!”

What Rachel ate on high-carb vs. low-carb days

Here’s what Rachel enjoyed for snacks and meals on her weight-loss journey:

On a high-carb day, she started with a protein shake and Parmesan cheese bagel for breakfast. For lunch she enjoyed lean ground beef or grilled chicken, rice and veggies. For dinner, she reached for chicken or beef tacos with peppers and onions. Snacks included veggies or fruit. And she treated herself to homemade high-protein ice cream every night. In the beginning, all that food translated to 155 grams of protein, 214 grams of carbs and 53 grams of fat.

On a low-carb day, Rachel enjoyed a protein shake and a waffle with peanut butter for breakfast. Then a Cobb salad with chicken for lunch and a Mexican-inspired dinner with meat and cheese, but no tortillas. Her snacks were string cheese, almonds or Greek yogurt. Oh, and again she enjoyed high-protein ice cream made in her Ninja Creami machine on her kitchen countertop. That added up to 170 grams of protein, 76 grams of carbs and 89 grams of fat per day to start. As she lost weight, she adjusted these high-carb and low-carb numbers down to match her shrinking body. (Want to calculate your own macros? Rachel recommends working with a coach or using an online macro calculator based on your current weight and goals.)

The mental freedom of diet cycling

Carb cycling got Rachel away from the roller coaster of deprivation and bingeing. “Every time I did something extreme, I gained the weight back,” she recalls. But this is different and sustainable. “It gives me so much joy, hope, confidence and peace,” she shares. “Everything I’ve done this time to lose weight, I’ve enjoyed. And I look forward to doing it for the rest of my life. It feels too good to be true. I love my lifestyle and the fact that I get to continue it feels so good!”

Rachel’s entire life transformed. “I just had a physical and my health is great.” No more high blood pressure or prediabetes. Plus her mindset is healthier. Also impressive, she says, “I’m 10 years sober.”

Today, Rachel is a transformation coach with TransformNation, helping people alongside Chris Powell achieve their weight goals. “I’m on the other side now. It’s so cool!” she says.

Science proves carb cycling works for lasting weight loss

Rachel’s experience is backed by research. The MATADOR study in the International Journal of Obesity compared people who practiced consistent calorie restriction with folks who took frequent diet breaks and ate more calories. The results: The less strict cycling group lost 55 percent more weight in 16 weeks than the others.

Another study in Advances in Nutrition found that alternate-day eating patterns targeted belly fat better than other diet approaches. Scientists suggest the power of diet cycling may be in helping women dodge deprivation so they stick to healthy changes longer rather than quit.

“Carb cycling isn’t a diet, it’s a metabolic strategy,” says Anna Cabeca, DO, author of MenuPause, which teaches women to switch between low-carb days and feast days to keep their metabolism on its toes. “Carb cycling isn’t about restriction, it’s about metabolic flexibility. Your body thrives when you signal that food is abundant, even as you’re creating the conditions for fat loss.”

Turns out, the body tends to burn fewer calories after the stress of prolonged dieting. But diet cycling can disrupt that scientific phenomenon. “For women over 40, you skip that trap,” the doctor explains.

Dr. Cabeca has seen cycling work for countless patients, and it can work for you too. “Women over 40 who’ve hit a plateau discover that their body responds to variety: You protect your hormones and fat loss finally moves again!” she says.

Rachel’s high-protein vanilla pretzel ice cream recipe

Try Rachel’s favorite vanilla dessert, which she makes at home using a Ninja Creami machine.

Ingredients:
1 (10 to 12 oz) ready-to-drink protein shake (like Costco’s vanilla Nurri)
1 Tbs. zero-sugar vanilla Jell-O powder
1 tsp. stevia
1/2 tsp. liquid vanilla extract

Directions:
Mix ingredients in a shaker bottle.
Transfer to a Ninja Creami pint jar, cover and freeze.
Run it through a Creami machine.
Add in optional mix-ins like Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps (+24 grams carbs) and zero-sugar Hershey’s syrup (+6 grams carbs).

Serves 1.
Nutrition info: 175 calories, 3 grams fat, 30 grams protein, 8 grams carbs.
Storage info: Rachel preps several jars at once and stores them in the freezer to enjoy later.

The bottom line

The beauty of diet cycling: It’s not about sacrifice, it’s about strategy. Give it a try for yourself. Your transformation story could be next, and it might just start with a spoonful of something sweet. Rachel says her high-protein ice cream tastes “like Ben & Jerry’s!”

—Additional reporting by Beth Weissman

This story originally appeared in the July 13, 2026, issue of Woman’s World.

The most inspiring celebrity weight loss stories aren’t really about the before-and-after photos—they’re about the everyday habits that made the changes last and improved their health for the better. From walking breaks to portion control to mindful eating, these seven stars have shared exactly how they transformed their wellbeing. And the common thread? Consistency, self-compassion and a focus on feeling good, not chasing a number on the scale.

Inspiring celebrity weight loss transformations

Every weight-loss journey is different. But often the ones that leave us feeling our best long-term involve realistic diet and exercise routines that are easy to stick with even on busy days. Here’s how some of our favorite celebs have done it:

Al Roker

The Today show weatherman lost 150 pounds after gastric bypass surgery in 2002—and he’s kept it off for more than two decades. Al Roker’s secret is daily movement: 20 to 30 minutes on the treadmill or in Central Park, about 10 minutes of weight training each morning using the Start TODAY app, and what he calls “walking snacks,” short bursts of activity at his walking desk or through 30 Rockefeller Center.

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“There’s no magic bullet. You’re still going to have to put in the work,” Roker said. He even still enjoys ribeye and apple crisp—just in moderation.

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Ree Drummond

The Pioneer Woman shed more than 50 pounds by counting calories, cutting back on sugar and alcohol and sticking to a consistent exercise routine. As Drummond shared on her blog, she walked her dogs daily, used a rowing machine and did floor Pilates six days a week.

When she hit a plateau at six weeks, she added strength training and bumped her protein from 15 to 20 percent of her calories to 30 to 40 percent. “The way I feel today, it isn’t about the weight loss,” she wrote. “Feeling good is really all that matters.”

Kathy Bates

The Oscar-winning actress lost 100 pounds over seven years, with Ozempic helping her drop the final 15 to 20. A type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2017 was her wake-up call. Kathy Bates learned to listen to her body’s hunger cues, stopped eating after 8 p.m. and leaned on determination instead of willpower.

“People say, ‘Well, it was the Ozempic.’ F**k you, it was the Ozempic! It took me years to do this,” Bates told Variety. She went from a 3X to a size 10 by tuning in to the subtle “involuntary sigh” her body makes when it’s satisfied.

Adele

The British singer lost 100 pounds over two years—but weight loss was never the goal. Mental health was. “I realized that when I was working out, I didn’t have anxiety. It was never about losing weight,” Adele told British Vogue.

Adele splits her workouts into three sessions: weight training in the morning, hiking or boxing in the afternoon and cardio at night. She doesn’t deny herself either—McDonald’s is still a weekly treat. The routine eased her back pain and significantly reduced her anxiety.

