Ep. 229 Why Working Out is a Terrible Way to Manage Your Stress
You love the gym and it’s been your sanctuary away from your stress for years. But what if your go-to stress relief tool is now part of the problem? In today’s episode, we dive deep into why intense workouts might be silently burning you out rather than building you up. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, foggy, or stuck despite training hard, this one’s for you. We explore why cardio and high-intensity workouts only offer temporary relief from mental stress and how they can actually strain your nervous system when your cortisol is already tapped out. I’ll share what’s really going on when your “post-workout high” feels amazing in the moment but leaves you drained long-term. More importantly, you’ll learn five powerful, science-backed stress management tools that rebuild your system instead of depleting it. From daily walks to somatic resets and nervous system journaling, this episode is all about redefining strength. Because true power isn’t in pushing harder: it’s in knowing when to rest. If your body is in overdraft, it’s time to stop swiping the stress credit card and start healing for good. Time Stamps: (1:26) Family Birthday Bash (3:42) Why Working Out Is A Terrible Way To Handle Stress (7:37) Putting On Body Fat (12:22) Cortisol and Energy Production (21:16) Managing Stress Appropriately (22:52) Daily Walks (24:02) Nervous System Resets (27:42) Somatic Exercises (29:14) Journaling or Nervous System Mapping---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women’s Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we’ll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!
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Ep. 225 I Did a 72-Hour Fast: Here’s What Happened (and What You Should Know)
This week, we did something I’ve never talked about publicly before: a 72-hour water fast! But before you picture weight loss gimmicks or punishment, let’s set the record straight: this was a functional health experiment rooted in curiosity, not restriction. Inspired by Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz, I timed this fast with my Power Phase (Days 1–10 of my cycle) to align with rising estrogen and maximize the benefits. In this episode, I walk you through the “why” behind this advanced strategy—deep cellular cleanup, gut healing, immune support, and a major mental clarity reset. We’ll unpack the science of what happens at different fasting milestones and why this isn’t something I recommend as a starter strategy for clients. You’ll also learn how women should approach fasting differently than men, especially in relation to their cycles and hormone resilience. I’ll share how I prepped, what I experienced physically and emotionally, and what this fast revealed about my relationship with hunger, discipline, and intuition. Spoiler: this wasn’t easy, but it was powerful. Whether or not a long fast is right for you, my goal is to encourage deeper body awareness and smarter strategies; not extremes. Tune in to hear what surprised me most, how this ties into hormone health, and why syncing with your cycle might be the missing piece. If you’ve ever felt confused about fasting, this episode will help you reframe it entirely. DM me your questions or share this episode with a friend who needs a fresh take on fasting. Time Stamps: (1:12) All The Positive Emotions(3:04) Defining The 72 Hour Fast(7:30) Starting The Water Fast(9:23) Favorite and Least Favorite Parts(16:32) Why We Did This(25:54) Feeling The Detox(28:48) Using Black Coffee(33:42) Let Us Know If You Have Questions---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women’s Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we’ll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!
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Ep. 224 How To Improve Gut Health Without Supplements or Labs
What if improving your gut health didn’t require expensive supplements, fancy tests, or endless trial and error? In today’s episode, we dive into the often-overlooked lifestyle foundations that can significantly improve digestion, reduce bloating, and help you finally feel good after meals without needing a single lab result. We start with meal hygiene: how you eat is just as important as what you eat. Digestion begins in the brain, and simple changes like slowing down, turning off distractions, and chewing thoroughly can kickstart your gut’s natural processes. You'll learn how stress and multitasking at meals divert blood flow away from the gut and how to set the stage for digestion by being present, cooking your own food, and even doing a quick breathing exercise. Next, we cover meal timing, and how aligning your eating habits with your body’s natural rhythms can support the "housekeeping" system of your gut. You'll learn how a consistent eating schedule and small shifts like starting your day with warm lemon water can make a big impact. We also tackle what to eat specifically for constipation and diarrhea. From fiber types and fluid intake to soothing herbal teas and smart food swaps, you’ll walk away with real strategies that work. Plus, we share our go-to cheat sheets for stool consistency and explain when it is time to use supplements or run labs. Even if supplements become part of your long-term plan (like they are for some of our clients), these lifestyle shifts are the groundwork for sustainable gut health. Listen in and take the first step toward better digestion naturally. Time Stamps: (3:32) GI Issue Call Recently (6:56) The Three Big Pillars of Gut Health (7:19) How You Eat and Meal Hygiene (13:47) Duration of Eating and Slowing Down (16:52) Drinking Too Much Water During Meals? (18:02) Deep Breaths Before Eating (18:57) Lowering The Intensity of Exercise (20:03) Meal Timing (22:24) My Preferred Tea Blend (24:57) What To Eat (26:40) Working Through Constipation (31:06) One Supplement We’ll Discuss (37:57) Reach Out If You’re Interested In Coaching---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women’s Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we’ll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!
