Mid Year Check In: Is What You’re Doing Actually Working?

 

Hey hey beautiful human!

If realizing we are already past the halfway point of the year makes your stomach drop a little, this episode is for you.

Maybe January was supposed to be the start of the year you finally got consistent, stopped starting over, built the body you wanted, or followed through on the goals you kept pushing off. And now you are looking up wondering where the time went.

But girl, this check-in is not here to make you feel bad. It is here to help you stop waiting until December 31st to ask the question that actually matters: Is what you are doing right now getting you where you want to go?

In this bonus episode of Embrace Your Real, we are pausing to look at what is working, what is not working, and what needs to shift before the rest of the year passes you by. There is still so much time left, but only if you are willing to get honest now.

What’s Discussed:

  • Why the mid-year mark can bring up frustration, pressure, or disappointment

  • How to give yourself credit for what has been working

  • The question to ask yourself before December 31st gets here

  • Why “trying harder” is not always the real solution

  • How to figure out what is actually standing in your way

  • Why the rest of this year can still look completely different

And if this check-in shows you that your workouts are the obstacle, Movement With Julie gives you a clear plan so you can stop winging it and start following through. You’ll get five brand-new workouts every week, 30-minute and 60-minute options, and home or gym flexibility. Head to movementwithjulie.com to get started.

If nutrition is the piece that keeps tripping you up, Macro Counting Made Simple helps you understand how to fuel your body without restriction, overwhelm, or guessing. Head to www.macrocountingmadesimple.com to get started.

If you loved this episode, you’ll also love Episode 619: 7 Unconventional Ways to Stay Consistent and Actually See Results. It is the perfect next listen once you know what needs to change and want a real way to make consistency stick.

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

Transcript

(0:00) Hey, hey beautiful human. Can I steal five minutes of your time? I have something super important to share with you (0:06) but I promise I'll be really quick. You're listening to my weekly bonus episode of Embrace Your Reel with me, Julie Ledbetter.

(0:13) I'm about to give you a quick tip for building your confidence, honoring your body, and unconditionally loving your authentic self. (0:19) Stay tuned if you're ready to Embrace Your Reel. Let's get it, let's go! (0:32) Hello and welcome back to another bonus episode on the Embrace Your Podcast.

(0:36) Today's going to be a short one but I promise you it's going to be worth it because today I just want to do a quick check-in with you. (0:41) Where we actually kind of stop and look at where we're at, where you want it to be, and what needs to happen between now and the end of this year because here's the thing, I know we're a little past the halfway point of the year but I also know that for a lot of you that realization kind of stings a little because you think back to January and all the things that you said that this was going to be a year of, like the year you finally got consistent, the year that you built the body that you've been working towards, the year that you started the business, (1:05) the year that you stopped starting over, all the things and I just want to ask you honestly how is that going? (1:10) Because I would rather we have this conversation now than wait until December 31st when we're looking back feeling like you let just an entire year slip by. (1:19) There is still so much time left in 2026 but only if we get honest with ourselves right now about what is working, what is not, and what needs to change and that's exactly what we're going to be doing in today's bonus episode.

(1:30) Before we dive in, I want to share this review. She gave a five-star review and said, genuinely changed my outlook on life. (1:37) She said, okay, I've been following this amazing woman for over a year now on Instagram.

(1:41) I randomly came across her, saw her hair and was like, wow, she glows with beauty and confidence. (1:45) Later I found out about her story and truly saw how beautiful she was in the inside. (1:49) Then this podcast came up.

Thank you so much, Julie, for everything that you pour into this podcast. (1:54) I love this so much. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to send in this review.

(1:59) It really does mean the world to me and our team. Just kind of know how the podcast is helping you or maybe a specific episode. (2:05) I would love to hear it so you can scooch over to Apple Podcasts, leave a rating interview.

(2:09) If you're listening on Spotify, you can still rate the podcast and that does help us in the ranks as well. (2:15) So thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Let's just dive right in.

(2:18) So first, I want to talk about what is actually working because before we get into the hard stuff, (2:22) I want you to stop and give yourself some credit because I think that women are so quick to zoom in on everything they've not done. (2:28) And completely gloss over everything that they have. And that's not fair for you.

(2:33) So I want you to think about this year so far. 2026 from January until now, today's August 6th. (2:39) What has actually worked? What habits have you built in that you are proud of? (2:44) What did you show up for even when it was really hard? (2:47) Where in your life have you made progress? (2:49) Even if it was slow progress, even if it was small progress, (2:52) even if it didn't look exactly how you thought it would look by now, where have you seen progress? (2:57) Maybe you worked out more consistently than you ever have before, (3:00) or maybe you started tracking just your protein or your water intake, or maybe you've had more sleep.

(3:06) Maybe you went through something really hard this year and you just kept showing up anyway. (3:10) Maybe you decided that you were just not going to quit and here you are. (3:14) You have not quit, right? Sometimes not quitting is the whole wind.

