This Is Life — strength, physiology & stepping into your prime

Send us Fan Mail Society rewards a version of womanhood that looks like this: tired, pleasant, self-sacrificing… and quietly coping. But when you live there long enough, your body starts pushing back. Fat loss stalls. Hunger gets louder. Cravings hit at night. Training feels harder. Your mood gets shorter. And you end up blaming yourself — like you just need more willpower. In this episode, we’re...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve been thinking, “I just want to feel like me again,” this episode is for you, and I’m going to say something slightly annoying but very freeing: you might be chasing a version of you that had a completely different life load, recovery capacity, and hormonal context. This isn’t a fluffy mindset chat. It’s a practical shift: stop using old rules on a new body. We talk about...

Send us Fan Mail For years, effort was enough, train harder, eat less, be more disciplined. And your body responded..... ...Until it didn’t. In this episode, I unpack why the strategies that once worked so reliably start to fail in your forties, not because your body is broken, but because the physiology has changed. We talk about stress, recovery, low energy availability, and why piling on cardio...

Send us Fan Mail There was a point in my life where nothing was technically wrong, and yet everything felt heavier than it used to. After children, COVID, years of broken sleep, and carrying more responsibility than my body had the resources to support, I slowly stopped feeling like myself. I wasn’t broken, and I wasn’t failing, but I was flat, reactive, tired, and quietly convinced that this was...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of This Is Life , Jo explores why your 40s can feel less forgiving, and why that doesn’t mean your body is declining. As we move through midlife, the margin for chaos gets smaller. Poor sleep, under-eating, high stress, and inconsistent training stop being absorbed and start being reflected back to us. Not as punishment, but as feedback. This episode breaks down th...

Send us Fan Mail In this first episode of This Is Life , Jo shares why this podcast has evolved from Nourish, Move, Thrive into something broader, deeper, and more honest. This episode is a reflection on strength, not just as a physical practice, but as a way of living through midlife changes, motherhood, identity shifts, and the quiet moments where you realise your body and life are asking for so...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m diving into 7 common fitness mistakes I’ve seen women make time and time again, and how to avoid them.  These aren’t just theories—I’m sharing real, practical insights from my experience working with women who want to get stronger, healthier, and more confident.  From not implementing progressive overload to treating gym visits as optional, we’ll break down th...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve hit 40 (or beyond) and feel like nothing works the way it used to, you're not imagining it. That old "just eat less and move more" advice is keeping you stuck. The real reason weight loss feels harder in midlife isn’t just hormones or aging—it’s muscle loss (sarcopenia). And if you’re not actively maintaining muscle, your metabolism is slowing down more th...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re someone who starts strong but always falls off track, this episode is a game-changer. Most women think they just need to “get motivated again” to stay consistent. But here’s the truth— motivation is the reason you’re stuck. It’s unreliable, unpredictable, and disappears the moment life gets busy. The women who actually see results? They don’t rely on motivation. They bui...

Send us Fan Mail What if the version of you who is strong, confident, and full of energy wasn’t some far-off goal —but someone you could start stepping into today? So many women get stuck waiting… Waiting until they lose weight to feel confident Waiting until they have more time to start prioritizing themselves Waiting for motivation to finally get going But here’s the truth— you don’t wait to bec...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you’re stuck in the same cycle—starting strong on your weight loss or fitness journey, then falling off track when life gets busy, motivation dips, or things feel hard ? What if I told you the problem isn’t you —it’s how you’re making decisions ? Most of us make choices based on how we feel right now , which usually means choosing what’s easiest, most comfortable, o...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like chasing weight loss has cost you more than just a few pounds? Like you’ve lost your energy, joy, and even parts of your personality along the way? You start a diet with the best intentions, but suddenly, life becomes a never-ending checklist of: Saying no to foods you love Skipping social events because you “can’t eat that” Obsessing over the scale and letting one n...

Send us Fan Mail Ever looked at an old photo of yourself and thought, "Who is that fit, strong, energetic woman?! And where did she go?" If you feel like you’ve lost your fitness, your strength, or just don’t feel like ‘you’ anymore , you’re not alone. Life happens—work, kids, stress, late-night snacks—and suddenly, you realize you haven’t exercised properly in… well, longer than you’d l...

