FitMitTuro Fitness Podcast

Turo Virta
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Struggling to stay consistent with your fitness and nutrition while juggling work, family, or a busy schedule? You’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.Hosted by strength coach and educator Turo Virta, this podcast delivers no-BS advice for women 40 and older, busy professionals, and anyone tired of quick fixes and yo-yo dieting.Tune in each week for powerful solo episodes and expert interviews on topics like:- Fat loss without tracking every calorie- Emotional eating and mindset- Reverse dieting and metabolism- Hormonal changes, menopause, and belly fat- Sustainable workouts for busy lifestyles- Fitness motivation when you feel stuckWhether you're restarting your journey, feeling frustrated with plateaus, or looking for training solutions that actually fit your life—this show is for you.🎧 New episodes every week. Subscribe and take back control of your health—without the obsession.

  1. 1d ago

    How to Lose Weight Without Hating Yourself Along the Way with Megan Gaul

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Megan Gaul, who lost around 100 pounds and has maintained her weight loss for approximately eight years. But what interested me most about Megan’s story wasn’t simply how much weight she lost. It was everything she had to learn about emotional eating, stress, guilt, self-trust, and what happens after the diet is over. Megan shares how food became a way for her to calm stress during her workday, why an earlier 40-pound weight loss eventually came back, and the question that changed her approach the next time around: “Can I see myself doing this when I’m 50 or 70?” Instead of building another short-term diet, she began choosing habits she was willing to keep for years. We talk about why emotional eating doesn’t magically disappear when you lose weight, how Megan learned to recognize when she was eating because of stress rather than hunger, and the non-food strategies she now uses to soothe herself when life gets difficult.  We also explore why labeling meals as “bad” can make our relationship with food harder, how she learned to include foods she enjoys without feeling like she had failed, and why consistency doesn’t mean making every decision perfectly.  Most importantly, we spend time on something that doesn’t get talked about enough: maintaining lost weight. Megan explains why maintenance requires a different mindset than weight loss, why stressful seasons are when old habits often return, and why lasting change means creating a new normal rather than waiting for the day you can go back to how you used to live.  In this episode, we talk about: Megan’s journey from 235 pounds to losing around 100 poundshow stress and emotional eating affected her relationship with foodwhy her first 40-pound weight loss didn’t lastthe question she asks before adopting any new health habitwhy slower weight loss can sometimes teach you morehow she included restaurants, dessert and enjoyable foods while losing weightwhy emotional eating can return even years into maintenancehow to recognize stress eating before automatically reaching for foodMegan’s menu of non-food ways to handle stressanxiety and the discomfort of uncertaintywhy guilt around food often makes things worsewhy she challenges the idea of a “bad meal”what consistency really meanswhy maintenance is a completely different skill from losing weighthow to prepare your habits before a stressful seasonwhy successful maintenance requires creating a new normalwhether practicing maintenance during a weight-loss phase can helpwhat women in their 40s, 50s and beyond should know about starting againthe changes that never show up in a before-and-after picturethe habits Megan credits most with maintaining her resultsYou can find Megan on Instagram: @megan_gaul  Message Turo on Instagram @personaltrainer_turo Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

  2. Oct 8

    Why You Lose Control Around Food and How to Stop with Dr. Glenn Livingston

    Send us Fan Mail Why can you know exactly what you should eat and still feel completely out of control around certain foods? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist, author, and former binge eater Dr. Glenn Livingston to talk about the psychology behind cravings, overeating, and why willpower alone often isn’t enough. Glenn shares his own experience of reaching nearly 300 pounds, his years consulting for large food companies, and the unusual method that finally helped him create space between a craving and the decision to act on it.   We talk about why highly disciplined people can still struggle with food, how the modern food environment can amplify cravings, and why making a few clear food decisions in advance may reduce how much willpower you need in the moment.  Glenn also explains something especially important: when you stop responding to a familiar food cue, cravings may actually become stronger before they become weaker. He calls this an “extinction burst,” and understanding it may help explain why so many people give in just when they think their cravings should already be disappearing.  We also discuss how to respond in the moment when a craving hits, why sleep, stress, hydration, nutrition and other sources of pleasure matter, and why one overeating episode does not need to turn into an entire bad day.  In this episode, we talk about: Glenn’s personal struggle with binge eating and weightwhat he learned working with the food industrywhy disciplined people can still lose control around foodhow food cues become connected with cravingswhy cravings can get worse before they get betterwhat an “extinction burst” ishow to respond when a strong craving hitswhy clear food rules can sometimes reduce decision fatiguehow breathing can help create a pause before actingwhy stress, sleep and nutrition affect your ability to resist cravingswhy one mistake easily turns into “the whole day is ruined”how to turn guilt into responsibilitywhy aggressive dieting can increase the risk of bingeingwhy less processed food may make cravings easier to managewhen overeating crosses into a bigger problemwhy the goal should be eating according to your own best judgmenthow one small rule can begin changing your identityIf you’ve ever promised yourself you’d “start again tomorrow,” this conversation will give you a different way to think about cravings, mistakes, and getting back on track. Learn more about Glenn and get a free electronic copy of his book: https://defeatyourcravings.com/ Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

