246: Is it OK to Want to Lose Weight?

We've been told all our lives that thinner is better. But now, in midlife, we're also told that wanting to lose weight makes us shallow or brainwashed by diet culture. So… is it okay to want to lose weight? In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I'm asking the question that so many women are silently wrestling with—but don't feel like they're allowed to say out loud. I'll walk you through the real reasons behind that desire, what we're hoping weight loss will "fix," and why the fantasy often doesn't match the reality. If you've ever said things like "I just want to feel better in my clothes" or "I want to feel more like myself," but underneath it, you meant I want to lose weight—this episode is for you. We'll talk about how to explore that desire without shame, how to build true health regardless of the number on the scale, and what it really takes to feel better in your body today—not 20 pounds from now.     WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why "I want to lose weight" is more emotionally loaded in midlife than ever before The sneaky expectations we attach to weight loss—and how they often backfire What a client's 80-lb weight loss really taught me about feeling better in your body A gentler, more sustainable path to feeling strong, capable, and at peace with your body—whatever size it is     RESOURCES Episode 95: What Are You Willing to Do?Download the Free Guide: The 8 Basic Habits That Healthy People DoBook a Strategy Call   Get full show notes and more information here: https://elizabethsherman.com/246Hey! I love hearing from you. Send me a text. Let me know what resonated with you. I submitted a talk for SXSW 2027: Biohacking Is Just Dieting in a Lab Coat. Community voting runs through August 23rd, and it's part of what determines who gets on stage in Austin next March. If this resonates, I'd love your vote: CLICK HERE. Free account required, takes about a minute. If you’re a woman in midlife who wants better health without obsessing over weight, you’re in the right place. I’m Elizabeth Sherman, a life and health coach and host of the Total Health in Midlife Podcast.After coaching hundreds of women, I know the real problem usually isn’t “not enough information” – it’s too much of it, and not knowing where to start. With close to 300 episodes, this show can feel that way too.To make it easy, I created a free Listener’s Roadmap that helps you figure out which episodes are right for you right now. Tell me what you’re struggling with – low energy, emotional eating, stress, sleep, exercise, or all of the above – and I’ll point you to a curated path of episodes and resources to get you moving.Download your free roadmap at https://elizabethsherman.com/roadmap.