Lizzo

The Grammy winner reduced her body fat by 16 percent and lowered her BMI by 10.5 points through a calorie deficit and weight training. Lizzo, who calls her approach “weight release,” told the Just Trish podcast, “It’s just the science for me: calories in, versus calories out.”

She also overhauled a vegan plan that had her eating 3,000 to 5,000 calories a day in processed foods. Switching to whole foods like beef, chicken and fish finally left her feeling genuinely full.

Chrissy Metz

The This Is Us actress lost 100 pounds in under five months in 2010 with two simple strategies: a 2,000-calorie diet and 20 minutes of walking a day. Chrissy Metz has been open about how childhood trauma and emotional eating shaped her relationship with food.

“I always say our bodies don’t define us—they just happen to be our vessels,” Metz said. She credits self-love and mental health work as the foundation of her transformation.

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Jennifer Hudson

The EGOT winner lost 80 pounds and went from a size 16 to a size 6 by joining WeightWatchers in 2009 and embracing portion control. “I used to deprive myself, thinking that was healthy. I didn’t eat pasta, fried food, red meat. I hadn’t had pizza in 10 years,” Jennifer Hudson told Self.

Now, Hudson eats balanced meals all day and fits in small bursts of movement. “I just get up and walk. Do something. Something is better than nothing,” she shared.

Imagine losing and gaining 1,000 pounds over the course of your lifetime—the weight of a baby grand piano. That’s what Geneen Roth, 74, endured through decades of compulsive eating, yo-yo dieting and crushing body shame. But here’s the game-changing truth she discovered: Her struggle wasn’t really about food at all. It was about the stories she was telling herself in her head. And once she learned to rewrite those stories with six simple steps, everything improved. Now, she’s sharing her breakthrough method that’s helping thousands of women finally escape compulsive eating—and science proves it works.

Geneen Roth battled with compulsive eating for decades

For years, Geneen heard cruel comments about her weight and let them shape how she saw herself. As a result, she hated her body. “I never spent a day in which I wasn’t either on a diet or a binge.” At times she starved herself, surviving on a “brown diet” (only cigarettes, coffee and diet soda). She also swung between wildly different advice—plant-based, Atkins, intermittent fasting. During one bout of compulsive eating, she gained 80 pounds in five weeks.

What did Geneen get from all that struggle? Loads of emotional and physical pain that was affecting her long-term health. The malnutrition even led to an osteoporosis diagnosis. “I’d wake up every morning with a kind of heaviness, sadness, a feeling that something was wrong with me. I kept looking through life with wounded lenses.”

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How Geneen quit yo-yo dieting

Then Geneen finally had a reckoning with disordered eating and vowed to change her eating habits—by changing her mindset. She quit dieting, found better tools and started educating women. The key to recovery and lasting joy? Rewriting the outdated stories stuck in her head about her body, weight and worth with new wisdom. That’s how the compulsive eating finally loosened its grip on her life.

6 steps to heal from compulsive eating

Ready to try Geneen’s life-changing approach for yourself? Geneen admits, “I’d been in 40 years of therapy and spiritual practice and neither one of those unbound me like these six steps did.” Follow these steps when you feel stuck in a destructive eating pattern…

Step 1: Recognize a trigger
Step 2: Accept your role in the scenario
Step 3: Name the feeling driving it (such as unworthiness, inadequacy, loneliness, shame)
Step 4: Look back to the first time you felt that feeling
Step 5: Identify the false belief you formed about yourself in that moment
Step 6: Forgive yourself for that false belief and move on

Learn how to use this process to change your thought patterns with more detailed step-by-step instructions here.

How these steps work in practice

Here’s a real-world example: Geneen heard a cruel comment about her weight as an adult that sent her down an emotional spiral where she recalled the first time—as a child—when she felt judged about her weight. Back then, she felt inadequate and started telling herself she was unworthy. It triggered compulsive eating as a soothing technique and a survival mechanism. But it was all based on an untrue story she was telling herself in her head.

“This six-step process gives us permission to question the lies,” Geneen explains. “After realizing the hurt was about a mistaken interpretation I’d made decades ago, the self-hatred began to dissipate.” It takes practice, but this mental shift changes everything, forever.

The radical results: 1,000 lbs gained and lost!

“I want women to take heart that what they believe is impossible is not impossible,” urges Geneen. This six-step tool allows you to never get lost in your head, or lost in unhealthy patterns, ever again. Instead, you can feel safe in your own body and safe in your decisions around food. She sums it up this way: “Once you know where home is, you never un-know.”

Over 17 years, Geneen reveals, “I lost, in pounds, the equivalent of a small horse or a baby grand piano.” But the bigger transformation was her mindset. “Losing weight is not the answer to anything but losing weight,” says the bestselling author, whose experience turned into 11 books and a career teaching women to heal their thoughts on food and self-worth. “Dropped pounds couldn’t erase the buried shame and lies I believed about myself.”

Today, Geneen has a healthier, happier relationship with her body and her life than ever before.

Why intuitive eating alone isn’t enough to stop compulsive eating

We’ve all heard of intuitive eating. It’s about getting in touch with our natural hunger cues and stopping when we feel full. But without first completing Geneen’s six steps, we often can’t solve our eating challenges. Why? Mentally, we’re still stuck at the age of our earliest emotional hurts. “My relationship with food stopped developing at the age at which I was first shamed for my body—12,” Geneen says.

So when a woman tells herself to eat intuitively, she’s really asking a scared kid how to survive around food, which may involve sneaking, binge eating episodes or starving. “Now I understand that for intuitive eating to truly be a reflection of what best takes care of you, there has to be an adult present in the thought process,” she says.

Instead, try this quick reframing trick to bring your current wisdom into the situation. To truly nourish your body, ask yourself: “What do I need today, not back then?”

Geneen shares the complete journey of her transformation in her new book, Love, Finally, where she offers even more guidance on rewriting your story and finding lasting peace with food and your body.

Science proves this compassion-based approach works

Obesity medicine specialist Betsy Dovec, MD, is working to erase shame-based narratives that are holding women back from achieving their health goals. She says, “Performing more than 6,500 bariatric surgeries has taught me that every patient carries a story far heavier than the number on a scale. True healing begins the moment you feel safe, believed and supported.”

Geneen’s mental trick for beating compulsive eating is research-backed. Dieters who received compassion-focused therapy showed significant improvements in depression, emotional eating and self-criticism compared with standard obesity treatment alone, finds a 2026 PLoS One study.

And healing can happen remarkably fast. Just one 15-minute session of self-compassion improved feelings of body image shame and boosted self compassion in women, finds research in Behavioral Therapy.

What you can do today to start healing from compulsive eating

True healing from compulsive eating is within your reach—starting today. You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. Geneen’s journey proves that healing is possible and joy is available to you when you address the stories in your head, not just the food on your plate. “I know that inconceivable change is possible!” Geneen promises.