  3. Oct 1

    How to Rebuild Self-Trust After Years of Breaking Promises with Ezra Vancil

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when you’ve broken so many promises to yourself that you stop believing you can change? In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur and recovery advocate Ezra Vancil to talk about addiction, identity, self-trust, relationships, and what it actually takes to rebuild your life. Ezra experienced success in music at a very young age, but after that version of his life fell apart, he spent years trying to get back to who he thought he was supposed to be. Alcohol gradually became his way of managing emotions, disappointment and pain, until drinking took over his life.  At 40, after years of addiction and consequences, Ezra reached a point where he knew he could no longer continue living the same way. Recovery didn’t instantly make life easier. Instead, it forced him to face himself, accept where he was, ask for help, and begin rebuilding through small actions.  We talk about why acceptance isn’t the same as giving up, how self-talk can either keep you stuck or help you move forward, and why rebuilding self-trust happens through what you actually do—not what you promise yourself you’re going to do. We also explore why trying to change everything at once often backfires, how identity shapes behavior, the power of routines and environment, and why showing people you’ve changed matters far more than telling them you will.   In this episode, we talk about: Ezra’s early success in music and losing the identity he had built around itwhen alcohol went from a coping tool to controlling his lifethe moment he decided he could no longer live that waywhy sobriety didn’t immediately make everything feel betteracceptance as a form of strengthlearning to stop fighting yourselfhow to rebuild self-trust after repeatedly breaking promiseswhy tiny actions can create bigger changesthe difference between “trying to change” and changing your identityroutines that help prevent falling back into old patternswhy recovery is not about avoiding strugglerebuilding trust with family after words are no longer enoughshowing change instead of promising changewhy your environment matters more than relying on willpowerwhen productivity and achievement become another form of escapehow Ezra’s relationship with creativity changed after sobrietyasking the right people for helpwhy you may need to focus on one problem instead of trying to fix everythingwhat a good life means to Ezra todayLearn more about Ezra, his music and his work: https://ezravancil.com/ Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

  4. Sep 24

    When More Discipline Stops Working with Leif Bjelland

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when discipline, achievement, and self-improvement stop making you feel better? In this episode, I sit down with Leif Bjelland, founder of Heroic Breath, to talk about what he calls the “Optimization Ceiling” the point where doing more, learning more, and pushing harder no longer creates a better experience of life. Leif shares his own journey through alcoholism, endurance cycling, meditation, and breathwork, and we talk about why high performers can be especially vulnerable to constant overdrive, racing thoughts, information overload, and using productivity as a form of escape. We also explore why rest can feel uncomfortable, when discipline starts working against you, how breathwork may help create a break from the thinking mind, and why recovery should not become another thing you have to optimize perfectly. In this episode, we talk about: what the “Optimization Ceiling” meanswhy high achievers often struggle to slow downwhy doing more can become another form of escapismwhy rest can feel uncomfortable or even guilt-inducingwhen discipline stops being helpfulhow self-talk affects stress and recoverywhat breathwork actually iswhy some breathwork practices can feel intensewhen breathwork may not be appropriatehow meditation, sleep, and recovery fit into the bigger picturewhy more wellness habits are not always the answerwhat endurance sport taught Leif about resilience versus overriding the bodywhat to do if you realize you are trying to solve stress by doing moreLeif also shares a free Heroic Breath “Release” session for listeners: https://www.heroicbreath.com/freedom Code: freedom100 Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

