Fit for Real Life with Virginia

Virginia
  • 5.0 (6)
  • NUTRITION

Fit for Real Life with Virginia is the podcast for women who want sustainable health, confident energy, and real-life results—without perfection, obsession, or starting over every Monday.  Hosted by Virginia, Faster Way coach, wife, mom of two, travel-lover, and working professional, this show teaches simple, science-backed habits that fit into your actual life. Whether you're juggling career and carpool, rebuilding your health journey, or craving energy that lasts, you’ll find honesty, humor, and doable strategies here. This is wellness for the woman who wants her healthiest years to start now.

  1. 4D AGO

    Planning Boldly: Turning Intention Into Action with PlanBold

    Send a text If you’ve ever bought a planner with the best intentions… only to stop using it a few weeks later, this episode is for you. Today, I’m sitting down with Carmen, founder of PlanBold Planners, to talk about what it really means to plan with purpose — not perfection. We dive into how planning can become a powerful tool for clarity, wellness, and bold action instead of just another to-do list that collects dust. Carmen shares how her journey as a busy mom and wellness-focused entrepreneur inspired her to create a planner that supports the whole woman — not just her schedule. We talk about why most planners fail, how to build flexibility into your plans, and how to stay consistent when life gets full. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why traditional planning systems often fall shortThe difference between planning and procrastinatingHow to create weekly structure without burnoutThe power of anchor habits during busy seasonsHow to reset when you fall off track (without spiraling)What it really means to take bold action in your everyday lifeThis conversation is for the woman who wants more clarity, more follow-through, and more intention — without pressure or perfectionism. Because consistency isn’t about willpower. It’s about creating a system that supports real life. You can learn more about PlanBold at planboldlife.com and connect with Carmen on social media on Instagram @planboldplanners I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    52 min

  2. FEB 17

    The Hidden Stress of Being the Reliable One

    Send a text Today we’re talking about the subtle, high-functioning stress that comes with being capable, steady, and reliable — and how that load shows up physically, especially in midlife. We cover: Why high-functioning stress still elevates cortisolHow reliability can become internal pressureThe physical signs your body is carrying more than you realizeWhy supporting your nervous system matters in this season of lifePractical tools to regulate stress without doing less or becoming someone you’re notIf you’ve been feeling tired but wired, sleeping lighter, or stuck despite consistency — this conversation will resonate. Inside my Faster Way community, we’re currently walking through a short, structured Cortisol Reset designed to support sleep, blood sugar balance, hydration, recovery, and nervous system regulation in a realistic way. It’s not extreme.  It’s not a cleanse.  It’s not about doing more. It’s about matching recovery to the load you carry. If you’re ready to feel supported in your strength, I’d love to walk you through it. Grab my FREE resource here: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/cortisol?aid=wellnesswithvirginia I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    19 min

  3. FEB 9

    Reinventing Without Burning It Down: A Midlife Glow-Up with Jax Stys

    Send a text In this episode of Fit for Real Life, I’m joined by Jax Stys for a deeply grounding conversation about reinvention, presence, and confidence in midlife. Jax shares her personal journey of rebuilding identity, wellness, and financial trust after years of caretaking and pouring into others — and what it looks like to create steady, sustainable change in this season of life. Jax is the host of The Midlife GlowGetter Podcast and the creator of The Midlife GlowGetter Community, where she supports women navigating midlife through wellness, mindset, money, and intentional living. Her work spans coaching, writing, and reflection-based tools designed to help women move from stuck to steady progress. She shares daily insights and encouragement across Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and her Facebook Group, The Midlife GlowGetter Community. You can also find her long-form writing and reflections on Substack, her newsletter, and through her website at jaxstys.com. If you’re feeling stuck, restless, or ready for a more aligned way forward, this episode is your permission to begin again — right where you are. Jax can be found across IG, Threads, FB, and Tik Tok platforms here- @JaxStys You can join her Facebook Group   https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1NHbmCB4p6/ Podcast: The Midlife GlowGetter and newsletter: https://www.pages.jaxstys.com/newslettersubscribe Substack: https://jaxstys.substack.com She also shares her top 6 podcasts here:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-glowgetter/id1817860252?i=1000714153506 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-glowgetter/id1817860252?i=1000729059228 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-glowgetter/id1817860252?i=1000743791713 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-glowgetter/id1817860252?i=1000720576955 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-glowgetter/id1817860252?i=1000746339526 I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    55 min

