"When I was a professional dancer, I felt the worst in my body when I probably looked my best to the outside world. That's when I knew something had to change." - Jennifer Joy Jimenez

In this energizing episode, I sat down with Jennifer Joy Jimenez, transformational leader and founder of the Brave Thinking Institute's health and wellbeing division, to explore how conscious movement can revolutionize both physical and emotional wellbeing after 40. Jennifer shares her powerful journey from professional dancer battling body shame to pioneering Transcendance, an innovative blend of movement, mindfulness, and energy healing. The science is clear - social dance can decrease Alzheimer's risk by up to 76% while flooding our bodies with mood-boosting hormones. We dive deep into how incorporating just minutes of mindful movement daily can transform stress, unlock creativity, and reignite joy at any age. Jennifer reveals practical strategies for breaking free from rigid exercise mindsets and embracing movement as medicine for both body and soul.

What you'll learn:

• How conscious dance can activate happy hormones and reduce stress in just minutes a day

• The profound mind-body connection and its role in healing trauma

• Why movement is essential for maintaining cognitive function and reducing dementia risk

• Simple ways to incorporate playful movement into your daily routine

• The science behind using dance for emotional and physical wellbeing

• How to break free from perfectionist exercise patterns

• Practical strategies for connecting with your body's innate wisdom

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In today's deep dive, I'm breaking down the science of menopause belly fat and sharing game-changing strategies that actually work. As women enter perimenopause, the triple threat of low estrogen, elevated insulin, and high cortisol creates the perfect storm for accumulating dangerous visceral fat around our organs. But armed with the latest research, I'm revealing why your daily movement patterns matter more than you think, the surprising impact of protein timing on fat loss, and how simple strategies like cold exposure can help activate fat-burning pathways. I'm also sharing critical insights about hormone replacement therapy and why it could be the missing piece in your metabolic puzzle. If you're ready to understand and tackle menopause belly fat with science-backed solutions that work, this episode is your roadmap to success.

What you'll learn:

• The crucial difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat, and why location matters for your health

• How the triad of hormones (estrogen, insulin, and cortisol) impacts belly fat storage during menopause

• The science-backed sweet spot for HIIT training that specifically targets visceral fat

• Why protein timing and amount can make or break your fat loss efforts

• The surprising connection between hydration, stress, and your body's fat-storing mechanisms

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 50,000+ followers who make this podcast thrive.

Full show notes: https://www.jjvirgin.com/menopausebellyfat

7-Day Eat Protein First Challenge: http://jjvirgin.com/proteinfirst

Oxiline bioimpedance scale: https://oxiline.shop/product/scale-x-pro/?ref=mza2ntv

Kooru Cold Plunge: https://www.koorucoldplunges.com/ and use code JJVIP500 for $500 off.

Download my free Resistance Training Cheat Sheet: https://jjvirgin.com/resistance

Sunlighten Sauna: https://get.sunlighten.com/JJVirgin use promo code JJVIRGIN when requesting pricing information for $600 off.

Download my FREE Best Rest Sleep Cheat Sheet: https://jjvirgin.com/sleep

Tape Measure: https://amzn.to/3wQw4Q2

TRX Resistance Training Equipment: Free Shipping on all orders $99+: https://trxtraining.sjv.io/EKrvrP

Dry Farm Wines: dryfarmwines.com/jjvirgin

Study: Visceral Fat: What Is It?: https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-visceral-fat

Study: Adipose tissue in health and disease: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7776562/

Study: Adipose Tissue Distribution, Inflammation and Its Metabolic Consequences, Including Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2020.00022/full

Study: Is the goal of 12,000 steps per day sufficient for improving body composition and metabolic syndrome? The necessity of combining exercise intensity: a randomized controlled trial: https://consensus.app/papers/is-the-goal-of-12000-steps-per-day-sufficient-for-improving-chiang-chen/676d54b152e25c6b80e07f6a12b02fc0/

Study: Physical activity and healthy ageing: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort studies: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/physical-activity

Study: Physical Activity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/physical-activity

Study: Body Fat Percentage: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/body-fat-percentage

Study: A reduced ratio of dietary carbohydrate to protein improves body composition and blood lipid profiles during weight loss in adult women: https://consensus.app/papers/a-reduced-ratio-of-dietary-carbohydrate-to-protein-layman-boileau/01653d342eab51adbb319a1a1b45079f/

Episode Sponsors:

Try Timeline: https://www.timelinenutrition.com/shop?rfsn=7082975.4b75243 Use code JJ10 for 10% off all products

Go to qualialife.com/VIRGINWELLNESS to try Qualia risk free for up to 100 days and code VIRGINWELLNESS for an additional 15% off

Something exciting is happening, and I can’t wait to share it with you! In this special episode, I reveal a game-changing new way for you to enjoy the podcast like never before. Curious? Let’s just say it involves more of what you love—uninterrupted. Tune in to find out what’s new and how you can be part of this exclusive experience.