Well Beyond 40
JJ Virgin
Well Beyond 40 with JJ Virgin is the podcast for women who want to age powerfully and enjoy the best chapter of their lives. It’s YOUR turn now to focus on nutrition, wellness, fitness, mindfulness, and beauty. Refuel your body. Reignite your wellness. Renew your passion. Fall (back) in love with your life, and discover what it means to age powerfully. Every information-packed episode combines cutting-edge science, pearls of wisdom from JJ’s four decades as a health and wellness leader and the world’s leading experts on weight loss, metabolism, menopause, life transitions and much more. We dive deep into topics like cultivating mindfulness, building strong relationships and setting boundaries, and choosing health…in a nutshell, how we can AGE POWERFULLY into this second half of our lives. At Well Beyond 40, we empower women in their 40s, 50s, 60, 70s (and beyond!) to defy stereotypes and say, “It's my time now. It's my turn now. It’s my opportunity to step into my best life!” For four decades, JJ Virgin has helped people lose weight and stop weight regain by eliminating hidden food intolerances and lowering their sugar impact. As a triple-board certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer, JJ helps you stay fired up and focused on being your healthiest rockstar self. In addition to hosting Well Beyond 40, JJ is a prominent TV and media personality. She was co-host of TLC’s Freaky Eaters and the on-camera nutritionist for Weight Loss Challenges on Dr. Phil. Over the years, JJ has made numerous appearances on PBS, Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Access Hollywood, and the TODAY Show. She also speaks regularly and has shared the stage with notables including Seth Godin, Lisa Nichols, Gary Vaynerchuk, Mark Hyman, Dan Buettner, and Mary Morrissey. JJ is the author of 4 New York Times bestsellers: The Virgin Diet, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, The Sugar Impact Diet, and The Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook. JJ is also the author of Warrior Mom: 7 Secrets to Bold, Brave Resilience. She regularly writes for major blogs and other publications including mindbodygreen and Medium. Visit jjvirgin.com for hundreds of free recipes and resources, plus state-of-the-art programs, products, and plenty of support to help you rev up your metabolism, reignite your wellness, and step powerfully into the second half of your life. Love the Podcast? Here’s what to do: Make My Day & Share Your Thoughts! - Subscribe to the podcast & leave me a review - Text a screenshot to 813-565-2627 - Expect a personal reply because your voice is so important to me. Join 55,000+ followers who make this podcast thrive.
Episodes
Mentioned books
7 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 55min
Essential Skincare Routines for Women Over Forty with Dr. Mamina Turegano
Dr. Mamina Turegano, a triple board-certified dermatologist, shares her insights on skincare for women over 40. She explains how hormones and stress impact skin health, revealing links to conditions like acne and hives. Dr. Turegano discusses the effects of estrogen decline during perimenopause, suggesting effective treatments like HRT. She highlights essential skincare routines involving retinoids, proper exfoliation, and the benefits of light therapies and hydrocolloid patches for acne. Learn how nutrition, like collagen supplements, can promote skin longevity!
Jan 12, 2026 • 20min
Why You’re Not Losing Weight, Even When You’re Doing Everything Right
What are the real reasons why women struggle to lose weight in midlife?
I see this pattern constantly: women doing all the “right” things and still feeling stuck, frustrated, and blamed by their own bodies. In this episode, I break down why the old weight-loss rulebook stops working in midlife and what’s actually driving fat loss after 40. Once you understand how muscle, protein, blood sugar, stress, hormones, and gut health interact, you can stop fighting your metabolism and finally start working with it.
What you’ll learn:
(02:25) Why auditing protein intake, calories, and ultra-processed foods is the first step before blaming your metabolism.
(04:35) How age-related muscle loss slows metabolism.
(05:08) Why undereating protein drives hunger, overeating, and stalled fat loss.
(06:03) How unstable blood sugar and high insulin block access to stored body fat.
(08:16) Why walking or strength movements after meals help regulate blood sugar.
(09:06) How chronic stress and poor sleep raise cortisol and promote fat storage.
(10:24) What happens to metabolism, sleep, and fat distribution during perimenopause.
(12:58) Why tracking biofeedback data replaces willpower as the key to sustainable fat loss.
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Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/weightloss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 7, 2026 • 1h 22min
The Next Big Longevity Conversation Is Stem Cells with Dr. Dan Pardi
How can you activate your own stem cells without costly medical procedures?
In this episode, Dr. Dan Pardi and I break down the real science behind stem cells and why they’re central to aging powerfully. We also explore how lifestyle, inflammation, exercise, and nutrition all shape the environment that allows stem cells to repair and renew your body.
Dr. Pardi is a neuroscientist and human performance expert who’s obsessed with helping people age better from the inside out. He’s worked with elite military units, Fortune 500 executives, and now serves as Chief Health Officer at Qualia Life Sciences, translating cutting-edge longevity science into real-world tools.