  4. FEB 3

    Calm Is the Strategy: Supporting Cortisol, Stress, and Your Nervous System Without Doing More

    Send a text You've heard this before... If you feel tired but wired…  If you’re doing “all the right things” but your body isn’t responding…  If stress feels baked into your daily life and rest feels hard — this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I’m breaking down what cortisol actually is, how it’s meant to work in the body, and why so many women — especially in this season of life — feel dysregulated even when nutrition and workouts are dialed in. This isn’t about trends, extremes, or doing more. It’s about biofeedback — learning how to listen to your body and respond in ways that support healing, energy, and long-term progress. In this episode, we talk about: Why cortisol isn’t the enemy — and what happens when it stays elevated too longHow chronic stress quietly impacts fat loss, sleep, cravings, digestion, and moodThe difference between “pushing through” and supporting your nervous systemWhy more intensity isn’t always the answer (and when it actually backfires)Simple, evidence-based lifestyle shifts that help your body feel safe againPractical tools I share: Why 7–9 hours of sleep is foundational (and how to make it more realistic)How 4-7-8 breathing can calm your nervous system in minutesThe underrated power of morning sunlight and daily walkingSmarter caffeine timing (and why matcha can feel different than coffee)How consistent, protein-rich meals stabilize blood sugar and cortisolStrategic hydration + electrolytes to support stress resilienceGentle nervous system resets like legs-up-the-wall, cold rinses, and stillnessThroughout the episode, I share personal stories and patterns I see over and over again with women who are doing their best — but whose bodies are asking for something different. A gentle invitation: If this episode resonates and you feel like your body needs a reset — not a restart — I created a short, supportive Cortisol Reset designed to help you apply these principles in real life.   Here's the link to learn all about the Cortisol Reset:  : https://fasterwaycoach.com/cortisol-reset?aid=wellnesswithvirginia It’s not a cleanse.  It’s not extreme.  And it’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about giving your body the signals it needs to calm down, recover, and respond again — through simple habits, structure, and guidance. You can learn more about the Cortisol Reset in the show notes or through the link I’ve shared. Whether you join or simply take one small habit from today’s episode, know this: progress doesn’t come from pushing harder — it comes from supporting I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    24 min

  5. JAN 26

    Still Moving Forward: A Conversation on Resilience, Fitness, and Living Fully

    Send a text In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with someone who knows my story — and whose story has shaped mine — my lifelong best friend. She’s a wife, a mom, a high school teacher, a former collegiate athlete, a world traveler, and a woman whose life has been shaped by both unexpected challenges and deep resilience. In this conversation, we talk about how movement and fitness have remained a constant through every season — from competitive athletics, to surviving a stroke, navigating breast cancer, loss of a parent, motherhood, and finding healing through travel. We dive into what strength really looks like when life doesn’t go as planned, how movement can support both physical and emotional recovery, and why staying active isn’t about aesthetics — it’s about being able to say yes to life. She also shares reflections on walking the Camino, traveling the world, losing her mom, and how those experiences continue to shape the way she shows up today. This episode is a reminder that fitness isn’t just about workouts — it’s about resilience, curiosity, and continuing to move forward, even through life’s hardest chapters. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to be strong in real life — this conversation is for you. I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    1h 10m

  6. JAN 21

    From Sedona’s Dark Skies to Canyon Sunrise: A Train Ride, Slow Days, and Feeling Good in Your Body

