Alright, Magic Makers… we are going there today.

Intermittent fasting.

Some people swear by it.
Some people swear at it.
And most midlife women are stuck in the middle wondering:

👉 Should I be skipping breakfast?
👉 Is fasting helping my metabolism… or quietly stressing my body out?
👉 And why does everything feel harder after 40?

In this Fit Girl Magic episode, I'm joined by registered dietitian and diabetes care specialist Ashley Bazell to cut through the noise and give you the real, grown-woman perspective on fasting.

Because here's the truth…

Fasting can be a helpful tool.
But it is not a personality trait.
And it is definitely not one-size-fits-all in midlife.

We talk about what actually happens in your body, who benefits most, when it can backfire, and how to stop turning your eating schedule into another all-or-nothing stress fest.

If you've been low-key confused about fasting, your energy, your cravings, or your midlife metabolism… this one is for you.

Inside this episode, we cover:

• What intermittent fasting actually is (and what it isn't)
• Why many women over 40 are already under-fueled
• The difference between intermittent fasting and prolonged fasting
• How fasting impacts body composition, visceral fat, and muscle
• The truth about fasting and metabolism slowdown
• GLP-1 medications and where fasting may or may not fit
• Signs fasting is helping your body… and red flags it's too much
• Simple ways to support blood sugar and energy without extreme dieting
• Why sleep, strength training, and consistency still matter most

Key takeaway:

You don't get bonus points for suffering.

The goal isn't to eat less and push harder.
The goal is to support your body in a way you can actually sustain.

Midlife health works best when we stop forcing and start paying attention.

Connect with Ashley:

x: https://www.twitter.com/lnutraofficial/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lnutra/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-hsu-md/

Connect with Kim
Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitgirlmagic

Tik Tok @kimbarnesjefferson
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimjeffersoncoach/

Free Resources: https://www.fitgirlmagic.com/freeresources_podcast

Is Your Metabolism Tired AF? https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/metabolismquiz-podcast

Website: http://www.kimbarnesjefferson.com

Loved this episode?

Screenshot it, share it, and tag me so I can see what landed for you.

And if you're sitting there wondering what season your metabolism is actually in…

👉 Take the quiz: Is Your Metabolism Tired AF? https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/metabolismquiz-podcast

For years, you did what you were told.

Eat less.
Move more.
More cardio.
Smaller portions.
Be disciplined.

And for a while? It worked.

Until it didn't.

In this Fit Girl Magic episode, I'm sharing my own story as a former fitness competitor who spent nine years controlling every bite, every rep, every inch of my body… and what happened when menopause knocked me flat and the old strategies stopped working.

If you feel like you're doing "all the right things" but your body isn't responding anymore, this episode is for you.

We're talking about:

• Why weight loss after 40 feels harder

• What metabolic adaptation really is

• How years of dieting can slow your metabolism

• Why strength training matters more than endless cardio

• The truth about muscle loss after 35

• Why eating more might actually be part of the solution

• How to measure progress beyond the scale

Most women spend 17 years dieting. Many try over 100 diets in their lifetime. And when those strategies stop working, we assume we failed.

But the truth?
Your body adapted.

Undereating. Overtraining. On-again, off-again dieting. Decades of "trying harder." Your body learned to survive on less.

And now it needs something different.

If the scale hasn't moved but your clothes feel different…
If you feel softer even though you're working out…
If you're scared to eat more but exhausted from eating less…

This conversation will help you understand what's really happening inside your body in midlife.

You are not lazy.
You are not broken.
You don't lack willpower.

Your strategy just no longer matches your biology.

Take the quiz: Is Your Metabolism Tired AF? https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/metabolismquiz-podcast

Inside, you'll discover whether you need to:

• Restore

• Rebuild

• Refine

• Or Reveal

No more guessing. No more doubling down on the wrong plan.

The link is in the show notes.

After you take it, send me a DM and tell me what you got.

Let's stop managing your body like it's a problem… and start working with it instead.

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who's been quietly struggling and leave a review. It helps more midlife women find real answers instead of another diet.

Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitgirlmagic
Tik Tok @kimbarnesjefferson
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimjeffersoncoach/

Free Resources: https://www.fitgirlmagic.com/freeresources_podcast

Website: http://www.kimbarnesjefferson.com

If you're over 40 and thinking, "Why does nothing work the way it used to?" this Fit Girl Magic episode is going to hit.

Today I'm joined by Emily Kaplan, co-founder of MetFix and the Broken Science Initiative, and we're pulling back the curtain on what's actually going on with midlife health, metabolism, hormones, and why the old advice is failing so many women.

We talk about why trainers often know more about your real health than doctors, how insulin quietly drives weight gain and fatigue, and why eating less and moving more can backfire hard in midlife.

