Strong & Nourished Momma | Quick & Healthy Meals, Postpartum Weight Loss, Boost Energy, Workout Routines, Nutrition Habits

Val Warner | Registered Dietitian, Postpartum Fitness Coach
  • 5.0 (66)
  • Nutrition
  • Updated Weekly

*** TOP 2.5% GLOBAL PODCAST ***  Are you a postpartum mom struggling to feel like yourself again? Exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering how to lose baby weight, heal your core, and boost your energy while caring for your little one? Not sure what to eat postpartum or how to fit in quick healthy meals and safe workouts at home? I see you, Momma! This podcast is your guide to postpartum recovery, nutrition, fitness, and wellness in a way that feels simple, sustainable, and enjoyable. You’ll learn how to nourish your body, rebuild strength, repair diastasis recti, support your pelvic floor, and create healthy habits that fit into mom life—without the stress of rigid diets or exhausting workouts. Hey, I’m Val — a Sports Dietitian, Postpartum Fitness Coach, and first-time momma. I know firsthand the challenges of postpartum fatigue, stubborn belly fat, leaking pelvic floors, and balancing your health with baby care. After my own struggles, I created a practical, sustainable approach to feeling strong, nourished, and energized—and now I’m here to help you do the same! If you’re ready for meal prep made easy, simple workouts for busy moms, and real-life strategies to heal, fuel, and thrive in motherhood, you’re in the right place. Each episode is packed with expert advice, practical tips, and encouragement so you can feel your best in postpartum and beyond. Grab your coffee (or matcha!) and let’s dive in—it’s time to nourish, strengthen, and thrive in motherhood, because YOU deserve to feel amazing in your postpartum body!

  1. 8m ago

    102 | Postpartum Body Image Nobody Talks About: Clothes, Comparison & the Mental Load of Living in This Body

    Your clothes fit weird. You're doing everything right — eating well, showing up to workouts — and your body still doesn't feel like yours. And watching other moms seem to "bounce back" while you're still waiting? That comparison spiral is real, and it's exhausting. In this episode, Val gets real about postpartum body image — the clothes, the belly, the comparison trap, and the mental load of living in a body that feels foreign. She shares her own Havasu weekend story, reads real responses from her audience, and breaks down the actual physiology behind why your body looks and feels different postpartum — even when you're doing everything right. This one is honest, science-backed, and exactly what you needed to hear today. In this episode: Why the bounce-back culture is not just harmful — it's physiologically impossible What cortisol, inflammation, and hormones are actually doing to your body composition postpartum Why the scale and mirror lie when you're building muscle (body recomposition explained) The truth about the postpartum belly — diastasis, core function, and what's really going on Why your hips and glutes are different now — and why that's not a bad thing The comparison trap and how to actually reprogram your inner voice (not toxic positivity — real tools) Your one action item to walk away with this week 🎁 Free Protein-Packed Snack Guide: https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/proteinsnackguide Resources & Links: ✨ Become an Insider and get the Weekly Newsletter! Get your FREE Balanced Plate Resource! ✨ Follow Val on Instagram for nutrition tips, workouts, and more! https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/ ✨ Learn more about the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method Group Coaching Program here ✨ Website: https://wellnessbyval.com/ ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with another mom who needs this info and leave a review—it helps more moms find the podcast! 💬 Got a question for the show?! Leave me a voice message here: SpeakPipe voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/newsletter for a chance to have your question featured and answered on an episode of the Strong & Nourished Momma Podcast.

    21 min

  2. May 25

    101 | How to Build a Workout Routine That Actually Sticks: The Minimum Effective Dose for Busy Mommas

