If you feel like you are doing everything right but the scale refuses to move, I want you to hear this clearly.

Eating less is not always the answer.

In fact, one of the most common reasons women hit a fat loss plateau is because they are under eating for too long. I see this every single week with women who come to me frustrated, exhausted, and confused about why their body is not responding.

You are not broken. Your body is adaptive.

Let’s talk about what is really happening.

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The Hidden Problem With Chronic Undereating

For years, diet culture has pushed the idea that fat loss is simply about eating fewer calories and moving more. While a calorie deficit does matter, the human body is far more complex than a basic math equation.

When you consistently eat too little, your body shifts into conservation mode.

Instead of continuing to burn fat efficiently, your metabolism begins to adapt in protective ways:

• Resting metabolic rate can slow
• Non exercise movement often decreases without you noticing
• Hormones that regulate hunger and fullness can shift
• Energy levels drop
• Workouts start to feel harder than they should

Your body is not trying to sabotage you. It is trying to keep you safe.

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Signs You May Be Eating Too Little

Many high achieving women are surprised to learn they are under fueling. Here are some common red flags I look for in my clients:

• Weight loss has completely stalled
• You feel tired most of the day
• Workouts feel unusually difficult
• You think about food constantly
• Sleep quality has declined
• You feel cold more often than usual
• Your strength in the gym is not improving

If several of these sound familiar, your current approach may be too aggressive for your body right now.

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Why Eating More Can Support Fat Loss

I know this can feel counterintuitive. The idea of eating more when you want to lose fat can sound uncomfortable at first.

But strategic fueling supports the very systems that drive sustainable fat loss.

When your body is properly nourished:

• You have energy to train effectively
• You preserve and build lean muscle
• Your daily movement naturally increases
• Hormones involved in metabolism function more efficiently
• Recovery and sleep improve

Muscle is one of the biggest drivers of a healthy metabolism, especially for women in midlife. If you are consistently under eating, it becomes much harder to build or maintain that metabolically active tissue.

This is one of the key reasons many women feel stuck despite working so hard.

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The Midlife Factor Most Women Miss

If you are in your late thirties, forties, or beyond, this conversation becomes even more important.

Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause already place added stress on the body. Layer chronic undereating on top of that, and fat loss resistance often increases.

I frequently work with women who have been eating very little, doing intense cardio, and still seeing the scale creep up. The solution is rarely to push harder. It is usually to get more strategic.

That is where structured nutrition, adequate protein, and smart strength training come into play.

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What To Do Instead of Slashing Calories

If your fat loss has stalled, here is where I typically guide clients to start:

1. Prioritize adequate protein
Protein supports muscle maintenance, satiety, and metabolic health.

2. Strength train consistently
Building lean muscle is one of the most effective ways to support long term fat loss.

3. Fuel your workouts properly
You should not feel depleted every time you train.

4. Focus on consistency over extremes
The women who see the best results are not the ones doing the most extreme protocols. They are the ones following a sustainable plan.

5. Get individualized guidance
Your body, history, stress load, and hormones all matter. One size plans often miss the mark.

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The Bottom Line

If you have been eating very little and not seeing progress, pushing harder is rarely the answer.

Your body may simply need better support.

Fat loss is not about punishing your body into submission. It is about creating the right environment so your body feels safe enough to let go of stored fat while preserving strength, energy, and metabolic health.

You deserve a plan that works with your body, not against it.

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Ready For a Smarter Strategy?

If you are tired of spinning your wheels and want a structured, supportive approach to fat loss, I would love to help you.

Inside my 6 week program, we focus on:

• Strategic macros
• Sustainable intermittent fasting
• Strength focused workouts
• Hormone supportive nutrition
• Real accountability and coaching

If you are ready to stop guessing and start seeing progress, you can join us here:

Join my 6-week program: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=lorenmattingly

You do not need to eat less and suffer more. You need the right strategy. 💙