Vanessa G Fitcast

It only took 233 episodes and getting over what I thought would be cricket's if I ever asked my audience to submit questions but I'm so glad we did because we got some incredible questions we're excited to answer on this week's episode!   We had over 40 questions submitted and thank you to everyone who sent one in! Today's episode, we will cover 10 questions that were asked frequently or we though...

If you’re eating clean, working out, and still not losing weight… your gut might be the missing piece.    In today’s episode, I’m breaking down 10 reasons why gut health directly impacts your metabolism, hormones, and ability to lose fat and why testing with a GI MAP could be the game-changer you’ve been missing.   We’ll talk about how certain gut infections like H. pylori or parasites keep your b...

If your body feels like it’s stuck in stress mode no matter how “healthy” you try to be, your mindset might be the missing piece.    In this episode, we’re breaking down four common mental blocks that keep your hormones out of balance… and simple mindset shifts that can help you finally feel more at home in your body.   We’ll talk about how perfectionist thinking can actually keep your nervous sys...

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately as our following and show has grown such as: “What actually is a functional health approach to weight loss?” “Are labs like the GI Map or DUTCH test worth it?” “What do I even do with the results?”   If you’ve ever thought, “I eat clean. I work out. I track my food. And yet… nothing’s changing,” this episode is for you.   In today’s conversation, I open...

You love the gym and it’s been your sanctuary away from your stress for years. But what if your go-to stress relief tool is now part of the problem?    In today’s episode, we dive deep into why intense workouts might be silently burning you out rather than building you up. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, foggy, or stuck despite training hard, this one’s for you.   We explore why cardio and high-...

If you’re tired of conflicting nutrition advice and just want to know what actually works in 2025 for a lean body, balanced hormones, and a healthy gut, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down the TRUE essentials of eating well in today’s world, with a no-fluff, practical approach rooted in both science and real-life results.   We’ll talk about why high-quality animal protein, especially grass-...

Why is it that so many high-performing women, those who train hard, eat clean, and juggle intense work and family lives, still feel puffy, stuck, and exhausted no matter how “healthy” they are?    In this episode, we unpack a surprising hormonal pattern hiding beneath the surface: your body might be actively shutting down the very system you rely on for energy and fat loss.   Through a powerful cl...

If you're struggling with acne, breakouts, or dull skin, this episode is for you.    In the functional health world, we see skin issues not as isolated surface problems but as signs of deeper internal imbalances. I’ll walk you through the five core systems I assess when working with clients dealing with chronic acne. From gut health to hormones, blood sugar, liver detox, and nervous system regulat...

This week, we did something I’ve never talked about publicly before: a 72-hour water fast! But before you picture weight loss gimmicks or punishment, let’s set the record straight: this was a functional health experiment rooted in curiosity, not restriction.    Inspired by Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz, I timed this fast with my Power Phase (Days 1–10 of my cycle) to align with rising estroge...

What if improving your gut health didn’t require expensive supplements, fancy tests, or endless trial and error? In today’s episode, we dive into the often-overlooked lifestyle foundations that can significantly improve digestion, reduce bloating, and help you finally feel good after meals without needing a single lab result.   We start with meal hygiene : how you eat is just as important as what...

Is the "just be consistent" advice getting old?   By now, you've heard this advice at least a million times—from entrepreneurs, athletes, experts, coaches, and even humble newsletter writers.   And they're all absolutely right.   Consistency is the difference maker. The one common thread behind every major success story.   But here's the problem: No one ever tells you how to be consistent —and let...

The social aspect of cutting back or eliminating alcohol can be really stressful and I've been there too…   The inevitable questions you might face if you don't order alcohol in a friend group or turn down a drink your friend really wants you to try… we've been there.   In today's episode, we're going to share 6 strategies that we actually got from Julie Helms, a communication and skills expert.  ...

Women are not small men and it's time to start working with instead of against your body!   Both Mindy Pelz and Alyssa Vitti emphasize that women aren’t small men — we operate on a ~28-day infradian rhythm (vs the male 24-hour circadian rhythm), which affects: Metabolism   Energy   Mood   Stress response   Nutrient needs   Strength & recovery capacity   Syncing your habits with your hormonal shift...

