On The Tamsen Show podcast, Dr. Jason Fung challenges everything diet culture has taught women about food, weight and willpower, with nutrition tips for menopause and beyond. If you’ve ever blamed yourself for not having enough discipline around food, this episode is for you.
Dr. Fung sits down with Tamsen to debunk the “calories in, calories out” myth and explain how hormones, ultra-processed foods and different types of hunger play a much bigger role than we’ve been led to believe. He also talks about insulin, fasting, perimenopause and the mindset shifts that help you feel healthier and more energized.
IN THIS EPISODE
■ The three types of hunger: homeostatic, hedonic and conditioned
■ Why ultra-processed foods lead to cravings and overeating
■ Insulin, fat storage and energy crashes after eating
■ Perimenopause, menopause and belly fat: what your hormones are really doing
■ Practical ways to reduce “food noise” and mindless eating
■ Intermittent fasting for women
■ Why women gain weight without changing their habits
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
8:00 Why You’re Eating When You’re Not Hungry
9:31 How to Stop Emotional Eating Without Restriction or Shame
14:01 How Your Environment Is Driving Weight Gain
16:04 Why Moving to the U.S. Increases Weight Gain
19:07 How to Take Control of Food Habits Without Cutting Out Your Social Life
23:40 The 3 Golden Rules for Weight Loss Without Dieting
28:02 Intermittent Fasting for Women
33:36 Why Calories Don’t Work in Perimenopause
36:19 Belly Fat and Hormones and Why It Shows Up in Menopause
41:17 The Biggest Lie Women Believe About Weight Gain
45:23 Mindset Shifts That Actually Help You Lose Weight Long-Term
47:20 How to Retrain Your Brain to Stop Craving Sugar
51:16 Why You’re Still Hungry After Eating, even With Enough Calories
52:51 The Best Foods to Reduce Hunger and Support Fat Loss
55:23 The Most Important Blood Tests for Weight Gain and Pre-Diabetes
56:41 How Hormones Like Insulin and Cortisol Affect Your Weight
58:23 How to Reduce Food Noise by Changing Your Environment
59:35 Why Blaming Yourself for Weight Gain Is Holding You Back
If you liked this episode, you’re going to love this one:
#1 Dietitian: Do THIS and You Will Never Feel Guilty About Eating Again:
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Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
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Your guests and videos with all the knowledge you dive into has helped me understand everything that is happening in post menapause. My only problem is consistency. Anyway keep the videos coming I always am learning something new.
This helped me a lot ❤
In the 70s we most definitely did know that eating veggies was healthier than potato chips lol. I was a child and even I knew that (my parents emphasized eating vegetables).
14 hr fast is not difficult. Dinner by 6pm breakfast at 8.
Keto & carnivore are helpful. Always bring your meals or healthy snacks & go for walk. It also destress us which lowers cortisol. Try to eliminate coffee & caffeine.
Tamsen, thank you for being real about the Tates cookies. Hate when one becomes many. Appreciate the message of not attaching shame
Dr. Fung, did you say you also test for CPeptide? Does that mean collagen peptides?
I’ve been on Mounjaro for 8 months and I’m at the exact same weight
Post menopausal incredibly discouraging
Nothing new hire at podcast ,he is justbambaling old the time.👎👎👎
I love Dr. Fung! How kind. And so smarttttt!!!! I read and implanted the Diabetes code by Dr. Fung and incorporated healthy Keto(Dr. Berg) the. Carnivore(dr. Chaffee) Health turned around and now I flex, yes a cheat once in a while, but I have trained myself to be able to be hungry for real and eat then fast or fast then eat. I don’t stress at an airport thinking there’s no good food, I just don’t eat. As long as I have water on a daily basis I’m good to go!
Doctor still didn’t respond to a Tamsen’s straightforward question: “I do all these, doc, and my blood results still show pre-diabetes”. I repeat the question…
I wonder what Dr. Fung's take on white rice since he is Asian and it is a staple of Asian cuisine?
Thank you for an amazing podcast! I am 49 and this is so relatable ! I hope I get your book !
I love your folks I listen while I workout 49 in peri
Hi Tamsel, i thought metformin was for diabetes not pre- diabetes??? I was pre- diabetic and i started taking pura vida moringa and this helped me
If you're stressed over situations you can't change, what can you do to control your cortisol? 😢
Intermittent fasting, whole food , avoid stress, eat mindful, smile a lot 😊 tx for the podcast helps.
Haha yes a 'double double'
I used to work at Tim Hortons. It's probably the most popular combination 😂
This is my story. I was brought up to be a physical eater, so, for others not having that early conditioning, educate yourselves on being a hedonistic eater and/or a conditional eater. Whilst I ate whole foods as a child, my foreign education made me adopt a relatively unhealthy life. On 27 April 2022 I was diagnosed with cancer and diabetes. I am in cancer remission, only to receive a scare last month. The catalyst for permanent change. I wanted to be free of drugs and side effects. I learnt that food is medicine, as simple as that. Next, I learnt what each component of whole foods carried what benefits, eg. Protein for longer fullness, Fiber for bulk in the gut etc. I am now on a physical, lifestyle and environmental cleanse on the UK 1:1 Cambridge Weight Plan, 12 weeks of fasting with minimum nutrients. It works by utilizing the fat storages in the liver and muscles. I reduced my diabetic medication by two thirds on week 6. I’m a typical Type A personality and use the goal of wanting physical, mental and emotional peace to motivate myself until I have reconditioned my thinking. I’m still on a steep learning curve on how to maintain my goal until reconditioning of mindset occurs. The doctor is extremely rational in content, which is usually what our lives are in essence, simple. Thank you from Malaysia, South East Asia.
Very insightful information. Useful conversation for us women having all these hormonal changes
Food is always available during out Staff gatherings. Cakes for birthdays, chips for snacking, soda in the fridge. It's so hard! Even harder… I buy most of it for them as part of my job! I've recently taken my metabolic health under control (with help of experts like you guys!) and really being intentional with what I'm putting into my body. I deal with chronic illness and it's been life changing. I wish more people would understand the things we are consuming, especially in social settings, are not that good for us. We all should be more diligent about our health.
Hey! I really loved this episode, but I didn't really get how to fix the hormones as a woman going through menopause i starved myself many times to lose weight, I'd love to be a normal person and still maintain a healthy body…
This was a very powerful podcast. I resonate on all levels. I’m 63, have been a healthy cardio junky all my life. I also had an eating disorder in my younger years. Feels great you and I can relate. Thank you
Colette
Great conversation. Really like Dr. Fung's perspective.
She is spot on – thank you!
Have his 3 books.
At the end of the day, fasting reduces energy intake. No matter how you manipulate macros or how you time your feedings if you eat below maintenance you will lose weight and that’s the science. The obesity rate in the 60’s and 70’s was 13 – 15%. Now it’s 40+. What changed? Compare portion sizes, activity levels and real food vs junk from that era to now and you get your answer.
The world really has been brainwashed with the Calories dogma.
Factors like sleep and stress have a huge influence on weight gain and weight loss, yet nobody talks about them let alone takes them into account because "calories are the only things you need to be concerned about."
Calories only makes sense if you don't think about it too hard. Once you actually think about it, the Calories argument falls apart very easily.