By: Sandra Whitman

When it comes to weight gain, fatigue, and frustration in midlife, many women find themselves asking: Why isn’t what used to work working anymore?

According to Allie Theiss, MSc, CSC, ABS, a nationally recognized Menopausal Care Provider and Integrative Wellness Coach, the answer lies in our hormones—and more importantly, how we respond to them through nutrition and movement.

“Your body is not broken,” says Theiss. “It’s changing. The wellness strategies that worked in your 20s and 30s need to evolve. Midlife is an invitation to treat your body with deeper wisdom, not harder effort.”

Through her signature Thrive Framework™, Theiss helps women rebalance their hormones, restore their vitality, and feel at home in their bodies again without extreme dieting or punishing fitness regimens. Her work has gained national attention, including features in Cosmopolitan, collaborations with Maven Clinic and MenoWave, and her popular MenoSpark podcast.

As Theiss explains, menopause is a whole-body transformation, especially when it comes to metabolism, fat storage, and energy levels. Hormones like estrogen, insulin, and cortisol begin to shift, creating a new internal landscape that demands a fresh approach.

Why Midlife Women Gain Weight Differently

Midlife weight gain is not just a matter of willpower, it’s physiological. As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, they affect how the body stores fat, particularly around the abdomen. This decline also affects insulin sensitivity, making blood sugar spikes more frequent and cravings more challenging to control. Add in chronic stress, which elevates cortisol and encourages fat retention, and it becomes clear that a “calories in, calories out” mindset simply doesn’t cut it anymore.

“So many women come to me saying, ‘I’m eating clean and working out, but I’m gaining weight!’” says Theiss. “The truth is, their bodies need something entirely different now—more nourishment, more rest, and smarter movement.”

What Kind of Nutrition Works Now

Instead of restrictive dieting, Theiss advocates for hormone-aware nourishment that focuses on stability rather than deprivation. The foundation? Blood sugar balance. This means prioritizing slow-digesting carbohydrates, healthy fats, lean proteins, and a generous amount of fiber to maintain steady energy levels and reduce inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory foods, such as leafy greens, berries, salmon, turmeric, and flaxseed, are staples in Theiss’s nutritional philosophy, as they help counteract the systemic inflammation that tends to rise during menopause. Hydration, mineral intake, and gut health also play vital roles in mood regulation, digestion, and weight management.

“It’s not about dieting, it’s about designing meals that keep your hormones and nervous system steady,” Theiss explains. “That means more whole foods, more pleasure in eating, and less guilt around doing it perfectly.”

How Movement Supports Weight and Energy

When it comes to exercise, many women believe the key to midlife weight loss is to push harder. But Theiss challenges this idea, encouraging clients to shift from overtraining to sustainable, supportive movement. Her preferred method? A balance of gentle strength training, walking, mobility work, and rest-based recovery.

“High-intensity workouts can elevate cortisol, which in turn worsens belly fat and burnout,” she says. “Instead, we focus on building muscle to support metabolism, while also incorporating movement that soothes the nervous system. Walking, yoga, Pilates, these are powerful tools when used consistently.”

This shift toward restorative movement also helps women improve sleep, mood, and joint health, key areas often compromised in the menopause transition.

The Empowered Midlife Body

The core of Theiss’s message is empowerment. She urges women to drop the perfectionism, ditch the shame, and adopt a more compassionate and informed approach to caring for their bodies.

“Midlife is not a time to shrink yourself. It’s a time to reawaken your relationship with your body,” she says. “When we stop punishing ourselves for the ways our bodies change and start supporting those changes with wisdom, everything begins to shift.”

This philosophy runs through all of Theiss’s offerings, from her personalized coaching to her community-based programs and retreats. And now, she’s introducing a powerful new resource for women ready to take the first step toward hormonal harmony.

New from Menopause Wellness: Crave Shift™

Launching June 2025, Allie Theiss introduces Crave Shift™: Reset Your Cravings. Reclaim Your Body.

This 3-part holistic mini-course is designed for midlife women who feel like they’re doing everything “right” but still can’t lose weight or stop the cycle of cravings and emotional eating.

“This course helps women understand the why behind their cravings and gives them simple, sustainable tools to feel more in control,” says Theiss. “No shame. No starvation. Just science-backed strategies rooted in hormonal care and self-compassion.”

In tandem with the course, Theiss is also launching Crave Control ™, a proprietary essential oil roll-on made with a hormone-aware blend of botanicals that supports appetite regulation and reduces stress-driven snacking throughout the day.

Crave Shift™ is more than a course. It’s a mindset shift that aligns with Allie’s greater mission: to help women stop fighting their bodies and start nourishing them with the care and clarity they deserve.

A New Era of Menopause Wellness

As menopause wellness continues to evolve, Allie Theiss stands at the forefront of this movement, bringing empathy, education, and innovation to a space that has long been overlooked by traditional medicine. Her work reminds women that aging doesn’t mean decline; it means wisdom, strength, and renewed vitality.

“You don’t need to fix your body, you just need to listen to it in a new way,” Theiss affirms. “And when you do, everything begins to change.”

To learn more about Allie Theiss, the Thrive Framework™, or the upcoming Crave Shift™ mini-course and Crave Control™  essential oil blend, visit menopausewellness.co or follow @menopausewellness.co on Instagram and TikTok.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.