And Dr. Dovec confirms she sees patients fully heal. “When shame is lifted, people advocate for themselves and finally live fully.” By adding mindset work to other weight related tools, “we see life-changing results.”

A version of this story originally appeared in the June 29, 2026, issue of Woman’s World

What if one simple food swap could help you lose weight, reverse diabetes and feel decades younger? That’s exactly what happened to Janice T., 70, when she discovered the secret behind a fresh approach to vegan diets. Simply skipping cooking oils transformed her health—and it’s working for hundreds of thousands of others too. Her doctor even took her off diabetes medication! Sound too good to be true? Keep reading for more inspiring details, plus a delicious recipe to get you started.

Meet Javant Benton: The new voice behind vegan, no-oil diets

Plant-based, no-oil eating? That’s the message behind the new bestselling cookbook Make Your Own by Javant Benton, who lost 85 pounds and restored his health.

Years ago, Benton was struggling with high blood pressure, high blood sugar and a cancer scare. A diet heavy on meat, fried foods and cooking oils was stealing his health. But then he made a miraculous switch to wholesome vegan eating without a drop of cooking oil. The transformation was remarkable—he lost 85 pounds and got his health back! Now he’s on a mission to share this gift with others through his inspiring YouTube channel and Instagram platform. (Learn all about his eating advice here.) Now Benton has nearly 1 million loyal followers online. Keep reading for success stories from two of his fans.

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Janice lost 36 pounds and reversed her diabetes

Janice T., 70, started eating more of Benton’s vegan diet recipes and cut her meat consumption in half. Then she saw the type of quick results people dream about. She lost 6 pounds the first month and went on to drop 36 pounds and two pant sizes total. She also improved her blood pressure and lowered her diabetes A1C from 7.2 to 5.2—her doctor even took her off medication!

Janice shares, “My favorite Javant-inspired recipes are the white bean chili with Cajun cornbread, vegan buffalo sandwich with spicy mango buffalo sauce, sun-dried tomato pasta salad and German chocolate cake. However, there are so many delicious, healthy recipes!”

Diana dropped 30 pounds after heart surgery and cancer

And Janice is not alone. All across the world, women are discovering the power of Benton’s vegan, no-oil eating approach. Each one has her own inspiring journey. Want to hear about more real-life results? Meet Diana, who improved her health and is now paying it forward to help her community…

After major open-heart surgery and a cancer diagnosis, Diana Morgan Burgess gained weight even though she ate clean, avoided meat and exercised. She needed to shake things up a bit. So she cut out oils and tried Benton’s dishes. “That made a huge difference.” As a result, she lost more than 30 pounds and is now cancer-free. She also improved her sleep quality and eliminated the chronic mucus in her throat. “People think I’m lying about being 64. Health is wealth!”

How Diana conquered her sweet tooth

Diana had a huge sweet tooth. But Benton taught her to quiet cravings by snacking on medjool dates. “It makes a difference in my appetite.” Plus, eating vegan with no oils hasn’t stolen Diana’s “food joy.” She says, “I totally enjoy my food. You can be creative with it.”

Diana, a business owner in Jamaica, admits she started out as a skeptic. But after improving her health, she’s a believer. Now she gives people copies of Benton’s vegan, no-oil cookbook. “Obesity is a real problem in my community. I’m helping people get healthy!”

Try this recipe: Vegan strawberry shortcake protein bars

Enjoy for yourself one of Benton’s vegan diet, no-oil dessert recipes that are helping women lose weight and restore health.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup nut or seed butter
1/4 cup plant milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
8 medjool dates, pitted
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based protein powder
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
2 cups freeze-dried strawberries

Directions:
• Line an 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
• In a food processor, mix butter, milk and vanilla. Add dates and process until smooth.
• Add rolled oats, protein powder, flax, chia and salt to form a thick dough. (If too moist, add a bit more protein powder. If too dry, add a splash more milk.)
• Fold strawberries into the mixture.
• Press mixture into the prepared pan. Place in the freezer for 1 hour. Cut into 8 equal pieces.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

The bottom line on vegan eating without oils

You can still enjoy your favorite desserts and comfort-food eats with a healthier approach by following Javant Benton’s recipes from Make Your Own. Weight-loss success stories like Diana’s prove the approach is deliciously successful!

This story originally appeared in the June 15, 2026, issue of Woman’s World.

Summer means BBQs, potlucks and parties where we gather around family and food. All that fun can foil our best weight-loss intentions. Until now. Bestselling cookbook author Javant Benton found a way to make all of your favorite foods deceptively healthy and keep them delicious. The proof: He lost 85 pounds and has more than 1 million fans enjoying his dishes. His approach is perfect for women who love food, don’t want to feel deprived and want to enjoy summer socializing. Keep reading to learn about Javant’s healthy-food diet plan to lose weight and keep it off long term.

How Javant discovered healthy food swaps to lose weight

Growing up in the South, enjoying his grandma’s fried cooking, Javant became prediabetic, prehypertensive and overweight, like many of his relatives. But when he had a cancer scare, he embraced advice from nutrition pioneer Joel Fuhrman, MD. He swapped his usual heavy fare for plant-based meals. He lost 85 pounds eating nutrient-dense foods and transformed his health.

Inspired, Javant became a certified nutritarian cook and health coach, sharing plant-based recipes online. Now fans can’t get enough of his nostalgic dishes made with a healthy twist, like cauliflower “wings,” carrot cake breakfast cookies and homemade Fig Newtons. Fans also devour his “veggie ground” recipe— it’s like ground beef but made with finely chopped walnuts, cauliflower, onions and spices and works in everything from lasagna to burritos. It’s big on flavor, with zero deprivation.

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“If you’re eating the standard American diet, you’re going to have good results switching to healthy vegan dishes,” he promises. “Don’t change what you make—change how you make it!” Javant, the author of Make Your Own, knows firsthand how a healthy diet change requires two things: tweaking recipes and practicing self-care in social situations. Here’s how to master both…

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6 tips for making healthy food swaps to lose weight

Ready to transform your summer meals? Here are the healthy eating practices that Javant lives by:

Choose whole, unrefined grains

Swap out rice for millet or quinoa. Bake with nutrient-dense flours made with almond, chickpea or arrowroot. Javant also chooses to avoid ultra-processed wheat since it causes blood-sugar spikes and contains few nutrients.

Focus on fiber

Get it from foods such as fruits, vegetables and legumes. Javant says, “Fiber does wonders for your colon, helping prevent gut imbalances.”

Get healthy fats

Find them in nuts and seeds. Javant also recommends skipping cooking oil. “The healthiest fats on the planet are polyunsaturated fats from nuts and seeds,” he says. “Extracted oils, including olive oil, are absorbed quickly by the body, leading to rapid fat storage.”

Sweeten with dates

To avoid added refined sugar and reduce cravings, he recommends sweetening recipes with medjool dates, which contain healthy antioxidants.

Fill up on nutrients, not empty calories

It’s possible to be a junk-food vegan, relying on processed carbs, Javant says. The real goal: “You want to take in the foods that contain the most micronutrients per calorie,” explains weight-loss expert Dr. Fuhrman. “Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals; they do not contain calories, but they have vital functions in the body.”

