…. Straight talk for women 50plus, who want to be in the best shape of their life

I’m Dr. Heike Franz, and I specialize in helping women over 50 navigate the exciting yet daunting journey of health and nutrition, to lose weight, gain energy, and fall in love with their bodies again. Yes, this is possible, even during the challenging times of menopause and the years beyond.

You might be wondering, “How on earth did you get into nutrition and menopause?”

What many of my current clients don’t know is that I studied business administration with a focus on controlling, and later earned my doctorate in Information Management. After that, I spent 25 years in a global company, holding leadership positions and enjoying thrilling international experiences. But despite all that excitement, I felt unfulfilled.

My interest in nutrition goes way back. As a teenager, I battled an eating disorder that almost cost me my life—three weeks in intensive care after heart failure and kidney failure was quite the wake-up call! It was a loud message from my body that I needed to eat healthily. Easier said than done, especially before the internet made it easy to find information. Add to that the mental struggles that come with such challenges: understanding what’s healthy was one thing, but actually eating well was like climbing Mount Olympus for me.

Over the years, I devoured every piece of literature I could find on nutrition. At the train station in Koblenz, I often spent all my pocket money on international scientific magazines, which also helped me improve my English!

Anyone who has suffered from an eating disorder knows it’s not something you can just shake off. For many years, my relationship with food was strained. My weight had nearly normalized, but the internal battle was ever-present.

Years later, after three years in Beijing, I decided to take a partial sabbatical. While in the U.S., I found a small university where I could take nutrition courses. Since I agreed to be available as a project consultant during my break, I got part of my accommodation and meals covered. What started as a few courses quickly turned into a master’s program, and because I loved research and science so much, I decided to tackle my second doctoral thesis.

Sure, if I had focused solely on my career, I probably would have climbed the corporate ladder faster. But then I would have never met my inspiring doctoral supervisor! Working on the topic for my doctorate led to many valuable discussions.

 

 

What exactly is the issue with weight during menopause and beyond?

When I researched my doctoral thesis topic in my early 40s, it became clear that menopause was on the horizon. I wanted to write about it because I had heard some truly horrifying stories related to menopause.

During my first degree, I worked part-time in a clothing store, where I interacted with women of all ages. It was quite alarming when women in their middle years came to me in tears about gaining weight and needing a size 46 instead of their usual size 36. “Young lady, you have no idea what it’s like. No matter what I do, nothing helps, my weight is out of control!”

Fast-forward ten years, and I met an old acquaintance who had always been slim. She had gained about 15 kg, and I barely recognized her. “Sweetheart, you have no idea how it feels. No matter what I do, nothing helps, my weight is out of control!”

Another ten years later, the topic for my doctoral thesis became urgent: I wanted to explore the truth behind the phrase: “No matter what I do, nothing helps, my weight is out of control.” My doctoral supervisor, around my age, said, “If you find a solution for ‘menopausal weight gain,’ you might never have to work again.” In plain terms: there is no magic solution. However, there are steps we can take to address this issue from multiple angles.

I thought menopause was five years away—boy was I wrong! Before I knew it, I was right in the thick of it myself. Yes, I gained about 3 kg but never tried to lose them. Instead, I took strength training seriously, reduced endurance training, and took yoga lessons to manage stress. Sure, there were times when I was emotionally flexible (a.k.a. moody), but when looking back now, the discomfort was manageable.

What became clear to me is that after a certain age, we need to actively take care of our health. With common sense and the right lifestyle choices, much is possible!

 

 

My solution for you

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” (Confucius)

Or: Why You Won’t Find “Diet Plans” Here

When I started my own business a few years ago, I naturally analyzed my competitors:

 

• • How do other nutritionists operate?
  • Do they follow a specific philosophy?
  • Are they using a particular approach?
  • Is the client treated as an equal partner, or simply told what to do?

 

I decided early on that I wanted to do things differently. After three years of research for my doctorate to understand why women struggle so much with weight loss during menopause, I wanted not only to understand but also find real solutions.

To cut to the chase: there isn’t one single solution. However, there are many small steps one can take—little adjustments that can make all the difference. Each woman’s journey is unique; that’s why there’s no one-size-fits-all meal plan. Sure, it would be easier for a nutrition coach to rely on computer-generated plans that require less work.

The truth is, there weren’t and still aren’t many approaches focused on women going through menopause. What works for some may backfire and lead to weight gain or exacerbate menopausal symptoms.

 

“Everything runs smoothly when there’s no stress or drama; then I can stick to diet plans and lose weight. But heaven help me if something goes awry…”

“I simply don’t have time to buy all the items on the list.”

 “I tried a week of keto (or any other strict diet), and it made me feel sick.”

I can’t plan my meals a week in advance! Sure, I think about what groceries to buy for the week—but when it comes down to it, I choose my meals pretty spontaneously each day:

 

• • What do I really want to eat now?
  • Hot or cold?
  • Savory or sweet?
  • Do I have time to cook or need something quick?

 

That’s precisely why I developed my signature course “Eat Smart at 50+: Weight Control, Mental Clarity, and Living Without Diets.“

I’ve learned to listen when my body tells me what it needs. And guess what? You can do that, too. Each day is a new opportunity to decide what to eat. Some days are filled with healthy choices; other days might involve cake and/or chocolate. So what? It’s not the end of the world! If I’ve enjoyed it, everything is just fine.

And that’s exactly what I want to share with you, my clients:

 

• • No dependence on rigid meal plans—just healthy choices.
  • Tailored to fit your unique daily rhythm.
  • You’ll gain knowledge that turns you into an expert on your own body.
  • You’ll understand what’s happening and be able to prioritize accordingly.

 

Here’s what my clients are saying:

 

“I feel like you’ve taken so much stress out of my eating!”

“What will I do in January? No more New Year’s resolutions and diets are history… 😉”

“I lost 100 kg in one year… and it feels amazing!”

(Spoiler alert: That was Anna, one of my first clients who left her husband after he made her life miserable.)

You have nothing to lose, but you can expect to gain:

 

• • feeling great and sexy again
  • regain your mojo
  • have more energy

 

join a community of like-minded women, who believe: the best years are ahead of us.

Let’s get ready