Behind the Body

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Podcast by Andrea Cutuk

Behind the Body

You’re eating salads for lunch, walking daily, and skipping dessert, but the older you get, the tighter your jeans get. You’ve tried cutting carbs, adding more cardio, and intermittent fasting. Your body is changing faster than your habits, and you’re tired of feeling like it’s out of your control. Welcome to Behind the Body! I’m Andrea Cutuk - NASM-Certified Nutrition and Fitness Coach - and I like to talk openly and honestly about weight loss (or lack thereof) after 40. After losing 20 pounds and maintaining it for almost 10 years through perimenopause, I talk about exactly what causes weight gain when hormones shift and what to do about it. No generic advice from 25-year-old fitness influencers. No extreme diets or programs that last two weeks. Just a woman like you who’s been there, with real strategies that work when estrogen drops, metabolism slows, and you’re juggling work, family, and a social life. Each week, we’ll chat about topics such as: * Why you gain weight around your midsection even when you eat the same foods * How to lose fat without giving up restaurants, wine, or your sanity * What specific foods and habits help (and hurt) fat loss after 40 * How to build strength and boost metabolism so you’re aging in the best way possible This isn’t necessarily about motivation. It’s about understanding the science of perimenopause and menopause weight gain, and getting practical tools that fit your actual life. You don’t need another 90-day challenge. You need sustainable habits that work for your lifestyle, and forever. I hope you’ll join the Behind the Body community! New episodes every Monday.

Latest episodes

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26 January 2026

5 "Healthy" Habits Making Your Belly Fat Worse After 40

If you're over 40, eating relatively clean, and exercising, but still gaining belly fat, it's because after 40, the rules of biology change for us.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the 5 common "healthy" habits that backfire in perimenopause and menopause, and what we can do instead.

Here's what we cover:

  • Why excessive cardio spikes cortisol and stores belly fat (even when you're burning calories)
  • How eating too few calories triggers your thyroid to slow your metabolism
  • Why intermittent fasting works for men but increases insulin resistance in women over 40
  • The fat mistake that's sabotaging your hormone production
  • How one bad night of sleep creates diabetic-level insulin resistance the next day

None of these things had a significant impact on us in our 20s and 30s. But now, they're the culprits for the very thing we're trying to avoid: unintentional weight gain and belly fat.

🎯 Take the FREE ‘What’s My Metabolism Type’ quiz that identifies your unique metabolism type and get empowered with personalized strategies to manage your weight confidently. → Quiz: https://behindthebody.com/quiz

LET'S CONNECT!

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthebody.co/

📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindthebody.co

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@behindthebody

📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BehindtheBody/

🎙️ Podcast: https://pod.link/1698226037

💌 Join my Newlsetter: https://behindthebody.com/Newsletter

👩🏻‍💻 Website: https://behindthebody.com/

🔔 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Every review helps another woman like us find our community of strength, power, learning, and "glowing up".

New episodes every Monday.

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19 January 2026

THIS is the Real Reason Fat Loss is Harder After 40 (It's Not Hormones)

Think your metabolism is slowing with age, and it is! But not because of your hormones. You are losing 3-8% of your muscle every decade after your late 30s, and that's quietly destroying your ability to burn fat.

Most women over 40 are fighting an uphill battle they don't even know exists. They cut calories harder, add more cardio, try another restrictive diet, and wonder why nothing is working.

The REAL problem is that age-related muscle loss is tanking your metabolism. And extreme calorie deficits are making it even worse, stripping away the exact tissue you need to burn fat efficiently.

In this episode, I break down:

  • Why calories in vs. calories out still matters (and why muscle changes everything)
  • How losing muscle quietly lowers your daily calorie burn
  • Why eating 1200-1400 calories is sabotaging your progress
  • The difference between weight loss and fat loss (and why it matters at our age)
  • Actionable strategies: shorter fat loss phases, lifting weights, and prioritizing protein

This isn't about being skinny. It's about being strong, healthy, and looking your best at 45, 55, 65, and beyond.

