Podcasts about food guilt

You are not failing because you lack discipline. You're struggling because you're trying to live like a machine.  In this episode, I'm breaking down why most systems fall apart the moment life gets hard and how to rebuild yours so it actually works for a human nervous system.  We're taught to design routines assuming endless energy, focus, and motivation, but real life doesn't operate that way. You have limited time, attention, and willpower, and your systems need to reflect that reality.  I explain why the most effective systems are the ones that require the least amount of thinking and decision-making. When stress hits, you don't rise to the occasion. You default to your systems. If your routine only works on your best days, it's not a system, it's a wish. I walk you through how to design structures that hold you steady when you're tired, overwhelmed, or distracted. We'll talk about simplifying your priorities so consistency becomes automatic instead of exhausting.  I introduce the Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C framework to help you escape the all-or-nothing cycle. Plan A is for high-energy days, Plan B supports you when things feel harder, and Plan C keeps you moving forward on your worst days.  Success doesn't need to look the same every day, especially in different seasons of life. This episode will help you build systems that meet you where you are, so you can stay consistent without burning yourself out.   Time Stamps:   (2:32) Moving Updates   (6:22) The Fresh Start Effect   (8:54) Different Levels To Our Goals   (14:29) Beware Of The Comparison Trap   (16:28) Vanessa's Plan A --------------------- Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching --------------------- Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation.  --------------------- Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program --------------------- Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life! --------------------- Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share! --------------------- Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here! --------------------- Check out our Youtube Channel! --------------------- Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If you've ever felt like your body is fighting you no matter how “perfect” your nutrition or workouts are, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Today, I'm sitting down with Soraya Rufener, one of our coaches at Vital Spark, to share the story behind the safety, trust, and results her clients feel from day one. Soraya isn't just highly credentialed as a registered nurse and functional health coach. She's lived through chronic dieting, body distrust, and the exhausting pressure to always “do more.” She started dieting at 13, spent years stuck in restriction cycles, and did everything diet culture promised would work. And yet, nothing was actually healing.In this conversation, we unpack why willpower wasn't the problem, how postpartum healing changed everything, and what rebuilding a body really requires physically, mentally, and emotionally. Soraya shares the moment she stopped punishing her body and learned how to support it instead. We talk about why healing is layered, why consistency matters more than intensity, and how nervous system safety changes outcomes. She also opens up about how her lived experience reshaped the way she coaches postpartum moms and high-achieving women today. Most importantly, we explore what she refuses to repeat from diet culture—and why coaching women differently matters. If you're exhausted, frustrated, or quietly wondering why nothing seems to work anymore, this episode will remind you that you're not broken.You're unsupported. Time Stamps: (1:17) Our Incredible Coach Soraya (6:02) Early Teen Soraya (9:17) Finding Bodybuilding (15:02) The Food Noise (17:09) Shifting To The Healing Phase (19:55) The Mental Side of Healing (22:47) 3 Kids In 4 Years and The Postpartum Journey (31:23) Our Bodies Aren't The Enemy (34:15) Where To Find Soraya---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

We wanted to bring back one of our favorite interview episodes this week! Justin Su'a is a mental performance coach for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team and host of our daily favorite podcast, Increase Your Impact. He has worked with top NFL, PGA, MLB, and NCAA athletes, as well as top corporate leaders to improve their mental performance game.  In this episode, we cover the importance of mental performance, the power of self-reflection, doing things by design instead of by default, how to figure out your WHY, and so much more! Topics Covered: - What Is Mental Performance and Why It Matters- How to Train Your Mindset- The Power of Self-Reflection- How to Identify Your “Why”- Doing Things by Design, Not by Default- Using Your Mindset to Regulate Negative Thoughts and Achieve Goals- Your Mind Has Limited Capacity: Why Negativity Crowds Out Growth- The Hidden Habit of Elite Athletes and Top Organizations- Getting Consistent With Nutrition and Trusting the Process- Embracing the Boredom of Consistency- The Law of the Bamboo Tree and Your Fitness Journey- Stop Beating Yourself Up for Starting Late — Start Now---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If fat loss feels harder than it should and healing seems slow no matter what you try, the problem may not be your discipline. It may be your nervous system. In this conversation, I explain why a chronically dysregulated nervous system can block healing, fat loss, and hormone balance no matter how perfect your protocols look on paper.  Your body is always choosing survival first, and when it perceives constant stress, it will not prioritize digestion, repair, or metabolic efficiency. I walk you through how your brain interprets everyday stress the same way it would a life-or-death threat, keeping you stuck in fight or flight.  This is why cortisol stays elevated, inflammation lingers, and progress feels frustratingly slow. I break down why this isn't a mindset issue or a lack of discipline, but a physiological response rooted in your nervous system.  We dive into the role of the vagus nerve and how it connects your brain, gut, hormones, and stress response. I explain what vagal tone is and why improving it creates the conditions your body needs to feel safe enough to heal.  You'll learn simple, practical vagus nerve–supporting practices you can use daily without adding more overwhelm. We also talk about why these tools are supportive, not magical fixes, and how they enhance everything you're already doing. If you're dealing with stubborn fat loss, gut issues, thyroid challenges, or chronic stress, this episode lays the foundation you may be missing.  Nervous system regulation isn't optional or fluffy. It's essential. When your body feels safe, healing becomes possible. Time Stamps: (1:19) Lots of Things Going On(4:54) Getting Out Of Survival Mode(7:52) The Vagus Nerve(13:55) Strategies For Improving Your Nervous System---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

In this special guest episode, my past client Alicia and I talk about some common mistakes women make when trying to recover from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and her own personal success story in how she got it back in under 3 months!If you feel like you have tried it all to get your period back and are looking for more 1:1 support to help you in your own journey, apply for Nourished to Thrive 1:1 coaching below to get started:APPLY FOR NOURISHED TO THRIVEFollow Emily on IGConnect with Alicia

Training starts to feel heavy when the goal is shrinking instead of becoming capable. What began as a viral moment around a meatball sub exposed something deeper: how diet culture, fear of “bulking,” and quiet food rules slowly erode confidence and self-trust long before real change has a chance to stick.We dive deeper into this in the latest Broads Podcast with Jessica Burke. We also chat about why “toning” is misleading, the real difference between exercising and training with intention, what actually drives gym intimidation, and why taking up space changes far more than just the body.Jessica Burke holds a Master's degree in Kinesiology and is CSCS certified. She is the host of The Strength Chick Podcast and works as a strength and conditioning coach. Her work centers on dismantling diet culture and encouraging women to take up space in the gym and in strength and conditioning.What's Discussed:(03:39) The meatball sub moment, diet culture, and the food guilt women live by(09:19) Why training to be smaller limits what women's bodies can do(11:16) The truth behind “toning” and how language shapes fear around building muscle(13:34) Fear of bulking as a form of avoiding discomfort and justifying inaction(17:42) The male gaze, gym intimidation, and reclaiming the right to take up space(19:33) Why exercising feels productive but training creates lasting change(34:41) Redefining effort, intensity, and what “hard” actually means in the gym(52:00) Taking up space as an identity decision, not a confidence traitCheck out more from Broads:Website: http://broads.appInstagram: @broads.podcast @broads.appCheck out more from Tara LaFerrara:Website: http://taralaferrara.comInstagram: @taralaferraraYoutube: @TaraLaferraraTiktok: @taralaferraraCheck out more from Jessica Burke, CSCS, M.S.:Instagram: @coachjburkeTiktok: @coachjburkeYoutube: @coachjburke

Struggling with motivation lately? You're not broken and you're definitely not lazy.  In this episode, I share a real-time reflection on why motivation feels shaky during seasons of massive identity transition, especially when life, work, and motherhood are all evolving at once. When our identity is clear, action feels easy but when we're questioning who we are becoming, everything can feel heavy and confusing. I break down why motivation is an unreliable driver and why waiting to “feel ready” keeps you stuck. We dive into the three things that actually create follow-through: commitment, identity, and systems. I'll challenge how you think about commitment (with a comparison that might sting a little), and explain why saying you're committed isn't the same as acting like it.  We'll talk about how anchoring your actions to who you want to be, not just what you want to achieve, changes everything. I'll also walk through practical ways to reduce friction by building systems that support you on low-energy days. If you're in a season of transition, questioning your next chapter, or frustrated with your lack of consistency, this episode will help you reframe motivation and rebuild alignment. Stop waiting to feel motivated and start building something that works even when motivation is gone.  Time Stamps: (2:02) Moving, Second Trimester, and The Swings of Motivation(4:17) Forcing Myself To Show Up This Month(8:17) Feel Motivated After The Action(10:41) Commitment, Identity, and Systems(10:52) What is Commitment?(17:36) Identity and Who You're Becoming(23:52) Systems(26:22) Tangible Steps You Can Take This Week(29:57) Giving You What You Need---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Send us a textHail Satin, Food Fighters, and Culinary Crimes of Our Youth