    Send a text In this episode, I’m sharing a detailed recap of our recent Sedona and Grand Canyon family trip — from red rocks and slow mornings to a scenic train ride to the South Rim that turned into a birthday memory we’ll never forget. I talk about staying at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Pinion Pointe, why Sedona being an International Dark Sky Community matters, and how we’ve learned as a family that we don’t need to jam-pack every vacation to make it meaningful. Instead, we do what we can, enjoy it fully, and keep a list of what we’ll come back for next time. I’m also sharing how I support my body while traveling — including: My simple grocery strategy and “plug-and-play” travel mealsHow I enjoy one meal out a day without feeling inflamed or bloatedWhy hydration, tea at night, and skipping alcohol make such a differenceGentle movement, early-morning gym sessions, walking, and resting when neededWhy travel bloat happens (especially with flying and elevation) and what actually helpsI’’ll cover highlights like: Visiting Montezuma Castle National Monument (a perfect family stop with fascinating history)Pool days, books, ping pong, and doing less on purposeWalking the South Rim Trail at the Grand CanyonLunch at Bright Angel Lodge and sitting in the historic lodge areaRiding the Grand Canyon Railway, where the train sang Happy Birthday to my sonWhere we stayed: https://www.hyattvacationclub.com/destinations/sedona-arizona/pinion-pointe Other Resources: Visit Sedona | The official site of the Sedona Tourism Bureau Grand Canyon Train | Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel Montezuma Castle National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    24 min

  7. JAN 15

    Dry January, Deprivation & The Case For Consistency

    Send a text Dry January is everywhere each January, but for many people it doesn’t lead to lasting change. In this episode, I share why deprivation often backfires and why consistency, balance, and awareness create far better results long term. I talk about my own decision to stop drinking over a year ago, not because of a challenge or a label, but simply because I didn’t like how I felt. We explore what alcohol actually does in the body, how it’s processed, and why observing patterns over time matters more than short term restriction. This episode is for high performers who are tired of extremes and want a more sustainable approach to habits, health, and growth. We cover how to track alcohol without judgment, how to separate the need for relaxation from the habit itself, and why replacement rituals are more effective than rigid rules. I also share reflection prompts to help you notice where deprivation may be showing up elsewhere in your life and how to shift toward balance and consistency instead. This isn’t about telling you what to do. It sees you where you are and offers perspective, awareness, and options so you can choose what truly supports your life. My mocktails guide is linked for anyone looking for supportive, realistic alternatives that fit real life. https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/guides/mocktails-motivation?aid=wellnesswithvirginia I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    14 min

  8. JAN 12

    A Real Conversation About Bodies, Confidence, and Life with Liz from the Midsize Optimize

    Send a text In this episode of Fit for Real Life, I’m joined by Liz from The Mid Size Optimize for a conversation that feels honest, grounding, and refreshingly real. Liz creates content that cuts through the noise of extreme fitness, unrealistic beauty standards, and performative confidence. We talk about how we connected, why her work feels so steady and supportive, and what it looks like to show up fully in a real body while balancing two jobs, fitness goals, and everyday life. We dive into her running journey, how movement supports her confidence and mental health, and what she’s learning about balance, consistency, and self trust. Liz also shares where she finds inspiration, what she’s working toward in 2026, and how she stays grounded in a space that can feel loud and overwhelming. This conversation is for anyone who wants to feel more at home in their body, less pressured to fix themselves, and more supported as they move through real life with confidence and care. You’ll walk away feeling like you just talked with a friend who truly gets it. Liz can be found on IG: https://www.instagram.com/themidsizeoptimize/ TikTok: themidsizeoptimize1 I'd love and appreciate a 5 star review, and sharing my content with a friend who might love to listen! Find me on Instagram for daily life, tips and fun content: @wellness.with.virginia Helpful Links: Join my 21 Day Reset: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Want to try a FREE workout and try my FAVORITE seasonal crock pot dishes? Free FASTer Way 30-Minute Workout: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/workout-free?aid=wellnesswithvirginia Free Crockpot Meal Guide: https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/guide/crockpot-meals?aid=wellnesswithvirginia My favorite high quality protein use this for a discount! https://www.equipfoods.com/WELLNESSWITHVIRGINIA

    1h 5m
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Fit for Real Life with Virginia is the podcast for women who want sustainable health, confident energy, and real-life results—without perfection, obsession, or starting over every Monday.  Hosted by Virginia, Faster Way coach, wife, mom of two, travel-lover, and working professional, this show teaches simple, science-backed habits that fit into your actual life. Whether you're juggling career and carpool, rebuilding your health journey, or craving energy that lasts, you’ll find honesty, humor, and doable strategies here. This is wellness for the woman who wants her healthiest years to start now.

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