Send us Fan Mail If you feel like weight loss has become an uphill battle since hitting your 40s, this episode is for you... You’re eating less, moving more, cutting carbs, and maybe even surviving on 1200 calories a day—so why isn’t the weight budging? If you’ve ever felt like your body is fighting against you, you’re not crazy… but you have probably been given some seriously bad advice. In today...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling with diets that used to work but don’t anymore? You’re not alone. After 40, your body changes—and so should your approach to weight loss. In this episode, we’ll uncover: ✨ Why traditional diets fail women in their 40s and 50s. ✨ The surprising role hormones, muscle loss, and stress play in weight gain. ✨ A simple, science-backed strategy to lose weight without giving...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling stuck? You’re not alone. Hitting a weight loss plateau is one of the most frustrating parts of any journey, especially in your 40s and 50s. But here’s the truth: a plateau isn’t a sign of failure—it’s your body’s way of adapting. In this episode, we uncover: Why weight loss plateaus happen (hint: it’s not just about eating less and moving more). What your body is trying to...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling with stubborn belly fat that just won’t budge, no matter what you do? You’re not alone, and it’s not your fault. In this episode, we dive into why belly fat becomes a challenge in your 40s and 50s, uncovering the real culprits behind it—hormonal changes, stress, muscle loss, and more. But don’t worry, we’re not leaving you hanging! You’ll walk away with actionable, scie...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you’re putting in all the effort but not seeing results? You’re not alone.  In this episode, we unpack why weight loss feels so overwhelming—especially for busy mums juggling a million things—and how small, sustainable changes can make all the difference.  You’ll discover how our proven methods can help you finally achieve your goals without adding to your to-do lis...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like your day is running you, instead of the other way around? You’re juggling work, family, and everything in between—but when it comes to finding time to eat well or move more, it feels impossible.  What if the real problem isn’t your schedule, but the way you’re organising it?  In this episode, we’ll reveal the overlooked secret to making time for YOU—so you can final...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you're stuck in a cycle of self-sabotage, reaching for quick fixes like alcohol, binge-watching shows, or comfort foods, only to regret it later? In this episode, we'll explore how a lack of self-care drives these behaviours, pushing you toward instant gratification and away from your long-term goals. We’ll break down how neglecting your own needs—whether...

Send us Fan Mail Are you stuck in the endless cycle of dieting, only to see the weight creep back on every time you take a break? In this episode of Nourish, Move, Thrive , we're breaking down why constant dieting isn't just exhausting—it could be the very reason you're struggling to reach your goals. Join me as I reveal the secret weapon to sustainable fat loss: periodisation . We’...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this enlightening episode of Nourish, Move, Thrive as we debunk the most common myths surrounding metabolism in midlife and uncover the secrets to effective weight loss after 40. Host Jo dives into the science behind why metabolism changes as we age and how these changes impact our weight and health. Learn why it's not all doom and gloom for your fitness goals as y...

Send us Fan Mail Tune in to this week's episode of Nourish, Move, Thrive, "Consistency: The Secret Ingredient in Your Health & Fitness Journey," where host Jo Northwood reveals the powerful yet often underestimated role of consistency in transforming your health, fitness, and overall well-being. In a world obsessed with quick fixes and dramatic results, we dive into why consiste...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on Nourish, Move, Thrive as we tackle the carb controversy in "Carbs Aren't the Enemy: Finding Your Energy Sweet Spot."  Host Jo Northwood cuts through the confusion, highlighting the vital difference between simple and complex carbs and their effects on our energy levels. This episode demystifies how carbs function in our bodies, advocating for a balanced a...

Send us Fan Mail In our inaugural episode of Nourish, Move, Thrive... we lay the groundwork for what it means to achieve holistic health and sustainable fat loss, specifically for women over 40 and busy mums.  Host Jo Northwood introduces the philosophy behind Thrive Holistic Fitness, revealing how a balanced approach to diet, exercise, and mental wellness can transform your life. We'll explo...