Are you intrigued by this week's title?   That title is called a hook. A hook is something that gets your attention because it opens a loop in your brain, and gets you to keep reading/watching/listening until that loop is closed. Why do certain reels on Instagram get you to pause and watch them through? Because there is text or video or something that hooks you in by opening that loop in your brai...

At one point I cried to my doctor because I was just so frustrated….   I thought I needed to eat less, be stricter, exercise harder but none of it was working.   In fact, I found myself gaining weight, looking puffier, and feeling more exhausted the harder I tried. Does this sound familiar?   "You're just being lazy. It's all in your head" is what I kept telling myself and that only made things wo...

So excited to have Coach Jodi Stonehocker on the podcast today!    Jodi joined our team at the end of 2024, but she came to us with tremendous experience having been a nutrition coach since 2015, collecting multiple certifications across the years to grow her specialties, from CrossFit Level 1 & 2, Precision Nutrition, MMU Level 1, and even FDN-P- Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner.    H...

I woke up today feeling like today is going to be a bad day and if you've done this too you aren't alone...   Even with all the biohacking tricks in the world and dialed in morning routines, you are still human and you won't feel 100% every single day.    This is the 50/50 of life I like to refer to. We can't have good days without the bad and in this episode, I want to share what I do on my off o...

We receive so many questions about labs that we wanted to take this week's episode and dive deep into some of your most popular questions!   Whether you think you need you need certain lab tests drawn based on the symptoms you are experiencing or if you are just curious and thinking about your future health, we'll cover some of the most popular tests today and answer some specific questions around...

I’ve felt restricted around all different types of eating so I get it...   I’ve had clients who I give the same protocol to and one person says “this is too restrictive” and another person says “this is great” One thing I’ve really learned over the years is that restriction is a feeling, not a fact. And it comes down to our own thought patterns, which can be influenced by our beliefs and past expe...

We lost a sweet family dog very unexpectedly this past week and it got me thinking a lot about life and how perceive our expectations...   A lot of tears, frustrations, and other emotions throughout that morning and a lot of my thoughts came back to the expectations or misexpectations we put on life circumstances.   Although Stella was older, we always forgot just how old she was because of how yo...

You are bombarded by fitness and health information every single day but there are only a few truths you need to focus on...   It can be extremely overwhelming in today's society with ads and content everywhere talking about what you should be worried about when it comes to your health and fitness and we know that pain too.   As a health and nutrition company ourselves, we understand it can be a l...

We're so excited to share another incredible coach here at Vital Spark with you Coach Whitney!   Coach Whitney joined our team last summer and she came to us with a ton of experience as a coach with 2 years of online coaching and 4 years of in-person training experience.    She’s helped hundreds of women transform their bodies. As a pre and postnatal specialist and women's coaching specialist, alo...

It’s normal to say that you have weird cravings when you’re pregnant and experiencing all those hormonal changes…    Why is it not more normal to talk about how our day to day cravings could relate back to hormonal changes?   You know those times where you are craving those salty pretzels or something savory and you're not really sure why?   In this episode we’re going to cover some of the most co...

It's time for a pep talk...   My motto this year is lean into discomfort.   Nothing worth doing comes easy.   The price of feeling good is also feeling bad.   That’s the 50/50 of life.   Trying to never feel bad is like trying to outrun your own shadow.   Thoughts are like fire: it can cook you dinner or it can burn your house down. It can save you or it can destroy you.   You can do hard things....

We can't wait to share an interview that's long overdue with a new coach to Vital Spark, Coach MacKenzie!   MacKenzie joined our team late summer 2024. She came to us with an impressive resume: a Bachelors in Exercise Science, Masters in Kinesiology, and Masters in Nursing, and a combined 9 years of experience as a Labor & Delivery Nurse, Athletic Trainer, and as an Online Coach!⁣   But she doesn’...