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“Toned” is one of the most common words in fitness. We are told we should want toned arms, toned legs and a toned stomach. We believe certain workouts will give us “long, lean muscles,” while heavier weights might make us “bulky.”
But what does being toned actually mean—and can you really tone a muscle?
In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist Jessica Valant breaks down the physiology behind muscle tone, muscle definition and the appearance we often describe as “toned.” She separates fitness marketing from what is actually happening in the body and explains what to focus on if becoming stronger and more defined is one of your goals.
You'll learn:
If you've ever wondered whether you should lift heavier, do more reps, lose body fat, change your workouts or find the perfect exercise to “tone” a specific area, this episode is for you. It will give you science and actionable tips while also placing the focus on what really matters - you feeling strong, independent and empowered in your body.
Sponsors:
➡️ Get 20% off your water purifier from AquaTru with code MEETYOURBODY - http://www.aquatru.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ How to Start Lifting Weights: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000719787855
⚫︎ Progressive Overload: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000755983233
⚫︎ Weight Loss Tips for Midlife: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000758876585
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Women over 40 are hearing the message loud and clear: You need to strength train. You need to lift heavy. You need to build muscle.
But what does that actually mean—and how much strength training do you really need?
In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist Jessica Valant breaks down the science and practical realities of strength training for women in midlife and beyond. She explains why maintaining muscle and strength becomes increasingly important as we age, while cutting through some of the confusing and conflicting messages surrounding exercise for women over 40.
You'll learn:
Why strength training becomes increasingly important as we age
What actually counts as strength training
What “lift heavy” really means—and why heavy is different for everyone
How many days a week you should strength train
What progressive overload is and simple ways to use it
The major movement patterns to include in a well-rounded strength program
Where Pilates fits into strength training
Why walking and cardio still matter
How perimenopause, menopause, pelvic floor concerns, osteoporosis, previous injuries and recovery can affect your approach
Jessica also explains why strength training doesn't need to be complicated or extreme to be effective. You don't need to spend every day in the gym, lift the heaviest weights possible or give up the other forms of movement you love.
Whether you're completely new to strength training or wondering if your current routine is enough, this episode will help you build a realistic, effective approach that works for you.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ Free three day trial to UNLIMITED https://app.jessicavalant.com/sign-up
⚫︎ How to Start Lifting Weights https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000719787855
⚫︎ About Progressive Overload https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000755983233
⚫︎ 20 Minute Beginner Dumbbell Workout: https://youtu.be/zRayn_kDjZw
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How can we help kids grow up feeling safe, confident and connected to their bodies in a world that constantly tells them that looks and size determine their value?
In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist and women’s health expert Jessica Valant shares eight practical ways parents, grandparents, teachers, caregivers and other trusted adults can help children develop a healthy relationship with their bodies.
Jessica explores why the goal doesn't have to be teaching kids to always love their body as it grows and changes. Instead, we can help them build something deeper: a lifelong partnership with a body they can trust, believe in and enjoy.
You'll learn:
Jessica also shares how messages from her own childhood shaped her relationship with her body and how raising her own children has challenged her to examine the words, habits and beliefs she models for them.
We can't protect kids from every message they'll hear about their bodies. But we can give them something powerful to carry with them: the understanding that their body deserves respect, care and partnership through every season of life.
If you're raising, teaching, coaching or caring for kids, this episode offers practical tools for helping them build a relationship with their bodies that can last a lifetime.
Sponsors:
➡️ Get up to 20% off Beam Minerals with code MEETYOURBODY: http://www.beamminerals.com/meetyourbody
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎ THREE DAY FREE TRIAL of Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts: http://www.jessicavalant.com/unlimited
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates
Jessica Valant Pilates app:
Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8r
Google - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this personal episode of Meet Your Body, Jessica Valant shares her own HRT journey: the symptoms that finally pushed her to consider hormone therapy, the questions and concerns she had before starting, what she tried first, what helped, what didn’t, and where she is now eight months later.
Jessica talks openly about the physical changes that were affecting her quality of life - joint and muscle pain and significant mood changes - and how she began trying to understand what role hormones might be playing.
She shares:
Jessica also shares the emotional side of the decision: fear, uncertainty, weighing potential risks and benefits and accepting that there may not always be one perfect answer.
This isn't a prescription for what anyone else should do. Jessica is a physical therapist and women’s health expert, but in this episode she is sharing her experience as a woman navigating her own complicated hormonal transition.
Whether you're considering HRT, already taking it, or simply trying to understand what the process can look like in real life, this episode offers an honest and nuanced look at one woman's experience.
Sponsors
Factor Meals - Get 50% off with code MEETYOURBODY50off at the link here
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎ Hormones in Perimenopause and Menopause: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000787395575
⚫︎ HRT 101: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000788838984
⚫︎ About the Women's Health Initiative Study: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000788451085
⚫︎ My Perimenopause Journey: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000653471907
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hormone replacement therapy is having a resurgence—but HRT isn’t one medication, one dose or the right choice for every woman.
In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist and women’s health expert Jessica Valant breaks down what hormone replacement therapy actually is, what it can—and can’t—do, and the important factors to consider when deciding whether HRT might be right for you.
Jessica walks you through the three hormones you hear about most in the menopause conversation—estrogen, progesterone and testosterone—including why each might be prescribed and the different ways they can be taken.
You’ll learn:
Most importantly, this isn't a conversation about whether HRT is simply “good” or “bad.” Your age, symptoms, medical and surgical history, personal risk factors, goals and preferences all matter.
