Why Energy Isn’t a Willpower Problem for women over 40.
Is your body trying to catch your attention?
Many of the women I work with blame themselves for their lack of energy.
They think they need more willpower, more motivation, more discipline.
But after years of supporting women through hormonal changes, digestive issues and burnout, I’ve noticed something important: Exhaustion is rarely a willpower problem.
More often, it’s a signal that your body needs support.
A’s Story
One of my clients, who I’ll call A, came to see me because she was struggling with digestive issues and persistent acid reflux.
She was also navigating menopause and feeling overwhelmed by a body that no longer seemed to respond to her efforts.
She was exercising regularly, trying to eat healthily and yet she felt awful most of the time.
She described herself as bloated, overstimulated and carrying a “full-on cortisol belly.”
As she told me:
“I was exercising and eating ‘healthily’ and yet I felt pretty dreadful most of the time.”
Sound familiar?
Many women assume that if they’re doing the “right” things, they should automatically feel well.
When they don’t, they often blame themselves.
But the body is more complex than calories in and calories out.
What Was Really Going On?
Rather than focusing on restriction or dieting, we looked at what her body might be trying to communicate.
We focused on supporting her digestion, and on calming inflammation.
We helped stabilise blood sugar and create meals that nourished rather than depleted her.
Importantly, there were no food rules or labels.
As A later shared:
“Sandrine never once used the word diet and did not make me feel that foods were forbidden. It allowed me to develop a different narrative around food.”
When the Body Gets What It Needs
Over time, things started to shift.
Her bloating improved, her heartburn settled and she felt more energised.
She began strength training and felt stronger than she had in years.
When she caught flu last winter, she recovered much faster than she had the previous winter.
Her body was becoming more resilient.
And something else happened: the changes spread through the family. Her husband naturally lost weight. One of her sons started making overnight oats every evening and embraced a higher-protein, higher-fibre way of eating. What began as one woman’s health journey created positive changes throughout the household.
Working with Sandrine has changed my life and my attitude to food and nutrition. When I started working with her I was bloated and menopausal, battling with almost constant heartburn, over-stimulated and with a full-on cortisol belly. I was exercising and eating ‘healthily’ and yet I felt pretty dreadful most of the time. Sandrine has got me to view food in a different way. She does not push any agenda and suggests changes in such a way that you don’t really feel deprived.
Your Body Isn’t Broken
If you’re exhausted right now, here is something I want to share:
Your body isn’t broken, It is just communicating.
Low energy can be influenced by many things:
- Blood sugar imbalances
- Digestive issues
- Chronic stress
- Hormonal changes
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Poor sleep
- Inflammation
The answer isn’t always to push harder but instead it is inviting us to become curious and ask:
“What might my body be trying to tell me?”
A Different Way Forward
My approach has never been about strict diets or perfection. It’s about understanding your unique body and giving it the support it needs to thrive. When your body gets what it needs, energy often becomes a natural consequence rather than a constant battle.
That’s very different from relying on willpower.
If you’re tired of feeling tired, I would love to invite you to pause and listen to what your body is trying to tell you. If this feels like the right time, please get in touch. Let’s work together on this. Simply email at s.olmi@savoirfayre.co.uk or use the contact form here.
If you are keen to get started on your own, why not join my IGNITE course – 21 days to bursting energy. 1 tip a day for 21 days. Designed to gently guide you to eat for energy.
I’m Sandrine, also known as the Relaxed Nutritionist. I’m a Registered Nutritional Therapist and Nutrigenomics Specialist. I’m also the Mum to a daughter with AuDHD & PDA.
Looking after our family is a priority of course – but taking care of ourselves needs to come first if we want to carry out our duty to the best of our abilities. So many people depend on you. Here is your invitation to pause, listen and start one step at a time without stress or restriction.
Photo: Savoir Fayre by Claire with the Camera