The real reasons to stop counting calories

06/22/24 • 28 min

Feeling constantly hungry and restricted by calorie counting? There’s a better way to manage your weight and feel satisfied.
Discover why the traditional approach to calorie counting might be holding you back and learn a more effective, satisfying method to achieve your health goals - despite perimenopause hormone changes.
I share my personal struggles with calorie counting and explain why it’s not the solution for sustainable weight management for women, especially in perimenopause and beyond. Here’s what’s covered:

Why calorie counting is flawed: Learn why the science isn’t behind calorie counting and how inaccurate labels may be sabotaging your efforts.
Understand the importance of balanced nutrition: Discover why focusing solely on calories can lead to nutritional deficiencies and constant hunger.
The psychological impact: Calorie counting fosters an unhealthy relationship with food, but I share how to shift to a more positive mindset.
Individual differences: Understand how personal metabolic rates, digestive efficiency, and hormonal balance affect your nutritional needs.
A holistic approach: Get practical advice on balancing nutrients and enjoying food without the stress of constant counting.

Ready to say goodbye to the restrictive and frustrating cycle of calorie counting and find a healthier way to manage your weight? Listen now.

Send us a question for the FAQs segment or your feedback, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more about Sarah, her services and the Freebies mentioned in this episode at https://www.ThePerimenopauseNaturopath.com.au

The Perimenopause Decoder is the ultimate guide to understanding if perimenopause hormone fluctuations are behind your changing mood, metabolism and energy after 40, what phase of perimenopause you're in, and how much longer you may be on this roller coaster for.
For more, follow on Instagram at @theperimenopausenaturopath.

WORK WITH SARAH THE PERIMENOPAUSE NATUROPATH:

PerimenoGO (because who wants to pause anyway?!) A self-guided program to help you reverse weight gain, boost energy, and reclaim your mood — without extreme diets or cutting carbs. Perfect for women who want a realistic plan that fits around kids, work, and actual life.
The Chaos to Calm Method: A 1:1 personalised program for women who want a more personalised plan and support — especially if you’ve got 10kg+ to lose, other health issues, or feel like your body’s just stuck. Includes comprehensive blood testing and analysis, Metabolic Balance ...

Why calorie counting is flawed: Learn why the science isn’t behind calorie counting and how inaccurate labels may be sabotaging your efforts.
Understand the importance of balanced nutrition: Discover why focusing solely on calories can lead to nutritional deficiencies and constant hunger.
The psychological impact: Calorie counting fosters an unhealthy relationship with food, but I share how to shift to a more positive mindset.
Individual differences: Understand how personal metabolic rates, digestive efficiency, and hormonal balance affect your nutritional needs.
A holistic approach: Get practical advice on balancing nutrients and enjoying food without the stress of constant counting.

Ready to say goodbye to the restrictive and frustrating cycle of calorie counting and find a healthier way to manage your weight? Listen now.

Send us a question for the FAQs segment or your feedback, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more about Sarah, her services and the Freebies mentioned in this episode at https://www.ThePerimenopauseNaturopath.com.au

The Perimenopause Decoder is the ultimate guide to understanding if perimenopause hormone fluctuations are behind your changing mood, metabolism and energy after 40, what phase of perimenopause you're in, and how much longer you may be on this roller coaster for.
For more, follow on Instagram at @theperimenopausenaturopath.

WORK WITH SARAH THE PERIMENOPAUSE NATUROPATH:

PerimenoGO (because who wants to pause anyway?!) A self-guided program to help you reverse weight gain, boost energy, and reclaim your mood — without extreme diets or cutting carbs. Perfect for women who want a realistic plan that fits around kids, work, and actual life.
The Chaos to Calm Method: A 1:1 personalised program for women who want a more personalised plan and support — especially if you’ve got 10kg+ to lose, other health issues, or feel like your body’s just stuck. Includes comprehensive blood testing and analysis, Metabolic Balance ...

Previous Episode

Beating brain fog in perimenopause

Are you mistaking this common perimenopausal symptom as just a normal part of aging?
Ever walked into a room and forgot what you went there for? Or having trouble remembering what you were saying or the names of people, places or things?! That’s not just something to accept as part of getting older — but it is a really common symptom of perimenopause - it’s brain fog.
What you'll get from this episode:

Discover the hidden impact of hormonal fluctuations:
- Learn how the ebb and flow of estrogen and progesterone are more than just background players in your perimenopausal saga — they’re directing your daily mental clarity.
Nutritional strategies that clear the fog:
- I’ll share which specific nutrients your brain is craving right now and how simple dietary tweaks can significantly lift the haze, enhancing your focus and memory without overwhelming changes to your diet.
Practical tips for immediate relief:
- Get actionable advice on what else might be driving your brain fog that you need to investigate, what to eat, how to adjust your sleep and build your stress resilience to improve your mental fog.
Beyond the basics — building lasting mental resilience:
- Understand why certain well-intended health habits might actually be worsening your brain fog and what to do instead. This isn’t about quick fixes but lasting changes that support your brain health through perimenopause and beyond.