You can still eat meat

Not ready to switch to a fully plant-based eating plan? That’s completely okay! Javant wants you to know this approach works for everyone: “There are so many people I love and care about who are never going to be vegan,” Javant says. “Even if you’re a meat eater, you can still improve your health with vegan side dishes and desserts.”

Expert tips for healthy eating in social situations

What we eat is only part of it. “One of the top stumbling blocks is the peer pressure around food,” says Javant. Here’s what the research tells us: Gaining weight is a social activity. We mirror the meal behaviors of our loved ones. A New England Journal of Medicine study shows that if they eat unhealthily, it puts us at a 57 percent increased risk of gaining weight.

The good news: This peer pressure works both ways. When we dine with people who eat healthy, we’re more likely to follow their lean lead, reveals new Swiss research looking at the eating habits of 38 million people. We can positively influence others too.

Javant’s motivation came from a personal place, as he shares: “I had something that was more powerful than peer pressure—‘fear pressure’ of dying.” But rather than let fear control him, he discovered the antidote was self-care. He viewed preparing healthy plant-based dishes like cheesecake, meatless burgers and pineapple kebabs and taking them to gatherings as an act of self love. “When we consistently nourish ourselves with a healthy diet, it not only makes us feel better physically, it also makes us feel better mentally.” In short: more confident!

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Plus, easy and delicious recipes to get you started

Why social support matters for weight loss

“In my 25 years as a bariatric surgeon, I’ve realized that I can fix a stomach, but I can’t fix a social circle,” says metabolic surgeon Wiljon Beltre, MD. The good news? You don’t need to “fix” your social circle—you just need a few simple strategies to stay on track while still enjoying time with the people you love.

3 tips to enjoy foodie gatherings while staying on track

• Eat before you go. “Never ever show up to a social event with an empty stomach,” says Dr. Beltre.
• Tweak your talk. “Instead of saying, ‘I cannot have that,’ which makes you sound like a victim, say, ‘I’m good’ or ‘I’m still full from earlier.’ It’s harder for people to argue with you being full than it is for them to argue with your diet.”
• Stay the course. “Once people see your results, they usually stop pushing and start asking for your secret!”

The bottom line about healthy food swaps to lose weight

You have everything you need to feel vibrant, energized and confident—without giving up the foods and gatherings you love. Javant’s journey proves that transformation doesn’t require perfection or deprivation. It simply requires making choices that honor your body and your joy. Start with one simple swap at your next meal and watch how good it feels to nourish yourself.

This story originally appeared in the June 15, 2026, issue of Woman’s World

Susanna Takacs had tried everything to lose weight—diets, gastric bypass surgery, endless yo-yo cycles that left her feeling defeated. But at 50, she discovered something that finally worked: using a simple treadmill in her own home. Walking just one hour every morning, she lost an incredible 270 pounds and learned to love herself again. “I had butterflies—like I felt when I fell in love with my husband.” If you’ve been searching for a weight-loss solution that feels doable, Susanna’s inspiring at-home journey proves that consistency and self-compassion can change everything. Here’s how she used treadmill workouts for weight loss—and how you can too.”

How Susanna got started with treadmill workouts for weight loss

Susanna was bullied for her weight since childhood. In 2003, she even underwent gastric bypass surgery, but it didn’t work long term. She got pregnant with her third child and life happened: divorce, going back to school, remarriage. “The weight was spiraling up again and I was terrified.”

In March 2020, Susanna made the decision to take her life back. She’d always struggled with consistency, made excuses and easily gave up. This time, she said, “I needed to be ready.” Without a coach, she became “the Googling queen, asking lots of questions.” One of her initial searches was simple: “How do you lose 200 pounds?” One answer: consistent walking. But where and how to do it? That’s when Susanna had her breakthrough.

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Why treadmill workouts changed everything

Instead of relying on a gym or out in public—where she felt judged by others—Susanna bought a NordicTrack treadmill to use at home. “It was hard. I had no desire to work out, but I started.” On the plus side, she recalls, “No one was watching me walk on my treadmill at home.”

With the “where” question answered—at home, in private—Susanna had to decide “when” to schedule her treadmill workouts into her daily routine. She set a goal to walk first thing in the morning. “I always hated that feeling, always hovering over me all day, that I’d need to exercise after work.” This time around, she woke up early, sometimes as early as 4:30 AM, to walk at home. “It jump-started my morning,” she found. “It became an important part of maintaining both my physical and mental strength.”

Having a treadmill at home became a game-changer for Susanna. It helped her:

• Work out without feeling judged or anxious
• Build a sustainable, convenient morning routine she could stick with
• Exercise in the comfort and privacy of her own space

4 tips that helped her lose weight during her treadmill workouts

Check out Susanna’s insider advice for successful weight loss during treadmill workouts:

Stay inspired—consistency beats intensity

Susanna started doing simple walking sessions at a low pace to jumpstart her calorie burn. As her mobility and fitness level improved, she used the iFit app to stream workout videos. (She paid around $15 a month.) Trainers guided her through routines, sometimes using inclines or walk/jog intervals to get her heart rate up. Other times she followed walking tours of locations around the world. Her goal: 10,000 steps daily. Making steady progress, the miles racked up and the pounds melted. The walking workouts changed slightly from day to day, but one thing that never changed: “I walked one hour every day!”

Tune into (and celebrate) your body’s changes

Susanna quickly saw and felt differences in her body. She even lost 12 pounds in one month. But something beyond the scale was happening: It was a deep intuition that she was on the right path. She says, “I didn’t just lose the weight; I learned to live in this body after a lifetime of struggle.”

Keep moving forward with encouraging nudges

“Part of what kept me grounded, motivated and truly dedicated were small reminders—whether it was iFit acknowledging my progress or my Apple Watch nudging me to keep moving. They were quiet affirmations that the work was adding up, even on days when it didn’t always feel that way.” Here’s more encouragement to keep moving: Women who walk have a 49 percent lower risk of death than inactive women, finds a study in PLOS Medicine.

Fuel walking workouts with energizing meals

Susanna found her eating rhythm, too, by following a moderate (not strict) keto lifestyle. She repeated the same meals, like Wasa crackers with avocado and chicken salad, turkey burgers and air fryer tilapia with Brussels sprouts. She also practiced intermittent fasting between 8 PM and noon the next day. Much like her treadmill workouts, eating on a set routine made things simpler.

Susanna’s dedication to treadmill workouts transformed her life

A consistent fitness routine literally reshaped Susanna’s body. In all, she lost 27 belly inches and 270 pounds. Last year she burned 173,343 calories while walking 1,460 miles. But the numbers only tell part of the story. The change in her strength and mobility is “truly life-changing.” She says, “I feel significantly more energized and more capable in ways I never thought possible!”

