Fat Loss After 40: Why Mindset Matters More Than Abs!|Christina Hathaway

Why do so many driven adults over 40 lose weight… only to gain it back? If you are chasing abs, pushing harder, overtraining, or constantly restarting your diet, this episode explains why the problem is not discipline. It's the mindset. In this episode of the Smart Nutrition Made Simple Show, Ben Brown sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist and eating disorder specialist, Christina Hathaway, to unpack why sustainable fat loss after 40 has more to do with identity, perfectionism, and relationships than body fat percentage. Most people say they want abs. But what they actually want is confidence, energy, connection, and longevity. Christina explains how high performers often bring perfectionistic, all-or-nothing thinking into fitness. That mindset can drive short-term results, but it rarely builds sustainability. Instead of asking “How do I get leaner?” the better question becomes: “What is driving my need to prove something through my body?” If you want strength, sustainable fat loss, and better communication in your relationships during midlife, this conversation will change how you approach fitness. Tune in now to learn why mindset matters more than abs, how to shift from all-or-nothing to all or something, and how to build a system that actually works after 40. Timestamps 00:00 – Why abs are not the real goal after 40 11:24 – The psychology behind weight regain 15:08 – Perfectionism and high performer burnout 19:44 – The science behind all or nothing thinking 25:44 – The brain science of motivation loss 29:31 – Ownership and unconditional permission 31:05 – Why 80% regain the weight 39:23 – What you really want beyond abs 43:40 – How fitness can test your marriage 50:44 – Asking your partner for support 1:04:11 – Setbacks as opportunities for growth Connect with Christina Hathaway Website: https://mindsetofmatter.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themindsetofmatter TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themindsetofmatter YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetofMatterCoaching Resources and Links Connect with Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodysystemscoaching/ Learn more about Ben’s coaching program: www.bodysystems.com Subscribe to the Smart Nutrition Made Simple Show on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smart-nutrition-made-simple-show-with-ben-brown/id1244912234 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8vUlwYvKcAXZOv84sFgT Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@bodysystemscoaching Book Free Nutrition Strategy Call - https://bodysystems.com/free-strategy-call/