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
Jan 2, 2023 • 16min
Overcoming Weight Loss Struggles, The Pegan Diet, and How to Cross-Train Your Diet
If you struggle with weight gain, JJ recommends a new way of using the scale to better maintain your weight loss. She also talks about some of her personal struggles with weight—yes, it happens to the best of us! You’ll also hear her thoughts on Dr. Hyman’s Pegan Diet, what it means to cross-train your diet, and why you want to use different diets to achieve specific goals, such as helping support leaky gut syndrome or breaking through your sugar addiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2022 • 18min
The Top 5 Worst Foods for Your Blood Sugar
You know too much sugar is bad for you. But, you might not be aware of the sneaky ways that it gets into your food—even the kind you think is healthy! If you have poor blood sugar control, there will be serious consequences, so it’s critical to address what’s at the end of your fork. In this episode, JJ reveals tips and tools to discover what foods may be sending your blood sugar off the rails. When you normalize your blood sugar levels, you’ll look and feel better, reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease, boost your energy, stabilize your mood, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2022 • 46min
Balancing Blood Sugar During Menopause with Dr. Beverly Yates
The trifecta of menopause, metabolism, and blood sugar seem to conspire against women as they age. Around 40 to 45, women’s blood sugar control begins to shift. One of the first signs is that the body doesn’t recover as quickly. As it continues, imbalanced blood sugar can lead to menopause complaints like weight gain, anxiety, and mood shifts. But there’s a way to fight back. Dr. Beverly Yates, an internationally recognized speaker and expert in diabetes, menopause, and metabolism, explains how women can regain control for improved energy and health by learning how to easily balance their blood sugar. She recommends using a continuous glucose monitor to better control the hormonal fluctuations and have a better day. This conversation explains ideal blood sugar levels, so you know what to look for. You’ll also learn why she thinks baseline blood sugar is higher in women today than it has been historically. Dr. Yates’ mother used to say, “Growing older as a woman isn't for the faint of heart.” But, this conversation with JJ Virgin and Dr. Yates provides an uplifting view on how your outlook on life begins to change as you enter menopause, plus tips to help you can easily regain control, so you don’t cause continuous harm to your body. Get Dr. Yates - FREE GUIDE - Continuous Glucose Monitors: Tips, Insights, And FAQs https://go.naturalhealthcare.com/cgm-ebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 26, 2022 • 9min
I’m Doing Everything Right So Why Is My Metabolism Still Slow?
Many folks think they have a slow metabolism because of low energy or difficulty losing weight. But you won’t truly know until you have the right tools to test. In this episode, you’ll learn about using a Bod Pod and body composition scale to get an accurate picture of your metabolic health, plus the role your thyroid plays in all of this. JJ also shares some quick tips on how you can kick up your basal metabolic rate (BMR) to get a faster metabolism and burn more calories throughout the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2022 • 27min
The Best Way to Measure Body Fat
Are you looking to lose fat and build muscle? In this episode, JJ shows you how to find and track your healthy body fat percentage… because what you measure, you can improve. You’ll learn why weight is only one measurement of being healthy. what body composition is, how to use testing to fine-tune fat loss and muscle gain, the critical focus for fat loss (it’s not your weight), how to find your ideal body fat range, and the most accurate body composition analysis and what it reveals. Plus, you’ll learn why a bathroom scale isn’t ideal to determine your weight (do this instead), how often you should weigh and measure, the biggest way to improve your body composition (it’s not diet and exercise), why cutting calories isn’t ideal for fat loss, what to eat to build muscle and burn fat, the best exercise for healthy body composition, and the critical key to creating lasting change in any area of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 21, 2022 • 49min
Senescent Cells & Aging Powerfully with James Schmachtenberger
Healthy aging isn’t just about slowing down the aging process. You also want to age powerfully and create vibrant health as you move into your 60s, 70s, and beyond. In this episode, JJ talks with James Schmachtenberger, co-founder and CEO of Neurohacker® Collective, a company focused on making groundbreaking products for health and well-being through complex systems science. Listen up as James defines what senescent cells are (and why cellular senescence holds the key for healthier aging), why longevity starts on the cellular level, how “health span” can help you age better, the correlation between joint pain and senescent cells, and how intermittent fasting and autophagy impact aging. You’ll also learn why you may need supplements to be healthy, why toxins and stress can accelerate aging, the key between mitochondrial health and longevity, why supporting NAD metabolism is a key part of healthy aging, the connection between aging and muscle, the best type of exercise, and why our food today lacks the nutrients it had 100 years ago. It’s never too early to focus on the aging process. In this information-packed episode, you’ll learn the top tools and strategies to support longevity and age powerfully. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2022 • 10min
What Can I Add to a Shake to Keep Me Fuller Longer?
In this episode, JJ answers Kathy’s Facebook question about how to make a smoothie that keeps you full and focused for at least 4 hours. Tune in to learn the best fluids (including specific brands and varieties) for your smoothie, the magic trifecta that helps crush hunger and cravings, how to create an amazing milkshake-like texture to your loaded smoothies, plus the perfect amount of protein, fat, and fiber to include in your smoothie. Plus, JJ reveals her banana trick to get the most nutrients, the best fruit smoothie recipe, the secret smoothie hack to help keep your blood sugar balanced, and how to thicken a smoothie (or make it thinner). With these tips, you’ll create a loaded smoothie that helps you stay satisfied and energetic for 4 - 6 hours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2022 • 17min
How to Use a CGM for Health Intel
Optimizing your blood sugar is the #1 thing you can do to get healthy. In this episode, JJ shows why a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can help you see patterns in your blood sugar levels so you can optimize weight loss, overall health, and more. Tune in to learn how to use a CGM, the surprising truth about how much glucose your body needs, why snacking (even healthy snacks!) keeps your blood sugar and insulin high, how insulin can help or hurt you, and simple ways to help manage prediabetes or insulin resistance. Plus, you’ll discover the best way to know whether you have high blood sugar, the best thing you can do to manage your blood sugar, what your blood sugar tells you (and the ideal numbers you should aim for), the critical red flag for diabetes, how to satisfy your sweet tooth without skyrocketing your blood sugar, and how to optimize sleep and stress to help manage blood sugar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2022 • 58min
The Link Between Gut Health and Immune Health with Dr. Jeff Bland
As a society, we're aging beyond our years. Our "immune age" has surpassed our chronological age and life expectancy has gone down, making it more important than ever to prioritize the health of your immune system. In this information-packed episode, world-renowned nutritional medicine expert and founder of both the Institute for Functional Medicine and Big Bold Health, Dr. Jeff Bland, joins JJ to discuss the steps you can take to move the needle on your immune health. Bland shares what we learned about immune health during the pandemic and how we can apply it to the future. You'll learn about the biggest factors driving our immunological age, how immune health and metabolic health are closely linked, how both our internal and external environments are contributing to more common autoimmune diseases, and the impact that trauma can have on immune function. Plus, you'll be introduced to a new nutritional powerhouse that offers incredible immune support—Himalayan tartary buckwheat. Get Dr. Blands FREE The Immuno-Identity™ Quiz https://bigboldhealth.com/quiz/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12, 2022 • 9min
If I Buy Fish in a Grocery Store How Do I Know What to Look For & What to Avoid?
It can be confusing to know how to shop smart for the best and healthiest quality animal protein at the grocery store. When it comes to seafood, you have to know if you can trust the source to make sure you’re purchasing fish that’s raised and fed properly. In this episode, you’ll learn what to look for at the supermarket, which types of fish to prioritize and avoid, and the helpful foods to add to your diet to help counteract any heavy metals like mercury consumed in certain fish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