(3:19) Whatever it is, I want you to acknowledge it. (3:21) I want you to write it down because the things that are working are the things that you want to protect (3:25) and keep doing for the rest of this year. (3:28) Now, I want you to get honest about what is not working.

(3:31) All right, this is the part where it's going to require some real honesty, (3:34) and I want you to come at this without judgment, not beating yourself up, (3:38) but just to get crystal clear because clarity is what creates change. (3:42) Let me say that again. (3:43) Clarity is what creates change.

(3:46) Where are you falling short? (3:48) What goals did you set in January that you have barely touched? (3:51) What keeps tripping you up over and over again no matter how many times you try? (3:56) What excuses have you been making that you know deep down are just excuses? (4:01) Maybe your nutrition has been completely off and you just keep saying, (4:04) I'll get back on track, but you never do. (4:06) Maybe you've been barely working out and you keep waiting for the motivation to show up. (4:11) Maybe you set a goal to build some muscle or lose body fat (4:14) and you've just not really committed to either one of those.

(4:17) Maybe you've been going through the motions, (4:19) but not really pushing yourself to grow the way that you know you could. (4:23) Whatever it is, I want you to name it. (4:25) I want you to say it out loud.

(4:27) I want you to write it down because you cannot fix what you are not willing to look at. (4:31) Let me say that again. (4:32) You cannot fix what you are not willing to look at.

(4:35) Now, here's the question I really want you to sit with. (4:37) If you keep doing exactly what you're doing right now, (4:40) the same habits, the same effort, the same choices, (4:43) how are you going to feel on December 31st? (4:46) I want you to really think about that. (4:48) Close your eyes if you need to.

(4:49) Fast forward to the last day of this year and picture yourself looking back. (4:53) How do you feel? (4:54) Are you proud? (4:56) Are you satisfied? (4:57) Do you feel like you showed up for yourself this year? (4:59) Or do you feel disappointed? (5:01) Do you feel like you let another year go by without making progress (5:04) that you said you're going to make? (5:06) Do you hear yourself saying, (5:07) I'm not where I wanted to be or I wasted another year (5:10) or I will start fresh in January? (5:12) Because if the answer feels good, (5:14) if you can honestly say that the path that you are on right now (5:17) is going to lead you somewhere where you are so dang proud by December, (5:20) keep going. (5:21) You are doing the right things, (5:23) just stay the course, trust the process.

(5:26) But if the answer does not feel good, (5:27) if that December 31st version of you feels disappointed or frustrated (5:31) or feels like she just let herself down again, (5:34) then something needs to change. (5:37) Not in September, not in October, (5:39) not when life calms down now, today. (5:42) Because the longer you wait, the less time you have.

(5:45) So what needs to change? (5:47) Now that you know what is not working, (5:49) it's time to ask why. (5:51) Why is it not working? (5:52) What is actually standing between you and the results that you want? (5:55) Because here's what most people do. (5:57) They identify the problem and then they just try harder.

(6:00) They white knuckle it, they add more discipline, (6:03) they tell themselves to just be better, (6:04) and then they end up in the exact same place three months later (6:08) wondering what went wrong. (6:09) The real question is not what I need to do more of. (6:13) The real question is what is actually getting in the way? (6:16) What are the obstacles that keep tripping you up over and over again? (6:19) Because until you identify those (6:20) and create a real plan to overcome them, nothing is going to change.

(6:24) You can want it as badly as you want it. (6:26) You can have all the motivation in the world, (6:28) but if the obstacles are still there waiting for you, (6:30) you are going to keep hitting them. (6:32) So I want you to get super specific.

(6:34) Is the obstacle that you don't have a clear workout plan? (6:36) So you just keep winging it and getting inconsistent results. (6:39) Or maybe you don't understand your nutrition well enough (6:41) to know if you're actually feeling your body in the right way. (6:45) Maybe it's that you don't have a system that fits into your real life (6:48) so everything falls apart the moment things get busy.

(6:50) Because if your obstacle is a workout, (6:52) if you've been winging it (6:53) or following random workouts you found on the internet (6:55) or just not sure what you are doing (6:57) is actually moving you towards your goal, (7:00) that's exactly what my movement with Julie solves. (7:02) It takes all the guesswork completely out of it. (7:04) You don't have to think about what you're doing (7:05) or how to progress or whether you're doing enough.

(7:07) You just open up the app and follow the plan. (7:10) Five brand new workouts every single week, (7:12) 30 or 60 minute options, dumbbell workouts. (7:14) All you need is a few pair of dumbbells and a small space.

(7:17) You can do them at the gym if you want, (7:19) but we have about 90% of the women in our program (7:22) do these workouts during nap time (7:25) before the kids wake up, after the family goes to bed. (7:28) And so they do it in their living room, their garage, their basement, (7:31) just a spare bedroom, just a corner of their house. (7:34) And that's all you need.