This is one of those conversations that makes everything finally click.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why workouts and "clean eating" stop working after 40
• The real reason midlife weight gain isn't about calories
• How insulin affects fat storage, energy, and cravings
• Why doctors only get 12 minutes and trainers hear the real story
• The problem with "just move more" health advice
• How hormones, stress, and sleep change the rules after 40
• Why food quality matters more than tracking
• What metabolic health actually means (without the jargon)
• Why community and coaching matter more than perfection

You'll Walk Away Knowing:

✔️ Your body isn't broken
✔️ You're not failing at health
✔️ You don't need another extreme plan
✔️ You do need better information

If this Fit Girl Magic podcast episode made you say "ohhh… that explains a lot,"
make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who's convinced she's the problem (she's not).

And if you're wondering what season your body is actually in right now, fat loss, restore, build, or maintain, check the link in the show notes to go deeper.

🎧 Press play. This one matters.

Links:

Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitgirlmagic

Tik Tok @kimbarnesjefferson


Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimjeffersoncoach/

Free Resources: https://www.fitgirlmagic.com/freeresources_podcast

Doable 26 a 26 day healthy habit experiment -- https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/26habits

Website: http://www.kimbarnesjefferson.com

Emily Kaplan

Instagram
@newsnotnoise
@emily_unleashed
@brokenscienceinitiative
@MetFixbyBSI

X
@emilykaplanX
@broken_science

Website
http://www.MetFix.org

Ever notice how the more rules you add… the faster everything falls apart?
Yeah. Same.

In this Fit Girl Magic episode, I'm continuing the Doable 26 conversation and calling out the real reason most women over 40 feel "stuck" with their health. Psst.... it's not lack of discipline. It's doing too damn much.

This isn't a how-to episode.
It's a permission slip.

We're talking about why:

• Checking all the boxes doesn't equal results

• "All or nothing" thinking keeps you spinning

• Consistency has nothing to do with intensity

• And why curiosity beats control every single time

I also share:

• What my own do-or-die fitness era looked like (hello burnout)

• The trip that completely changed how I approach health

• Why habits don't fail, but overload does

• How to stop trying to go back to what worked when you were in your 20s and 30s

• And how to choose 1–3 non-negotiables that actually fit your real life

The Doable 26 isn't a challenge to win.
It's an experiment.

You try simple habits.
You keep what works.
You ditch what doesn't.
No gold stars. No falling behind. No perfection required.

If you've ever quit something that was a good idea because it felt like too much, this episode is for you.

• Why doing more feels productive but backfires

• How diet rules keep women over 40 stuck

• The mental load nobody talks about

• Why "earning rest" is a BS

• The truth about sustainable habits (hint: they're boring)

• How to build consistency without burning yourself out

The Doable 26 starts February 1st inside the Fit Girl Magic Facebook group.

Each day you'll get:

• One simple health habit

• Zero pressure to do them all

• Total freedom to choose what fits

Want all 26 tips right now?
👉 Grab the preview + bingo tracker click here
or DM me "PREVIEW" on Instagram.

Pick one thing.
Let it be boring.
Let it count.

If this episode hit you, screenshot it and send it to the friend who's tired of trying to "get back on track."

You're not behind.
You're just done with making this harder than it needs to be.

Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitgirlmagic
Tik Tok @kimbarnesjefferson
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimjeffersoncoach/

Free Resources: https://www.fitgirlmagic.com/freeresources_podcast
12 week strength training program –Strong by Spring
https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/strong-by-spring

Website: http://www.kimbarnesjefferson.com

This is Part 2 of Doable 26, where we go deeper into why doing less actually works. If you want the backstory, Part 1 pairs perfectly with this episode.

In this one, we're getting real about why "good habits" don't stick.

It's not because you're lazy or inconsistent.
It's because you're trying to do too much.

We're talking about:

• Why checking all the boxes keeps you stuck

• How intensity pretends to be consistency

• What actually creates follow-through in midlife

• Why doing less is often the smartest move

Doable 26 isn't a plan or a challenge.
It's an experiment.

You try what fits.
You skip what doesn't.
You stop turning habits into full-time jobs.

Pick one boring thing.
Let it be enough.
Build something you can actually live with.

👉 Want a preview of all 26 habits? https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/26habits

Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitgirlmagic
Tik Tok @kimbarnesjefferson
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimjeffersoncoach/

Free Resources: https://www.fitgirlmagic.com/freeresources_podcast
12 week strength training program –Strong by Spring
https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/strong-by-spring

Website: http://www.kimbarnesjefferson.com

Ever catch yourself thinking:
"I'm disciplined. I'm consistent. I'm doing all the right things… so WHY is nothing in my body changing?"

Yeah. That spiral. This Fit Girl Magic podcast episode is for you.