Now, when Susanna sees her reflection in a storefront window, she’s stunned it’s really her. But she has deep gratitude for her younger self, who struggled for so many years with diets and bullies. “I had to love myself. I’m learning that now,” she says. “That person got me to where I am today.” Her advice to other women looking to lose weight: “Don’t ever be ashamed. You can be strong enough to change your life!”

Ready to start your own treadmill workout for weight loss? Here’s how

Susanna shares this insider advice:
• Start slow: Susanna walked steadily, working up to 4+ miles per hour.
• Boost incline: As her stamina grew, she gradually increased the incline—between 8 and 12 degrees—for an added challenge.
• Try intervals: For heart health, she added short jogs to her routine, running for 1 minute, then walking for a few. Brisk walking can work, too, if you’re not ready for jogging yet.
• Entertain yourself: When walking on a treadmill, Susanna watched TV. “It kept my mind engaged and made the time go by much faster, which helped with consistency.”
• Use music: When walking outside, she listened to her favorite country music tunes. “It kept me relaxed, motivated and in a positive mindset.”
• Try fasted walks: She walked on an empty stomach, a move shown to boost the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel.
• Add strength training breaks: She used 2-lb. hand weights. “After each mile, I paused and completed three sets of 10 reps of push-ups and tricep dips.”
• Upgrade your shoes: She wore ASICS Gel Cumulus sneakers, which helped prevent foot pain that could derail her treadmill workouts.

Consistency is key with a treadmill workout for weight loss

Susanna’s dedication to her daily treadmill walks wasn’t just about willpower—science was on her side too. Research shows the power of commitment during weight-loss journeys. Consider this: Dieters who eat the same meals day after day lose 37 percent more weight than those who mix up their menus, report scientists in Health Psychology.

Being a creature of habit pays off with exercise too. Why? Consistency builds forward momentum without any mental setbacks from “decision fatigue.” It also lowers stress, which allows your body to burn fat easier. “When a person maintains consistent habits around movement and nutrition, it helps regulate blood sugar and metabolism,” explains Wesley Buckle, ND, a naturopathic doctor who focuses on weight loss. “It also helps with hormones that influence hunger and energy.”

“Consistency is everything,” reiterates obesity-medicine specialist Jessica Duncan, MD. “It’s what separates short-term results from lasting ones.”

The inspiring bottom line

Susanna’s story proves that transformation doesn’t require expensive gym memberships, complicated programs or perfect conditions. It can be as simple as starting a consistent walking routine. So dust off an old machine today (or buy one at a yard sale). You’re just a few steps away from a healthy habit that can transform your life!

A version of this story originally appeared in the June 1, 2026 issue of Woman’s World.

At 248 pounds, Stacy Heimburger Smalley, MD, was stuck. “Even my emotions felt heavy,” recalls the internal medicine expert. “I felt like a failure.” Food noise consumed 75 percent of her day: constant cravings, relentless hunger and exhaustion. Then one patient’s blunt words changed everything: “Who are you to tell me what to do? You’re fat too!” That’s when the Louisiana doctor discovered one simple change that silenced the noise and finally helped her lose 94 pounds: She reduced her sugar intake. Now Dr. Smalley, who hosts the Weight Loss Made Simple podcast and is known as the Sugar-FreeMD on Instagram, teaches women how to reduce their sugar intake and lose weight too.

How sugar hijacks the brain and leads to weight gain

The more sugar we consume, the hungrier we get. If you’ve ever felt like food controls your thoughts, it’s not your fault. Processed foods loaded with sugar are engineered to keep us craving more.

This is a fairly new problem. Nicole Avena, PhD, a top sugar researcher and author of Sugarless, explains, “The term ‘sugar addiction’ doesn’t even appear in search databases until 2002.” But today, sugar is rampant and it can control our thoughts and actions in stealthy ways.

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“Americans fall into a cycle of overconsuming hyperpalatable comfort foods to self-medicate,” says Avena. She even calls the packaged-food section of any grocery store “the dopamine aisle.” But you can break free. In just two weeks of cutting out added sugar, you’ll feel better, think more clearly and finally feel satisfied after meals.

What if reducing your sugar intake was easier than you thought?

Dr. Smalley suspected sugar was hijacking her thinking and increasing hard-to-fight cravings. When a health coach first suggested giving up sugar, Dr. Smalley said: “That’s not possible.” But then the coach asked, “What if it were easy? What would that look like?” That was intriguing. Dr. Smalley committed to a 90-day sugar-free challenge and created a foolproof plan:

• Eat foods you love, like bacon and eggs every morning
• Follow a meal framework: “Eat protein, veggies and a healthy fat for every meal. Snacking is okay. That was the extent of my rules.”
• Create a list of 15 sugar-free dinners you know you’ll enjoy: minimal-ingredient recipes like slow-cooker chicken and salsa that could be prepped quickly
• Identify restaurants you can visit in a pinch: “the Greek restaurant, the chicken salad place.” (Search for the healthiest restaurants in your area here.)
• Get curious and ask better questions: Instead of the old worries of, “Why isn’t this working?” ask, “How can I make this easier?”

In fewer than three months, Dr. Smalley dropped 20 stubborn pounds. “That alone was reason to keep going. People need to know this.”

What happens when you reduce sugar intake

• Fewer cravings
• Better energy
• Improved blood sugar
• Less mental fog
• Easier weight loss

How to reduce sugar intake without feeling deprived

Here are five strategies Dr. Smalley teaches women to make the process of cutting down on high amounts of added sugars easier:

Use the ‘velvet rope’ method

“If we only have so much room for food in our body, we should only let the best in. It should be like the VIP room at the club,” says Dr. Smalley. If you’re offered bread at dinner, ask yourself: Am I in Italy? Or is it fresh-baked and amazing? If yes, enjoy. If it’s a frozen dinner roll at a chain restaurant, don’t let it in. “Be mindful and intentional, especially if it’s going to make you feel hungrier tomorrow.”

Keep emergency protein snacks handy

“What actually works is a plan you can still do even on your worst day,” says Dr. Smalley. To outsmart pitfalls (like relying on takeout with sneaky sources of added sugar or reaching for sugary drinks), she stores emergency backup snacks and supplies in her purse, car and office. She calls them “squirrel snacks”—just like squirrels hide nuts for the winter. Forgot to bring lunch to work? Reach for backup canned tuna. Need a snack because an event ran long? Grab nuts or a hard-boiled egg.

Skip artificial sweeteners that trick your brain

A history of gestational diabetes put Dr. Smalley at 10 times greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But even some foods labeled “sugar-free,” like Jell-O, caused her blood sugar to spike to dangerous levels. “I realized those chemicals can be just as bad for you as sugar.”

People eating ultra-processed foods like those containing artificial sweeteners gained 3.3 pounds in just three weeks, finds research in Cell Metabolism. And while natural options like Stevia are better, Avena says they still overstimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, triggering cravings.

Use fruit to satisfy sweet cravings naturally

Dr. Smalley got all-natural sugar and fiber-rich carbs from fruits and veggies. The reward: She shed eight inches in her trunk and lowered her body fat percentage from 49.2 to 35.8.

