The Real Goal After 40 Is Building Muscle, Strength & Power
19/1/2026 | 25 min
Why does cardio stop working for fat loss after 40? Also, what types of exercise best protect strength and independence as you age?
In this episode, I break down why the goal of exercise after 40 is no longer burning calories, but building muscle, strength, and power. I explain how aging biology, muscle loss, and metabolic adaptation make endless cardio ineffective for women in midlife. I also share the science, the research, and the practical strategy to help you train smarter so you can preserve independence, energy, and longevity.
What you’ll learn:
(03:17) How excessive cardio can stall fat loss by triggering metabolic compensation.
(04:01) What research shows about energy expenditure plateaus with endurance exercise.
(05:33) Why muscle loss—not fat gain—is the biggest risk factor after 40.
(06:18) How fast-twitch muscle fibers decline with age and why power training matters.
(09:51) The importance of Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) and why you must track your daily movement to prevent metabolic compensation.
(14:32) Why high-intensity interval training improves your longevity and power.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/buildingmuscle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Essential Skincare Routines for Women Over Forty with Dr. Mamina Turegano
14/1/2026 | 55 min
If your skin could talk, what might it say about how you’re aging? Would it say “This woman is rocking it” or “There might be a few things that you can tweak”?
In this episode, my guest and I explore how your skin is far more than a beauty metric—it’s a living reflection of your hormones, inflammation, stress, and overall health. I’m joined by Dr. Mamina Turegano, a triple board-certified dermatologist with a powerful internal-medicine perspective on aging skin. Together, we break down what actually works after 40, what’s hype, and how to build a smarter inside-out strategy for skin longevity.
What you’ll learn:
(02:05) Why your skin is a direct reflection of hormones, inflammation, and mitochondrial health.
(05:35) How stress and cortisol can trigger acne, hives, dandruff, and flare-ups.
(09:01) What estrogen decline during perimenopause does to collagen, hydration, and skin thickness.
(12:44) Which skincare ingredients have the strongest evidence for anti-aging after 40.
(19:18) How peptides, autophagy, and cellular senescence affect visible skin aging.
(25:49) Why hydrocolloid patches work so well for hormonal and inflammatory acne.
(28:04) What red and blue light therapies actually do for inflammation, acne, and rejuvenation.
(42:33) How to fade dark spots, melasma, and acne scars without making pigmentation worse.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): http://jjvirgin.com/drmamina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why You’re Not Losing Weight, Even When You’re Doing Everything Right
12/1/2026 | 20 min
What are the real reasons why women struggle to lose weight in midlife?
I see this pattern constantly: women doing all the “right” things and still feeling stuck, frustrated, and blamed by their own bodies. In this episode, I break down why the old weight-loss rulebook stops working in midlife and what’s actually driving fat loss after 40. Once you understand how muscle, protein, blood sugar, stress, hormones, and gut health interact, you can stop fighting your metabolism and finally start working with it.
What you’ll learn:
(02:25) Why auditing protein intake, calories, and ultra-processed foods is the first step before blaming your metabolism.
(04:35) How age-related muscle loss slows metabolism.
(05:08) Why undereating protein drives hunger, overeating, and stalled fat loss.
(06:03) How unstable blood sugar and high insulin block access to stored body fat.
(08:16) Why walking or strength movements after meals help regulate blood sugar.
(09:06) How chronic stress and poor sleep raise cortisol and promote fat storage.
(10:24) What happens to metabolism, sleep, and fat distribution during perimenopause.
(12:58) Why tracking biofeedback data replaces willpower as the key to sustainable fat loss.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/weightloss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Next Big Longevity Conversation Is Stem Cells with Dr. Dan Pardi
07/1/2026 | 1 h 22 min
How can you activate your own stem cells without costly medical procedures?
In this episode, Dr. Dan Pardi and I break down the real science behind stem cells and why they’re central to aging powerfully. We also explore how lifestyle, inflammation, exercise, and nutrition all shape the environment that allows stem cells to repair and renew your body.
Dr. Pardi is a neuroscientist and human performance expert who’s obsessed with helping people age better from the inside out. He’s worked with elite military units, Fortune 500 executives, and now serves as Chief Health Officer at Qualia Life Sciences, translating cutting-edge longevity science into real-world tools.
