• The real lessons I learned from tracking macros for nearly 15 years — beyond food, into mindset, discipline, and self-trust.

• Why tracking isn't meant to control you, and how I use it now as a tool for freedom, not restriction.

• The six phases I went through on my journey, from tracking every bite to living in full peace and balance with food.

• How under-eating doesn't make you disciplined…it makes you depleted.

• How fueling your body actually builds confidence.

• The key shift that helped me move from obsession to awareness — and why real food freedom comes from knowing, not guessing.

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/

If you've been lifting consistently for years but your progress has stalled, your strength feels the same, your body looks the same, and your motivation is fading, this episode is for you.

You're doing everything "right": tracking your macros, showing up for your lifts, sleeping, recovering… yet somehow, your body isn't responding the way it used to. The truth? You're not broken, your body has simply adapted.

In this episode, we're digging into what's really going on when your progress plateaus after years of consistent training, and more importantly, what to do about it. You'll learn what's happening neurologically, hormonally, and physically when the results stop showing up, and how to reignite growth without overtraining or burning yourself out.

Here's what we're diving into:

• How your brain's "efficiency" in movement can secretly limit muscle activation

• Why nervous system fatigue often looks like low motivation — and how to recover from it

• How shifts in estrogen and testosterone affect your strength and recovery

• The real reason your body isn't responding (hint: you're probably under-fueling)

• Why recovery has to evolve with your training, or you'll stay stuck in micro-fatigue

• What happens when dopamine-driven progress slows and training feels flat

• How to finally break the "work harder" mindset and train smarter for long-term results
  
  

If your workouts have started to feel flat and your body isn't changing, this episode will help you understand what's going on beneath the surface, and give you the tools to start seeing results again.

If you loved this conversation, you'll also love Episode 38: Getting Off Your Fitness Plateau with 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

If you've been showing up consistently but not seeing the strength or definition you want, this episode might just reveal why. The most common mistake I see women make with dumbbells? Going too light, for too long.

We've been told that heavier weights make women "bulky," that lighter ones are for "toning," or that cardio is the safer path to fitness. But those myths are holding you back from building the strong, confident body you actually want.

In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly why lifting too light stalls your progress and what to do instead so you can finally start seeing real change.

Here's what we're diving into:

• Why light weights don't trigger the muscle or metabolism changes you're working for

• The science of progressive overload and how to apply it to your workouts

• How to know if your dumbbells are actually heavy enough

• The difference between training for endurance vs. building strength and muscle

• How to safely level up your lifts without fear of injury or "bulking up"

• The role structure plays in ensuring you keep progressing month after month
  
  

If you've been stuck in the "light weights only" cycle, this episode will give you the clarity, confidence, and strategy to finally level up, without overcomplicating it.

🎧 Want more? Check out these episodes:

• What Most Women Get Wrong About Progressive Overload
  
  

• How Much Weight Should I Be Lifting?

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