Stress and Poor Sleep Are Blocking Your Weight Loss Goals

The #1 thing I hear from women is:
“I’m eating right. I’m lifting weights. I’m doing cardio… so why am I not losing weight?”

And the very next question is:
“Do you think it’s my hormones… or my sleep?”

Here’s the reality: stress and poor sleep are silent saboteurs that can block fat loss—even if you’re doing everything else “right.” In this episode, I break down exactly how cortisol + disrupted sleep push the body toward insulin resistance, cravings, belly fat storage, and even muscle loss, plus the simple rules I follow to protect my sleep and keep my metabolism humming (yes—even when I’m traveling).

Chapters
00:00 Why “doing everything right” still isn’t working
03:50 Stress and cravings
05:10 How to test/track stress (ASi + HRV)
08:15 Growth hormone + nightly repair
10:25 Fix it: Protein First + Fiber rule
14:00 Eat by the clock (stop eating 2–4 hours before bed)
17:00 Supplements for sleep/stress support

Tools mentioned
Protein First calculator + meal ideas:
Sleep/HRV tracking (Oura or similar)

Products mentioned
SHEatine® Creatine HCl (JJ’s creatine HCl) –
Magnesium (glycinate/malate combo) –
L-theanine (often stacked with other sleep-support nutrients) –

Ready to Age Powerfully?
Let’s Build Muscle, Boost Metabolism, and Fuel Resilience.

I’m JJ Virgin – a triple-board-certified health expert, fitness hall of famer, and four-time New York Times best-selling author. With over four decades of innovation in wellness, I’m here to help you take control of your health, build lean muscle, and optimize your metabolism – no matter your age.

Don't forget to subscribe for weekly videos: 👉🏼

Forget everything you think you know about weight loss, aging, and your body. For decades, we’ve been told that getting healthy means getting smaller – that shrinking your weight is the key to looking and feeling better as you age. But that mindset has led millions of women down the wrong path.

The truth is, it’s not about how much you weigh, it’s about what your weight is made of. And the secret to staying lean, strong, and energized at any age isn’t dieting – it’s building and maintaining muscle.

Here’s what you’ll find on this channel:
✅ Fuel with Protein – Learn why protein is the foundation of a lean, powerful body and the secret to reversing metabolic slowdown.
✅ Build Muscle for Longevity – Discover how to train for strength, build lean muscle, and transform your metabolism.
✅ Recover Smarter – Master the art of recovery, from optimizing sleep to reducing inflammation, so you can bounce back stronger.
✅ Body Composition, Not Just Weight Loss – Understand why it’s muscle, not just weight, that drives lasting health and vitality.

Start Here:
➡️ 7-Day Eat Protein First Challenge + A FREE Protein Calculator –
➡️ Ditch the Scale: The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Body Composition & Tracking Real Progress –
➡️ SHEatine™: The Smarter Way to Power Your Muscles, Brain, and Longevity –
➡️ Protein Cheat Sheet –
➡️ The Essential Supplement Guide for Women 40+: What to Take to be Stronger for Longer –

Subscribe for weekly videos:
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Disclaimer:
I only recommend products and partners that align with my commitment to excellence. If you choose to make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission, but rest assured, I only share resources that I genuinely believe in.

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Tags: age powerfully, AgingPowerfully, belly fat, creatine, fitness, health, jj virgin, jjvirgin, menopause, muscle building, Nutrition, perimenopause, podcast, wellbeyond40, womenover40, womens health