OYS - Own Your Shift

Virginia Bain

Welcome to "Own Your Shift" The podcast for women who are done playing small and ready to own their health, mindset, and midlife glow-up. I'm Virginia, your no-BS guide to navigating your 40s and beyond with humor, real talk, and a whole lot of transformation. Because let's be honest, midlife isn't a crisis, it's a damn upgrade. So, if you're ready to laugh, level up, and shift into your best self—hit that follow button and let's do this!

  1. 1d ago

    Stop Confusing Circumstances with Identity

    Stop Confusing Circumstances with Identity You are not your bad week. You are not the weight you gained. You are not the money you lost. You are not the job you didn't get, the habit you haven't mastered, or the season you're struggling through. In this episode of Own Your Shift, we're talking about the power of the words we use especially the words we use about ourselves. Because there's a big difference between saying, "I'm struggling right now" and "I'm a failure." One describes a circumstance. The other turns it into an identity. And when you repeat those identity statements often enough, they start to shape what you believe is possible. We'll talk about why we so easily rehearse everything that could go wrong, how phrases like "I always," "I never," and "I am" can quietly keep us stuck, and why it's time to clean up some of the spell-casting. This isn't about toxic positivity or pretending hard things aren't hard. It's about choosing language that leaves room for growth, change, and possibility. Because if you're going to spend energy imagining a future that hasn't happened yet… What if the good stuff happens? In this episode: Why temporary circumstances should never become permanent identities How your words influence your beliefs and behaviour The danger of constantly reinforcing "I can't" and "I always" Why adding one simple word "yet" can change the entire story How to stop rehearsing failure and start making room for possibility The question that can shift your thinking: What if it actually works? Your circumstances can change. Your habits can change. Your body can change. Your career can change. Your story can change. You are not stuck being who you've been. That's your shift. Own it. Join the Own Your Shift newsletter for real strategies on mindset, smart meal planning, high-protein recipes, and effective training designed for driven women like you. Join Here! Ready to Own your Shift... Apply for coaching here: Coaching Application Suggestions or comments for/on an episode? DM me on Instagram @virgbain

  2. Aug 20 ·  Video

    When Life Forces the Shift: Losing 80 Pounds, Becoming a Champion & Starting Over After Injury with Amanda Will

    What happens when you finally become the person you worked so hard to become… and then life forces you to shift again? In this episode of Own Your Shift, I sit down with Amanda "Foxy" Will — bodybuilder, mom, wife, coach, full-time auto worker and founder of Fit By Foxy. Amanda's transformation began after undergoing a full hysterectomy in 2021. At 5'1" and nearly 200 pounds, she decided it was time to make a change for herself and her family. She went on to lose 80 pounds through nutrition and exercise — but that was only the beginning. After attending her first bodybuilding competition, Amanda fell in love with the sport. One year later, she competed in that very same show. Self-coached, she walked away as the Overall Winner and earned her Figure Pro Card. She went on to compete at the UFE World Championships and later stepped into an open bodybuilding federation as a natural athlete, winning the Figure Overall at the CPA King Kong Open Championship. Then life changed the plan. After two shoulder dislocations, Amanda underwent major shoulder stabilization surgery in April 2026, forcing an athlete accustomed to pushing harder to learn an entirely different kind of strength: patience. We talk about losing 80 pounds, discipline versus motivation, bodybuilding and body image, balancing family and a full-time career with ambitious goals, becoming a coach, dealing with an identity shift after injury, and learning that sometimes strength means knowing when not to push. Amanda also shares what she's building with Fit By Foxy and her plans to return to the bodybuilding stage in 2027 with her sights set on earning an IFBB Pro Card. This conversation is about much more than bodybuilding. It's about what happens when you accomplish something you once thought was impossible — and then have to become someone new all over again. Because the transformation isn't one finish line. The real shift is learning how to keep becoming the person your next season requires. Join the Own Your Shift newsletter for real strategies on mindset, smart meal planning, high-protein recipes, and effective training designed for driven women like you. Join Here! Ready to Own your Shift... Apply for coaching here: Coaching Application Suggestions or comments for/on an episode? DM me on Instagram @virgbain  To connect with Amanda Will Fit by Foxy Instagram Amanda Will Instagram Find Amanda on Facebook

  3. Aug 6

    Why Losing Weight Isn't the Goal (And Never Should Be)