In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Krista Moreland, one of our incredible functional health coaches here at Vital Spark, to share her story, her breaking point, and the moment that changed everything. Krista joined our team in early 2025 with over a decade of coaching experience, but her journey goes far deeper than credentials. Before motherhood, she was a two-sport college athlete whose identity was built on discipline, performance, and mental toughness. Then she became a mom, and everything she thought she knew about herself began to shift.Krista opens up about navigating early motherhood while caring for a medically complex baby, including her son's heart surgery at just four months old. She shares the shame, fear, and invisible stress she carried, and how food became her unexpected escape during that season. As a former athlete who had never used food emotionally, this struggle left her feeling confused and lost inside her own body. We talk about the identity shock no one prepares women for, especially high-achieving moms who are used to holding it all together.Krista takes us into the quiet breaking point that happened in her bathtub, where she realized no one was coming to rescue her. That moment wasn't about weight loss, but about choosing herself again. We explore how healing her relationship with food and her body changed the way she showed up as a mom, partner, and woman. This conversation is for any woman who feels like she used to know who she was and is ready to find her way back. Time Stamps: (3:08) Before Motherhood and College Days (6:54) Identity Shift to Motherhood (18:32) Leadership In The Home (23:22) Managing The Mind and Emotions (33:02) Where Coach Krista Is In Her Journey Right Now (37:10) You Are Not Broken (40:02) Where To Find Coach Krista---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If you're getting everything done on the outside but feel exhausted, foggy, and feel like giving up on the inside, this episode is for you.High functioning burnout is the state where your nervous system stays on constant alert while your life keeps demanding more.It shows up most often in high achievers like entrepreneurs, corporate women, and medical professionals who are praised for pushing through.In this episode, I break down 18 subtle but powerful signs that your body is stuck between high cortisol and total collapse.We'll talk about why rest feels unsafe, stillness makes you anxious, and productivity comes in extreme waves instead of balance.You'll recognize the patterns of irritability, avoidance, overstimulation, and mental exhaustion that don't look like classic burnout.I explain what's actually happening inside your nervous system when you feel wired but tired, motivated but flat, social yet depleted.This isn't a motivation problem or a discipline issue, it's a regulation issue. You'll learn why pushing harder only deepens the loop and what happens if these signals are ignored long term.We'll connect the dots between chronic stress, dopamine crashes, cortisol dysregulation, and hormonal fallout.Most importantly, this episode will help you name what you're experiencing so you can stop blaming yourself.Burnout doesn't always look like quitting or falling apart, sometimes it looks like functioning too well for too long. If you want your life to feel as good as it looks, this conversation is a wake up call. Time Stamps: (1:20) Both Looking Good Today(2:22) Natalie Ellis Quote(3:35) Between High and Low Cortisol(5:18) 18 Signs You Are High Functioning Burnout(25:52) What To Look For If This Resonates With You---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If fat loss has ever felt harder than it should, this episode will completely change how you think about dieting.After years of coaching women through fat loss, I've learned that success isn't about magic foods or extreme plans. It's about creating the right physiological and psychological environment with food.In this episode, I break down a simple, repeatable food framework that makes fat loss easier to stick to and faster to achieve.You'll learn why hunger management is the real key to consistency and how the right food choices naturally keep calories lower without feeling restrictive.I explain how micronutrient-dense foods support your thyroid, hormones, training performance, and energy so your body actually responds to a calorie deficit.We'll walk through the best carbohydrate sources for fat loss, including why potatoes, berries, oats, and non-starchy vegetables work so well. I'll cover the most effective lean protein options to stay full, preserve muscle, and keep your metabolism strong.You'll also learn how to use fats strategically without blowing your calorie target.I share a full sample day of eating so you can see exactly how this framework looks in real life.We'll talk through easy swaps and shortcuts for busy schedules so this plan is realistic, not perfect.This approach makes your diet simpler, more measurable, and far less stressful.It keeps your body healthy, responsive, and primed for fat loss instead of fighting it.If you want a meal plan that actually works with your body and your life, this episode is for you. Time Stamps: (2:06) How Should We Eat For Fat Loss? (4:36) Keeping Hunger Manageable (9:22) Remember SHREDS For Biofeedback (12:13) Macro Sources (14:42) Metabolic Flexibility (17:52) Berries and Antioxidants (23:42) Protein Sources (29:10) Sample Meal Plan (32:32) Making Fat Loss Easier---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

 If food and your body image take up way more mental space than you want to admit — the rules, the guilt, the constant second-guessing — this episode is for you. In this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, I'm joined by Registered Holistic Nutritionist Cindy Spratt, who helps women heal their relationship with food so they can let go of disordered eating patterns, food guilt, and body shame — and finally reclaim their health, confidence, and freedom.We unpack the blurry line between “healthy habits” and disordered eating, why high-achieving women are especially vulnerable to food obsession, and how body dysmorphia quietly shows up in everyday thoughts and behaviors. Cindy also shares what real healing actually looks like, how to start loosening the grip of food rules, and how to pursue health without hating your body in the process.If you've ever felt trapped by food rules, guilty for eating “off plan,” or frustrated by your reflection despite doing all the right things — this conversation will feel deeply validating and incredibly freeing.Connect with Cindy:

You want change more than anything, yet somehow you keep finding yourself back in the same frustrating patterns... and this episode explains why.  If you have ever wondered why motivation fades, follow-through slips, and 2026 feels like it has to be different, this conversation is for you. We break down the hidden loop so many women live in: setting goals with hope, only to fall back into old habits and self-doubt.  You will learn why this is not a discipline problem or a personal failure, but a very human pattern rooted in both nervous system protection and brain wiring. We explore the ancient concept of akrasia, the science of time inconsistency, and why resistance often shows up strongest when you want change the most.  You will see how past experiences, especially control or criticism, can quietly fuel self-sabotage today. This episode walks you through clear signs you may be stuck in this cycle and why nothing is “wrong” with you. More importantly, we outline a new way forward that does not rely on willpower, pressure, or punishment.  You will learn how to shift from control-based change to self-leadership rooted in care and alignment. We cover practical tools like reducing friction, designing your environment, and using implementation intentions so action becomes easier. This is about moving from self-sabotage into enkrateia — calm, grounded power over yourself.  If you are ready for 2026 to be the year things finally stick, this episode is your turning point. Time Stamps: (2:00) Jumping Into 2026 With This Topic (4:17) Omar and Doomscrolling (7:37) Competing Motivations and Resistance (10:33) How To Break The Cycle (11:32) Notice The Awareness (13:04) Acknowledge The Consequences (17:02) Shifting From Control To Love (20:16) Setting Our Environment Up For Success (22:03) Reducing Friction (24:22) Implementation Intentions (28:02) Power Over Yourself Through Leadership---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

➢ Message "NY challenge" to our Instagram @ColossusFit ($1,000 cash grand prize)➢ Follow us on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/colossusfit/?hl=enWelcome to Motivation Monday, where every Monday we answer all of your questions and have some real talks about life & fitness & get you fired up for the week! In this episode we talk about dealing with food guilt, restarting weight loss and having too much protein.Question 1- What do I do to get rid of the Holiday food guilt feeling?(8:45) - Josh quote: “Most progress is quiet.” Gym once nothing happens, gym twice, nothing happens - gym 100x you can see the difference.(11:10) Kyle quote: Most people quit because they focus on how far they still have to go, never realizing how far they've actually come(12:55) - What has us excited or intrigued:(19:25) - Client shoutout: Heather Siddons - 65lbs down(23:05) - Question 2- I'm 60 years young and way overweight thanks to a combo of poor food choices plus medications when I was seriously ill.  I've been working out at my local community center and watching my food, but.... Nada. I'm now overwhelmed. How can I restart this effort to lose 80 pounds and, more importantly, feel healthier, in a most effective manner? I'm just overwhelmed. Thank you.(33:10) - Question 3- Am I eating too much protein? I'm eating 150g. 136 pound woman in reverse diet. I Keep getting different answers.Thanks for listening! We genuinely appreciate every single one of you listening.Email me/ submit a mailbox Monday question contact@colossusfitness.com➢Follow us on instagram @colossusfit➢Apply to get your Polished Physique:  https://colossusfitness.com/

