The Festive Season Survival Guide: 10 Tools That Actually Work

December is the month where routines wobble, cravings creep in, and “I’ll start again in January” becomes the vibe. In this episode of The You Lounge, Nicole and Marianne break down 10 simple, realistic ways to stay on track in December - without feeling restricted, boring, or left out of the fun.

From anchoring your mornings to outsmarting the buffet table, this episode gives you practical strategies that actually work in real life. You’ll hear how to protect your movement, tune into hunger and fullness cues, shift your social defaults, and keep your mindset strong when festive chaos hits.

This isn’t about perfection - it’s about staying intentional, feeling good, and avoiding the classic December self-sabotage spiral.

Inside the episode:

We get fully into it at 7m20s if you want to miss out our babble 🙂 and get straight into the good stuff.

Navigating Weight Loss, GLP-1s & the Mindset Shift No One Talks About

In this candid, straight-talk conversation, Nicole McKee and Marianne Bell dive into the real side of weight loss - the science, the psychology, and the messy bits in between.

From breaking down the differences between Wegovy and Mounjaro to unpacking how weight loss changes the way the world responds to you, this episode blends practical coaching with lived experience. Expect honest reflections, expert insights, and the kind of transparency that makes you feel instantly less alone.

Nicole and Marianne explore why those last few kilos feel impossible, how confidence subtly shifts interactions, and why body image perception doesn’t magically fix itself when the weight drops. They also share strategies for plateaus, adjusting nutrition as your body changes, and keeping your mental health intact while transforming your physical health.

Whether you're on GLP-1s, supporting someone who is, or simply committed to feeling better in your body, this episode gives you the mindset tools, the coaching lens, and the compassion you need for the journey ahead.

✨ What you’ll learn:

Wegovy vs Mounjaro - how they differ and what that means for your results

Why weight loss experiences vary wildly from person to person

Why the final kilos are often the hardest

How to break plateaus through movement, nutrition tweaks & routine shifts

Why confidence changes how people treat you

How sharing your story helps others feel seen

Perfect for listeners curious about: weight loss, GLP-1 medications, Wegovy, Mounjaro, body image, self-care, health coaching, nutrition, fitness, and mental wellbeing.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this still so hard?” - this one’s your sign to press play.

The You Lounge - The Body Positivity Lie & Stepping Into Main Character Energy on GLP-1

This week, we’re getting honest - brutally honest - about the body positivity movement and why some of the messaging is keeping women stuck, small, and silently suffering.

If you’ve ever felt torn between “love yourself as you are” and “I want more for my life,” this episode will feel like a deep exhale. We’re unpacking the nuance that nobody wants to talk about: you can love yourself and want to change. You can accept your body and desire a healthier, stronger one. You can be grateful and still want better.

And if you’re on GLP-1 medication? This is your permission slip to step fully into your main character era - not the watered-down version of you, but the woman who owns her goals, heals her mind, and leads her life with intention.

Inside this episode:

✨ The real reason body positivity can become another cage

This is not a fluffy empowerment chat. This is a recalibration. A call-forward. A reminder that you’re allowed to want a bigger, brighter, more regulated life - without apology.

Grab your coffee, your AirPods, and settle in. Your main character moment starts now.

Your gut isn’t just digesting your food… it’s holding a full-on conversation with your brain, narrating your mood, your cravings, your anxiety levels - and even how resilient you feel in midlife and weight loss.

In this episode, we dive deep into the gut–brain axis:

Expect science made simple, story made relatable, and solutions you can actually use.

We cover:

If you’re a woman who’s ever wondered why your stomach is basically your second brain - or why your mood and digestion are so tightly connected - this episode will make everything click.

Hit play, grab a cup of something warm, and let’s decode the messages your body has been sending you all along.

Medication helps, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

Let’s be honest - everyone wants a quick fix. The magic wand that makes the weight disappear, quiets food noise forever, and somehow resets life. But GLP-1 medication isn’t that. And that’s actually the best part.

In this episode, Nicole breaks down what GLP-1 can do -from regulating hunger and blood sugar to giving you the mental space to make better choices - and what it can’t do, like healing emotional eating or rebuilding self-trust.

This isn’t another “before and after” chat; it’s a conversation about empowerment, not dependency. You’ll learn:

If you’ve ever wondered why the scale moved but your self-worth didn’t, or if you’re ready to build a stronger, freer, more connected relationship with your body - this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in, take a deep breath, and remember: GLP-1 might start your story, but you write the ending.

👉 Share this episode with someone on their own GLP-1 journey, and come join the conversation on Instagram

Episode 29 | The You Lounge Podcast

Your brain is your most powerful asset - yet most of us spend more time training our biceps than training our brain. In this episode, we’re diving into brain optimisation for women in perimenopause - because mental clarity, focus, and resilience aren’t just luck… they’re trainable.

We explore the science of neuroplasticity and how your brain can rewire and strengthen at any age. You’ll learn how lifestyle factors like sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition shape brain function - and why brain fog, mood swings, or memory lapses in midlife aren’t something you just have to “live with.”

Nicole breaks down cutting-edge tools and treatments for cognitive health - from TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) like Exomind and red light therapy to nootropics, adaptogens, and brain-boosting nutrition - all grounded in evidence and experience.

