# @ciarafoyinc on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ-RtY9yi86
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/61793603-ciarafoyinc-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e48efec4f4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-05-22T22:45:22.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Ciara Foy // Nutritionist • Hormone Expert • 20 Yrs (@ciarafoyinc) — https://gondola.cc/ciarafoyinc

## Caption

The “eat less, exercise more” lie nobody is talking about.

After 20 years as a Nutritionist and 48 myself, I see this pattern constantly with new clients  who come to me completely frustrated. They had been following the “bigger deficit is better” mentality - eating 1200 calories and doing hours of cardio... but their belly fat got WORSE instead of better.

I’ve had clients who were only eating every 48 hours. Clients on weight loss drugs who still weren’t losing weight. These women weren’t overeating - they were stressing their bodies into metabolic shutdown.

Here’s the science nobody talks about: Yes, you need a caloric deficit to lose weight. But when that deficit is too large, you trigger a cascade of hormonal responses that work AGAINST you.

**What happens with extreme restriction:**

Your thyroid senses the dramatic calorie drop and reduces T3 production (your active thyroid hormone). This slashes your metabolic rate to match your low intake.

Your adrenal glands pump out cortisol in response to the metabolic stress. Cortisol has one job: preserve energy by storing fat, particularly around your midsection.

Your body begins breaking down muscle tissue through gluconeogenesis - converting muscle protein into glucose for energy. You’re literally eating your own metabolism.

Leptin (your satiety hormone) crashes, triggering intense hunger and food obsession. Your body is desperately trying to get you to eat more.

The result? You lose muscle (which burns calories 24/7) and gain fat (which barely burns any calories). Your metabolism tanks, making future weight loss nearly impossible.

After 40, this hormonal cascade happens FASTER because our stress recovery systems are already compromised.

The solution: A moderate deficit that preserves muscle, supports thyroid function, and keeps cortisol balanced. You want body composition changes, not just a smaller number on the scale.

If this was helpful- drop your girl a 🙌 and follow for more straight talk about being over 40!

If you’re stuck in this exact cycle, Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll DM you my free perimenopause guide.

#midlifenutrition #hormonalhealth #weightlossover40 #womenover40​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

## Stats

- **Views:** 520
- **Likes:** 41
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 52

## Tags

hormonalhealth, womenover40, weightlossover40, midlifenutrition

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