What you’ll learn:
(05:43) What stem cells are and how they function as your body’s primary repair system.
(07:22) Why stem cell exhaustion is a hallmark of aging and what changes as you get older.
(12:33) How lifestyle and environment influence stem cell quantity and quality over time.
(16:31) The full life cycle of a stem cell.
(19:49) What parabiosis research reveals about rejuvenation and cellular environments.
(22:33) Why inflammation interferes with stem cell signaling and repair.
(30:46) How nutrition, polyphenols, and supplements can support stem cell performance.
(01:00:03) The daily habits that matter most for longevity and cellular health.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): http://jjvirgin.com/stemcells Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I've Been Lifting for 40 Years. Here's the Truth About Getting "Bulky"
05/1/2026 | 29 min
What actually causes the “bulky” look people blame on lifting?
I’ve been lifting weights for over 40 years, and I want to finally put the fear of getting “bulky” to rest. In this episode, I break down what really happens when you lift, why muscle actually makes you leaner, and how women have a built-in advantage when it comes to staying sculpted. I also share exactly how I balance training, nutrition, and recovery to build strong, toned muscle that supports powerful aging.
What you’ll learn:
(00:10) Why lifting weights does not automatically make your body bigger or bulkier.
(02:35) How muscle acts like “metabolic Spanx” to tighten and support your body.
(03:19) Why building muscle improves insulin sensitivity and fat burning.
(04:07) How progressive overload is the key driver of muscle growth.
(06:42) Why compound movements should come before isolation exercises.
(09:21) How training close to failure supports results without overtraining.
(12:34) Why mobility work matters more than stretching before lifting.
(16:36) How protein, carbohydrates, and recovery work together to build muscle.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/lifting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Well Beyond 40 with JJ Virgin is the podcast for women who want to age powerfully and enjoy the best chapter of their lives. It’s YOUR turn now to focus on nutrition, wellness, fitness, mindfulness, and beauty. Refuel your body. Reignite your wellness. Renew your passion. Fall (back) in love with your life, and discover what it means to age powerfully. Every information-packed episode combines cutting-edge science, pearls of wisdom from JJ’s four decades as a health and wellness leader and the world’s leading experts on weight loss, metabolism, menopause, life transitions and much more. We dive deep into topics like cultivating mindfulness, building strong relationships and setting boundaries, and choosing health…in a nutshell, how we can AGE POWERFULLY into this second half of our lives. At Well Beyond 40, we empower women in their 40s, 50s, 60, 70s (and beyond!) to defy stereotypes and say, “It's my time now. It's my turn now. It’s my opportunity to step into my best life!” For four decades, JJ Virgin has helped people lose weight and stop weight regain by eliminating hidden food intolerances and lowering their sugar impact. As a triple-board certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer, JJ helps you stay fired up and focused on being your healthiest rockstar self. In addition to hosting Well Beyond 40, JJ is a prominent TV and media personality. She was co-host of TLC’s Freaky Eaters and the on-camera nutritionist for Weight Loss Challenges on Dr. Phil. Over the years, JJ has made numerous appearances on PBS, Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Access Hollywood, and the TODAY Show. She also speaks regularly and has shared the stage with notables including Seth Godin, Lisa Nichols, Gary Vaynerchuk, Mark Hyman, Dan Buettner, and Mary Morrissey. JJ is the author of 4 New York Times bestsellers: The Virgin Diet, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, The Sugar Impact Diet, and The Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook. JJ is also the author of Warrior Mom: 7 Secrets to Bold, Brave Resilience. She regularly writes for major blogs and other publications including mindbodygreen and Medium. Visit jjvirgin.com for hundreds of free recipes and resources, plus state-of-the-art programs, products, and plenty of support to help you rev up your metabolism, reignite your wellness, and step powerfully into the second half of your life. Love the Podcast? Here’s what to do: Make My Day & Share Your Thoughts! - Subscribe to the podcast & leave me a review - Text a screenshot to 813-565-2627 - Expect a personal reply because your voice is so important to me. Join 55,000+ followers who make this podcast thrive.