  5. Sep 17

    How Much Strength Training Do You Really Need After 40? with Dr. Jennifer Timmons

    Send us Fan Mail If you’re over 40, you’ve probably heard that strength training is important but how much do you actually need? Do you need to spend five days a week in the gym, lift extremely heavy weights, track every metric, or buy expensive recovery gadgets? Or can a much simpler approach give you most of the benefits? In this episode of the FitMitTuro Fitness Podcast, Turo talks with Dr. Jennifer Timmons, physician and founder of Timmons Wellness, about what really matters for building and maintaining muscle in midlife. They discuss why walking alone is not enough to preserve muscle, why women do not need to fear “getting bulky,” how much strength training is actually necessary, and why consistency matters more than following a perfect plan. Dr. Timmons also explains how she thinks about recovery, protein, fiber, exercise snacks, simple physical-function tests, and popular longevity tools like wearables, saunas, vibration plates, continuous glucose monitors, and cold plunges.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why muscle becomes increasingly important after 40  Why walking and general activity are not enough on their own  Whether women should worry about becoming bulky  How much strength training you actually need  Why two short sessions can still be valuable  How to use progressive overload without overcomplicating training  Why consistency beats perfection  How to adjust training after a bad night of sleep  How much protein Dr. Timmons personally aims for  Why fiber matters alongside protein  What “exercise snacks” are and why they can work  Simple at-home tests for strength and healthy aging  Which longevity gadgets may be useful—and which you can probably skip  What a beginner over 40 should do this week Dr. Timmons also shares a practical “basics first” framework: movement, emotional health, diet, and sleep before spending money on optimization tools. Connect with Dr. Timmons: IG @jennifertimmonsmd Website: https://timmonswellnessmd.com/ Connect with Turo: IG @personaltrainer_turo Website: https://personaltrainerturo.it/ Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

  6. Sep 10

    How to Rebuild Self-Trust After Grief, Divorce & Self-Sabotage with Sacha Hughes

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when life changes so much that you no longer recognize yourself? In this episode of the FitMitTuro Fitness Podcast, Turo talks with author Sacha Hughes about grief, divorce, people-pleasing, alcohol, self-sabotage, emotional eating, and what it takes to rebuild your relationship with yourself. Sacha shares how losing her mother at a young age, going through divorce, raising children, and years of looking outside herself for love and validation shaped the way she lived. She also opens up about using alcohol and partying to numb pain, constantly putting others on a pedestal, and eventually realizing that the relationship she most needed to repair was the one with herself.  They discuss why women often put everyone else first, how people-pleasing can become a form of self-abandonment, why social media can feed the need for validation, and how self-awareness can change the way we approach food, exercise, sleep, relationships, and everyday habits. You’ll learn:  Why difficult life events can make healthy habits disappear  How grief and self-sabotage can become connected  Why people-pleasing can erode self-trust  What it looks like to stop abandoning yourself  Why huge promises often fail  How small, realistic actions can support long-term change  How emotional states affect food, alcohol, exercise, and sleep  Why all-or-nothing thinking keeps people stuck  How to distinguish self-acceptance from giving up  Why external validation can become addictive  How Sacha rebuilt confidence and learned to trust herself again Sacha is the author of Love, Grief, and More Sex Than Pinot, part of the Soho Summers series. Connect with Sacha Hughes Website:  https://www.sachahughes.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sachahughes/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SachaHughesAuthor/ Publishers: www.oceanbreezepublishing.com Connect with Turo: IG @personaltrainer_turo Website: personaltrainerturo.it Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

  7. Sep 3

    How to Raise Body-Confident Kids Without Passing Down Diet Culture with Dr. Whitney Casares

