When It’s Not Calories In Calories Out, What Next?

You already know it’s not calories in, calories out, so now what is it? That’s the million dollar question. We answer with a refreshing reminder of things you may have heard but framed from a different lens. 

Today’s guest amplifies a recent theme. That is not just is it not about calories in calories out, but it’s not always about the physical result of physical exercise or food.

My Guest:

Stephanie Crassweller, founder of VitalityOET, and host of the Top 1% ranked Metabolism and Menopause Podcast. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Kinesiology and over a decade of clinical and coaching experience, she’s helped thousands of women worldwide reclaim their energy, health, and vitality through perimenopause and beyond.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• [00:14:12] Why does “eat less, move more” not seem to work as well once we hit our 40s?
  
• [00:16:30] What are the biggest factors that women are so unaware of that are preventing them from losing weight?
• [00:18:54] Is estrogen to blame for their weight gain problems?
• [00:29:40] Are carbs really the cause of weight gain and poor blood sugar?
• [00:41:56] How does identity and life change impact our health and fitness journeys?
  
  

Why Not Calories In Calories Out Explains Weight Loss Resistance

Eating Too Little Can Cause Weight Gain

• Eating too little becomes a stressor, not a solution
• “Stress Bucket” – exercise, life stress, lack of sleep, and under-eating all pour into the same bucket

Why You Can’t “Silo” Diet, Exercise, and Stress

• Stress isn’t just emotional — it’s physiological
• Your body doesn’t distinguish between work stress, food restriction, or intense exercise
• Travel, poor sleep, and workouts can stack and push the body past its stress tolerance
• Bloating, poor digestion, cravings, poor sleep, and insulin resistance are stress signals

Carbs, Blood Sugar, and Why Keto Isn’t Always the Answer

• Stephanie explains why low-carb and keto can backfire for stressed midlife women
• Proper fueling helps stabilize blood sugar more effectively than restriction

Key Takeaways

• Weight loss resistance in midlife is often a stress problem, not a willpower problem
• Eating too little can increase fat storage by elevating cortisol
• You cannot separate diet, exercise, sleep, and life stress — the body experiences them together
• Progress comes from supporting the system, not punishing it

Connect with Stephanie:

• Stephanie’s Fat Loss Fix Quiz
• Facebook – Stephanie Crassweller
• Facebook Group – Metabolism and Menopause by Vitality
• Instagram – @vitalityoet.stephanie 
• YouTube – The Metabolism and Menopause Podcast

Other Episodes You Might Like:

• Previous Episode – Fitness Trends For 2026 — Midlife Women’s Edition
• Next Episode – Why Your Daily Workouts Are Making You Weaker After 50
• More Like This – Why Those Holiday Meals Make You Miserable (It’s Not the Calories)
  
  

When Dieting Stops Working, It’s Not Calories In Calories Out Anymore

Resources:

• The Flipping 50 VIP Membership is now open! Join the first and original exclusively made-for-women in menopause and beyond fitness community.
• Don’t know where to start? Book your Discovery Call with Debra. Leave this session with insight into exactly what to do right now to make small changes, smart decisions about your exercise time and energy.
• Join the Flipping50 Insiders Facebook Group. Connect with other women navigating menopause fitness and get daily tips and support.
• Join Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist® to become a coach!