    If your workout routine keeps falling apart, it's not a you problem — it's a plan problem. In this episode, Val shares her own real week of workouts (spoiler: nothing went according to plan and it was still a great week), breaks down the brand new 2026 ACSM resistance training guidelines, and gives you the exact framework to build a routine that actually fits your life — not your ideal life. Your imperfect week still counts. The stroller run counts. The 15-minute living room workout counts. Let's talk about it. In this episode: Why the all-or-nothing mindset is the #1 thing killing your consistency — and the real-life week that proves it What ACSM's first resistance training update in 17 years actually says (and why it's great news for busy moms) The 3-question framework to build a routine around your real schedule The "never miss twice" rule and how to come back without guilt or punishment Why your backup plan IS the plan Mentioned in this episode; 🎁 Free Flexible Mom's Weekly Workout Planner → https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/planner  💪 6-Week Playbook Strength Program → https://my.playbookapp.io/wellnessbyval/programs/strong-in-6-strength-training-for-busy-moms/36482 📖 2026 ACSM Resistance Training Guidelines → https://acsm.org/resistance-training-guidelines-update-2026/ Resources & Links: ✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider Weekly wellness tips, podcast updates, and exclusive freebies for busy moms. 👉 https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider 📲 Follow Val on Instagram Daily nutrition tips, postpartum support, workouts, and real-life mom wellness. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/ 🎥 Follow on TikTok Quick tips, education, and behind-the-scenes mom life + wellness content. 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessbyval_?_r=1&_t=ZP-939HwTbMNup  🌐 Website https://wellnessbyval.com ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with another mom who needs this info and leave a review—it helps more moms find the podcast! 💬 Got a question for the show?! Leave me a voice message here: SpeakPipe voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/newsletter for a chance to have your question featured and answered on an episode of the Strong & Nourished Momma Podcast.

    18 min

  3. May 18

    100 | Sleep, Cortisol & Fat Loss: Why Postpartum Moms Can't Out-Train a Stressed Nervous System

    We made it to 100 episodes — and we're celebrating with one of the most important conversations this show has ever had. If you've been doing the workouts, eating well, trying to stay consistent — and you're still exhausted, still stuck, still wondering why your body isn't responding — this episode is going to change the way you understand what's happening inside you. Today we're breaking down: Why postpartum is a massive neurological event — not just a hormonal one The two branches of your autonomic nervous system (SNS vs PNS) and why most moms are living in sympathetic dominance How chronically elevated cortisol is blocking your fat loss, wrecking your sleep, and breaking down your muscle — even when you're doing everything right Why the standard "do more" advice is making things worse for moms in the 0–3 year postpartum window The signs your nervous system is dysregulated (count how many land for you) What to actually do — practical, sustainable, and doable Val also shares her personal story of reassessing her own nervous system load at two years postpartum, and a client story that will sound incredibly familiar to moms who feel like they're doing everything right and still not seeing results. This is the episode for the mom who's tired of being told to push harder. Episode 100 Giveaway is OPEN through Wednesday May 20th — details inside and links below! 🎧 Listen, share with a momma friend, and leave a review — it means the world and it helps this show reach more moms who need it. 🎉 EPISODE 100 GIVEAWAY — Open through Wednesday May 20th 🥇 1st place: Free 6-week Playbook Strength Program + 30-min 1:1 coaching call with Val 🥈 2nd place: $50 Amazon gift card 🥉 3rd place: 15% off the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method How to enter: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (screenshot before you submit) DM the screenshot to Val on Instagram (@wellnessbyval_) Bonus entry: follow Val and tag a mom friend on the giveaway post  Open 5/18-5/20 2026 Resources & Links: ✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider Weekly wellness tips, podcast updates, and exclusive freebies for busy moms. 👉 https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider 📲 Follow Val on Instagram Daily nutrition tips, postpartum support, workouts, and real-life mom wellness. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/ 🎥 Follow on TikTok Quick tips, education, and behind-the-scenes mom life + wellness content. 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessbyval_?_r=1&_t=ZP-939HwTbMNup  🌐 Website https://wellnessbyval.com ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with another mom who needs this info and leave a review—it helps more moms find the podcast! 💬 Got a question for the show?! Leave me a voice message here: SpeakPipe voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/newsletter for a chance to have your question featured and answered on an episode of the Strong & Nourished Momma Podcast.