Practice forgiveness after setbacks

The mental side of weight loss is just as important as what you eat, Dr. Smalley says. “You’ve got to forgive everything that happened before. It doesn’t matter how you got to where you are or what you weigh today. It just matters where we go from here.”

The surprising link between sugar and GLP-1s

Nixing added sugar can quiet mental food noise in a way that feels similar to how some people describe their experience with GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. “Once I got off sugar, my brain was just as clear as a GLP-1 brain,” says Dr. Smalley. Her advice, “If you don’t want to take the drugs, you can still get that same brain relief by avoiding sugar. GLP-1s are an antidote to how addictive the food industry has become!”

What Dr. Smalley eats in a typical day

Her goal: make meals repeatable and delicious. Her template: “I ate a protein, veggie and a healthy fat at every meal.” So aim for low-sugar, low-inflammation, real-food recipes. Here’s a sample one-day meal plan:

Breakfast: Fry eggs in olive oil; serve with bacon and spinach
Lunch: Build a big salad with chicken, leafy greens, fruit, nuts and oil-based dressing
Dinner: Sauté broccoli, zucchini and peppers in olive oil and enjoy with a juicy steak

Ready to start your own sugar-free journey?

Start small, with a two-week trial. You may feel so good you want to stick with it. Dr. Smalley’s transformation wasn’t just about the 94 pounds she lost. It was about reclaiming her life. “I took the power back!” And now, at 51, with her diabetes risk slashed and a healthy A1C of 4.6, she’s living proof that it’s never too late to feel better.

A version of this story originally appeared in the May 25, 2026 issue of Woman’s World.

Can a safe and inexpensive supplement actually help you shed stubborn pounds, think more clearly and feel genuinely energized again after menopause? Millions of women taking creatine—including 165-pounds-lighter Melissa Schloemer, pictured above—sure seem to think so! And growing research on creatine benefits backs them up. Both in science labs and in the real world, “we’re seeing effects we underestimated even a few years ago,” says Pravin Date, MD, a UCLA-trained hormone-optimization expert. Keep reading for the latest on creatine for women and what it can do for your body and for Melissa’s inspiring story. 

What is creatine exactly?

“It’s a compound your body makes from the protein you eat,” explains Dr. Date. “Its main function is helping muscles produce quick energy.” Research also shows that creatine does many other great things. But to take full advantage, your system may need a nudge.

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Is your creatine low?

Here’s something you may not know: Estrogen helps your body produce creatine. So as estrogen naturally declines over the years, your creatine levels drop too.  Luckily, a supplement can be so good at restoring levels, women often report feeling 5 or 10 years younger. 

More good news: Creatine is considered generally safe (as always, get your doctor’s okay before taking any new supplement)—and store brands like Walmart’s Equate creatine monohydrate cost just 17¢ per serving. Which is truly a steal when you consider all the potential payoffs.

Creatine benefits you’ll love

Strength + energy soar

Creatine draws water into muscle cells, which helps stimulate growth. Plus the compound shifts certain hormones and body chemicals in a way that promotes muscle development. And yep, older women reap the rewards. Studies even show regular supplements help seniors aged 60 to 80 build muscle four times faster than a placebo! Bonus: “More muscle almost always translates into better energy and stamina,” notes Dr. Date.

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'I Tried Creatine for a Year—My Results Shocked Me'

As a health editor for the past 30 years, I’ve seen trends come and go. I’ve reported on (and tried!) plenty of them, from Atkins and keto to fasting, Peloton and more. So when I saw influencers raving about creatine, claiming the supplement (a compound the body uses to fuel muscles) would help me build […]

Exercise gets easier

Creatine helps your muscles make ATP, a molecule that lets them work harder without you noticing extra effort, says Dr. Date, chief medical officer of the wellness platform Alive Health. Better yet, a recent Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition study found that after just three days of supplementing, adults began bouncing back faster after workouts, with their heart rates returning to normal faster and way less post-exercise soreness.

Blood sugar steadies

Especially when combined with exercise, creatine increases special compounds that help pull sugar from the blood into muscle cells to be used as fuel. The creatine-plus-exercise effect is so powerful, it got a group of patients with full-blown diabetes back into prediabetic range in just 12 weeks. In the same University of Sao Paulo study, an exercise-only group saw no improvement.

Weight Loss

Can Arnold Schwarzenegger’s New Supplement Stack Help Midlife Weight Loss?

Did Arnold Schwarzenegger just share a secret that can help women over 50 lose weight and get in absolutely amazing shape? According to respected women’s health experts, the answer is an enthusiastic “yes!” Here’s the scoop: The former Mr. Universe, 78, has partnered with a supplement company to release “The Arnold Stack,” a trio of […]

Waistlines shrink

Extra muscle amps metabolism, so you burn more calories 24/7. Energy rises, so you may burn more calories without trying. Meanwhile, improving blood sugar shifts hormones so it’s easier to burn fat. The result? Findings in the European Journal of Applied Physiology showed that older women given creatine shed body fat up to seven times faster than a placebo group. Wow!

Mood + memory improve

A breakthrough 2024 Frontiers in Nutrition analysis confirmed creatine significantly boosts recall, focus and processing speed. Separate tests also demonstrated that creatine can help lift depression two times faster than a placebo. More research is needed, but “the brain uses creatine for energy, so this makes sense,” says Dr. Date. 

How much creatine should I take—and when should I take creatine?

Dr. Date advises using creatine monohydrate from a trusted brand. Take 5 g daily mixed in water or any drink. Or if taking creatine that way doesn’t appeal to you, it is flavorless and can be stirred in foods like applesauce or pudding. We also enjoy JIMMYBAR! brand’s new creatine protein bars. Studies also show the best time to take creatine is right before you exercise. Add strength training 2 to 3 times a week.

To maximize creatine benefits, prioritize protein at meals. “Creatine only works if you take in enough protein to allow your body to build and maintain muscle,” says Dr. Date. Duke University research suggests older women (men too!) need about 1 g protein for every two pounds body weight (or 100 g if you’re 200 pounds). Most women see more energy in two weeks, with other benefits coming over time. 

Melissa’s story 

After a long battle with polycystic ovary syndrome and weight gain, doctors urged Melissa Schloemer to get bariatric surgery. She did—sort of. It was botched so badly, she was quickly back up to 310 pounds; plus food was leaking in her body cavity, causing severe autoimmune issues. Years crept by, and doctors suggested she learn to live with pain. 

Then a hysterectomy and early menopause made Melissa’s health even worse. “I didn’t want my kids to lose me,” recalls the New Jersey mom. Scared but determined, Melissa leaned into a creatine habit she’d learned from her fitness hero Jim Stopanni, Ph.D. 

“I’d mix extra creatine into my pre-workout drink in the morning—that became my energy drink,” she shares. She aimed to eat protein-rich meals and work out most days. It paid off. “I used to be so carb-hungry,” recalls Melissa, who uses creatine from JYMSupps.com. But as creatine and exercise helped reverse her prediabetes and improve her mood, she felt true relief from the constant urge for comfort food. “I still had all my old favorites, but I was content with healthier versions and smaller portions.”  Even with her health in crisis, “I lost over 50 pounds!” she says. 