🎯 Take the FREE ‘What’s My Metabolism Type’ quiz: It identifies your unique metabolism type and empowers you with personalized strategies to manage your weight confidently. → Quiz: https://behindthebody.com/quiz

LET'S CONNECT!

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthebody.co/

📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindthebody.co

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@behindthebody

📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BehindtheBody/

🎙️ Podcast: https://pod.link/1698226037

💌 Join my Newlsetter: https://behindthebody.com/Newsletter

👩🏻‍💻 Website: https://behindthebody.com/

🔔 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Every review helps another woman like us find our community of strength, power, learning, and "glowing up".

New episodes every Monday.

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12 January 2026

5 Things I'm Changing to Maintain My Weight Loss Over 40 (One Will Surprise You)

🎯 Take my free 'WHAT'S MY METABOLISM TYPE' quiz: Find out what's stalling your weight loss + get your personalized action plan → Quiz: https://behindthebody.com/quiz

After 8 years of maintaining a 20-pound weight loss, I'm making 5 specific changes in 2026, and one of them completely contradicts what I've been doing (and saying) for years.

Here's what nobody talks about: losing weight is the easy part. Maintaining it year after year, especially in your 40s, is where most people fail. Your body changes, and what worked last year doesn't necessarily work this year. You have to constantly reevaluate and adapt.

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what I'm changing about my nutrition, fitness, and mindset as I approach 45. Some of these changes might shock you, especially the one about protein that goes against everything the fitness industry preaches.

This isn't theory. This is what's actually working (and what stopped working) after 8 years of real-world maintenance in my 40s.

If you're maintaining weight loss or trying to build something that actually lasts long-term, this episode shows you what sustainable really looks like.

Stay Connected:

Join my BTB newsletter for weekly insights, wellness strategies, and updates straight to your inbox. Sign up at behindthebody.com/newsletter

LET'S CONNECT!

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthebody.co/

📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindthebody.co

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@behindthebody

📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BehindtheBody/

🎙️ Podcast: https://pod.link/1698226037

💌 Join my Newlsetter: https://behindthebody.com/Newsletter

👩🏻‍💻 Website: https://behindthebody.com/

🔔 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Every review helps another woman like us find our community of strength, power, learning, and "glowing up".

New episodes every Monday.

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15:37

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05 January 2026

New Year Weight Loss Over 40: Why Spring Is Your Real Deadline

🎯 Take my FREE 'WHAT'S MY METABOLISM TYPE' Quiz: Find out what's stalling your weight loss + get your personalized action plan → Quiz: https://behindthebody.com/quiz

Your New Year motivation will fade quickly if you treat January like a 30-day transformation. Here's what to do instead.

This episode is for women over 40 who are excited about 2026 but also exhausted, because you've been here before. You've made the goals, felt the motivation, and watched it fizzle by February.

I'm showing you how to use January's energy without burning out. Your real deadline isn't February. It's spring.

You have 3-4 months until April. That's 12-16 weeks, and enough time to lose 15-25 pounds, fit back into your jeans, and feel strong. But only if you stop sprinting and start building habits that last.

I break down why transformational thinking kills maintenance, the 60% consistency rule that kept my 20-pound loss off for 8 years, and the exact 8-step roadmap to make this year different.

What you'll learn:

  • Why transformation happens in January but maintenance happens in March
  • How to lose 1-2 pounds per week sustainably (not through restriction)
  • The small win strategy that builds habits without willpower
  • How to reverse engineer your spring goal starting today
  • What to do when motivation fades, and real life happens

LET'S CONNECT!

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthebody.co/

📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindthebody.co

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@behindthebody

📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BehindtheBody/

🎙️ Podcast: https://pod.link/1698226037

💌 Join my Newlsetter: https://behindthebody.com/Newsletter

👩🏻‍💻 Website: https://behindthebody.com/

Stay Connected:

Join my BTB newsletter for weekly insights, wellness strategies, and updates straight to your inbox. Sign up at behindthebody.com/newsletter

🔔 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Every review helps another woman like us find our community of strength, power, learning, and "glowing up".