    What if the biggest mistake you're making isn't how you're trying to lose weight... but believing that losing weight is the finish line? In this episode of Own Your Shift, Virginia Bain challenges one of the biggest myths in the fitness industry: that the transformation ends when you reach your goal weight. The truth? Losing weight is the easy part. Keeping it off is where real transformation begins. Drawing on more than 20 years of coaching experience, Virginia explains why so many diets fail—not because people lack motivation or willpower, but because they're never taught how to maintain their results. She shares why sustainable habits, self-control, and identity matter far more than another restrictive meal plan or quick-fix challenge. If you've ever lost weight only to gain it back, this episode will change the way you think about success forever. In this episode, you'll learn: Why maintenance—not weight loss—is the real goal. The biggest reason most diets fail after the "before and after" photo. Why self-control is a stronger predictor of long-term success than relying on willpower alone. The difference between motivation, discipline, and sustainable habits. How to build a lifestyle you never want—or need—to diet from again. Why your fat-loss journey should prepare you for the rest of your life, not just the next few months. The number on the scale may change, but the greatest transformation isn't physical. It's becoming the kind of person who never has to keep starting over. Because the real goal isn't to lose weight. It's to build a life healthy enough that you never feel the need to escape it. Join the Own Your Shift newsletter for real strategies on mindset, smart meal planning, high-protein recipes, and effective training designed for driven women like you. Join Here! Ready to Own your Shift... Apply for coaching here: Coaching Application Suggestions or comments for/on an episode? DM me on Instagram @virgbain

  4. Jul 30

    The 10 Things I Wish Every Woman Over 40 Knew About Fat Loss

    If you've ever thought, "I'm doing everything I used to do, but nothing works anymore," this episode is for you. Fat loss after 40 isn't impossible... but it does require a different approach than it did in your 20s and 30s. In this episode of Own Your Shift, Virginia Bain shares the 10 lessons she wishes every woman understood before wasting years chasing quick fixes, restrictive diets, and endless frustration. Drawing on more than 20 years of coaching experience, Virginia breaks down what really matters when it comes to sustainable fat loss through perimenopause and beyond. From building muscle and prioritizing protein to understanding menopause, stress, sleep, walking, and consistency, you'll learn why the basics still work—and why they're more important than ever. This isn't about perfection or another diet. It's about building a body and a lifestyle that will serve you for decades to come. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your metabolism probably isn't "broken" The critical role muscle plays in healthy aging and fat loss How much protein really matters after 40 What menopause changes—and what it doesn't Why walking is one of the most underrated fat-loss tools What NEAT is and how it impacts your daily calorie burn How sleep and stress can quietly sabotage your progress The truth about alcohol and its effect on body composition Why consistency will always outperform perfection Whether you're just starting your journey or you've been struggling to lose the same weight for years, this episode will help you stop fighting your body and start working with it. Because the goal isn't just to lose weight. It's to build a stronger, healthier life that you can maintain for years to come. Join the Own Your Shift newsletter for real strategies on mindset, smart meal planning, high-protein recipes, and effective training designed for driven women like you. Join Here! Ready to Own your Shift... Apply for coaching here: Coaching Application Suggestions or comments for/on an episode? DM me on Instagram @virgbain

  5. Jul 23

    The Cost of Waiting Until Monday (Why You Keep Starting Over)

    How many Mondays have you promised yourself would be different? "I'll start Monday." It's one of the most common phrases in health and fitness and one of the most damaging. In this episode of Own Your Shift, Virginia unpacks the hidden cost of waiting for the "perfect" time to start. From the psychology behind fresh starts to the all-or-nothing mindset that keeps so many people trapped in the cycle of dieting, guilt, and starting over, you'll learn why it's rarely the pizza, vacation, or glass of wine that derails your progress. Drawing on more than 20 years of coaching experience, Virginia shares why the people who successfully lose weight and keep it off aren't the most disciplined or motivated. They're simply the ones who recover the fastest. In this episode, you'll learn: Why we keep waiting for Monday, the first of the month, or New Year's to make a change. The mindset shift that stops the cycle of "starting over." Why one meal never ruins your progress... but giving up for the rest of the weekend can. How to replace perfection with consistency. The difference between relying on motivation and building an identity that supports lasting change. Practical strategies to bounce back after setbacks without guilt or punishment. If you've ever felt like you're constantly starting over, this episode will help you stop chasing perfect Mondays and start building habits that last for life. Because lasting transformation doesn't happen on Monday. It happens the moment you decide your next choice matters more than your last one. Join the Own Your Shift newsletter for real strategies on mindset, smart meal planning, high-protein recipes, and effective training designed for driven women like you. Join Here! Ready to Own your Shift... Apply for coaching here: Coaching Application Suggestions or comments for/on an episode? DM me on Instagram @virgbain

About

Welcome to "Own Your Shift" The podcast for women who are done playing small and ready to own their health, mindset, and midlife glow-up. I'm Virginia, your no-BS guide to navigating your 40s and beyond with humor, real talk, and a whole lot of transformation. Because let's be honest, midlife isn't a crisis, it's a damn upgrade. So, if you're ready to laugh, level up, and shift into your best self—hit that follow button and let's do this!

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