Whether you’re curious about HRT, already taking hormones or have been told hormone therapy isn’t an option for you, this episode will give you the information and questions you need to have a more informed, individualized conversation about your health.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎ Hormones in Perimenopause and Menopause: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000787395575
⚫︎ About the Women's Health Initiative Study: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000788451085
⚫︎ Podcast references: Dr. Heather Hirsch and Dr. Kelly Casperson
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 2002, the results of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) changed the conversation around hormone replacement therapy almost overnight. Millions of women stopped taking HRT, prescriptions plummeted, and fear around estrogen, breast cancer and heart disease shaped women’s healthcare for the next two decades.
But what did the WHI actually study—and what did it really find?
In this short episode of Meet Your Body, Jessica breaks down the history of the landmark Women’s Health Initiative, why the hormone therapy trial was stopped early, and how its findings were interpreted and communicated to women.
You’ll learn:
The WHI wasn’t simply a “bad study,” and its findings shouldn’t be ignored. But its results also shouldn’t be applied to every woman, every hormone and every form of HRT.
This episode puts the study back into context so you can better understand where our fear of hormone therapy came from—and what the research actually tells us today.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎ Hormones in Perimenopause and Menopause: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000787395575
⚫︎ Podcast references: You Are Not Broken episode 225 and unPAUSED episode The Truth About Estrogen
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What actually happens to your hormones during perimenopause and menopause? In fact, what are hormones anyway and why are they important? We hear constantly that estrogen is dropping, progesterone is disappearing and testosterone is changing—but the real story is much more nuanced.
In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist and women’s health expert Jessica Valant breaks down the science of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone throughout a woman’s lifespan. She explains what each hormone does in the body, how hormone levels normally rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle, and what begins to change as women enter perimenopause and eventually menopause.
You’ll learn why estrogen doesn’t simply decline during perimenopause but instead becomes unpredictable, what roll progesterone plays in mood regulation, why testosterone is important in women and how decreasing hormone levels can affect everything from bones and muscles to sleep, sexual health, stress management, itchy skin and more.
This is the first episode in a three-part series designed to take the confusion out of hormones and HRT. In order to really feel empowered in the aging process it's important to understand three things from today's episode: what these hormones actually do, how they change and why those changes matter.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎ Motivation and consistency in fitness: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000683343498
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why is it so hard to stay consistent with the health habits we know are good for us? In this episode of Meet Your Body, Jessica breaks down the five keys that are essential to creating health habits you can actually stick with—without relying on willpower, guilt, or an unrealistic overhaul of your life.
She discusses how to find a meaningful why, keep things simple, make health habits fit into real life and busy schedules, evaluate whether what you're doing is actually working and learn to play the long game instead of expecting immediate results. Drawing from her own experiences and years of working with women as a physical therapist and movement teacher, Jessica offers a realistic and compassionate approach to consistency. If you’ve ever started strong only to get overwhelmed, fall off track, and wonder why you can’t just “be more disciplined,” this episode will help you approach health habits differently. You'll learn how to make them stick without all the overwhelm and complication and how to help your future self in the process.
Sponsors:
➡️ Get 20% off your first order at Beam Minerals with code MEETYOURBODY http://www.beamminerals.com/meetyourbody
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ BUILD Program - Four weeks of home workouts, recipes, habits and support for your longterm health! https://app.jessicavalant.com/for-sale/build-program
⚫︎ Motivation and consistency in fitness: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000683343498
⚫︎ Sleep Tips https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000700931343
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this short Connections episode, Jessica is sharing what matters most to her when she creates workouts for you—and how those priorities shaped her new four-week BUILD Program starting September 1st. She talks about why she believes your workouts should help you build strength and confidence while also supporting your body, meeting you where you are, and giving you a clear plan you can actually follow. She also gets into details about when you should chose a dedicated leg day versus a full body day. Finally, she shares a little about what you can expect from BUILD and why she is so excited to spend these four weeks moving, getting stronger and building together.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ Sign up for Jessica's BUILD program that starts September 1st! https://jessicavalant.com/build-in-unlimited
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We all want more energy and somehow it seems that running on empty is a normal part of life. Your energy isn’t an unlimited resource—and understanding what’s draining yours may be the key to finally feeling better.
In this episode of Meet Your Body, Jessica Valant introduces a simple but powerful way to think about your energy: your personal energy bucket. During seasons of back-to-school chaos, poor sleep, caretaking, stress, hormonal changes, work demands, and the mental load of keeping everyone else moving, that bucket can empty faster than we realize.
Instead of expecting yourself to somehow find a limitless supply of energy, Jessica shows you how to identify what’s draining your reserves, understand your own capacity, and intentionally build your energy back up.
You’ll discover:
Jessica also shares the habits that have changed her own energy over time—from intentional sleep routines and morning hydration to protecting her time, asking for help, and learning to say no without guilt.
If you’ve been wondering why you feel depleted even when you’re doing “all the right things,” this episode offers a kinder and more practical question: What’s emptying your bucket—and what actually helps fill it back up?
Listen for a realistic approach to creating more energy, protecting the reserves you already have, and feeling more steady when life inevitably throws the next curveball.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚫︎ BUILD Program - Four weeks of home workouts, recipes, habits and support for your longterm health! https://app.jessicavalant.com/for-sale/build-program
⚫︎ Workout Schedule for Women: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000722952202
⚫︎ Nourishing your nervous system podcast episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000733951049
⚫︎ Sleep Tips https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000700931343
⚫︎ Cured Rise and Flow - use code JESSICAV for 15% off
Rise https://go.shopmy.us/p-80518105
Flow https://go.shopmy.us/p-80518175
⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com
⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited
⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast
⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp
Sponsors:
➡️ Get 50% off Factor Meals and free breakfast with code MEETYOURBODY50off http://www.factormeals.com/meetyourbody50off
Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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