(7:35) So really a small space and a few pair of dumbbells. (7:38) So the obstacle of not having a clear structured plan, that's gone. (7:42) If you go to sale, s-a-l-e dot movement Julie dot com, (7:44) you can click the link on the show notes, head over there, check it out.

(7:48) I promise you, this is a plan that is built for real women (7:52) and you will see real results if you follow it consistently. (7:56) If your obstacles nutrition, (7:58) if you know that you're not fueling your body the right way, (8:01) but you just don't know where to start or how to change (8:03) or how to make it actually work into your real life. (8:06) That's exactly what my macro kind of made simple is built for.

(8:08) It does not tell you what to eat. (8:11) It teaches you how to understand your nutrition (8:13) in a way that makes sense for your life, (8:14) for your goals, your schedule. (8:16) So that food stops feeling like something (8:18) that you're constantly fighting against (8:20) and starts feeling like a tool that you actually can have (8:24) for the remainder of your life, for your entire life.

(8:27) Whether you're counting your macros, (8:29) all three macronutrients for every day of your life or not, (8:32) I'm telling you, I've counted my macros (8:34) for almost a decade of my life. (8:36) And now being in the postpartum season of my life, (8:39) I would say for the last three or so years, (8:41) I have not counted macros. (8:43) I am very intentional about my protein intake, (8:45) my fiber intake, but in terms of carbs, (8:48) fats and protein, all of them, (8:50) I don't count all of them anymore (8:51) just because I have a rough understanding (8:53) and idea of how my body feels.

(8:56) And so having the tool and learning that tool (8:58) has served me so well. (9:00) But the point is that you stop trying harder (9:03) at the same thing that's not working (9:04) and you just go straight to the source. (9:06) You identify the obstacle and you find the solution (9:09) and then you go execute.

(9:10) That is what the rest of this year should be about. (9:12) And here is what I really want you to leave with today. (9:16) It is not too late.

(9:17) I need you to hear that. (9:18) It is not too late for this year. (9:20) There are still five full months left.

(9:23) Five months is enough time (9:24) to completely transform your habits, (9:26) your body, your consistency (9:27) and how you feel about yourself. (9:28) Five months of showing up consistently, (9:31) even imperfectly. (9:33) That is going to change things in a way (9:35) that will completely blow your ever loving mind (9:38) by December 31st.

(9:39) But only if you start now, not Monday, (9:42) not September, not the fall, now. (9:45) So do the check-in, get honest, (9:47) identify what needs to change (9:48) and then go make the rest of this year count (9:50) because December 31st is coming (9:52) whether you are ready or not (9:53) and I want you to meet it feeling proud. (9:56) If this episode hit home for you, (9:57) please share it with a friend (9:58) or a family member who might need to hear it.

(10:01) And if you've not already left a review, (10:02) I would so appreciate it if you did. (10:04) If you want to keep the momentum going, (10:06) go and listen to episode 619. (10:08) It's all about the unconventional strategies (10:11) that actually make consistency work.

(10:14) So once you know what needs to change, (10:16) you actually have a real plan for making that happen. (10:19) And I will link that in the show notes below (10:20) so that you can easily go check that out. (10:22) I love you so dang much.

(10:23) I hope that this real talk was just, (10:25) just a kick in the little booty that you needed (10:28) to finish out 2026 strong. (10:30) Even if the first start of 2026 did not start (10:34) how you planned, you can finish it how you planned. (10:37) And I believe that finishing strong (10:40) is such an important habit to keep (10:42) and to instill in your mind, in your family's mind (10:46) and just, that is just a value (10:48) and something that I think is so important (10:51) for us to instill in our everyday life, (10:53) whether it's fitness, nutrition, or relationships, (10:56) finances, whatever it is, whatever goals you have, (10:59) finish strong, all right? (11:01) I love you so dang much.

(11:02) I mean it and I'll talk to you in the next one. (11:13) All right, sister, that's all I got for you today. (11:16) But I have two things that I need you to do.

(11:19) First thing, if you are not already following me on the gram, (11:22) be sure to do so, Julie A. Ledbetter. (11:24) Yes, it's with an A in the middle (11:26) for that daily post-workout real talk, (11:29) healthy tips and tricks, and honest accountability (11:31) to keep your mind and heart in check. (11:34) The second thing, be sure to subscribe to Apple Podcasts (11:37) to never miss an episode.

(11:39) Thank you so much for joining me. (11:42) It means the absolute world (11:43) and I'm going to leave you with one last thought. (11:45) The most beautiful women that I have met in my life (11:48) are the ones who are completely confident (11:51) and secure in being authentically themselves.

(11:55) Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface. (11:59) So go out there and embrace a real (12:01) because you're worth it.

 
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