#89: Why 1200 calorie/day diets & cheat days don’t work & what to do instead

40+ Fitness for Women: Strength Training, Fat Loss Tips & Healthy Aging for Women over 40 in perimenopause & menopause

Have you been carefully sticking to a 1200-calorie per day diet during the week, only to reward yourself with a cheat day on the weekend?
While this approach might seem like a good balance, it could actually be sabotaging your progress!
In this episode of 40+ Fitness for Women, I break down why super low-calorie diets and cheat days aren’t as effective as you think—especially for women in perimenopause and menopause.

Tune in as I discuss:

• Why 1200-calorie per day diets leave you feeling exhausted and frustrated
• How cheat days often undo all your hard work
• Why you should think of your calories like a budget—and how to manage them better
• A smarter, more sustainable approach to fat loss
• My own experience with tracking and managing calories for consistent results

If you’ve been dieting and feel stuck, this episode will help you rethink your strategy for better, more sustainable progress.

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Chapter

1. Introduction to 40+ Fitness for Women (00:00:00)

2. The Exhaustion of Constant Dieting (00:00:45)

3. The Problem with Cheat Days (00:02:15)

4. A Better Approach: Budgeting Calories (00:06:03)

5. Understanding Your Calorie Budget (00:07:28)

6. Personal Experience with Calorie Deficit (00:07:49)

7. Managing Calorie Intake on Special Occasions (00:09:34)

8. Successful Weight Loss Journey (00:10:53)

9. Advice for Tracking and Analyzing Your Diet (00:12:11)

10. Final Thoughts and Next Steps (00:14:03)