In Episode 205, I had some health hacks I was excited about and now it's time to review them... This year brought us so much in terms of family, a new home, new coaches, and a baby girl (surprise!) on the way! I wanted to take this episode to review some of the hacks I had talked about at the beginning of the year, see what stuck, what I actually enjoyed and didn't, and what's going to make the cut in 2026. Since this is my first pregnancy, some things like cold plunging will have to go on the back burner but I'm excited to share what I'm excited about and what I will be taking with me into 2026.  Some topics like private healthcare and peptides are topics I want to cover more extensively in later episodes but wanted to mention them in today's episode because I think they are two big topics.  DM me and let me know if there's any health hacks that you are ditching or including in your 2026 and Happy New Year from all of us at Vital Spark! Time Stamps: (1:11) Surrounded By Boxes (2:34) Gender Reveal (4:57) What I'm Bringing Into 2026 (5:52) What I Covered Last Year (19:02) Leaving Yoga Classes in 2025 (21:46) Caffeine Limits (24:27) Cold Plunges (26:42) Sober Periods (29:42) Health Optimization (31:37) Let Them Mentality (34:56) Private Healthcare (37:16) Peptides---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Send us a textHoliday Eating Without Guilt: A New Way to Navigate the HolidaysThe holidays are supposed to be joyful, but for so many women, they come with food guilt, stress, and the pressure to “be good” around food.In this episode, I'm breaking down why holiday eating feels so hard, and why the stress you feel around food isn't a personal failure it's a predictable response to restriction, pressure, and outdated nutrition rules.I walk you through what I call the holiday diet trap: the cycle of restriction, overeating, guilt, and shame that shows up every year, and explain why trying to control food more actually leads to less control.We talk about how holiday stress impacts your physiology, your appetite, and your food choices, and why mindful eating isn't about willpower, it's about creating safety, presence, and freedom around food.This episode is a call to shift from restriction to nourishment, from fear to trust, and from guilt to an abundance mindset so you can enjoy holiday food, feel good in your body, and stay connected to what actually matters.If you're tired of white-knuckling your way through holiday eating, this episode will change how you approach food —not just during the holidays, but for good.Why wait until January 1 to feel better? ENROLL in Fit + Fueled as a listener of the show, and get $300 off using the code TSW300!thestrongherway.com/fitandfueled

Social anxiety is not a personality flaw, it is your nervous system doing its job a little too loudly.  In this episode, we reframe awkwardness and self-consciousness as signals of alert, not evidence that something is wrong with you. If holiday parties, crowded rooms, or feeling “on” leave you tense and overthinking, this conversation will help you understand what is actually happening in your body.  I walk you through seven gentle, practical tools designed to give your nervous system cues of safety so you can stay grounded and present. These are not mindset tricks or confidence hacks, they are body-based resets you can use in real time. You will learn how to quickly orient to the present moment, regulate your breath, and take micro breaks without disappearing.  We talk about why food or drinks often become a coping tool in social settings and how to expand your options without judgment or restriction. You will also learn how to prepare simple connection cues so conversations feel less draining.  This episode emphasizes choice, permission, and self-trust rather than forcing yourself to push through discomfort. Even using one of these tools can shift how safe your body feels. Confidence is not about being calm all the time, it is about knowing how to support yourself when you are activated.  If you want to feel more at ease socially without changing who you are, this episode is for you. Time Stamps: (3:07) Social Anxiety and Awkwardness (8:03) #1: The Name and Notice Reset (9:03) #2: The Anger Breath (9:55) #3: The Micro-Step Away (10:48) #4: The Connection Cue (13:30) #5: The Pocket Script (15:51) #6: The Sensory Grounder (19:58) #7: The Permission Slip---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

In today's episode, I'm talking honestly about body image and not from a place of perfection, but from my real everyday experience.  We'll  unpack how constant exposure to food content, fitness trends, and curated lifestyles subtly shapes the way we think about our bodies. I share what intrusive thoughts around appearance can sound like and why they tend to show up when life slows down or feels uncertain.  We talk about the arrival fallacy and the belief that once our body looks a certain way, we'll finally feel at peace and why that promise almost never delivers. I reflect on how comparison creeps in quietly and how it disconnects us from actually enjoying the lives we're building.  This episode isn't about fixing your body; it's about understanding the mental patterns that keep you feeling dissatisfied even when things are objectively good. I also share perspective shifts that have helped me soften my relationship with my body without forcing positivity.  We explore what it looks like to hold ambition and self-acceptance at the same time. If you've ever thought, “I should feel happier than this,” you're not alone.  This conversation is an invitation to notice, not judge, the stories you're telling yourself. Body image isn't just about how you look. It's about how present you're able to be in your own life. And sometimes, the work isn't changing anything externally, but learning to arrive where you already are. Time Stamps: (1:32) Instagram Food Algorithms(7:26) The Intrusive Thoughts(9:02) Binging Landman(15:52) The Arrival Fallacy(20:49) Arthur Brooks Quote (23:12) Our New Home (31:32) Let Us Know If You Enjoyed Today's Episode---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

What if the loudest voice at your meals isn't hunger, but an overactive alarm telling you you're doing it “wrong”? In this episode, I dig into the link between food guilt and relentless food noise, and show how midlife shifts, hormones, sleep, mood, and capacity can crank that alarm even higher. Instead of doubling down on rules, I'll walk you through the 3-step process that replaces food morality with neutrality.Grab The Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoderEpisodes mentiond:Episode 172: https://themidlifefeast.buzzsprout.com/1851576/episodes/18238090Episode 151:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1851576/episodes/17038620What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

If you struggle with food guilt, overeating, or the “I'll start again in January” mindset every Christmas… this episode is for you.Today's conversation dives into the real psychological reasons holiday eating feels so intense from restriction and rebound eating, to the “last supper effect,” emotional regulation, and the shame cycle that so many women get stuck in.You'll also learn a powerful evidence-based strategy called The Permission Plate Method, designed to reduce guilt, lower binge urges, and help you create a calm, flexible, and empowered relationship with food this season.For my Instagram account click here InstagramBook a retreat call HEREVisit the retreat website HERE FREE Resources:Download my [FREE binge eating tracker tool] To access more of my courses use this:https://stan.store/mindfoodstephDo you have any questions? Ask Steph here. Social media:TikTokInstagramFacebookHelp lines Review the podcast on Apple By sharing, following, or rating the podcast, you help me reach more people so they can understand the importance of mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode , we're talking about something that so many people in recovery struggle with this time of year — the DREADED food guilt. The festive season brings a lot of joy, but it also brings bigger meals, different foods, family gatherings, and loads of mixed emotions. If you've been feeling guilty, overwhelmed, or “out of control” around food during the holidays, you're not alone at all.In this episode, we'll chat about why food guilt shows up so strongly during the festive season, how diet culture makes it even louder, and what you can do to ground yourself when those thoughts start creeping in. I'll walk you through some ways to stay connected to your recovery, remind yourself that you're allowed to enjoy food, and move through the season with a bit more ease and compassion. Happy Holidays!