    37 min

  4. May 11

    99 | A Letter to the Momma Who Keeps Putting Herself Last

    You are not lazy. You are not failing. You are depleted — and there is a massive difference. In episode 99, Val reads a letter to the mom who keeps putting herself last. The one skipping meals, running on cortisol, and wondering why nothing ever sticks. This episode is less protocol and more permission slip — and sometimes that's exactly what we need most. In this episode: Why "I'll start when things calm down" is keeping you stuck The real difference between a willpower problem and a depletion problem What postpartum moms are actually carrying that nobody talks about Why the fix is not more discipline — it's more support and nourishment A permission slip to start taking up space in your own life 🎉 Episode 100 Giveaway — Opens May 18th, 2026! We are celebrating 100 episodes and YOU are the reason. Here's how to enter: To enter: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts → screenshot it → DM the screenshot to @wellnessbyval_ on Instagram Bonus entry: Follow @wellnessbyval_ on Instagram + tag a momma friend in the giveaway post for an extra entry (open to anyone and everyone in the world!) Open 5/18, 5/19 and 5/20! Prizes: 🥇 1st place: Free 6-week Strength Program + 30-min 1:1 coaching call with Val 🥈 2nd place: $50 Amazon gift card 🥉 3rd place: 15% off the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method Resources & Links: ✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider Weekly wellness tips, podcast updates, and exclusive freebies for busy moms. 👉 https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider 📲 Follow Val on Instagram Daily nutrition tips, postpartum support, workouts, and real-life mom wellness. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/ 🎥 Follow on TikTok Quick tips, education, and behind-the-scenes mom life + wellness content. 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessbyval_?_r=1&_t=ZP-939HwTbMNup  🌐 Website https://wellnessbyval.com ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with another mom who needs this info and leave a review—it helps more moms find the podcast! 💬 Got a question for the show?! Leave me a voice message here: SpeakPipe voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/newsletter for a chance to have your question featured and answered on an episode of the Strong & Nourished Momma Podcast.

    10 min

  5. May 4

    98 | What I Actually Eat in a Week as a Working Momma, Dietitian & Hybrid Athlete (Real & Unfiltered)

    Ever wonder what a functional sports dietitian actually eats in a real week — not the perfect Instagram version, but the real one? This is that episode. In this episode, Val Warner pulls back the curtain on her real food week — as a working momma, board certified sports dietitian, hybrid athlete, and someone currently navigating pre-conception nutrition. She shares her pre-workout routine, her breakfast rotation, her no-fail leftover lunch system, her go-to snacks, her 30 plants per week goal, and what she found when she recently logged her food for the first time in a while. This episode is part inspiration, part education, and entirely real life. What you'll learn: Val's pre-workout fueling routine — why a banana at 5am actually matters How to build a breakfast rotation that works for different weekday schedules The leftover lunch system that saves time, money, and decision fatigue What balanced snacking actually looks like in a real working mom's week The 30 plants per week goal and how to achieve it without overthinking it How Val uses food logging as a check-in tool — not an obsession Why her nutrition approach is different right now as she navigates pre-conception How clients inside the program access real-time food logging, recipes, and Instacart integration Episodes mentioned: Episode 24 — Creatine for Women: Benefits, Safety & Should You Take It Postpartum? Episode 63 — Fasted Cardio for Postpartum Moms: Do You Really Need It? Episode 84 — Creatine: The Missing Ingredient in Women's Health Episode 93 — Fertility, Pregnancy & Postpartum Nutrition with Lily Nichols, RD, CDE Episode 94 — Why You're Always Tired as a Momma: 4 Root Causes of Fatigue Episode 96 — Gut Health & the Momma Microbiome Episode 97 — Picky Eating, Breastfeeding & Toddler Nutrition with Dr. Liz Daniels Resources & Links: 🌟 Join the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method 8-week group coaching program for busy and postpartum moms 👉 https://wellnessbyval.com/program 🔬 Book your Functional Lab Review Have labs sitting in your portal or need some ordered? This session is for you! 👉 https://wellnessbyval.com/labs ✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider Weekly wellness tips, podcast updates, and exclusive freebies for busy moms. 👉 https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider 📲 Follow Val on Instagram Daily nutrition tips, postpartum support, workouts, and real-life mom wellness. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/ 🎥 Follow on TikTok Quick tips, education, and behind-the-scenes mom life + wellness content. 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessbyval_?_r=1&_t=ZP-939HwTbMNup  🌐 Website https://wellnessbyval.com ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with another mom who needs this info and leave a review—it helps more moms find the podcast! 💬 Got a question for the show?! Leave me a voice message here: SpeakPipe voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/newsletter for a chance to have your question featured and answered on an episode of the Strong & Nourished Momma Podcast.

