Have your clients (or even you) ever used exercise as therapy only to end up more depleted than energized?

In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re breaking down how to help clients (and ourselves) find the right dose of exercise for their current season of life. From “go hard or go home” narratives to sneaky stressors like high-demand jobs, toddler wake-ups, or perfectionist tendencies, we share how to reframe movement through a truly functional lens. We also cover what the research says about minimum effective dose, signs that exercise might be doing more harm than good, and why giving clients “permission to do less” can actually unlock better outcomes.

Whether you’re a clinician navigating this conversation with patients, or a woman juggling her own fitness goals, this episode will give you practical frameworks and empathetic language to support more sustainable exercise routines.

In this episode, we cover:

• 01:56 Why “exercise is therapy” can be a red flag
• 02:56 Looking at client history—not just their current workouts
• 05:05 Season of life: capacity, stress, and what’s on their plate
• 07:28 The sneaky stressors many clinicians overlook
• 10:14 Red flags in labs and symptoms that signal overtraining
• 19:54 How to approach cardio and lifting for real-life results
• 22:52 What counts as “exercise” to your client?
• 24:08 Why good programming (and good referrals) matter
• 28:36 Real client stories and resistance to change
• 34:56 Why doing less now can help you do more later
• 36:19 Final tips and reminders for clinicians

Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:

Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/

Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com

Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative

Connect with Laura Ligos:

Website: https://thesassydietitian.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian

Connect with Danielle Kepics:

Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co

Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.

Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.

Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.