If you've ever been told your gut is “fine” but you still feel bloated, inflamed, exhausted, or stuck, this episode will change the way you look at your health. In today's episode, I break down what a GI Map actually is and why I use it as the starting point for almost every woman I work with. I explain the critical difference between what a traditional GI doctor looks for and what a GI Map is designed to uncover.  While medical doctors are trained to find disease, this type of testing looks for dysfunction, the subtle imbalances that quietly sabotage your energy, hormones, digestion, and metabolism. I walk you through what the test measures, including bacteria, yeast, parasites, inflammation, leaky gut markers, and detox capacity.  You'll learn why so many women get “normal” test results at the doctor's office but still feel anything but normal in their bodies. I share why skipping the gut and jumping straight into hormone work often leads to stalled progress and frustration. I also break down how we use GI Map results to create custom gut-healing protocols that go far beyond random supplements.  We talk through the real-life signs that your gut might be your missing piece even if you don't have obvious digestive issues. I explain why this test alone isn't enough and how coaching and real-time adjustments are what make the process actually work.  If you've been doing “all the right things” and still feel off, this episode will connect the dots for you. By the end, you'll understand whether a GI Map might be the next step in your healing journey and why guessing is no longer necessary. If you're ready for clarity instead of trial and error, this episode is for you.  Time Stamps: (1:21) Home Ownership(4:40) GI Map's(6:32) Disease vs Dysfunction(9:50) What Is A GI Map?(12:27) Where We Start Our Vital Spark Clients(15:40) Your House Is On Fire(20:07) Episode 206 and 207(21:58) Would You Benefit From A GI Map?(29:47) What Happens After The GI Map---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If you woke up extra puffy, bloated, or sluggish after Thanksgiving, you're not alone. Today I'm walking you through the exact protocol I'd use to feel normal again fast. In this episode, I break down a simple A.M., P.M. routine designed to calm inflammation, support lymphatic flow, reset your circadian rhythm, and get your digestion back on track.  We start with a morning lineup that helps your body de-bloat naturally: dandelion and peppermint tea, sunrise exposure, gentle lymphatic drainage, and a cold plunge or face dunk to clear the fog. I'll share why “easy-to-digest” meals like eggs, fruit, ground turkey, and white rice speed up recovery after a heavier holiday meal.  You'll also learn how hydration, electrolytes, sauna sessions, and strategic walking across the day work together to flush excess water retention. I walk you through small daytime habits that make a huge difference including stress management tools that actually matter when you're feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable in your body.  Then we close with a powerful P.M. routine designed to optimize digestion, calm cortisol, improve sleep quality, and support your lymphatic system while you rest. From early dinners to legs-up-the-wall breathing, these are the tools that help you feel lighter, clearer, and more grounded within 24–48 hours. If you want a gentle, supportive, and science-backed plan to ditch bloat and puffiness quickly, without punishing yourself, this episode is your reset guide. Let's get you feeling like you again. Time Stamps: (2:20) Gender Prediction (5:22) Waking Up Feeling Thick (8:37) The Big 6 For Lymphatic Drainage (13:02) Meals Across The Day (17:30) Sauna Usage (22:12) Early Dinner (25:06) Something Is Better Than Nothing---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If your energy, mood, weight, or cycle feels off, your hormones are already trying to tell you why. In today's episode, I'm breaking down something that feels confusing for so many women: hormones.  Most of us only hear about hormones when something starts going wrong — our energy crashes, our cycles change, our thyroid acts up, or our weight stops responding the way it used to. And because it feels overwhelming, we try to fix the surface symptoms without ever understanding the deeper systems underneath.  So today, I want to simplify things and give you a clear, foundational understanding of how your hormones actually work. I'm walking you through the four major hormone categories that control your metabolism, your mood, your energy, your cycle, and so much of how your body feels day-to-day.  You'll learn what each category does, how they interact, and why an imbalance in one usually creates a domino effect in the others. I'm also going to show you what it looks like when each system is out of sync, so you can start recognizing your body's signals instead of feeling confused by them.  Most importantly, I'll give you practical places to start if you want to support your hormones in a realistic, sustainable way. No complicated protocols — just simple patterns that immediately reduce stress on your system.  By the end of this episode, you'll understand your hormones on a deeper level and feel more equipped to advocate for your own health.  This is your crash course in hormone health. Time Stamps: (2:12) Gratitude(4:42) Strong Foundation For Hormone Knowledge(9:42) Disease vs Dysfunction with Labwork(12:52) The 4 Categories of Hormones(17:32) Sex Hormones(22:52) Energy Hormones(27:58) Stress Hormones(31:32) How Hormone Systems Affect One Another(39:02) Morning Sunlight---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If slowing down feels wrong but your body is begging for rest, this episode is for you. In this episode, I'm talking to the woman who has always been the go-hard achiever — the early workouts, the hustle, the I-don't-need-rest mindset.  But now your body feels like it's pushing back, and slowing down feels uncomfortable or even scary. I've been there, and I want to help you make sense of what your body is trying to say. Instead of guessing or feeling guilty,  I'm giving you a simple, practical five-question check-in to help you know whether your body needs rest or whether gentle movement will actually make you feel better. Because in a healing season, both rest and movement are powerful — it's just about choosing the right one for the day you're in.  You'll learn why the signals you're feeling are a sign of recovery, not failure. I'll walk you through what this looks like in different phases of healing — from burnout, to rebuilding, to thriving again. We'll also talk about the mental side of this: letting go of the belief that discipline only counts when you push harder.  Resting doesn't make you weak. It makes you wiser. And the more you listen to your body, the faster your energy, hormones, and confidence return.  By the end of this episode, you'll have a tool you can use anytime you're unsure of what your body needs. This is how you build trust with yourself again — one decision at a time. So take a breath, tune in, and let's help your body feel safe and strong again.  Time Stamps: (1:17) Mood Lighting(2:02) Pulling Back From Exercise(5:47) Movement and Discipline(8:14) Your Hormones Are Recalibrating(9:59) #1: How Did I Sleep Last Night?(11:57) If You're Averaging 5-6 Hours of Sleep A Night(13:12) #2: My Stress Level From 1-10(14:32) #3: How Does My Body Feel Physically?(16:00) #4: What's My Emotional State?(17:41) #5: How Do I Think I'll Feel After?(21:56) Save This One For The Future---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

We all want the dream body, but almost none of us want to slow down long enough to build the base it actually requires. In today's episode, I'm sharing one of the most important lessons I've learned as both a coach and a client: you can't build a strong, sustainable body without a strong foundation.  I use the analogy of building a dream home because just like a house needs a solid foundation before the walls go up, your body needs metabolic stability and healthy habits before you layer on intense training or dieting.  Most of us try to skip this part because we're in a hurry to see results.  I get it. I used to be the impatient one who wanted the plan, the strategy, and the visible progress right away. But rushing your transformation is the fastest way to end up starting over again and again.  In this episode, I break down what the “foundation phase” actually looks like, including how we assess metabolism using SHREDS and why stabilizing sleep, hunger cues, digestion, energy, stress, and recovery is non-negotiable.  I share why this phase can feel slow and why that slow work is what makes everything that comes after actually stick. I also walk through the three phases of a healthy nutrition journey and how to know which phase you're truly ready for.  This is about building a body that can handle real life. Vacations, busy seasons, holidays, stress, and everything in between. When your foundation is strong, you don't fall apart when your routine changes. You adapt and you bounce back.  If you've been feeling frustrated with slow progress, this episode may be the reframe you needed. Take a breath — you might just be pouring the concrete.  Time Stamps: (2:57) Next Stage of Homeownership (4:34) Building The Foundation (7:27) When I First Started My Fitness Journey (12:42) The Metabolic Assessment (19:42) Building The Walls Next (20:27) Vital Spark's 3 Phases (28:02) Please Share and Review---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

We are pregnant!  In today's special episode, we want to dive into our fertility story, how we planned for this season, and what shifted in our hearts and lives leading up to trying.  I open up about her early fears around motherhood, how family jokes once shaped her identity, and the moment she knew Omar would be an incredible father. We talk about praying for guidance, timing, and acceptance — and how those prayers brought a deep sense of peace. We also want to share the unexpected way this journey began: a planned fast interrupted by getting sick, a wedding we stayed home from, and Vanessa's Oura Ring signaling that something was different. You'll hear the story of the very earlypregnancy test, how she surprised Omar at the airport, and his reaction when we took another test at home just to be sure. From the beginning, we made the intentional choice to tell our community and loved ones right away, so we could walk through this experience with the people we care about, not in secrecy or fear.  I want to talk through the supplements I'm taking, the changes in my energy, and what nutrition and movement look like right now — including six smaller meals, simple foods, ginger and peppermint tea, and keeping 10k steps and workouts while paying close attention to my body's signals.  And yes… the Mexican flavor cravings are very real. We're honored to share this part of our story with you. If pregnancy, family planning, or listening to others' journeys has ever brought up emotions for you — we see you, and this episode is shared with so much love and compassion. Time Stamps: (1:19) We Are Expecting!(3:47) Some Beginning Context(6:32) Health Issues In May(7:44) My Faith and Motherhood(15:36) Vanessa's Health Tracking(16:42) The Fertility Journey(26:14) The First Pregnancy Test(32:32) Prenatal Supplements(36:22) Current Nutrition Protocol(41:20) Craving Mexican Flavors---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

