Well Beyond 40

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women all over the world. Yet it's not talked about nearly as much as it should be. This conversation with functional medicine practitioner and heart-health expert Dr. Stephen Hussey is intended to spread awareness of how we ended up in this place, and what we can do to change it. Dr. Hussey is living proof that you can help reduce your risk of atherosclerosis through simple diet and lifestyle changes. He shares the steps he took to get healthier, as well as the five big things you can focus on in your environment to reduce potentially heart-damaging toxin exposure. He and JJ discuss heart-supportive nutrition, including why you should avoid seed oils at the grocery store (yes, you’ll even find them at the health food store, so watch your labels!). They also dispel the myth that animal fat and protein cause heart disease, and provide supplement recommendations for promoting heart health. To get started on your path to better heart health, listen in to learn what markers to look for to pick up on insulin resistance years before it can lead to prediabetes or diabetes (often a precursor to heart disease) and the right tests to request from your doctor. Get Dr. Stephen’s FREE Guide: Good Fats vs Bad Fats https://jjvirgin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Stephen-Hussey-Freemium-Good-Fats-vs-Bad-Fats.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having a full life can be so rewarding, but it’s not without its challenges! On this episode of Beginnings & Breakthroughs, JJ talks to Dr. Janice R. Love—mother of eight, grandmother (and great-grandmother) to three, full-time employee, and business owner—about how she juggles it all while looking and feeling fabulous. Janice has a great foundation after going through the Virgin Diet and is a regular user of Reignite Wellness All-In-One Shakes, but she still has goals of achieving a flat tummy and excellent sleep. JJ explains how these two objectives are connected (not sleeping well impacts your belly fat), and shares the simple tweaks Janice can make to achieve her goals. You’ll learn how to avoid being TOFI (thin on the outside, fat on the inside), the importance of weight-bearing exercises and a protein-first approach to food when it comes to building muscle as you age, how to adjust meal timing for more restful sleep, and the specific measurements to track and monitor to meet your body-composition goals. Plus, JJ tackles the controversial topic of snacking! Everyone wants to sneak in their favorite snacks, but is it really serving your health? Listen as she coaches Janice through letting go of this blood-sugar dysregulating habit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perimenopause provides an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming changes of full-blown menopause. In this episode, JJ provides 7 ways to get a jumpstart on those big changes so you transition through menopause looking and feeling better than ever. You’ll learn why stress management is critical for hormone balance, how to optimize sleep, the overlooked secret for weight loss (if you don’t do this, it’s harder for your body to use fat as fuel), why thyroid health impacts nearly everything (and what tests to ask for), and the right foods to support healthy estrogen metabolism and avoid weight gain. Perimenopause can be a great time to make healthy changes, and the effective strategies JJ shares here will support your journey into menopause and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does getting older conjure uncomfortable images of broken bones and hip replacements? Or maybe you or a loved one struggles with osteoporosis or osteopenia. The good news is that you have plenty of ways to support bone health and help reduce your risk of developing bone issues… and it’s never too early to start! In this episode, Kevin Ellis – a health coach, bone health advocate, and founder of Bone Coach™ – talks with JJ about preventative and supportive strategies to maintain healthy bones at any age. You’ll learn about the bone density scan that changed Kevin’s life at a young age, why being proactive about bone health in your 30s can support you around menopause and after, plus the test you need to request early for bone health. Plus, Kevin talks about what a bone density scan doesn’t tell you (and why that’s so important), the critical test that reveals active bone loss, the first thing to do if you suspect bone loss, and why gut health matters for healthy bones. Tune in to hear about Kevin’s favorite bone-supporting foods, the go-to oil that benefits bones, why sneaky sugars (in “healthy” foods) are so bad for your bones, and the best kind of exercise for bone health. Kevin’s mission is to help one million-plus people around the globe build stronger bones and prevent osteoporosis as well as other diseases. Listen up to this information-packed episode and you’ll have everything you need to support strong bones, no matter what your age. Join Kevin’s Stronger Bones Masterclass and learn the 3-step blueprint for building stronger bones!  https://www.b4hhxtrk.com/RTN27/3QQG7/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do after you figure out your food intolerances? In this episode of Beginnings & Breakthroughs, JJ coaches Nicoleta, a community member whose Virgin Diet experience led her to discover multiple food sensitivities—and lose 30 pounds in the process. Bloating, stomach pain, gas, digestive upset—these were all things Nicoleta was dealing with prior to going on The Virgin Diet. After eliminating the Hi-FI foods in Cycle 1 and experiencing weight loss, better sleep, and many other amazing benefits, she reintroduced the foods only to discover she didn't really have a problem with them; that is unless she continued to eat those foods every day. Suddenly the gut symptoms were back. The dose makes the poison, as they say. JJ advises on what to do in this situation, and shares simple gut health hacks Nicoleta (and you!) can do to improve symptoms so she may be able to occasionally enjoy certain foods without any digestive trouble. You'll learn about foods that can trigger autoimmune symptoms and leaky gut (and the gut-healthy foods to swap them with), why balanced gut flora is so important to health and weight loss goals, and the dramatic changes you can experience in your gut health when you commit to a stress-reducing meditation practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to lose weight, but the word diet leaves you feeling defeated or frustrated? Tune in to this episode, where JJ gives you 7 strategies to break the diet cycle and find a faster way to fat loss. Here, she reveals what to focus on to trigger fat loss, why small habits yield big success, the hidden cause of most weight gain, the best fat-burning foods for healthier meals, and why “healthy” foods could stall weight loss. Plus, JJ shows you how to keep your favorite foods and lose weight (no deprivation here!), the secret to faster fat loss, and why muscle is critical to maintain a healthy weight and look your best. Whether you’ve been struggling with diets for years or want simple strategies to lose weight and keep it off, don’t miss this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathy Smith is a legend in the fitness and wellness industry, and she has influenced the lives of millions with her iconic exercise videos and bestselling books. Listen as Kathy explains the best types of exercise to help you strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis, as well as the effects of aging on your muscles and how burst training can help you maintain your explosive muscle fibers. Plus, find out the simple things you can do throughout your day that can make a big difference, including Kathy's top exercises to engage your core and improve your balance. With Kathy’s tips, you’re sure to have endless energy and stay strong and fit, no matter what your age! Get Kathy Smith’s free Endless Energy Quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you become metabolically healthy? In this episode, JJ explains why metabolic health is so important for weight loss and so much more. She shares 5 lab values that you want to pay attention to, the best way to monitor your blood sugar levels (and why that’s so important), how even one night of poor sleep can dramatically sabotage your health, and why your bathroom scale isn’t ideal for measuring body composition (plus what to look for instead). Whether your goals include overcoming insulin resistance (which can lead to metabolic syndrome), more energy and focus, or better overall health (or, or all of the above), these simple strategies to measure and monitor will help you optimize your metabolism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you believe that healthy snacking or occasionally having a pizza and beer can help keep you on track with your diet plan? Then you’ll want to listen up to this podcast, where JJ talks about why snacking on even healthy foods and taking cheat days can raise blood sugar, shut off fat burning, and sabotage your health efforts. Here, she discusses why cheat foods have a drug-like effect on your brain and keep you hooked, the shocking study that showed bedtime snacking can nearly double your weight gain, and a simple solution to break the snacking habit. Plus, she reveals the simple overnight fasting hack that helps you burn fat, the #1 macronutrient to help curb hunger and cravings, and more. Whether you want to lose weight or break a weight loss plateau, this episode provides the tools you need to succeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices