Today I want to talk about something that, once it clicks, is such a relief. Your training is not supposed to feel the same all the time. Even when you're consistent. Even when you're doing everything "right." There are seasons where pushing feels amazing. There are seasons where holding steady is exactly what your body needs. And there are seasons where pulling back is actually what helps you move forward. If you've ever noticed that some weeks you feel strong, energized, and excited to train, and other weeks the same workouts feel heavier or harder to get through, I want you to hear this clearly. So today I'm keeping this really simple and really practical. We're talking about the three training phases every woman should cycle through, how to tell which one you're in, and why recovery is not optional if you want long-term results. What's discussed

• Why your workouts are not supposed to feel the same all the time — and why fluctuations in strength and motivation are normal, not failure.

• How your body constantly gives you feedback through energy, recovery, hormones, stress, and performance.

• Why staying in "push mode" year-round leads to plateaus, frustration, and burnout.

• The importance of cycling through three intentional training phases instead of training randomly.

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy:

Episode 566: What Most Women Get Wrong About Progressive Overload

Episode 263: How to Keep Yourself Challenged When You Don't Have Access to Other Weights

Episode 555, 3 Reasons Why Your Maintenance Phase Isn't a Failure, It's a Strategy.

If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

• Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

If you've been waiting to feel confident before you start the thing… this episode is your wake-up call. Whether it's the workout, the application, the unfiltered photo, or the hard conversation, so many of us put our lives on hold while we wait to feel "ready." The problem? That feeling rarely shows up first.

In this episode, I'm sharing what changed in my life when I stopped waiting for confidence and started taking action scared. From launching this podcast to stepping on a WBFF stage, posting real photos, and building the Movement With Julie app, I walk you through the real-life moments where I chose action over hesitation, and how that decision completely transformed my self-trust, identity, and growth.

This conversation will help you stop delaying your life and start building confidence the only way it's actually built: by doing.

Here's what you'll learn: • Why confidence is built through action, not before it • How waiting to feel ready actually strengthens fear • The self-trust muscle you grow every time you act scared • Why exposure shrinks fear over time • How your identity shifts when you see yourself as someone who takes action • A simple question to ask yourself when you feel stuck • Practical examples of what "doing it scared" looks like in real life

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 23: 5 Steps to Building Unshakeable Confidence

https://www.juliealedbetter.com/embrace-your-real/5-steps-to-building-unshakeable-confidence

If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

Hello, beautiful human. Today we're talking about that week before your period — when your workouts suddenly feel harder. The same weights feel heavier. Your energy dips. Your motivation feels shaky. And even though this happens every month, it can still catch you off guard.

Here's what's actually going on: estrogen and progesterone begin to drop. That hormonal shift can impact your strength, recovery, mood, and overall resilience. Your body is simply changing gears.

So when you try to push the same way you do during your higher-energy weeks and your body pushes back? That's not failure. That's feedback.

In today's episode, we're breaking down what's happening and how to work with your body during this phase — so you can move forward without guilt, frustration, or feeling like you have to start over every single month.

We're going to talk about: • Why energy and strength can dip the week before your period • How to adjust your training in practical, realistic ways • Simple nutrition tweaks that support this phase • And how learning to work with your cycle builds consistency and body trust over time And if you loved this episode, I think you'll also really enjoy this one. Episode 363: Navigating Your Fitness Journey According to Your Menstrual Cycle

If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

• Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

If you've ever ended a day feeling like nothing went according to plan, like you dropped every ball you were trying to juggle, or like you somehow failed at taking care of yourself even though you tried, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I'm sharing a very honest heart-to-heart about those heavy days when motivation is low, energy is gone, and life feels overwhelming. I walk you through three grounding reminders I personally come back to when I feel stretched thin or disappointed in myself, along with simple, practical ways to steady yourself in the moment and keep moving forward without guilt or pressure.

This conversation is about perspective, grace, and learning how to stay connected to your goals without tying your worth to perfect days or productivity.

Here is what you will learn:

• Why one hard day, week, or even month does not undo the progress you've already built • How unrealistic expectations quietly create feelings of failure • The difference between failing and simply being human • Why your worth has nothing to do with your output or consistency • Simple grounding tools to use when you feel overwhelmed • How to refocus on your deeper "why" during tough seasons • A gentle reminder for moms navigating survival-mode days

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 280: 10 Truths About Your Self-Worth https://www.juliealedbetter.com/embrace-your-real/10-truths-about-your-self-worth

If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

If workouts have started to feel confusing or harder to stay consistent with, even though you genuinely want to take care of your body, or if you have ever chosen a plan that looked great on paper but felt impossible to keep up with once real life showed up, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, I walk you through how to choose the right workout split based on how many days you realistically train each week. We break down two-day, three-day, four-day, and five-day splits, what each option looks like, and who each one supports best.

I also talk about workout length, weekly training load, recovery, and why doing less in a smarter way often leads to better results over time. This is about simplifying your approach so consistency feels possible instead of pressured.

Here is what you will learn: • Why the most effective workout split is the one you can repeat • How to choose a plan that works with your real schedule • What two, three, four, and five-day splits actually look like • How weekly training load impacts progress and recovery • How to decide between 30-minute and 60-minute workouts

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 566: What Most Women Get Wrong About Progressive Overload

If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

Perfectionism has a sneaky way of showing up in fitness, even when your intentions are good. It sounds like needing the perfect plan, the perfect week, or the perfect amount of motivation before you start. And when something doesn't go exactly right, it can feel easier to stop altogether than to keep going imperfectly.

In this episode, I talk about why that mindset keeps so many women stuck, not because they don't care or don't try, but because the pressure to do everything perfectly makes consistency feel impossible.

I walk through what your body actually needs to adapt and change, why repeated effort matters more than flawless execution, and how learning to show up imperfectly is what builds real momentum. This is about releasing the pressure and choosing habits you can return to, even when life feels messy.

Here is what you will learn: • Why perfect plans usually fall apart in real life • How all-or-nothing thinking interrupts progress • What your body actually responds to when it comes to change • Why repetition matters more than intensity • How imperfect follow-through builds confidence over time

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 556: 5 Mindset Swaps That Made Motivation Irrelevant If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

If January has you questioning your relationship with food all over again… If the start of the year brings a flood of new promises, strict plans, and messages telling you this is the moment to reset everything, this conversation is meant to meet you where you are. Wanting change is understandable. Feeling pressured to fix yourself is not the same thing.

In this episode, I slow the pace and unpack what's behind the surge of January diet trends, how to recognize warning signs before getting caught in another cycle, and why restriction often creates the very struggle it claims to solve. We talk about how extreme approaches affect your body, your energy, and your mindset, and why progress feels so fragile when food becomes stressful. Most importantly, we shift the focus toward habits that support steadiness, nourishment, and long-term trust with your body.

Here is what you will learn: • Why diet trends spike at the beginning of the year • How to identify plans that rely on restriction • What happens in your body during repeated diet cycles • Why rigid rules increase stress and backfire over time • What a more supportive approach to nutrition looks like

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 508: The Only "New Year, New You" Fitness Protocol You Should Follow If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

There's a voice that shows up for so many women, and it usually gets loud right when you're trying to grow. It's the one that tells you you're not doing enough, not moving fast enough, or not where you should be by now. That voice can sneak in when you're working toward a goal, when you finally start feeling confident, or even when you're doing your best to slow down and rest.

In this conversation, I walk you through what that inner critic actually is and why it tends to show up during moments of change. We talk about how your brain tries to protect you by turning discomfort into danger, how to create space between you and fear-based thoughts, and how to respond without spiraling into self-doubt.

This is about learning to meet those thoughts with curiosity, not criticism, and building trust with yourself one small step at a time.

Here is what you will learn: • Why that critical voice often appears during growth • How to separate fear-driven thoughts from facts • A simple way to pause instead of reacting • How curiosity helps quiet self-judgment • Why small daily follow-through builds confidence

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 242: 3 Things Destroying Your Confidence and What to Do About It If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

Hello beautiful human! This episode is for you if January feels heavy and you're already feeling pressure to do everything perfectly. If you've ever started the year excited, motivated, and ready to change everything, only to feel exhausted and discouraged a few weeks later, this conversation is for you. Instead of chasing extremes, intensity, or all-or-nothing plans, we're focusing on building strength habits that feel realistic, supportive, and sustainable for real life.

I walk you through a simple 30-day strength reboot designed to help you rebuild momentum without burning out. This is not a challenge or a dramatic reset. It's a way to come back to the basics, simplify your workouts, and create consistency you can actually maintain.

We talk about strength training frequency, workout structure, daily movement, and fueling your body in a way that supports progress without adding stress or unnecessary rules.

Here is what you will learn: • Why strength training three days per week is enough to see real progress • How to structure your workouts so they feel simple and doable • Why 30-minute workouts still count and move you forward • How compound movements and progressive overload build lasting strength • What daily movement should look like without adding more stress • Why focusing on protein supports recovery without overhauling your diet

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 556: 5 Mindset Swaps That Made Motivation Irrelevant If you want more from me, be sure to check out…

• Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie

• Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/

• Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/

Website: www.juliealedbetter.com

This episode is for you if the start of a new year has brought up quiet pressure instead of clarity. If thoughts like "I should be further along," "I should be doing more," or "I should want this by now" keep looping in your head, this conversation is meant for you. Those thoughts rarely feel motivating. They usually feel heavy, discouraging, and disconnecting, even when you are genuinely trying.

In this episode, I walk you through why the word "should" tends to show up so strongly during transitions like a new year, and how it quietly pulls you into comparison, unrealistic expectations, and self-doubt. We talk about where those thoughts actually come from, how they affect your relationship with your body and your goals, and how to begin choosing habits and directions that feel supportive instead of draining. This is about moving into 2026 with more self-trust, clarity, and intention.

Here is what you will learn: • Why "should" is often rooted in external expectations • How living by obligation creates constant self-criticism • Why "should" disconnects you from what you truly want • How your body signals when something feels misaligned • How shifting your language can change how you show up

If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy: Episode 90: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your New Years Resolution