In this episode of The Fitness League, Lara opens up about her deeply personal journey from battling food guilt and body image struggles to stepping into a stronger, more empowered version of herself. With the guidance of her coach, Lara shifted her focus from weight loss to fueling for performance, building a healthier relationship with food, and celebrating her body for what it can do — not just how it looks. She shares how injury setbacks became opportunities for growth, how prehab and mindset work changed her approach to training, and why redefining success beyond the scale was the key to long-term progress. Whether you're in the thick of a mindset reset or just starting your own journey, Lara's story is a powerful reminder that change is possible — and it starts from within. APPLY FOR COACHING: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/1-1-coaching SDE Method app: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/sde-method-app The Fitness League Waiting List https://u3rwk.share.hsforms.com/2rkAwsFntTAeZ__PxwXdr4Q Macros Guide https://www.lvltncoaching.com/free-resources/calculate-your-macros Join the Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lvltncoaching FREE TOOLS to start your health and fitness journey: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/resources/freebies Alessandra's Instagram: http://instagram.com/alessandrascutnik Joelle's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joellesamantha?igsh=ZnVhZjFjczN0OTdn Josh's Instagram: http://instagram.com/joshscutnik Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Lara's Journey 02:35 Mindset Shift: From Restriction to Nourishment 10:19 Redefining Success: Moving Beyond the Scale 15:04 Overcoming Injury: The Road to Recovery 20:50 Fueling for Performance: A New Perspective 27:30 Advice for Others: Embracing Change and Growth

Ever feel like you “blew” your diet after a weekend of pizza, dessert, or a few too many drinks?  You're not alone and you're definitely not broken.  In this episode, we're unpacking the truth about “messing up” your diet and why those moments don't actually undo your progress. You'll learn why perfection isn't the goal, how your body responds after overeating, and what it really takes to bounce back without guilt or restriction. We will shares a personal story about one of her own “off” weekends and the mindset shift that changed everything. You'll discover five powerful lessons about progress, sustainability, and why joy is a crucial part of health.  From reframing “failure” as feedback to practicing the simple Two-Minute Rule for food guilt, this episode gives you practical tools to stop spiraling and start recovering with grace. If you've ever thought, “I'll just start over Monday,” this is your permission slip to stop that cycle for good. Because real consistency isn't about never slipping up — it's about what you do next. So tune in, take a deep breath, and let's rewrite what getting “back on track” really means. ✨ If this episode hits home, screenshot it, share your takeaways, and tag me on Instagram. And if you know someone who needs this reminder, send it her way — we could all use a little more grace on this journey. Time Stamps: (1:15) What Omar Is Looking Forward To(3:02) Does This Sound Like You During The Weekend?(5:22) Getting Back To Feeling Good Without The Guilt(9:17) Wedding and Drinking Example(12:42) The Biggest Differences(13:12) 1) Your Body Is Not Broken(15:32) 2) Progress Isn't Erased Overnight(18:22) 3) Food Is Apart of Joy(21:52) 4) Sustainability Over Deadlines(24:02) 5) The Comeback Matters More Than Mess Up(28:22) Acknowledge and Address Your Feelings(32:10) Please Share This Episode---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Food guilt is exhausting.That constant replay in your head after you eat - telling yourself you did something bad, regretting your choices, promising to “be better” tomorrow, feeling like you have to make up for it - it keeps you stuck in shame and disconnection from your body.In this episode, we're unpacking the truth about food guilt - what it really is, where it comes from, and why it's not actually helping you feel “in control.” Because you can't heal what you don't understand.You'll learn:Where food guilt comes from = and how diet culture, perfectionism, and fear of losing control have shaped the way you feel about eatingWhy guilt doesn't serve you - even if it feels like it keeps you disciplined or “on track”What food guilt actually creates - like shame, disconnection, and the restrict–binge cycleHow to shift your perspective - so you can experience the best-case scenario of peace, trust, and true food freedomIf you've ever thought, “I need to feel guilty so I don't lose control,” this episode will completely shift the way you see yourself and your relationship with food.

What if your “food sensitivities” weren't really the problem—but just the message your body's been trying to send you? In this episode, we unpack what most food sensitivity tests get wrong and why the MRT (Mediator Release Test) is one of the few tools that can actually reveal what's really inflaming your body. In today's episode, we'll share my personal journey of years of bloating, fatigue, and restriction—before finally discovering how MRT testing offered real answers instead of endless guesswork. You'll learn how popular IgG tests often mislead people into cutting out 20+ foods unnecessarily, and how MRT goes deeper by measuring your actual inflammatory response—not just antibody exposure. We'll break down what the results actually mean, why some “healthy” foods might be triggering your system, and how to use that information to heal, not just restrict. This episode also explores the root causes behind sensitivities—like low stomach acid, leaky gut, chronic stress, and dysbiosis—and how to rebuild tolerance instead of living in fear of food. Through my own experience of reintroducing foods and repairing gut function, I show how MRT can shift you from feeling reactive and confused to calm and confident in your body again. If you've tried every elimination diet, still feel inflamed, and are tired of playing food detective, this conversation will help you see sensitivities for what they really are: signals, not sentences. By the end, you'll understand why healing the terrain, not just removing the foods, is the key to lasting relief—and how using data the right way can bring back freedom, flexibility, and trust in your body. Time Stamps: (1:42) Country T-Swift Fan (2:47) Being An Optimizer (4:57) Food Sensitive/MRT (9:27) Overactive Immune System (11:57) Note on MRT Test (16:52) What Foods To Eat When (20:22) Lowering Inflammation---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

There's still time to join Diet Culture Rehab — October 13–15!

What if the reason you're bloated isn't because you're eating too much, but because you're not eating enough? In this episode, we dive into the surprising truth about how eating more food, especially the right kinds in the right amounts, can actually reduce bloating, improve digestion, and help your body finally feel calm and regular again. For many women, undereating or intermittent fasting seems to help at first. You feel “lighter” and less puffy. But over time, that same strategy can backfire, slowing digestion, stressing the gut, and throwing hormones completely out of rhythm. This conversation breaks down why that happens and what to do instead. You'll learn how adequate food intake reactivates your digestive fire, boosts stomach acid and enzyme production, and supports smoother motility. We also explore how eating enough improves bowel regularity, fuels gut repair, and even reduces bloating by calming inflammation and supporting the nervous system. We unpack why skipping meals or surviving on “clean” salads can actually make things worse, and how building balanced meals with protein, carbs, and healthy fats can reset your digestion and hormones. Plus, we'll talk about the hidden link between undereating and the binge-restrict cycle and why eating more consistently throughout the day helps you break free from it. If you've been stuck in the loop of doing everything “right” but still feeling bloated, tired, or puffy, this episode will reframe everything you thought you knew about food and gut health. By the end, you'll understand how more food can mean less bloat, better energy, and a calmer, more predictable digestive system and why sometimes, healing starts with giving your body permission to eat. Time Stamps: (1:44) Dealing with COVID(3:17) Reduce Bloating By Eating More?(5:27) How Is This Possible?(10:26) Eating More and Being Regular(15:27) Saw This Recent Reel(21:12) Omar's Math and Weekly Calorie Intake---------------------Follow Annie on Instagram: @ohannieruth Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

