Michele DeJesus, PhD, NBC-HWC is a board-certified & Mayo Clinic-certified Health Coach and an ACE-certified Personal Trainer with a PhD, in Holistic Nutrition. She is the CEO of a 26-year coaching business, successfully guiding adults in transforming their health, fitness and weight loss.
I help midlife women break free from the endless cycle of dieting and step into lasting weight loss and vibrant health. While lifestyle changes are essential, there are a few unexpected yet powerful shifts that make all the difference. These unique elements aren’t just about losing weight; they’re about transforming your entire midlife experience. When we embrace these changes and weave them into our daily lives, we don’t just reach our wellness goals; we redefine what’s possible for ourselves in this incredible stage of life.
I’m frequently asked what to do to lose weight in midlife, during menopause, or post-menopause. There are definite behavioral changes that support weight loss during this time and I have written about many of them in previous articles. However, the more intense conversation is about how a woman needs to change not just to lose weight but to keep it off, especially if she’s been dieting for years. Yo-yo dieting can leave us feeling like we’re stuck in an endless cycle of weight loss and regain, but these four traits are integral to breaking that cycle and achieving lasting success. And these 4 traits will elevate your overall experience of this phase of life.
1. Introspection
By the time we reach 50, we’ve experienced a lot in life. Whether raising a family, running a company, balancing both, or working a 9-to-5, we’ve been busy. Between reaching midlife and navigating menopause, things start to change our bodies, our priorities, and our perspectives. Often, we’ve spent so much time focusing on others that we’ve lost the habit of turning inward.
I encourage my clients to take a pause and deeply reflect. What do you truly want? What feels fulfilling? What’s no longer serving you? Recognizing and validating our feelings without judgment is a powerful first step in making meaningful changes. Weight loss isn’t just about food and exercise; it’s about realigning with our deeper desires and priorities so that our choices support our long-term well-being. Then, create a beautiful and emotional ‘image’ of that future self you imagine. Harnessing the deep and electric visualization of what you envision is a powerful and motivating tool to your transformational success.
2. Honesty
Honesty with ourselves is a cornerstone of successful weight loss in midlife. This doesn’t mean criticizing ourselves harshly; it means getting real about what’s working and what’s not. Many of us have spent decades convincing ourselves that a crash diet will work “this time” or that we can “out-exercise” poor eating habits. The truth? Sustainable weight loss requires a deep, honest look at our habits, emotions, and patterns.
Honesty means recognizing:
What lifestyle choices are sabotaging our efforts
The excuses we use to justify unhealthy behaviors
The unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves
The possibility that we put ourselves last
The environments we’re in that don’t support our goals
By embracing radical honesty, we empower ourselves to make informed, lasting changes rather than chasing temporary fixes. Is it challenging? It can be. But by midlife, you’ve done hard things. This is the time to turn the focus on you.
3. Consistency
Most women who have struggled with weight loss have also chased quick fixes detoxes, extreme calorie restrictions, and trendy diets. But the key to lasting success isn’t intensity; it’s consistency. Real, sustainable weight loss happens when we adopt a lifestyle that we can maintain over the long term.
Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It means:
Making mostly healthy choices, most of the time
Establishing routines that support our well-being
Committing to daily habits that align with our goals
Small, repeated actions add up to big results. This is the 1° Principle that is a foundation of my work. Rather than relying on bursts of extreme effort, we focus on building a steady rhythm of positive habits, 1 action at a time, that become second nature. This allows the weight loss process to be so much easier and enjoyable rather than trying to change everything at once.
4. Self-agency
In midlife, it’s crucial to recognize and embrace self-agency, the understanding that we have control over our actions and choices. While we may not always like the options available to us, the power to decide is still ours. Too often, women feel disempowered when it comes to weight loss, believing it’s beyond their control due to hormones, metabolism, or past failures.
However, when we accept that our health and weight loss journey is in our hands, everything shifts.
Self-agency means:
Taking responsibility for our choices
Understanding that every decision impacts our future health
Recognizing that no one else can do this for us
Being willing to give ourselves the time and effort to take care of ourselves
Being willing to ask for help when necessary
When we develop this sense of control, we step into a powerful place where lasting transformation becomes possible.
Elevating your midlife weight loss experience
Weight loss in midlife is about far more than the number on the scale. It’s about stepping into a new chapter with clarity, confidence, and control. By focusing on introspection, radical honesty, consistency, and self-agency, we don’t just lose weight; we transform our lives.
If you’re ready to shift from dieting cycles to sustainable success, start by integrating these four traits into your journey. Not only will you achieve the results you desire, but you’ll also elevate your entire midlife experience.
Read more from Michele DeJesus
Michele DeJesus, Health Coach/Weight Loss Specialist
Michele DeJesus, PhD, NBC-HWC is a board-certified & Mayo Clinic-certified Health Coach and an ACE-certified Personal Trainer with a PhD. in Holistic Nutrition. She is the CEO of a 26-year coaching business, successfully guiding adults in transforming their health, fitness and weight loss. Michele has been featured in the IDEA Health & Fitness online magazine as well as numerous television appearances speaking about fitness, weight loss and health. She is the host of the Facebook group Midlife Confidence: Women Conquering Weight Loss and the creator of an online 12-week weight loss intensive for midlife women. Her mission is to support midlife women in creating their own health & wellness renaissance.
