Why Your Menopause Diet Might Be Sabotaging More Than Your Weight

Have you ever noticed how 'menopause treatments' always come with a side of diet advice? Yeah, you’re not alone—and there's a deeper story behind that seemingly innocuous prescription. Recently, a thought-provoking essay in Time by Cole Kazdin peeled back the curtain on how weight gain during perimenopause becomes the unwelcome star of the show, and how women are often expected to 'fix' it before anything else. But is this focus on diet really helping, or is it just putting extra pressure on bodies already doing their best?

Let's unpack this together, because whether you’re navigating menopause or diving into your fertility journey (or both!), understanding the dance between diet culture and hormonal shifts can seriously change the game.

The Weighty Issue Nobody Wants to Talk About

Weight gain during perimenopause is often the first symptom women notice—and almost immediately, it’s treated like the villain. Kazdin’s essay explains this all-too-common narrative: weight gain isn’t just a side effect; it becomes THE problem. The solution? Diet.

But here’s the kicker—this relentless focus on controlling weight can spiral into disordered eating and a harmful relationship with food. It’s like trying to solve a complex hormonal puzzle with just a fork and a knife. Spoiler alert: it rarely works well.

Why Does This Matter for Fertility and Family Planning?

If you’re on a fertility journey—especially with at-home insemination—you’re probably already thinking about wellness in a holistic way. But the pressure to 'eat right' for fertility sometimes mirrors those menopause diet scripts. It’s a tricky tightrope:

On one side, nutrition is undeniably important for healthy conception.
On the other, diet culture can sneak in disguised as helpful advice and morph into stress, shame, and guilt.

So how do you find balance?

Spoiler: It’s About More Than Just ‘What’ You Eat

The article nudges us to ask bigger questions: What if the real issue isn’t diet at all, but the cultural obsession with weight as a moral failing or health barometer? What if we focused more on mental and emotional wellness alongside physical health?

For people using MakeAMom’s at-home insemination kits—like CryoBaby, Impregnator, or BabyMaker—this holistic approach matters. These kits are designed to reduce stress by making the process private, simple, and accessible, helping you focus on what truly counts: your emotional and physical well-being during this transformative time.

So, What Can You Do?

Here’s a mini guide to navigating diet pressure during menopause or fertility treatments without losing your mind:

Prioritize nourishment, not restriction. Eat foods that make you feel good and give you energy, not just ones that fit a 'diet plan.'
Listen to your body. Hormonal changes mean your needs evolve. Sometimes cravings signal something important.
Seek support — emotional and nutritional. Sometimes chatting with a counselor or a nutritionist who gets menopause and fertility can be a total game-changer.
Focus on what you can control — like your insemination method! Using discreet, reusable kits like those from MakeAMom gives you empowerment and privacy, which reduce stress immensely.

Wrapping It Up: Changing the Narrative

Kazdin’s essay isn’t just about diets or menopause—it’s about reclaiming autonomy over our bodies in a culture that often weaponizes weight. For anyone on the path to parenthood, especially with at-home fertility methods, reframing how we view wellness can lead to healthier minds and happier bodies.

If you’re interested in blending science with self-compassion on your journey, dive deeper into MakeAMom’s resources for at-home insemination support that respects your whole self.

Ready to break free from the diet trap and embrace a fertility journey that empowers you? What’s your experience with diet culture during hormonal changes? Share your stories and let’s support each other in this wild ride called life and fertility!

Inspired by: Why Does Menopause Treatment Always Include a Diet? by Cole Kazdin, Time magazine.