This episode is packed with insights and tips that will move your understanding of brain fog from a vague annoyance to a tangible, manageable aspect of perimenopause. You’re not just filling your brain with knowledge (that you'll probably forget!), you’re equipping yourself to create change and bring back your steel trap mind!
Resources mentioned in the show:

The Balanced Meal formula
Blog post for this episode (with all the info on metabolic flexibility, stress resilience and thyroid function)

Send us a question for the FAQs segment or your feedback, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more about Sarah, her services and the Freebies mentioned in this episode at https://www.ThePerimenopauseNaturopath.com.au

The Perimenopause Decoder is the ultimate guide to understanding if perimenopause hormone fluctuations are behind your changing mood, metabolism and energy after 40, what phase of perimenopause you're in, and how much longer you may be on this roller coaster for.
For more, follow on Instagram at @theperimenopausenaturopath.

WORK WITH SARAH THE PERIMENOPAUSE NATUROPATH:

PerimenoGO (because who wants to pause anyway?!) A self-guided program to help you reverse weight gain, boost energy, and reclaim your mood — without extreme diets or cutting carbs. Perfect for women who want a realistic plan that fits around kids, work, and actual life.
The Chaos to Calm Method: A 1:1 personalised program for women who want a more personalised plan and support — especially if you’ve got 10kg+ to lose, other health issues, or feel like your body’s just stuck. Includes comprehensive blood testing and analysis, Metabolic Balance ...

Next Episode

From weight gain to brain fog: Insulin's role in your perimenopause symptoms

Struggling with weight gain, low energy, or mood swings during perimenopause? Yes, perimenopause hormone changes may be behind them, but they could be the result of an imbalance in one of your 'master' hormones – insulin.
Understanding insulin's role in your body can transform your perimenopause experience, so in this episode, we dive deep into the world of insulin, a key hormone that sets the tone for the health of your body and mind. You’ll learn why managing insulin is crucial, especially during perimenopause and menopause, and how it impacts every aspect of your health.
Here's what else we cover:

How insulin acts as a key player in regulating blood sugar, energy, mood, muscle and fat mass, hormonal health, and more.
Find out how insulin influences other hormones, brain function, and even skin health, giving you a comprehensive view of its impact.
What is insulin resistance, and how it contributes to common perimenopause symptoms like weight gain, brain fog, and fatigue.
Practical tips on nutrition, exercise, and stress management to maintain stable insulin levels and improve your wellbeing.
Gain the knowledge to be able to take control of your health and make informed decisions with confidence.

This episode is packed with practical advice and expert knowledge that can help you navigate perimenopause with less symptoms, and more ease.
You'll gain valuable information about how insulin impacts your health, why traditional weight loss methods might not be working anymore, and be able to do something about it, with actionable advice about what you can do to manage your insulin levels well.
Ready to take charge of your health and perimenopause experience? Listen to the full episode and start your transformation now.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Send us a question for the FAQs segment or your feedback, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more about Sarah, her services and the Freebies mentioned in this episode at https://www.ThePerimenopauseNaturopath.com.au

The Perimenopause Decoder is the ultimate guide to understanding if perimenopause hormone fluctuations are behind your changing mood, metabolism and energy after 40, what phase of perimenopause you're in, and how much longer you may be on this roller coaster for.
For more, follow on Instagram at @theperimenopausenaturopath.

WORK WITH SARAH THE PERIMENOPAUSE NATUROPATH:

PerimenoGO (because who wants to pause anyway?!) A self-guided program to help you reverse weight gain, boost energy, and reclaim your mood — without extreme diets or cutting carbs. Perfect for women who want a realistic plan that fits around kids, work, and actual life.
The Chaos to Calm Method: A 1:1 personalised program for women who want a more personalised plan and support — especially if you’ve got 10kg+ to lose, other health issues, or feel like your body’s just stuck. Includes comprehensive blood testing and analysis, Metabolic Balance ...

Chaos to Calm - The real reasons to stop counting calories

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Chaos to Calm podcast episode number 52. I'm Sarah, the perimenopause naturopath, your guide through the journey of perimenopause. So if you're over 40 and feeling like you're changing hormones or hijacking your mood, energy, and weight, and you want to change that in a holistic way, then this is the place for you. Because each episode I share with you, my views on what the heck is happening in your body, why you're feeling the way that you are and what you can do about it