    Send us Fan Mail What we say about food, exercise, weight, and our own bodies can stay with our children for decades. Many adults grew up hearing things like “clean your plate,” “I need to lose weight,” “I was bad today,” or “I need to work off what I ate.” Most parents don’t want to pass those messages on but knowing what to say instead isn’t always easy. In this episode, Turo talks with Dr. Whitney Casares, board-certified pediatrician, author, and founder of Modern Mommy Doc and Raising Body-Confident Kids, about helping children develop a healthier relationship with food, movement, and their bodies. Whitney explains the difference between body confidence and body positivity, why focusing too much on a child’s weight can backfire, and what parents can say when a child tells them, “I’m fat.” They also discuss emotional eating, good and bad food labels, exercise as punishment, grandparents commenting on weight, and how parents can pursue their own health or weight-loss goals without passing diet culture on to their children. In this episode, you’ll learn:  What body confidence really means  How parents unknowingly pass down body-image beliefs  What to say when your child says, “I’m fat”  Why labeling foods as good or bad can create problems  How to talk about nutritious foods without making other foods forbidden  How parents can unintentionally influence emotional eating  Why exercise should not be punishment for eating  How to focus on health without making weight the only measure  What to do when grandparents or relatives comment on a child’s body  How to lose weight yourself without making weight loss your child’s focus  Three principles new parents can use from the very beginning  One simple way to start building body confidence at home today Whitney’s book, Raising Body-Confident Kids, is available wherever books are sold. Learn more: https://raisingbodyconfidentkids.com Follow Whitney: @modernmommydoc @raising.body.confident.kids Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

  8. Aug 27

    You Don’t Need More Discipline—You Need More Capacity with Gamal J. Palmer

    Send us Fan Mail Do you really lack discipline or are you trying to maintain healthy habits while already carrying more than you have the capacity to handle? In this episode, I’m joined by Gamal J. Palmer, founder and principal of Conscious Builders. Gamal has nearly two decades of experience working with executives, leaders, and organizations, including DreamWorks, Nike, Nestlé, Universal Studios, and NBCUniversal. His work combines behavioral science, systems thinking, self-awareness, and practical tools for building sustainable change. We discuss why healthy habits often disappear during stressful periods, why willpower fades by the end of the day, and how unrealistic promises can slowly damage self-trust. Gamal explains why people may interpret exhaustion, poor sleep, emotional stress, or an overloaded schedule as laziness—and why asking better questions can be more useful than criticizing yourself. We also explore why food, alcohol, scrolling, and other behaviors can become an emotional off switch, why removing a habit without replacing it often fails, and how small commitments can help you rebuild confidence in your ability to follow through. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What “capacity” means in the context of healthy habits • Why lacking capacity is different from lacking motivation • How negative self-talk reinforces the belief that you are undisciplined • Three questions to ask before calling yourself lazy • Why healthy habits often disappear when life becomes stressful • Why willpower tends to fade after a demanding day • How food, alcohol, television, and scrolling can become an off switch • Why removing a habit without replacing it leaves an empty space • How small acts can help you build discipline and self-trust • Why unrealistic promises create feelings of failure • How minimum commitments can be more powerful than ambitious plans • Why habits need to survive real-life disruptions • How to use minimum, medium, and full versions of a habit • What to do during low-capacity weeks • How to notice a setback without turning it into self-punishment Connect with Gamal J. Palmer Website: https://www.gamalpalmer.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamaljpalmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamal-j-palmer-67986926 Connect with Turo Virta Coaching and fitness: https://personaltrainerturo.it FitMitTuro Fitness Podcast: https://www.fitmitturo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personaltrainer_turo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@personaltrainer_turo If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with someone who keeps blaming themselves for struggling with consistency. Try The Consistency Reset My new personalized coaching app for women 35–55 who are tired of starting over with diets, workouts, and healthy habits. Get simple daily actions, realistic workouts, practical nutrition habits, and Reset Mode to help you keep going when life gets busy. Take the quiz and build your personalized plan here: studio.com/turo/consistency-reset

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About

Struggling to stay consistent with your fitness and nutrition while juggling work, family, or a busy schedule? You’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.Hosted by strength coach and educator Turo Virta, this podcast delivers no-BS advice for women 40 and older, busy professionals, and anyone tired of quick fixes and yo-yo dieting.Tune in each week for powerful solo episodes and expert interviews on topics like:- Fat loss without tracking every calorie- Emotional eating and mindset- Reverse dieting and metabolism- Hormonal changes, menopause, and belly fat- Sustainable workouts for busy lifestyles- Fitness motivation when you feel stuckWhether you're restarting your journey, feeling frustrated with plateaus, or looking for training solutions that actually fit your life—this show is for you.🎧 New episodes every week. Subscribe and take back control of your health—without the obsession.

Information

  • Creator
    Turo Virta
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    285
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 FitMitTuro Fitness Podcast
  • Show Website
    FitMitTuro Fitness Podcast