You’ll also get practical, science-backed strategies to:

3 takeaways:

Your brain health is dynamic - and can be trained.

One small habit (like magnesium before bed or morning red light) can change everything.

Treat your brain as your most valuable investment - because it is.

✨ Your brain drives everything you do. Choose one upgrade this week - a supplement, a habit, or a mindset shift - and watch your clarity expand. If this episode gave you a boost, share it with a friend who needs one too.

Biohacking for Busy Women: The Truth Behind the Trend

This week, Nicole McKee and Marianne Bell unpack what biohacking really means for women - and spoiler alert, it’s not all ice baths, supplements, and expensive gadgets.

They explore how women can use simple, science-backed habits to optimise their energy, focus, and emotional wellbeing without overcomplicating it. From journaling and nutrition to hypnosis and NAD+, they share practical ways to experiment safely and find what genuinely works for your body.

Expect an honest, no-nonsense conversation about what biohacking looks like in real life - from balancing hormones and managing energy to aligning with your natural rhythms. Because real wellness isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about awareness, alignment, and editing your life to work for you.

The Mindset

The Practice

The Perspective

biohacking, wellness, women, health, nutrition, productivity, mindfulness, self-care, lifestyle, coaching, biohacking, wellness, energy management, journaling, hypnosis, wearable technology, self-awareness, NAD Plus, emotional health, personal growth

This week, Marianne takes the mic solo to unpack something far deeper than split ends - why our hair holds so much emotional power. From teenage “Rapunzel” memories to the science behind midlife hair loss, she explores how our strands are woven into identity, confidence, and self-worth.

You’ll hear Marianne’s personal story of rediscovering herself through hair changes, wigs, and growth - both emotional and literal - plus the science behind hair loss during weight loss and perimenopause.

Because it’s never just about hair. It’s about who we become when we finally feel like ourselves again.

What you'll learn:

✨ Plus, a sneak peek into The Life Edit Masterclass  - where real confidence starts from the inside out.

Want to rebuild your confidence from the inside out?

🔗 Join Here

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always speak to your healthcare provider before making changes to your medication or health routine.

The You Lounge Episode 26 - The Brutal Truth About Midlife Weight Gain

Why does weight gain suddenly feel inevitable in your 30s and 40s?

In this episode of The You Lounge, hosts Marianne and Nicole unpack the brutal truth about midlife weight gain, and why the strategies that worked in your 20s stop working now. This isn’t about willpower or motivation. It’s about understanding the biological shifts happening in your body and learning to work with them, not against them.

What You’ll Learn:

🔬 The Hormonal Reality of Perimenopause & Menopause How declining estrogen and progesterone trigger fat redistribution (especially around the midsection), slow your metabolism, and accelerate muscle loss, and what you can do about it.

💪 Why Strength Training After 40 Is Non-NegotiableThe science behind preserving lean muscle mass, protecting bone density, and maintaining metabolic health as you age.

💤 The Sleep-Weight ConnectionWhy poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones (ghrelin and leptin), increases cortisol, and makes weight management nearly impossible, plus actionable sleep hygiene tips backed by research from sleep scientist Dr. Matthew Walker.

🧘‍♀️ Stress, Cortisol & The Burnout CycleHow chronic stress keeps your body in fat-storage mode and why managing stress is just as important as diet and exercise.

🎶 Healing Music & Hertz Frequencies for RecoveryAn introduction to sound healing: 432 Hz for deep relaxation and 528 Hz for stress reduction  and how these frequencies can calm “food noise” and support nervous system regulation.

⚡ The Midlife Energy Audit A practical framework for identifying where you’re over-giving, under-recovering, and how to reclaim your time, energy, and vitality.

3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Midlife weight gain is rooted in biology, not personal failure. Understanding hormonal shifts empowers you to make informed choices.

2️⃣ Protein, strength training, and quality sleep are your three non-negotiables for metabolic health and long-term vitality.

3️⃣ Midlife is not a decline, it’s an opportunity to reset, rebuild strength, and thrive with intention.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

📖 Why We Sleep by Dr. Matthew Walker Amazon Link | 🎵 432 Hz & 528 Hz Healing Frequency Playlists - Spotify | YouTube💡

💬 What’s your biggest struggle with midlife weight gain? Drop a comment or DM us, we read every message!

⭐ If this episode resonated, leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend who needs to hear this.

Episode 25 – ADHD, Autism, Perimenopause & Female Health with Jess Lindo

In this episode of The You Lounge, Nicole and Marianne sit down with female health coach Jess Lindo for a powerful, real, and wide-ranging conversation on women’s health.

We dive into:

ADHD and autism in women – why it often goes undiagnosed and the unique challenges it brings

The impact of perimenopause on the mind and body

How hormones, neurodivergence, and female health intersect in ways most people aren’t talking about

Practical strategies for women navigating this season of life

Plus, Marianne shares openly about her own journey with dyslexia and the importance of understanding how neurodivergence shows up differently for each of us.

This episode is honest, supportive, and packed with insights for any woman wanting to better understand her health, hormones, and unique wiring.

✨ Listen in and join the conversation - because women deserve to feel seen, supported, and thriving.

You can connect with Jess here:

FREE Info - https://linktr.ee/jesslindocoaching