All along, she was searching for a better doctor and she finally found one. He repaired her botched surgery, and the next 115 pounds came off more easily. Yet she says creatine and determination were still crucial. “A lot of people lose muscle when they lose weight rapidly,” says Melissa. “As a woman in menopause, I gained muscle!”

Beyond weight loss, Melissa says she’s experienced other key creatine benefits. Her brain fog is long gone. She also got off a CPAP machine and lifelong asthma medications. “I want people to know there is hope, no matter how bad things seem,” she says. “For me, supplements really helped. Take whatever little steps you can handle. Before you know it, I bet you’ll feel like you can handle anything!” For more inspiration, follow @mschloemer09 on Instagram.

The bottom line about creatine for women

For just pennies a day, creatine offers a safe, research-backed way to support your energy, strength, mood and metabolism during menopause and beyond. While it’s not a magic solution, when combined with regular movement and good nutrition, it can help you feel more like yourself again—or maybe even better than ever. Your best years are still ahead!

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

We know a one-size-fits-all diet isn’t the answer for each individual body on the planet. But that can leave us overwhelmed with endless options, playing a frustrating guessing game. Ready for a personalized shortcut? Enter the revolutionary field of genetic weight loss. And the best news: You don’t need expensive testing to start benefiting from this all-natural know-how. Just ask triple-board certified physician Phyllis Pobee, MD, who lost 104 pounds once she stopped fighting her DNA. Now, she’s helping women everywhere decode their genetic weight-loss styles.

Dr. Pobee lost 104 pounds by working with her genes

“Nothing worked,” admits Dr. Pobee of her constant weight-loss striving over the years. “I carried the quiet shame of a doctor who could not fix herself. I was exhausted from the constant cycle of hope and diet disappointment.”

It wasn’t until she decoded her personal genetics that she discovered the strategies she’d forced on her body—calorie counting, keto, intense cardio—were working against her biology. She learned she had a gene variation that affects fat storage and insulin sensitivity, plus genes that don’t respond well to intense physical activity.

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So Dr. Pobee adjusted her lifestyle, adding more carbs on a Mediterranean diet and easing up on exercise. She shed an average of eight to 12 pounds every month, ultimately dropping from a size 18 to 4 in one year. “For the first time, I saw my body’s roadmap laid out before me.” She says, “Finally, I was working with my genes, not against them!”

How genetics influence weight loss

Your genetic blueprint reveals a lot. “Genes determine how you store fat, how intensely you crave food and how well you burn calories,” Dr. Pobee explains. Up to 70 percent of us carry a gene variation that causes us to store extra fat, while 17 percent have a gene mutation that makes us feel hungry even after a meal. What’s more: “How your genes handle estrogen, stress hormones and inflammation determines whether you gain 40 pounds in menopause.”

Now, Dr. Pobee is on a mission to share this life-changing wisdom with every woman who’s ever felt stuck. “The information exists. The relief exists,” she says. “Your body is giving you clues on how your metabolism is wired. You can start using targeted strategies now!”

How to tap into genetic weight loss without expensive testing

There are pricey genetic tests out there that can tell you if you have specific genetic variants like FTO—the so-called “fat gene”—that affect weight management. But you can also gather free insights by answering a few questions to see which genetic type fits you best. Then start eating and living in harmony with your genetic programming. “Once you know what’s happening on a genetic level, weight loss stops feeling like a fight and starts feeling effortless,” Dr. Pobee says.

3 common genetic weight-loss types

Most of us fall into one of these three genetic profiles, and discovering yours can finally explain why certain diets or weight-loss interventions never worked for you. Find your type below and use the targeted advice to start seeing more success than ever before. “It’s not arbitrary. These categories reflect biological patterns,” Dr. Pobee assures. “I didn’t just lose weight. I optimized my metabolism at a genetic level, ensuring weight stayed off.” You can too!

Genetic weight-loss type #1: The stress type

Is stress to blame for your extra pounds, especially around your middle? “If you’ve ever felt like stress makes you gain weight overnight, this is likely your type, called a Cortisol Carrier,” says Dr. Pobee. (You may recall that cortisol is the stress hormone linked to belly fat accumulation.) “Women in this category have genetic variations that make their bodies release excess stress hormones that trigger fat storage, especially around the belly.”

Try this plan to reduce stress and lose weight

• Fuel up with a big breakfast and taper to a smaller dinner.
• Focus on protein and healthy fat (from fish, olive oil and avocado).
• Keep carb intake between 80 to 120 grams daily from sources like sweet potatoes, quinoa, berries and leafy greens. (More carbs for people working out.)
• Boost immunity with vitamin-C-rich citrus, eat soothing magnesium-rich foods like dark chocolate and dodge stressors like skipping meals, intense cardio and caffeine.
• Slimming supplement: The amino acid L-theanine is proven to promote relaxation. Ask your doctor for personalized dosing, but 100 to 200 mg once or twice daily helps many.
• Exercise: Opt for low-impact choices like walking.

Genetic weight-loss type #2: The toxin type

Do you often feel puffy, inflamed or fatigued, despite eating well and exercising? “If you’ve ‘done everything right’ and the scale still won’t budge, this may be your category, called Detox Bound,” says Dr. Pobee. “Up to 60 percent of women have genetic variations that slow detox pathways, meaning their bodies hold onto toxins that interfere with metabolism.” When this happens, your body holds onto weight as protection, storing harmful toxins inside fat cells to keep them away from vital organs.

Try this plan to boost detox and lose weight

• Eat cruciferous veggies to support liver detox and sulfur-rich garlic, onions and eggs to provide the building blocks for the body’s most powerful cleanup compound: glutathione.
• Snack on antioxidant-rich berries and fiber-rich legumes that trap toxins like sponges and flush them out of the system.
• Visit a sauna to sweat out impurities and focus on sleep to rev cellular renewal.
• Slimming supplement: Consult your doctor about ways to support cellular repair and detox pathways, such as taking 250 to 500 mg of NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide).
• Exercise: Try low-impact cardio (like jumping on a trampoline) to reduce swelling and flush toxin-filled fluid from tissues.

Genetic weight-loss type #3: The hormone havoc type

Started gaining in midlife? “If you feel like your body changed after 40—with weight gain, mood swings and sluggish energy—this is likely your type, called Hormone Havoc,” says Dr. Pobee. “Women often have genetic predispositions that cause imbalances in estrogen, thyroid and insulin.” Over time, those can worsen.

Try this plan to support hormones and lose weight

• Eat slowly and mindfully.
• Avoid intermittent fasting and calorie restriction (which can send blood sugar rollercoasting) and low-carb diets (which often lack the fiber needed to support hormones).
• Enjoy plant-based estrogens from flaxseeds, soy and lentils and focus on protein to ward off muscle loss as estrogen dips.
• Slimming supplement: Talk to your doctor to learn how taking 2,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily for bone health and vitamins B6 and B12 (25 to 50 mg) for energy and hormone support can help.
• Exercise: Try strength training and yoga.