What you’ll learn:
(05:43) What stem cells are and how they function as your body’s primary repair system.
(07:22) Why stem cell exhaustion is a hallmark of aging and what changes as you get older.
(12:33) How lifestyle and environment influence stem cell quantity and quality over time.
(16:31) The full life cycle of a stem cell.
(19:49) What parabiosis research reveals about rejuvenation and cellular environments.
(22:33) Why inflammation interferes with stem cell signaling and repair.
(30:46) How nutrition, polyphenols, and supplements can support stem cell performance.
(01:00:03) The daily habits that matter most for longevity and cellular health.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
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Full show notes (including all links mentioned): http://jjvirgin.com/stemcells Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 5, 2026 • 30min
I've Been Lifting for 40 Years. Here's the Truth About Getting "Bulky"
What actually causes the “bulky” look people blame on lifting?
I’ve been lifting weights for over 40 years, and I want to finally put the fear of getting “bulky” to rest. In this episode, I break down what really happens when you lift, why muscle actually makes you leaner, and how women have a built-in advantage when it comes to staying sculpted. I also share exactly how I balance training, nutrition, and recovery to build strong, toned muscle that supports powerful aging.
What you’ll learn:
(00:10) Why lifting weights does not automatically make your body bigger or bulkier.
(02:35) How muscle acts like “metabolic Spanx” to tighten and support your body.
(03:19) Why building muscle improves insulin sensitivity and fat burning.
(04:07) How progressive overload is the key driver of muscle growth.
(06:42) Why compound movements should come before isolation exercises.
(09:21) How training close to failure supports results without overtraining.
(12:34) Why mobility work matters more than stretching before lifting.
(16:36) How protein, carbohydrates, and recovery work together to build muscle.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
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Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
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When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/lifting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 31, 2025 • 45min
The Real Longevity Secrets Hidden in Blue Zones with Dan Buettner
What do the world’s longest-lived populations eat differently?
In this episode, my guest and I unpack what the world’s longest-lived people actually do to stay healthy well into old age. Dan Buettner and I also explore why longevity isn’t about biohacking or supplements, but about designing your environment, your food, and your daily routines to work for you.
Dan Buettner is a National Geographic explorer and bestselling author who’s spent decades studying the world’s longest-lived people in the Blue Zones. He’s known for turning cutting-edge longevity research into practical, real-life strategies that actually stick.
What you’ll learn:
(04:07) Why Dan says longevity isn’t about discipline or biohacking, but long-term environment design.
(04:51) What centenarians across Blue Zones have eaten consistently over decades.
(07:36) Why the belief in a “quick fix” is the biggest misconception about longevity.
(10:13) How daily walking and natural movement add years of life expectancy.
(12:25) Why getting up and down from the floor may be one of the best forms of exercise as you age.
(16:42) How living in hilly or steep environments is linked to longer life spans.
(19:16) How flavor science was used to make healthy Blue Zones food irresistibly delicious.
(27:01) Why Blue Zones cultures avoid snacking and eat most of their calories earlier in the day.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
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Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): http://jjvirgin.com/bluezone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 29, 2025 • 19min
The Food Pyramid is a Scam (And What to Do Instead)
Are you following a "healthy" diet that was actually designed by marketing experts instead of food experts and medical researchers?
In this episode, I expose the ugly truth about the Food Guide Pyramid and how this "pyramid-shaped lie" was built on marketing and sponsorships rather than actual science. We’ve been told for decades to build our meals around grains and fear fat, a strategy that has contributed to the explosion of obesity and metabolic disease. Today, I’m sharing my "JJ’s Plate Method" to help you reclaim your metabolism by prioritizing protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich vegetables.
What you’ll learn:
(00:05) Why the Food Guide Pyramid was marketing, not nutrition science.
(02:28) How USDA priorities favored agriculture and industry over public health.
(03:10) What recent research says about dietary guidelines and rising metabolic disease.
(04:45) Why MyPlate failed to fix the problems of the original pyramid.
(05:04) How low-fat, high-carb eating drove insulin resistance and weight gain.
(06:36) Why protein intake is critical for muscle, metabolism, and aging well.
(08:16) How to build JJ’s Plate using protein, healthy fats, vegetables, and fiber.
(12:22) Why building muscle matters more than following outdated food rules.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
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Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/foodpyramid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 24, 2025 • 53min
Why Detox Fads Fail and What Sustainable Detox Looks Like with Sinclair Kennally
Why do detox cleanses often make you feel worse instead of better? Also, what simple daily habits can support detox without extreme cleanses?
In this episode, my guest and I break down why detox fads are failing women over 40 and what detox actually means at a physiological level. I’m joined by Sinclair Kennally to explain how the liver, gut, bile flow, and hormones all work together. We reframe detox as a lifelong support system—not a quick fix—so your body can truly heal, thrive, and age powerfully.