What if you were doing everything right? Tracking your macros, lifting weights, eating clean and your body still felt inflamed, puffy, and broken?  That was Annie Kundis's reality. A former bodybuilder and competitive powerlifter turned mom and influencer, Annie spent over a decade following every fitness rule in the book only to watch her energy crash, her digestion spiral, and her confidence disappear. In this episode, Annie shares how DUTCH and GI-MAP testing completely changed her life after years of feeling dismissed by traditional doctors who told her to “just eat less and exercise more.” For the first time, real data revealed what was actually happening: low hormones, flipped cortisol, gut infections, and nutrient malabsorption. With that clarity, Annie finally had a roadmap for healing, not more restriction. She opens up about pressing pause on hard training, cutting caffeine, and learning to rest without guilt, plus the simple protocols that led to her first regular digestion in over a decade. We also dive into the emotional side: body dysmorphia, burnout, and rebuilding self-trust after years of fighting her body. Annie's story is raw, hopeful, and deeply relatable, showing that healing isn't about perfection, it's about understanding your body and giving it what it truly needs. If you've ever felt inflamed, exhausted, or unseen by the medical system, this episode will hit home. Tune in to hear how Annie went from survival mode to thriving and why she says today, “I don't feel sick anymore. I finally feel free.” Time Stamps: (3:22) Annie's Health Journey Before Vital Spark(9:37) Navigating Depression(12:52) GI Map and DUTCH Test Results(16:22) Learning To Slow Down(21:12) Trusting The Process(32:59) Where To Find Annie---------------------Follow Annie on Instagram: @ohannieruth Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Have you ever felt like stress was just baked into your life?  That no matter what you did, your job, your family, or your schedule would always keep you stuck in survival mode?  I've been there. For years, I told myself, “I'll always be stressed,” and it left me trapped in a cycle of burnout, resentment, and health struggles.  What I've learned is that real healing, whether it's from weight loss resistance, hormone imbalances, gut issues, or autoimmune conditions, can't happen until the nervous system feels safe. In this episode, I'm sharing the three shifts that helped me move from constant overwhelm to a place of regulation and resilience: state, story, and strategy. First, I'll break down how simple physical practices like eating outside in the sun, sipping chamomile tea, or walking between calls helped reset my nervous system.  Then, I'll explain how changing my story moved me out of victim mode and into empowerment, showing how the words we repeat to ourselves literally shape our stress hormones. Finally, I'll share how strategy through boundaries, systems, and structure became the safety net that made everything else sustainable. You'll also hear a practical example of how a full-time working mom could apply these same shifts to create more peace, energy, and balance in her day-to-day life, without adding another overwhelming “to-do.”  Time Stamps: (0:25) The Fall Season (2:10) Work Schedule and The Negative Self-Narrative (7:00) State/Story/Strategy Framework (9:50) Supporting My Physiology (14:10) Combating The All or Nothing Mentality (16:25) The Story You're Telling Yourself (21:05) The Final Piece: Strategy (25:45) Motion.AI (37:10) Tag Us for Accountability---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If you've ever felt stuck in the cycle of bloating, gut issues, and restriction, this episode is going to speak directly to you.  In this interview, I sit down with Vital Spark functional health practitioner coach Elizabeth McMillin, whose story is as relatable as it is inspiring.  Growing up in an Italian household where gluten and dairy were staples, Elizabeth struggled with constant bloating, GI distress, and the stigma of being labeled “big-boned.” As a teen athlete, she fell into the all-too-common restrict–inflame cycle, chasing results through unsustainable habits that left her more inflamed than ever. Her turning point came when she discovered her true triggers and realized healing wasn't about restriction, but nourishment. From the relatable Lenny & Larry's cookie moment to creating her own product, HIIT Dough, Elizabeth turned her pain into purpose, proving it's possible to enjoy food without gut backlash.  In this episode, she shares how calming inflammation allowed her metabolism to finally rev back up, the underestimated role of stress and sleep in gut health, and why she's currently planning deeper functional testing postpartum. Elizabeth also opens up about life as a Special Forces wife, the resilience it demanded, and how that unique perspective now shapes the way she supports her clients. With advanced training under Dr. Carrie Jones's curriculum and deep dives into autoimmunity and hormones, she brings both credibility and compassion to her work. Most importantly, Elizabeth's story mirrors the struggles of so many women and she believes true healing comes when empathy and protocols work hand-in-hand. Whether you've battled gut issues, restrictive diets, or hormonal chaos, you'll walk away from this episode with hope, clarity, and the belief that you don't have to live in survival mode anymore. Tune in to hear how Elizabeth broke free from the restrict–inflame cycle, why she's so passionate about helping women fuel their bodies, and what's truly possible when you address the root cause. Time Stamps: (3:10) Early Gut Issues and Growing Up Italian(7:20) Navigating Inflammation(12:52) Deployment and Stress(16:20) The Creation of HIIT Dough(22:16) Pregnancy During COVID(28:57) Recent Client Case Study(35:42) What Drew Coach Elizabeth To Vital Spark(40:55) We See You(43:24) Where To Find Coach Elizabeth---------------------Follow Abbe on IG: @Blowoutsbyabbeandmore---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If live feels extremely heavy right now, you're not alone. I once had a conversation with a mentor around this topic about what to do when life is just heavy.  Sometimes we're weighed down because we aren't managing our thoughts well. Sometimes it's because we're in environments that don't serve us.  But other times, life is just heavy and no amount of mindset work or environment shifts seem to fix it right away. In those moments, the best thing we can do is support ourselves until the heaviness passes. In this episode, I share practical and compassionate ways to care for yourself when you feel overwhelmed. We'll talk about why stepping away from social media protects your mental space, and how serving others whether with a simple text or through volunteering can actually ease your own burdens.  You'll hear about the power of healthy community and why it's vital to resist the urge to isolate. I'll also share ideas for lighthearted activities that bring a sense of play, and small but powerful actions you can take for your body, like cooking a nourishing meal or going on a walk. We'll close by exploring gratitude practices, future-focused dreaming, and the importance of remembering that emotional states are temporary. Life isn't meant to feel easy all the time, but with the right tools, you can support yourself through the heavy seasons. Time Stamps: (2:02) Heavy Emotions This Week(6:02) The Extreme Recent Examples(9:11) Filling A Void Through Doom Scrolling(10:32) Doing Something For Someone Else(11:02) Get Around Community(16:07) Finding Playful Activities(23:42) Daydreaming About The Future---------------------Follow Abbe on IG: @Blowoutsbyabbeandmore---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Today we have on a special guest, Abbe Kierstein! Now if you've ever thought, ‘I'm active, I eat well, and I'm still not seeing it, especially as I'm getting older' then this episode is going to be for you.  Abbe is a client of ours at Vital Spark, a perimenopausal entrepreneur hairstylist who spends about 10 hours a day on her feet, came in already lifting weights, eating clean, eating 1400-1500 calories per day, taking thyroid meds and HRT, and yet she felt STUCK in her body.  That was about 10 months ago, and today she is a different person. So I'm very excited to pick Abbe's brain on what does it take to see sustainable changes in your 50's all while navigating a demanding schedule. In this episode, we discuss the challenges Abbe faced before joining Vital Spark, how she adapted to habit changes we implemented, how she navigated eating out, and so much more! We even answer some of your questions you submitted on Instagram! Time Stamps: (1:52) Abbe's Story (3:00) Struggles Before Vital Spark (6:42) Navigating The Habit Changes (10:02) Increasing Calories (13:53) Shifting From Coffee to Tea (15:14) Changes In Abbe's Body (19:22) Navigating Eating Out (23:54) Noticing The First Shift (27:04) Hardest Part of The Process (30:12) What Should You Expect From A Coach? (33:59) Advice To Other Women Struggling (38:02) Where To Find Abbe---------------------Follow Abbe on IG: @Blowoutsbyabbeandmore---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If you've ever felt stuck in the cycle of losing weight, regaining it, and then starting over again, you're not alone. Today we're unpacking yo-yo dieting. Why it happens, what it does to your body, and how to finally break free. Yo-yo dieting often starts with extreme calorie restriction, leading to rapid weight loss that looks successful on the surface. But beneath the scale, your body is losing muscle, becoming inflamed, and stressing your hormones. Inevitably, the restrictive approach becomes impossible to maintain, weight creeps back on (often as fat rather than muscle), and the cycle repeats, sometimes with even greater difficulty losing weight each time. We'll dive into the hidden consequences of yo-yo dieting, from slower metabolism and muscle loss to leptin resistance, where your hunger and fullness hormones stop working properly. This not only makes weight loss harder but also increases cravings, fat storage, and frustration while taking a serious toll on mental health. But it's not all bad news. Breaking free from yo-yo dieting is possible by shifting focus from quick fixes to long-term, sustainable habits. We'll talk about the importance of fueling your body, rebuilding metabolic health, and supporting your hormones with balanced nutrition and consistency. You'll also hear about our client Kayla, who went from eating less than 1,300 calories per day without results, to eating hundreds more, feeling better than ever, and finally seeing her body respond. Her story proves that nourishment, not restriction, is the foundation for lasting health. If you're tired of the yo-yo rollercoaster, this episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and practical steps to move toward real, sustainable change. Time Stamps: (1:21) Omar's Favorite Trait about Vanessa(4:20) Yo-Yo Dieting(5:56) Characteristics of Yo-Yo Dieting(11:56) Weight Regain(13:32) Cycle Repetition(15:42) Why Yo-Yo Dieting Doesn't Work(21:44) Leptin Resistance(31:28) Please Share This Episode---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Staying lean isn't about overhauling your entire lifestyle overnight. it's about stacking small, sustainable habits that actually stick. In this episode, we dive into the everyday choices that make the biggest difference when it comes to feeling strong, energetic, and confident year-round. We start by talking about why highly satiating foods are your best friend (especially during those times when hunger seems dialed up) and how minimizing calorie-dense “extras” can keep you feeling satisfied without the crash. From there, we break down the power of a “something over nothing” mentality when it comes to resistance training because it's not about perfection, it's about consistency. You'll also hear why making physical activity a lifestyle is key. Omar shares how Spartan races with his family keep him motivated, I talk about my time riding horses, and we both agree that nothing beats a simple walk. We also unpack the sneaky calories that come from what we drink, why sleep is the real performance enhancer, and how patience and consistency are often the missing ingredients in most fitness journeys. Most importantly, we'll remind you not to obsess over the scale or occasional feelings of heaviness. Progress is much deeper than a number. And when it comes to food, just because it's free doesn't mean you have to eat it. The goal is to choose intentionally, not impulsively. If you've been searching for a realistic, non-extreme approach to staying lean, this episode will give you practical tools and a mindset shift that can last a lifetime. Time Stamps: (1:17) Omar's High and Low This Week(4:17) Ultramarathon Runner's Perspective(6:17) Fresh Spin On An Old Topic(7:08) Small Habits For Staying Lean(9:30) #1: Choose Highly Satiating Foods(13:27) #2: Resistance Train: Something Over Nothing Mentality(15:22) #3: Make Physical Activity A Lifestyle(17:45) #4: Don't Drink Our Calories(19:44) #5: Prioritize Sleep(20:28) #6: Practice Consistency and Patience(21:27) #7: Don't Obsess Over The Scale or Occasional Feelings of Heaviness(23:04) #8: Free Doesn't Mean You Need to Eat It---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Recovery from disordered eating doesn't end the moment bingeing stops — that's often where an entirely new phase begins. In this episode, Stef and Sarah unpack the often-overlooked “middle ground” of recovery — the stage where the chaos of bingeing has quieted, but true peace with food still feels out of reach. Stef describes this phase as a kind of emotional limbo: the urgency is gone, but now there's loneliness, uncertainty, and a disorienting sense of now what?. Sarah shares how she moved from bingeing to occasional overeating, and how easy it was to slip into black-and-white thinking without recognizing the real progress she'd already made. Together, they explore: what this “no man's land” actually looks and feels like why it's normal to struggle more with self-image once the bingeing stops the importance of community, language, and support during this time how to build trust in yourself before everything feels fully healed why this middle stage isn't failure — it's where real integration happens If you're past the acute phase but still don't feel “recovered,” this conversation will help you name where you are, trust the process, and move forward with more clarity (and less self-judgment). Connect with Stefanie Michele, Binge Eating Coach & Somatic Therapist IT Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele Substack - www.substack.com/@iamstefaniemichele Connect with Sarah Dosanjh, Author & Psychotherapist Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist Sarah's book I Can't Stop Eating is available on Amazon