    27 min

  6. Apr 27

    97 | Picky Eating, Breastfeeding & Toddler Nutrition: What Moms Need to Know with Dr. Liz Daniels, DO, RD

    Is mealtime a battle in your house? Are you second-guessing your nutrition while breastfeeding or wondering if your picky toddler is actually getting enough? This episode is going to be your new best friend. Sports dietitian and postpartum wellness expert Val Warner sits down with Dr. Liz Daniels — a board-certified pediatrician AND registered dietitian — for a judgment-free, practical conversation about feeding babies, toddlers, and whole families without the stress. Dr. Liz brings a rare dual perspective that makes this episode unlike anything else in the mom wellness space — part medical, part nutrition science, entirely real-life applicable. What you'll learn: What actually matters nutrition-wise while breastfeeding — and what you can let go of Whether mom's diet really impacts breast milk as much as we think How to prevent picky eating before it starts The most common mistakes parents make with starting solids without realizing it What is actually going on when your toddler "just won't eat" The signs that your child's eating is going well even when it doesn't feel like it How to feed a whole family without making multiple meals every night One simple shift you can make this week to reduce mealtime stress Connect with Dr. Liz Daniels: @drliznewstorynutrition www.newstorynutrition.com Nutrition for the Early Years podcast Freebie: https://new-story-nutrition.kit.com/whenmealtimefeelsmessy  Episodes mentioned: Episode 94 — Why You're Always Tired as a Momma: 4 Root Causes of Fatigue Episode 95 — The 4 Nutrient Deficiencies Stealing Your Energy as a Momma Episode 96 — Gut Health & the Momma Microbiome Resources & Links: 🔬 Book your Functional Lab Review → wellnessbyval.com/labs 🌟 Join the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method → wellnessbyval.com/program ✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider → wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider 📲 Follow Val on Instagram → @wellnessbyval_ 🌐 Website → wellnessbyval.com ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with a momma who is in the thick of toddler feeding or just starting solids — and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

    59 min

  7. Apr 20

    96 | Gut Health & the Momma Microbiome: What Actually Works (And What's Just Hype)

    Is your gut the missing piece of your postpartum recovery? If you have been dealing with bloating after meals, irregular digestion, postpartum anxiety, or weight that just will not budge despite doing everything right — this episode is going to connect some serious dots for you. In this episode sports dietitian, functional medicine practitioner, and postpartum wellness expert Val Warner breaks down what actually happens to your gut microbiome during and after pregnancy, why postpartum gut disruption is so common and so underdiagnosed, and what you can do about it starting today — with food first, always. Val covers the difference between leaky gut hype and the real clinical concept of intestinal permeability, what the research actually says about probiotics, why fermented foods are safe while breastfeeding, and when advanced gut testing like a GI Map is actually warranted versus when it is premature and expensive. What you'll learn: What your gut microbiome actually is and why it affects so much more than just digestion How pregnancy, birth, antibiotics, C-sections, and chronic stress disrupt your microbiome What intestinal permeability (leaky gut) really means — and what actually heals it The difference between prebiotics and probiotics and why both matter What to actually look for in a probiotic supplement — and what is just marketing Why fermented foods are safe and beneficial while breastfeeding The best anti-inflammatory foods for gut lining repair When a GI Map is worth it — and when food foundations come first How gut health connects to postpartum anxiety, weight resistance, and energy Episodes mentioned: Episode 94 — Why You're Always Tired as a Momma: 4 Root Causes of Fatigue Episode 95 — The 4 Nutrient Deficiencies Stealing Your Energy as a Momma Episode 68 — The Gut-Weight Connection: How Gut Health Impacts Postpartum Fat Loss Episodes 6 — Constipation Awareness Month: Part 1 Episodes 7 — Constipation Awareness Month: Part 2 Resources & Links: 🔬 Book your Functional Lab Review (inflammatory markers, foundational gut labs) 👉 http://wellnessbyval.com/labs  🌟 Join the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method (8-week group coaching) → wellnessbyval.com/program ✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider Weekly wellness tips, podcast updates, and exclusive freebies for busy moms. 👉 https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider 📲 Follow Val on Instagram Daily nutrition tips, postpartum support, workouts, and real-life mom wellness. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/ 🎥 Follow on TikTok Quick tips, education, and behind-the-scenes mom life + wellness content. 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessbyval_?_r=1&_t=ZP-939HwTbMNup  🌐 Website https://wellnessbyval.com ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with another mom who needs this info and leave a review—it helps more moms find the podcast!   💬 Got a question for the show?! Leave me a voice message here: SpeakPipe voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/newsletter for a chance to have your question featured and answered on an episode of the Strong & Nourished Momma Podcast.