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Ep. 223 How To Be Consistent: 7 Strategies That Actually Work
Is the "just be consistent" advice getting old? By now, you've heard this advice at least a million times—from entrepreneurs, athletes, experts, coaches, and even humble newsletter writers. And they're all absolutely right. Consistency is the difference maker. The one common thread behind every major success story. But here's the problem: No one ever tells you how to be consistent—and let’s be honest, it’s easier said than done. Life gets chaotic. Motivation fades. Discipline wavers. Consistency breaks. Fortunately, I've spent hundreds of hours thinking about this exact problem—and I've distilled that thinking into a short list of practical strategies to help anyone become more consistent. In this episode, we are going to cover 7 practical strategies for staying consistent that aren't just a pass/fail perspective and actually make sense for pursuing the goals we want in our lives. Time Stamps: (1:18) Mama Pozos in Town (2:38) Consistency and Shoutout to Sahil Bloom (3:33) Main Points Of The Article (5:52) #1: Every Day Is Easier Than Most Days (8:02) #2: Fire In The Act, Grace In The Amount (12:02) #3: Mornings Are Your Cheat Code (14:47) #4: Harness The Power of Peer Accountability (18:52) #5: Use Progressive Overload To Build The Muscle (22:22) #6: Never Try To Make Up For A Miss (25:34) #7: Focus On The Trend, Not The Position (29:43) Managing Your Imperfections---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women’s Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we’ll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!
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Ep. 222 6 Ways to Drink Less Without it Feeling Like a Big Deal
The social aspect of cutting back or eliminating alcohol can be really stressful and I've been there too… The inevitable questions you might face if you don't order alcohol in a friend group or turn down a drink your friend really wants you to try… we've been there. In today's episode, we're going to share 6 strategies that we actually got from Julie Helms, a communication and skills expert. These are awesome strategies for someone like me, an enneagram 9, who doesn’t like to be direct and confrontational if I don’t have to be. Your choices are your own, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation. And while setting strong verbal boundaries (like “I’m not drinking tonight”) *IS* an option, these non verbal strategies might help you navigate situations with more comfort and grace, while inviting less follow-up questions. From ordering a mocktail with confidence to "I'll start with water, thank you" and never ordering a drink to a drink getting mysteriously "lost", these ways have saved us in those times we were cutting back but didn't want to explain ourselves. Time Stamps: (1:32) Our Incredible Team (3:09) Your Relationship With Alcohol (4:51) Alcohol Can Be Adding Fuel To The Fire (11:22) Drinking in Social Settings (12:42) #1: Order A Mocktail With Confidence (15:45) #2: You Can Have The Drink Poured But Not Drink It (17:20) #3: I’ll Start With Water Thanks (19:07) #4: Keep It Simple and Say No Thanks (20:15) #5: The Toasting Trick (22:57) #6: Drink Gets Lost Throughout The Night---------------------Follow @vanessagfitness on Instagram for daily fitness tips & motivation. ---------------------Download Our FREE Metabolism-Boosting Workout Program---------------------Join the Women’s Metabolism Secrets Facebook Community for 25+ videos teaching you how to start losing fat without hating your life!---------------------Click here to send me a message on Facebook and we’ll see how I can help or what best free resources I can share!---------------------Interested in 1-on-1 Coaching with my team of Metabolism & Hormone Experts? Apply Here!---------------------Check out our Youtube Channel!---------------------Enjoyed the podcast? Let us know what you think and leave a 5⭐️ rating and review on iTunes!
If you’re a woman who thinks "eating less” is the answer to losing weight, or that you have to choose between donuts and wine or a body you love, then the Vanessa G Fitcast, hosted by Vanessa Gillette and Omar Pozos, is for you.
Vanessa is CEO and head coach of Vanessa G Fitness & Nutrition, an online health and wellness coaching company known for helping women create bodies they love through functional, science-based nutrition and training.
We are FED UP with diet culture giving bad advice on how to eat and exercise, so this podcast’s mission is to bring you REAL, actionable information so you can start transforming your body.
The short weekly episodes will motivate you, inspire you, and enlighten you.
Fat loss is simpler than you realize - hit subscribe to find out.
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