If you've ever wondered why you keep waking up at 2am, 3am, or right before your alarm goes off, this episode is for you. Middle-of-the-night wake-ups aren't random; they're your body's way of sending signals that something deeper might be out of balance.  Instead of brushing it off as “just bad sleep,” we'll break down what your wake-up times might be revealing about your hormones, gut, blood sugar, and more. Think of your sleep like a night shift at a factory. Different departments run on different schedules. If one department has a problem, the alarm goes off at that time. By tracking your wake-up patterns, you can start to see the clues your body is leaving. We'll dive into the most common causes, from blood sugar dips and cortisol spikes, to low progesterone, high histamine, and even liver overload. You'll hear simple analogies like your brain's “glass of wine” being empty without progesterone, or your liver as the night shift cleaner making noise when it's overloaded that make these complex concepts easy to understand. We'll also cover lifestyle factors like blue light, meal timing, hydration, and circadian rhythm, because sometimes the simplest tweaks make the biggest difference.  By the end, you'll know how to decode your body's signals, track what's really happening, and take small, sustainable steps toward better sleep. Your body isn't broken. It's communicating. This episode will help you finally understand the messages and reclaim deep, restorative rest.  Time Stamps:  (1:25) Upcoming Retreat (3:22) Why Do I Wake Up In The Middle Of The Night? (5:50) Timing Of When You're Waking Up At Night (8:47) 1 to 3 AM and The Liver (9:32) Dryer Lint Talk (11:09) Common Causes of Waking Up (15:17) Cortisol and Blood Sugar (18:05) Low Progesterone (23:54) Dehydration (26:50) Gut Imbalances (29:39) Lifestyle Factors (32:41) First Steps---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Ever feel like your cravings (or impulses) have control over you?In this episode, we're breaking down a simple but powerful process to take back your power without relying on willpower alone. You'll learn how to pause in the moment, understand why the urge is there, and see it for what it really is (hint: you won't explode if you don't give in).  I'll walk you through how to write down the urge, your perceived reasons for acting on it, and then uncover the true cost of giving in. From there, we'll make a decision from a slower, clearer place rather than from that instant “must do it now” energy. I'll also share a personal example of how I've experienced this urge loop in my work life, and how simply planning when I'll handle something helps my brain relax. We'll talk about why saying “no” often makes the urge stronger at first and how to ride it like a wave instead of letting it sweep you away.  Think of it like handling an angry toddler's tantrum: it feels intense, but it passes.  By the end, you'll have a repeatable framework for handling cravings, emotional eating triggers, or even those distracting work pings that derail your focus. This is your guide to breaking the cycle and building self-trust one urge at a time. Time Stamps: (2:20) Guilt and Cravings (3:54) Imagine This Scenario (6:30) Urge on Answering A Message Example (11:50) Everything Is A Tradeoff (15:10) Building The Self Trust Muscle---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