Sinclair Kennally, CNHP, CNC is an award-winning detox expert and the founder and CEO of Detox Nation, where she helps people uncover the root causes of chronic illness. After nearly losing her life to mold and toxic overload, she turned her hard-won recovery into a mission to teach safe, sustainable detox that actually works.
What you’ll learn:
(01:52) Why detox is not about flushing toxins but supporting your body’s natural detox pathways.
(04:27) How quick cleanses can trigger “retoxification” and make symptoms worse.
(06:20) Why detox must be a long-term lifestyle approach, especially after 40.
(10:26) How bowel regularity and gut motility are the foundation of safe detox.
(15:07) Why bile flow is critical for digestion, toxin removal, and metabolic health.
(19:04) How toxin overload shows up as anxiety, histamine reactions, and skin issues.
(23:20) Why toxic burden directly impacts thyroid function and metabolism.
(35:41) Simple daily habits—like clean protein, healthy fats, and bile support—that make detox safer and more effective.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): http://jjvirgin.com/sinclair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 22, 2025 • 26min
Stress and Poor Sleep Are Blocking Your Weight Loss Goals
How do stress and sleep disruption stop fat loss? And what can you do to get your body working with you, not against you?
I hear it all the time: you’re eating right, lifting weights, and doing cardio, yet the weight scale won’t budge. In this episode, I break down how chronic stress and poor sleep quietly sabotage fat loss by disrupting cortisol, insulin, hunger hormones, and metabolism. I also share the exact strategies I use to protect my sleep, calm stress, and keep my metabolism working with me instead of against me.
What you’ll learn:
(02:42) Why chronically elevated cortisol drives insulin resistance, belly fat, and steady weight gain over time.
(04:32) How stress hormones increase cravings and rewire appetite toward sugary foods.
(06:59) How short sleep disrupts leptin, ghrelin, and blood sugar control.
(07:46) Why even one night of poor sleep can increase insulin resistance and slow metabolism.
(09:22) How poor sleep disrupts growth hormone release and muscle repair.
(11:27) Why eating protein first and pairing it with fiber stabilizes blood sugar and supports fat loss.
(14:57) How meal timing and caffeine cutoffs directly impact cortisol and sleep quality.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
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Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/poorsleep Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2025 • 51min
Lose the Weight Loss Meds with Dr. James Hill
When coming off weight loss medications, how can you prevent your appetite from surging? Also, how can you keep the weight off?
In this episode, I explore with Dr. James Hill what really keeps weight off for good. We break down why the strategies that help you lose weight are not the same strategies that help you maintain it, especially in the era of GLP-1 medications. Together, we uncover the science-backed habits and mindset shifts that can help you create a lifestyle that supports your healthiest, happiest self for life.
Dr. James Hill is a world-renowned obesity researcher who’s spent over 40 years studying how people lose weight, and more importantly, how they keep it off. He’s the co-founder of the National Weight Control Registry and author of a new book that helps people transition off GLP-1 medications without regaining weight, all delivered with his signature clarity, compassion, and common sense.
What you’ll learn:
(05:01) Why only about 20% of people keep weight off long-term and why this number may be even lower.
(08:19) Why weight loss and weight maintenance require completely different strategies.
(11:22) How GLP-1 medications have changed the landscape by helping more people finally reach their goal weight.
(12:17) The three pillars of long-term weight maintenance: appetite management, physical activity, and mind state.
(14:38) Why pairing high protein intake with resistance training helps protect muscle and improves metabolic health.
(22:22) How “mind state” influences your ability to overcome setbacks.
(31:26) Why successful maintainers average around 12,000 steps a day and schedule one hour of planned exercise daily.
(35:30) The early signs of weight regain.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/hill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 15, 2025 • 37min
Foods I Eat EVERY DAY As a Nutrition Expert
How can the foods you choose each day shape your long-term health and vitality? Also, what simple nutrition principles do I rely on that can help you feel stronger and more energized?
In this episode, I break down the exact foods I eat every day, and why the old ideas of “good days,” “bad days,” or “cheating” set you up for failure. I walk you through my personal food rules, including why protein comes first, why fiber is a non-negotiable, and how healthy fats and hydration shape your hormones, metabolism, and energy.
What you’ll learn:
(02:42) Protein’s role in muscle maintenance, metabolism, and blood sugar stability.
(05:04) Why animal proteins have a superior amino acid profile.
(10:50) How fiber regulates hunger, blood sugar, gut health, and metabolic function, and why most women need far more.
(15:26) Daily non-starchy vegetables, slow-low carbs, and the phytonutrients that I prioritize for optimal energy.
(17:46) Why healthy fats don’t make you fat and how to choose anti-inflammatory everyday fats.
(20:33) How omega-3s support muscle, brain function, hormone balance, and long-term metabolic health.
(28:52) The importance of electrolytes, hydration, and key micronutrients like magnesium and taurine for cellular health.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
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Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/nutritionexpert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