New episodes every Monday.

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20:04

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15 December 2025

The Thyroid Problem Blocking Your Weight Loss

If you can't lose weight no matter what you try, your thyroid might be the problem. And, 60% of women with thyroid issues don't know they have it.

In this episode, I'm sharing my personal story of being told I was "fine" by multiple doctors while struggling with exhaustion, weight gain, and brain fog. It wasn't until I saw an endocrinologist that I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease.

You'll learn:

  • Why "within normal range" doesn't mean optimal
  • The exact thyroid tests to ask for (most doctors only run one)
  • How hypothyroidism blocks weight loss in women over 40
  • What to do if your doctor dismisses your symptoms
  • Why thyroid problems spike during perimenopause

If you're eating well, working out, and still gaining weight, this episode might change everything and give you a roadmap on how to move forward.

Stay Connected:

Join my BTB newsletter for weekly insights, wellness strategies, and updates straight to your inbox. Sign up at behindthebody.com/newsletter

🎯 TAKE MY FREE METABOLISM TYPE QUIZ: Find out what's stalling your weight loss + get your personalized action plan → Quiz: https://behindthebody.com/quiz

LET'S CONNECT!

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthebody.co/

📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindthebody.co

🎙️ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-body/id1698226037

💌 Join my Newlsetter: https://behindthebody.com/Newsletter

👩🏻‍💻 Website: https://behindthebody.com/

🔔 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Every review helps another woman like us find our community of strength, power, learning, and "glowing up".

New episodes every Monday.

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08 December 2025

GLP-1 Weight Loss: What No One Tells Women Over 40

12.4% of Americans are now on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, but here's what nobody's talking about: research shows more than 50% regain the weight within 2 years, and 80% by year 5. Why? Because weight loss and weight maintenance require completely different skill sets.

In this episode, I break down the real data on GLP-1 usage: the 16% average weight loss, the side effects (nausea, hair loss, cost), and the critical question: what habits are you building while you're on it? Whether you're considering a GLP-1, currently using one, or losing weight naturally, you need the same maintenance skills to keep weight off long-term.

I'm not here to tell you what to do with your body. But as someone who's maintained 20 pounds of weight loss for 8+ years without medication, I know this: only 1 in 5 people succeed at long-term weight loss, and it's not about the transformation method. It's about the maintenance skills.

Topics covered:

  • Current GLP-1 usage statistics (especially for women 50-64)
  • Real side effects and costs nobody mentions
  • Why 40% of users stop taking them
  • The difference between weight loss and weight maintenance
  • How to build sustainable habits regardless of your method
  • What happens when you stop the medication
  • Questions to ask yourself if you're considering or using GLP-1s

No judgment. Just an honest conversation about long-term considerations and planning.

🎯 TAKE MY FREE METABOLISM TYPE QUIZ: Find out what's stalling your weight loss + get your personalized action plan → Quiz: https://behindthebody.com/quiz

LET'S CONNECT!

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthebody.co/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@behindthebody

💌 Join my Newlsetter: https://behindthebody.com/Newsletter

👩🏻‍💻 Website: https://behindthebody.com/

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Every review helps another woman like us find our community of strength, power, learning, and understanding.

New episodes every Monday.

👋🏻 ABOUT ME:

I'm Andrea, a certified fitness and nutrition coach. I spent years doing cardio and avoiding weights because I thought I'd get bulky, and I didn’t understand the impact it would have. At 40, I did a diet overhaul, and I finally started lifting 3-4 times per week, basic compound movements, nothing fancy. Now at 44, I have the strong, toned body I'd been chasing for decades. I've maintained these results for over 8 years with the same simple approach. Now I help women over 40 stop overcomplicating fitness and start building sustainable strength.

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