If you've ever wondered how to truly support your body after coming off birth control or what to do first when you're feeling bloated and sluggish,  this episode is for you. In part two of our Q&A series, we're diving into your most-requested questions: going deep on women's health, hormone balance, and big-picture life goals. I share my supplement thoughts post–birth control, why broad advice often backfires without proper bloodwork, and how our FLUSH protocol helps set a strong foundation for healing.  We also discuss what most women get wrong before coming to Vital Spark and whether a DUTCH test is worth it while still on hormonal contraception. From there, we get personal: what I would tell my past self, how we're thinking about family 20 years down the line, and even some of my non-profit aspirations for the future.  Finally, I break down the first steps to take when you're bloated, fatigued, and don't know where to start so you can stop spinning your wheels and start feeling like yourself again. This one is packed with both strategy and soul. Whether you're here for the hormone hacks, the mindset shifts, or just a little encouragement for your own journey, you'll leave with clarity and practical next steps to move forward with confidence. Time Stamps: (1:32) Curly or Straight Hair? (3:27) Top Supplements After Getting Off Birth Control (11:22) Bloodwork Over Broad Recommendations (12:50) FLUSH Protocol (16:21) What Most Women Are Doing Wrong Before Coming to Vital Spark (19:37) DUTCH Test on Birth Control? (22:50) What Vanessa Would Tell Her Past Self (26:28) 20 Years Later and Future Family (30:02) Non-Profit Future Aspirations (33:02) What To Prioritize When Bloating---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Is food guilt quietly draining your capacity to show up in parts of your life and business?In this episode, we explore what cravings, restriction, and shame around food might be trying to tell you not just about your body, but about your business.I'm joined by integrative nutrition health coach Laura Banks, who shares her personal journey from hiding candy wrappers in her classroom to helping women heal their relationship with food in a way that actually increases clarity, consistency, and energy.Together, we unpack the hidden emotional link between what you eat, how you feel, and how you function as a creative, a business owner, or someone simply trying to hold it all together.You'll learn how to:Overcome being stuck in a cycle of “starting over”.Stop being burned out by restriction & trying to “get it right”.Create momentum in both your health and business routines.This conversation will help you understand why. And what to do next. Because this isn't about willpower—it's about capacity. And when you heal the pressure you place on yourself with food, you unlock space for self-trust, more aligned decisions, and sustainable progress.Send Me A Text & Share Your QA's or ThoughtsJoin The 5-Day Audio Series - Rooted Sales Loved this episode? Leave a review: https://www.craftedtothrive.com/reviews/new/Products We Love + Special Guest Gifts → Want to support the show and treat yourself? We've created a quick-access list of products I personally use and love, exclusive savings from podcast guests, and other gems that can help you live well and do business with chronic illness. Explore our faves + savings here!Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free exclusive weekly email series designed for creatives and women with chronic illnesses. You'll learn how to make a liveable income with your hobbies, professional skills, and innate talents by building a successful online coaching business with simple strategies that work for you, even on flare days, and feel better living with chronic illness.To Start and Grow A Creative or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness Join Chronically You & ProfitableJoin & Follow Nikita & our Community Channel on Instagram

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3067: Jessi Kneeland unpacks the toxic roots of food guilt, revealing how fear of fatness, driven by diet culture and societal fatphobia, shapes our everyday eating decisions. By challenging the narrow definition of “healthy” eating, Kneeland urges us to redefine self-care, embrace body diversity, and break free from the exhausting cycle of shame and restriction. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.jessikneeland.com/post/food-guilt Quotes to ponder: "Food guilt comes from the idea that eating is wrong, and that when you've eaten you've made a mistake and must set it right." "The pattern is: the fear of fatness." "Trying to figure out the perfect formula, to stay inside that narrow golden window of eating 'right' is beyond stressful and confusing." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've been doing “all the right things” for a few weeks. Eating better, moving your body but the scale hasn't budged. Sound familiar? That's not failure.  That's normal. In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable truth: healing and real transformation take time, often much longer than we want. You'll hear why quick fixes and crash diets set you up for disappointment, and why slow, steady progress is the only path to sustainable change.  We'll talk about prepping your body before weight loss even begins, what to expect when you start eating more, and why discomfort (yes, including hunger and resistance) is part of the journey. I also share what it took for me to transform over two years and why I still don't believe in a “finish line.”  If you're frustrated with your progress or tempted to give up after a few weeks, this episode will reframe everything. Healing is possible. It just doesn't happen overnight. Time Stamps: (1:17) A Little Sickness In The Pozos Household (3:42) My Healing Journey (5:20) Stock Market Analogy (11:47) The Continuous Process (16:17) Discomfort Is a Feeling (19:22) So Much To Learn Still (20:54) There's No Finish Line---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

It only took 233 episodes and getting over what I thought would be cricket's if I ever asked my audience to submit questions but I'm so glad we did because we got some incredible questions we're excited to answer on this week's episode! We had over 40 questions submitted and thank you to everyone who sent one in! Today's episode, we will cover 10 questions that were asked frequently or we thought you'd benefit most from hearing about. It's a great blend of health related questions, how we met as a couple, whether or not we've always lived a healthy lifestyle, and a few topics we haven't covered on the show! While we haven't fully decided yet on how we will answer the remaining questions you submitted, rest assured we will and let us know if you enjoyed this style of episode! Time Stamps: (2:54) One Common Trait with Vital Spark Clients(6:34) Bioidentical Progesterone(10:03) How Vanessa and Omar Met(13:45) Inexpensive Biohacks for Happy Hormones(18:32) Build Muscle and Lose Fat While At Maintenance?(21:17) Root Cause of Histamine Issues(26:50) Belly Pooch Weight Gain(29:39) Steady Weight Loss Without Losing Weight?(32:11) Being A Healthy Couple(37:17) GI Solutions---------------------Find Out More Information on Vital Spark Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women's Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we'll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!

Hey Heal Squad! We're continuing the theme of gut-brain health and bringing back an amazing 2 part episode with the brilliant Dr. Will Cole! In the first part of our conversation, we're talking all about the emotional roots of our eating patterns and how food guilt, shame, and emotional triggers can sabotage both your health and happiness. Dr. Cole breaks down how our relationship with food is often shaped by trauma, cultural messaging, and emotional dysregulation—and how healing your gut can also help heal your brain and your inner world. We explore everything from cortisol overload and blood sugar swings to why your nervous system plays a bigger role in digestion than you think. If you've ever felt stuck in a cycle of restriction, bingeing, or guilt after eating, this episode will help you understand what's really going on beneath the surface (and how to finally reclaim peace in your body and mind). Enjoy, friends!  -- HEAL SQUAD SOCIALS IG: https://www.instagram.com/healsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healsquadxmaria HEAL SQUAD RESOURCES: Heal Squad Website:https://www.healsquad.com/ Heal Squad x Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HealSquad/membership Maria Menounos Website: https://www.mariamenounos.com My Curated Macy's Page: Shop My Macy's Storefront Prenuvo: Prenuvo.com/MARIA for $300 off Delete Me: https://bit.ly/43rkHwi   code: SQUAD EMR-Tek Red Light: https://emr-tek.com/discount/Maria30 for 30% off Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/  Join the In-Person Heal Retreat: https://www.canyonranch.com/stay/events/heal-retreat-with-maria-menounos/?location=lenox  DR WILL COLE RESOURCES: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drwillcole/?hl=en  Website: https://drwillcole.com/  ‘Gut Feelings' Book: https://go.shopmy.us/p-19717624  ABOUT MARIA MENOUNOS: Emmy Award-winning journalist, TV personality, actress, 2x NYT best-selling author, former pro-wrestler and brain tumor survivor, Maria Menounos' passion is to see others heal and to get better in all areas of life. ABOUT HEAL SQUAD x MARIA MENOUNOS: A daily digital talk-show that brings you the world's leading healers, experts, and celebrities to share groundbreaking secrets and tips to getting better in all areas of life. DISCLAIMER:This Podcast and all related content (published or distributed by or on behalf of Maria Menounos or http://Mariamenounos.com and http://healsquad.com) is for informational purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions provided by guest experts or hosts featured within website or on Company's Podcast are their own; not those of Maria Menounos or the Company. Accordingly, Maria Menounos and the Company cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. This podcast is presented for exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for preventing, diagnosing, or treating a specific illness. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment.

LISTEN FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO GLOW UP THIS SUMMER Questions in this advice session: - What are some easy things that I can do right now to feel better about my skin? - What is your tanning routine? - How do I make my hair and skin glow naturally without spending a lot of money? - How to deal with FOMO when it seems like everyone is living their best life online? - Ways to feel more confident in a bikini or summer clothes? - How do you not compare what you eat to what your friends eat? Trying Not to Care is sponsored by Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/TNTC and use promo code TNTC today for 10% off of TRIO! FOLLOW ME HERE Instagram: Ashley's Instagram | Trying Not to Care Instagram TikTok: Ashley's TikTok | Trying Not to Care TikTok Youtube: Subscribe here Amazon Storefront and more: LTX WANT TO ASK ME QUESTIONS? NEED ADVICE? Follow me on IG and look out for submissions on my story or ask me here: 2025 google form TNTC COMMUNITY GROUPCHAT: https://app.geneva.com/invite/4939298b-477b-4d4b-a32a-0b82431273bf Podcast Business Inquiries - ashleychristinecorbo@gmail.com Social Media Inquiries - ashley@abouttalentagency.com summer glow up, glow up guide, how to glow up this summer, how to glow up on a budget, big sis advice, advice session