My latest read was Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight by Gabrielle O’Hare. I was up for a learning experience, and I got one! Here’s my review of the book about women’s health.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review. As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small amount from purchases through the links below at no extra cost to you.
About the book title
Going into the read of Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight, I wasn’t sure how to interpret the title. Did it mean that the book would be about women over age 40 being unable to lose weight, no matter what, and provide a detailed explanation of that? If so, I was preparing myself to be sad and to try to find examples that said otherwise.
The second interpretation of the title is that the book would explain why many women ages 40+ have trouble losing weight and offer suggestions to make it easier. Bingo! That was what the book was about. That was the more positive of the two interpretations, so I was happy!
The author’s experience with the topic
It’s clear the author Gabrielle O’Hare knows what she’s talking about, both through examples in the book based on her personal experiences and through her work. She is a personal trainer for women over 40.
She gives pseudonyms throughout the book for real-life clients and their struggles with shedding the pounds. She includes tips she used to help them, as well as providing relatable info from her own struggles with food and more.
What to expect from Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight
Gabrielle O’Hare has an easy reading style, avoiding complex terms or explaining them if they are included. That’s good news for anyone who’s not a pro in the health industry, as the body is certainly complex. I never felt overwhelmed by this book, even though there was a vast amount of information on the pages.
The book is organized into five parts. It begins by outlining reasons many women aren’t able to stick to a diet, then moves onto what the author describes as “A Different Approach.” From there, she discusses important factors in changing weight, ranging from nutrition to sleep and stress. “Changing Consistency” is next up, followed by “Resources.”
This last section is great for a wealth of recipes! They are ones that the author, a personal trainer, herself uses. I was surprised to see the many recipes in the book, as I assumed there would be strategies for weight loss but did not assume that included meal recipes and snack ideas.
There are also useful tables to fill out in the book. They range from goal setting to a fitness calendar that helps you plan strength and cardio activities throughout the week.
More about Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight
The author does a great job of explaining the title, Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight. I won’t give away everything, as I encourage you to read it for yourself if you’re looking to lose weight, but I will say a bit about what the book is and what is it not.
As we age, our hormone levels change, menopause occurs, and we continue to return to the health strategies we used as teenagers. Looking at it the way that it’s presented in the book made total sense to me – Our bodies aren’t the same, so our strategies to take off pounds shouldn’t be either! Plus, as O’Hare explains, many women by this age have developed an unhealthy relationship with food that results in bad habits, not to mention battling self-sabotage and self-neglect.
This book is NOT about a miracle diet. Instead, it offers realistic solutions based on what the author has found worked well for her and helped clients of hers too.
O’Hare delves into the power of exercise and eating well in a way that is easy to relate to as she lets us into her life at home, understanding the ups and downs of a busy lifestyle and that no one is perfect. The overarching message is to learn and follow the principles she outlines and get back on track when you veer off sometimes. She also makes it clear that before making food and exercise adjustments, get your doctor’s approval.
Oh, and there are beginner strength training exercises included! And you get access to her Facebook group (free) too.
My connection with the topic
Do I want to lose weight? As a doctor told me last year, many women would give anything to have my issue. I had lost too much weight due to health issues. Yes, being underweight at the time for my height, age, and bone structure was an issue. I am now a healthy weight.
While I do not have to lose weight, let’s be clear that I still like to learn about my body, its capabilities, and the changes occurring as we age. I am over 40, so I can identify with things the author noted, from needing to be kinder to ourselves to staying away from processed foods when possible.
I also like to know more about the women I’m writing for here at the blog, and this book helps give me insights into some of you readers and your struggles. Plus, it was nice to have a health-related read to vary up my book selection as I had just finished a fictional novel.
Being within a healthy weight range is essential to minimize specific diseases, such as heart disease. So I encourage you to keep an eye on your weight. But do not obsess about the number if you can help it. How you feel about yourself is crucial, and obsessing about the number on the scale is not good for mental health.
Concluding words about the book Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight
If you’re looking for a guide that provides many helpful tips to implement, isn’t assuming perfection, and provides recipes, exercises, and examples to motivate you, this book might be right for you. I give Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight 5 out of 5 stars. It covers the topic comprehensively without ever overwhelming me.
Definitely sounds like a good read, says this woman (well) over 40!
You are only as old as you feel, as the famous saying goes! Happy weekend 💗
You too, from this 22-year-old!
Hi twin!! 🤗
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this book sounds like a great resource for many, myself include
I like how it’s both a guide to read and a workbook to fill out!