If you're over 40 and stuck with stubborn belly fat, low energy, and a scale that refuses to cooperate, here's the uncomfortable truth I unpack in this episode:

👉 It's probably not because you're doing something wrong.
👉 It's because you're doing everything too right… using rules that no longer fit your body or your life.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why discipline stops working the way it used to after 40

• How your body adapts (and pushes back) after years of under-eating and over-training

• Why consistency with the wrong plan equals stagnation

• The real reason supplements, hormones, and "fixes" aren't fixing anything

• What the boring basics actually are (and why they matter more than hacks)

• How eating more can feel terrifying… and still be the thing that moves the needle

• Why body composition matters more than the scale

• The difference between restriction, rebuilding, and trusting your body again

I also share my own story (and a client's) of being wildly disciplined, wildly frustrated, and finally realizing:
You can't starve, stress, or out-cardio your way into a body that feels good.

If this Fit Girl Magic episode makes you feel both relieved and mildly uncomfortable… good. That's the signal something needs to shift

I created a quiz to help you figure out what phase your body actually needs right now.
Restore. Rebuild. Maintain. Or fat loss without wrecking yourself.

Take the quiz: Is Your Metabolism Tired AF?
https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/metabolismquiz-podcast/

Bonus: If this episode hits, screenshot it, share it, and tell me your biggest "oh damn" moment. You know where to find me.

Ever find yourself standing in the kitchen, eating straight from the container, wondering, "Why am I doing this… again?"

Same.

In this episode, I sit down with Paige Alexander to talk about the thing most women don't want to say out loud but think about daily: our complicated, exhausting relationship with food.

Paige is a nurse, wellness coach, co-host of the Real Food Recovery podcast, and bestselling author of Real Food Recovery: If Food Isn't the Answer, What Is the Question? And she does not tiptoe around this conversation.

We're talking:

• why willpower keeps failing you (and why that's not a character flaw)

• what food addiction actually looks like in real life

• why ultra-processed foods hijack your brain

• and how recovery isn't about "trying harder", it's about giving your brain what it actually needs

This episode is part science, part truth-telling, part "oh wow… that's me."

Grab your coffee. You might want a notebook for this one.

• Why food addiction is different from other addictions (and harder to quit)

• The real reason you eat when you're bored, stressed, or overwhelmed

• Why willpower is a terrible long-term strategy

• Paige's "Tree of Life" approach to recovery: food, movement, sleep, and spirituality (no, not the preachy kind)

• How planning the night before saves you from afternoon meltdowns

• What impulse control actually looks like in real life

• How recovery is a series of small edits, not a dramatic overhaul

Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitgirlmagic
Tik Tok @kimbarnesjefferson
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimjeffersoncoach/

Free Resources: https://www.fitgirlmagic.com/freeresources_podcast

FREE Masterclass -- Why January Diets Fail https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/january-masterclass_podcast
12 week strength training program –Strong by Spring
https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/strong-by-spring

Website: http://www.kimbarnesjefferson.com

Sugar Salt Fat https://amzn.to/48nfqbi

What Women Need to Know About Alzheimer's https://fitgirlmagic.libsyn.com/-what-women-need-to-know-about-alzheimers204-0

Real Food Recovery: If Food Isn't the Answer, What Is the Question? by Paige Alexander https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1P5T2D7

Paige's Blog https://foodfitnessbypaige.blogspot.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoob3V7-tEfdSz1B34cnJ4Q
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realfoodrecovery
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091698670987
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/realfoodrecovery4u/

If you've ever said:

• "I know what to do, I just can't seem to do it"

• "I'm not addicted, I just eat when I'm stressed"

• "Why does food take up so much mental space?"

This episode is for you.

Listen in, then tell me what part hit a little too close to home.

Let's talk about January.
You know… that time of year when everyone decides this is the year they finally "get it together."

But if January diets actually worked… we wouldn't still be doing them every year, right?

In this Fit Girl Magic episode, I'm calling out the real issue (hint: it's not your motivation, discipline, or willpower).

It's timing. And after 40, timing matters a LOT more than trying harder.

If you've ever thought:

• "Why does this feel harder than it used to?"

• "Why am I doing all the things and still not seeing results?"

• "Is it just me… or is my body over this?"

You're not broken.
You're just in a different season.

In this Fit Girl Magic episode, we talk about:
👉Why January is actually the worst time to force fat loss
👉How years of dieting can quietly exhaust your metabolism
👉Why "trying harder" usually backfires
👉The difference between restoring, refining, revealing, and rebuilding
👉How to stop fighting your body and finally work with it

This is the episode for the woman who's done chasing, done punishing, and ready to do things differently, without giving up results.

Because fat loss isn't a lifestyle.
It's a situationship.

And sometimes the most powerful move is realizing you don't need to push… you need to pause and choose the right season.

🎧 Hit play and let's talk about what your body actually needs right now.

And if this hits?
You're not behind, you're early.

Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitgirlmagic
Tik Tok @kimbarnesjefferson
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimjeffersoncoach/

Free Resources:
FREE Masterclass: The January Diet Mistakes Women Over 40 Keep Making (and Why You're Still Starting Over) https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/january-masterclass_podcast
https://www.fitgirlmagic.com/freeresources_podcast
12 week strength training program –Strong by Spring
https://kimbarnesjefferson.lpages.co/strong-by-spring

Website: http://www.kimbarnesjefferson.com