The amazing results can you expect from genetic weight loss

The long-term results speak for themselves: Dr. Pobee sees patients shed up to seven pounds in one week and as many as 40 pounds in three months. How? Research proves it really works. Personalized nutrition plans based on genetics can lead to 2.5 times more belly-fat loss, compared to generic diets, according to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

And in a study in Nutrition Journal, 73 percent of people who lost on a genetic-influenced plan kept the weight off after 300 days compared to just 32 percent of those on a traditional diet. In additional research published in Trends in Food Science and Technology, folks eating based on genetic info (like knowing about mutations such as FTO) lost 5.6 percent of their body weight; those who didn’t gained 2.2 percent.

Ready to unlock your body’s secrets? There’s never been more free and affordable genetic weight-loss wisdom available for people than there is now. Learn more in Dr. Pobee’s book, Lean Genes, or take her free genetic quiz at her site Genetic Weight Loss. Dr. Pobee encourages, “Your genes are not your destiny, they are your strategy!”

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Want relief from constant cravings without the high cost of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound? Montana grandmother Jen Jodrey, 53, says a surprise alternative—Contrave weight loss medication—worked wonders for her. Keep reading to learn about the lower-cost medication that helped get rid of her “food noise,” depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and arthritis as she dropped four sizes. “I feel like I got my life back,” she shares. The good news: Experts say millions more of us also stand to benefit.

Why Jen chose Contrave over Ozempic for weight loss

Jen’s story may sound familiar to those of us over 50: Hormonal changes hit, and she started packing on pounds. “I tried to eat less and move more, but I craved all the wrong things from the moment I woke up until the moment I went to bed,” she recalls. She kept gaining. Her energy drained away; everything hurt. Depression set in. Finally, her doctor offered a GLP-1 (a type of drug that spikes the hormone GLP-1 to kill hunger and improve blood sugar). Jen hesitated, even though she’d seen Ozempic work for others. Was it right for her? Could she pay for it long term?

To learn more, she hit the internet. And that’s where she read about Contrave, a different type of oral weight-loss medication with solid science behind it. A pharmacist told Jen how to get it for $99 monthly (through the CurAccess program; learn more at Contrave.com.) “I knew I could pay for it by skipping McDonald’s and Domino’s,” she laughs. Jen’s doctor agreed she was a great candidate. Within two weeks, before she was even taking a full dose, something shifted. “I wasn’t thinking about food all the time,” she says.

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Weight Loss

Ozempic Prices Are Soaring—Experts Reveal 5 Ways to Save on GLP-1 Meds

Not long ago, the FDA announced there’s no longer a shortage of Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound or similar drugs used for weight loss. Is that good news for the millions of us who struggle with excess pounds? Not exactly. During the shortage, pharmacies were allowed to make special low-cost ‘compounded’ versions of the meds. But that […]

How does Contrave weight loss medication work?

It’s a prescription pill that combines a hunger-reducing antidepressant (bupropion) with a medication (naltrexone) that softens the high we feel from things like alcohol and food. “It works on key centers of the brain to help reduce emotional eating and cravings,” explains Brynna Connor, MD, an Austin-based integrative health expert and ambassador for NorthWestPharmacy.com. It’s been FDA-approved since 2014.

Since starting Contrave, Jen has lost 61 pounds, or about 31 percent of her starting weight. Average loss on Contrave is closer to eight percent, yet Jen isn’t the only super-loser: A study in the journal Obesity found 30 percent of people lost 15 percent body weight or more. How does Contrave compare to the oral GLP-1s? The Wegovy and Foundayo (orforglipron) pills cost about $299, or three times more than $99 Contrave—but they don’t work three times better. Tests show the Wegovy pill is the most effective, helping 47 percent of people lose 15 percent or more.

Meanwhile, with Ozempic and Wegovy shots, the average person loses 15 percent of their body weight for about $349 per month; Mounjaro and Zepbound shots take off about 20 percent for $449 monthly.

Contrave and GLP-1s are typically prescribed at a lower initial dose to minimize side effects. For Contrave, common side effects can include nausea, constipation, headaches, dry mouth and insomnia. “These tend to subside over time,” notes Dr. Connor.

Who is Contrave weight loss medication best for?

A gentle reminder that you always need to talk to a doctor to know what’s best for you. Contrave isn’t a good fit for folks with certain health conditions. And it’s typically only prescribed to people who are obese or overweight with health issues like prediabetes or sleep apnea. Dr. Connor says Contrave can be great at reducing “brain hunger”—those urges to eat that have little to do with how full you are. 

Contrave is part antidepressant, so it may also help improve mood and make you less inclined to want comfort food. So Contrave will potentially “help you eat less and reduce calorie intake, leading to gradual weight loss,” she notes. Is it a quick fix? No. It can take eight to 12 weeks to see meaningful results. And those results will be best if you adopt a healthy lifestyle, adds Dr. Connor. Jen came up with an inspired way to do just that.

How Jen went next-level with Contrave

Jen had often heard people talk about benefits of intermittent fasting—like improved blood sugar, extra energy and easier weight loss. But with a brain fixated on food, “I thought I could never go 16 or 18 hours without eating,” she recalls. Then Contrave came along.

After years of obsessively tracking her food and weight, she loved the idea of simply having a six-hour window each day during which she could eat until she was full. As Contrave kicked in, she had no trouble following that schedule. On weekdays, she emphasized protein, veggies and good fats (things like chicken breast, salad and nuts became go-tos). On weekends, she relaxed a bit, allowing herself pizza or a restaurant meal. 

“I didn’t count calories at all,” she says. “I just ate until I felt satisfied. Contrave made it so I could actually do that and still lose weight. It was the perfect balance for me.” She suddenly had more energy, and she used it to go to a community gym during her lunch hour.

Weight Loss

No Injections Needed: How Women Over 50 Are Losing Weight With Contrave

If you don’t like the high prices that can come with popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic—or the needle pokes they require—we have good news. A little-known oral diet pill called Contrave is affordable and helps people painlessly reach their weight-loss goals. In fact, Woman’s World reader Janet Allen lost 115 pounds with it. Keep reading […]

Since losing weight, Jen is thriving

Jen lost 13 pounds the first month and her mood began to lift; by the two-month mark she had significantly more energy and less pain. Over the course of 18 months, her blood work got better and 61 pounds disappeared. Now two years later, she’s on a maintenance dose of Contrave (which can be taken indefinitely).

She knows the drug isn’t for everyone but she still wants to spread the word. “I’m not exaggerating when I say I was barely making it through the day when I started. Now I’m thriving. My kids say they got their mom back!” If you’re struggling with constant cravings and weight gain, talk to your doctor. Contrave weight loss medication might be an option neither of you has considered yet—and if you’re anything like Jen, it can make all the difference.

This story originally appeared in the May 4, 2026 issue of Woman’s World.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.