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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01 December 2025

How to Drink Alcohol and Still Lose Weight After 40

You don't have to quit drinking to maintain your weight through the holidays, but you should understand why alcohol affects you completely differently in your 40s.

I maintained a 20-pound weight loss for over 8 years while still drinking. Here's exactly how I do it, backed by science.

What you'll learn:

Why alcohol derails weight loss in your 40s:

  • Your liver metabolizes alcohol more slowly as you age, while simultaneously processing fluctuating hormones
  • You're losing 3-8% of muscle mass per decade, which means higher blood alcohol levels from the same amount of drinks
  • Alcohol stops fat burning entirely while your body processes it, not just empty calories
  • It increases cortisol, disrupts sleep, and triggers next-day carb cravings

My actual holiday drinking strategy:

  • How to identify your real "drinking events"
  • The 1:1:1 rule I use at every party
  • Front-loading strategy: what I eat and drink before events
  • Lower-calorie drink swaps that don't taste like punishment
  • My morning-after protocol that stops the spiral

The moderation approach that actually works:

  • Why all-or-nothing thinking guarantees failure
  • How I drink at 42% of events without guilt
  • Strategic drinking vs. "relaxing" drinking (there's a difference)

This isn't about quitting alcohol. It's about understanding how your body processes it now vs. your 20s, and making strategic choices that let you enjoy the holidays without gaining weight.

🎯 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/

🎥 Follow along on YouTube

💌 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. 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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24 November 2025

How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain This Thanksgiving (Without Giving Up Your Favorites)

Grab the free Thanksgiving Healthy Recipe Guide (includes nutritional info and calorie-reduction options): https://behindthbody.kit.com/thanksgiving

Many people approach Thanksgiving thinking they have two options: restrict all day and binge at dinner, or say "screw it" and start over Monday. Both strategies fail.

In this episode, my sister Monica joins me to break down exactly how to navigate Thanksgiving when you're trying to lose weight or maintain in your 40s and 50s. Monica lost 120 pounds over the last year at age 53, and this is her first Thanksgiving at her new weight.

What we cover:

The 5 Thanksgiving Diet Derailers (and how to avoid them):

  • Anticipation anxiety that makes you restrict before the meal (then overeat)
  • The guilt spiral that turns one indulgent meal into a 4-day bender
  • Social pressure to eat someone else's cooking
  • Disrupted routine that eliminates your normal structure
  • Alcohol consumption lowers inhibitions and adds empty calories

Our actual Thanksgiving strategies:

  • How Monica approaches cooking and hosting without overeating
  • Why I front-load protein and water instead of restricting
  • The "little bit of everything" approach that satisfies without overdoing it
  • How to handle leftovers when you love Thanksgiving food
  • Making lower-calorie cocktails that still taste incredible

Plant-based cooking hacks that don't sacrifice flavor:

  • Monica's famous mushroom lentil Wellington that even meat-eaters love
  • How to make stuffing with Hero Bread (high protein, high fiber)
  • Reduced-calorie mashed potatoes the whole family requests
  • The psychology of getting people to eat healthy food without telling them it's healthy

The maintenance mindset:

Monica shares how she transformed her relationship with food at 53, from "I can't eat this" to "I don't eat this" without feeling deprived.

This isn't about perfection. It's about enjoying Thanksgiving while staying aligned with your goals, because one meal doesn't derail or define you, but the story you tell yourself about that meal absolutely can.

Stay Connected:

Join my BTB newsletter for weekly insights, wellness strategies, updates, and no sugarcoating, straight to your inbox every Tuesday morning → https://behindthebody.com/newsletter.

MORE FROM ME

📲 Follow me on Instagram @behindthebody.co

🎥 Join me on YouTube @behindthebody

👩🏻‍💻 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.

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17 November 2025

3 Hidden Triggers Making Weight Loss Feel Impossible Over 40

Take the FREE quiz: ‘What’s My Metabolism Type’ and get your customized plan to help you break through weight loss plateaus.

If you’re over 40 and feel like your body’s response to weight gain is all over the place, this episode breaks down the 3 hidden triggers that make weight loss feel impossible and out of your control, and none of them are about willpower, discipline, or eating “clean.”

I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the scenes:

  • Why constantly waking up in the middle of the night is leading to next-day cravings and belly fat
  • How losing even a small amount of muscle quietly lowers your metabolism year after year
  • The stress-thyroid connection that slows everything down when you’re juggling work, family, and perimenopause symptoms

I’m also sharing what’s personally helping me right now, from progesterone and magnesium supplementation to strategic strength training, protein, and small daily habits that actually move the needle when you’re over 40.

If you’ve been eating well, exercising, and still gaining weight, this episode will finally make the “why” make sense, and give you clear, doable fixes that work with your hormones and life.