    41 min

  8. Apr 13

    95 | The 4 Nutrient Deficiencies Stealing Your Energy as a Momma: Iron, B12, Folate & Vitamin D

    Still exhausted even after your labs came back "normal"? You are not imagining it — and this episode is going to explain exactly why. In part two of our mom fatigue series, sports dietitian, functional medicine practitioner, strength coach, and postpartum wellness expert Val Warner breaks down the four nutrient deficiencies she sees most commonly in postpartum and busy mommas — iron and ferritin, B12, folate, and vitamin D. Val shares her own postpartum ferritin values, explains why standard lab panels miss these depletions, breaks down the difference between microcytic and macrocytic anemia in plain English, and gives you the exact labs to request at your next doctor's appointment — by name. This is the episode that finally explains why you can have "normal" labs and still feel completely depleted. What you'll learn: What anemia actually means — and why there are different types that require different solutions The difference between microcytic anemia (iron deficiency) and megaloblastic anemia (B12 and folate deficiency) Why pregnancy dramatically increases iron demands — and why birth leaves most mommas significantly more depleted Why postpartum iron assessment at 6–12 weeks after birth is critical — and why most mommas aren't getting it Val's own postpartum ferritin values and what they taught her about advocating for yourself The exact labs to request by name: CBC, serum iron, TIBC, ferritin, reticulocyte count, B12, folate, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D The difference between conventional "normal" lab ranges and functional optimal ranges for each nutrient Why iron supplementation dose, timing, and type are completely individualized — and why you should never just grab a high-dose supplement without knowing your levels first How other nutrients like B6 and copper also play a role in red blood cell production The best food sources for each nutrient and practical ways to optimize absorption How to get YOUR labs reviewed through a functional medicine lens Episodes mentioned: Episode 94 — Why You're Always Tired as a Momma: 4 Root Causes of Fatigue That Have Nothing to Do With Sleep Episode 77 — Magnesium for Moms: The Secret Mineral for Better Sleep, Less Stress & More Energy Labs to request at your next appointment: get the FREE guide with the 8 labs I’d order for every postpartum mom, including reference ranges - https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/labshandout  Ready to Book a Functional Lab Review? Save your spot here: https://wellnessbyval.com/labs   Resources & Links: ✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider Weekly wellness tips, podcast updates, and exclusive freebies for busy moms. 👉 https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider 📲 Follow Val on Instagram Daily nutrition tips, postpartum support, workouts, and real-life mom wellness. 👉 https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/ 🎥 Follow on TikTok Quick tips, education, and behind-the-scenes mom life + wellness content. 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessbyval_?_r=1&_t=ZP-939HwTbMNup  🌐 Website https://wellnessbyval.com 👩🏻‍💻 Group Coaching Program: Join the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method — an 8-week group coaching program for busy moms who want more energy, better consistency, and a stronger, more supported body. 👉🏽Learn more here: https://wellnessbyval.com/program    ➡️ Loved this episode? Share it with another mom who needs this info and leave a review—it helps more moms find the podcast! 💬 Got a question for the show?! Leave me a voice message here: SpeakPipe voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/newsletter for a chance to have your question featured and answered on an episode of the Strong & Nourished Momma Podcast.

    36 min
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*** TOP 2.5% GLOBAL PODCAST ***  Are you a postpartum mom struggling to feel like yourself again? Exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering how to lose baby weight, heal your core, and boost your energy while caring for your little one? Not sure what to eat postpartum or how to fit in quick healthy meals and safe workouts at home? I see you, Momma! This podcast is your guide to postpartum recovery, nutrition, fitness, and wellness in a way that feels simple, sustainable, and enjoyable. You’ll learn how to nourish your body, rebuild strength, repair diastasis recti, support your pelvic floor, and create healthy habits that fit into mom life—without the stress of rigid diets or exhausting workouts. Hey, I’m Val — a Sports Dietitian, Postpartum Fitness Coach, and first-time momma. I know firsthand the challenges of postpartum fatigue, stubborn belly fat, leaking pelvic floors, and balancing your health with baby care. After my own struggles, I created a practical, sustainable approach to feeling strong, nourished, and energized—and now I’m here to help you do the same! If you’re ready for meal prep made easy, simple workouts for busy moms, and real-life strategies to heal, fuel, and thrive in motherhood, you’re in the right place. Each episode is packed with expert advice, practical tips, and encouragement so you can feel your best in postpartum and beyond. Grab your coffee (or matcha!) and let’s dive in—it’s time to nourish, strengthen, and thrive in motherhood, because YOU deserve to feel amazing in your postpartum body!

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