✨ Let's Stay Connected:

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

Take the ‘What’s My Metabolism Type’ free quiz and learn how to reignite your weight loss!

MORE FROM ME

📲 Follow me on Instagram @behindthebody.co

📸 Join me on YouTube @behindthebody

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.

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10 November 2025

Why Your Healthy Eating Is Making You Gain Weight In Perimenopause + How to Fix It

You know that rage-inducing moment when you can’t zip your jeans even though you’ve been eating salads for three months straight? Yeah, we need to talk about that.

I spent six months eating “healthy” in my 30s while unknowingly gaining weight. The day I couldn’t fit into a single pair of jeans, I was so shocked and depressed. I had to figure out what was actually happening.

In this episode, I’m talking about why your healthy eating isn’t working: the massive calorie miscalculation that you may not be recognizing, the three hidden calorie bombs in every “clean” meal, and the 3-minute measurement trick that’ll teach you exactly what’s behind your weight gain.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1️⃣ “Healthy” ≠ Weight Loss – That avocado toast is 600 calories. An egg white scramble is 150. Both are healthy, but only one helps you lose weight.

2️⃣ You’re Eating 600-800 Hidden Calories Daily – Your olive oil “drizzle” is 400 calories. Your handful of almonds is three servings. You can’t eyeball your way through perimenopause/menopause anymore.

3️⃣ Track For One Week, Not Forever – Seven days of data will open your eyes.

TAKE ACTION TOMORROW: Measure three things: your coffee additions, your cooking oil pour, and one “healthy” snack. Don’t change them; measure once. This 3-minute reality check will reveal why your jeans don’t fit.

TDEE Calculator: https://tdeecalculator.net/

GET THE FREE GUIDE:

Download my “Portion Control + Tracking Guide” PDF showing exactly what portions look like with real food and a step-by-step guide to start tracking, plus a BONUS of 15 super healthy and easy recipes.

MORE FROM ME

Follow me on Instagram @behindthebody.co

Join me on YouTube @behindthebody

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.

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10 November 2025

Season 3 Kickoff: What’s Changing and What’s to Come

I’m so excited to kick off Season 3 of Behind the Body! In this short episode, I’m reintroducing myself, sharing what’s new this season, and giving you a look at where we’re headed next.

If you’ve been listening from the start, you know Anna and I began this show together. She’s still my best friend ever and will pop in when she can, but with our schedules pulling in different directions, I’ll be hosting solo for now.

This season, I’m doubling down on what really helps women in their late 30s, 40s, and beyond with practical, evidence-based conversations about fitness, nutrition, metabolism, hormones, and aging well. I’ll break down the science, talk real-life, and give you tools to lose fat, build muscle, balance your hormones, and feel stronger and more confident in your body.

Hit play to hear what’s ahead and how Behind the Body will help you understand your body better, master your metabolism, and age powerfully.

Stay Connected:

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

🎥 Follow along on YouTube and Instagram

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06 November 2024

Staying Fit Through the Dark Days: Tips to Avoid Winter Weight Gain

If you're feeling the winter blues and struggling to maintain your weight, always reaching for comfort foods, and losing motivation to exercise, then you are not alone! The dark, cold evenings can make it hard to stick to a healthy routine, but we're sharing effective strategies to overcome this challenge and maintain your well-being in this episode.

In this episode, you will be able to:

  • Mastering the art of avoiding winter weight gain.
  • Discover effective strategies for healthy eating during the chilly months.
  • Unlock the powerful benefits of progress pictures for successful weight loss journeys.
  • Adapting your workout routines for daylight savings success.
  • Embrace healthy alternatives to indulge in during the winter months.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:06 - Coping with Daylight Savings Time

00:03:13 - Adjusting Workout Schedule

00:07:04 - Importance of Progress Pictures

00:09:36 - Mindful Eating and Balance

00:12:41 - Freedom in Food Choices

00:14:43 - Maintaining Control and Happiness

00:15:09 - Healthy Recipe Hacks

00:17:16 - The Importance of Results for Motivation

00:18:22 - Battling Winter Challenges

00:21:39 - Self-acceptance and Personal Happiness

00:27:54 - Importance of Scheduling Workouts

00:29:41 - Overcoming Life's Interruptions

00:31:19 - Building a Strong Foundation

00:32:04 - Making Good Dietary Choices

00:38:16 - Balancing Indulgences

00:41:13 - Overcoming body image struggles

00:42:29 - Importance of staying active

00:44:04 - The power of pushing through

00:45:34 - Tracking progress

00:46:48 - Looking forward to the future

Like, subscribe, and connect with us on social!

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthebod/

👋 Anna’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/annadaltro

👋 Andrea’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/andrea_cutuk

👋 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindthebod

👋 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@behindthebody

🤩 Additional Resources: www.healthandfitco.com

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