My 7 Best Tips for Entering 2025
Are you ready to make 2025 your strongest year yet? In this episode of the Embrace Your Real podcast, it is all about setting realistic goals and creating a sustainable plan to achieve them. From the importance of execution plans to focusing on feeling good, these tips will help you build habits that last.
Remember, progress over perfection is the key to long-term success. Whether it’s fitness, nutrition, or mindset, start small, stay consistent, and trust the process.
I discuss:
1. Goals Are Only as Good as Their Execution Plan
2. Set Realistic Goals
3. Don’t Transform All Your Habits Overnight
4. Believe You CAN Do This
5. Focus on the Minimal Effective Dose
6. Understand Your Hurdles and Plan for Them
7. Focus on Feeling Good
If you loved this episode, you’ll also love…
The Ultimate Guide To Hitting Your Macros At Holiday Parties
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Transcript:
[00:00:00] Hey there, beautiful human. You're listening to Embrace Your Real with Me, Julie Ledbetter. A podcast where I empower you to just be you with each episode and issue a dose of real talk and actionable advice for building your confidence, honoring your body and unconditionally loving your authentic self. Stay tuned. If you're ready to embrace your real, let's get hands, girl. Hello and welcome back to another episode on Embrace your podcast. Can you believe that we are about to step into 2025? It is honestly so wild how fast this year has flown by. Like I know that the start of a new year can really bring a lot of energy around setting goals, making plans, dreaming about what is next, and really wanting to get your body back or bounce back into shape like that. Kind of verbiage in that mindset is so in our face, especially around this time of year. And while all of that might be great, here's a thing. Goals are only as good as the execution plan behind them without a clear plan. Even the best intentions can fall short. And so today, I want to share my seven best tips for starting the New Year. Strong tips that have worked for me. And I know that they can work for you, too. These are not about quick fixes or overhauling your life overnight. Instead, they're about creating a sustainable plan to help you actually achieve the goals that you're setting for yourself. But before we dive in, I want to share this review. It comes from username. Busy Mom. Hey, me too. She gave a five star review and said, I love this podcast. I began listening to this podcast after saving lots of Julie's workouts on Pinterest. I love it. So informative. I became a believer in macro accounting about a year ago when I noticed my body transformation from tracking macros. I've always worked out, but the results were apparent after I understood macros and began prioritizing protein. A man girl I'm sharing with my friends this information is too good to be kept to myself. Icing on the cake. Your Jesus follower. I love this so much. Thank you so much for tuning into the podcast. Also, my Pinterest crew continues to dominate these reviews and I literally love you guys so much. So thank you guys so much for taking time out of your day to send in a rating interview. If you could scooch over to Apple podcast and liberating interview, that would mean the absolute world to me and our team. Just kind of know how this podcast in general or maybe a specific episode spoke to you. So I would love to hear from you. All right. Let's dive into the seven Best tips for starting the New Year strong. Number one, like I mentioned in the opening. Goals are only as good as their execution plan. Setting goals. Yes, that's very exciting. But without a plan, they are just wishful thinking. I may repeat that again. Setting goals are exciting, but without a plan, they are just wishful thinking. So many people, and I'm putting myself in this camp as well, set these goals and then they get upset when they cannot follow through with them. But I think the biggest thing that's missing oftentimes when they can't follow through with them is the plan. Like how do you expect to achieve anything if you don't have a clear plan for reaching it? For example, if your goal is to feel stronger or leaner or more confident in your body, how are you going to get there? You need a roadmap. And this is subtle plug where movement with Julie comes in, like having a structured program to follow takes the absolute guesswork out of your workouts. When you have a plan, you are no longer just hoping for results. You're actively working towards them, like setting the goal. Yes, that's great, but you need to have a plan of action to actually reach that goal. Like think about it like this. A goal without a plan is like trying to bake a cake. Without a recipe. You might throw some ingredients together and hope for the best, but the outcome probably won't be what you wanted. Take the time to map out your steps. What are you going to do daily? What are you going to do weekly? What are the tools? What are the programs? The accountability that are going to help you stay on track? If you have goals, the movement with Julie App, like I mentioned, is amazing because it gives you five brand new workouts every single week where literally you just show up and you just follow along with those workouts, right? It's a go at your own pace. There's video demonstrations for every single movement. And as long as you have three 30 minute workouts weekly. Trust me when I say you will see results like the plan is optimized for you to, at bare minimum, three workouts a week. For 30 minutes, you will see results. It's a simple plan that will get you closer to your goals and you can go to sale. That's I sale that moment. Julia com again that sale sale e dot movement july.com. I really think that you will just learn so much about the program but also more importantly you'll you'll notice that just having a plan like I mentioned having a plan to execute is going to be key for you actually seeing results. Which leads me to number two, you have to set these realistic goals, like setting realistic goals is huge and it's something that so many people, in my opinion, overlook. One of the biggest mistakes that I see is setting goals that don't align with the time, the energy, the capacity that you actually have right now. So maybe it's taking on too much at once, or maybe it's setting a timeline that just is not feasible. For example, like you have a goal to lose 20 pounds in two months. That's not only unrealistic for most people, that's also not the healthiest approach. That's not the most sustainable approach. But then when people don't see quick results, they get discouraged and give up. So here's the thing. You have to remember that real, meaningful change takes time, especially when it comes to fitness. You're not. Going to completely transform your body in a few weeks, like those quick fixes that you might see online. They might promise drastic results, but they often rarely lead to lasting change, and they oftentimes leave people feeling so burnt out like it takes consistency, effort over weeks and months to start seeing noticeable progress. And you know what? That is okay. The slower, more steady approach is not just more sustainable, it's actually more rewarding in the long run. So instead of focusing on instant results, focus on building the habits that will help you to get there. If you're consistent with your plan, the results will follow. Let me say that again. If you are consistent with your plan, the results will follow. Trust the process and give yourself grace to move at your own pace. Number three, don't transform all of your habits overnight. This is so, so important to recognize and understand and also practice. We've all been there starting a new year with the best of intentions and this mindset of That's it. I want to change everything. Starting January 1st, you start, you know, you start the year energized, ready to completely overhaul your entire life. But here's the thing. Trying to change everything all at once is not only overwhelming. Instead of building momentum, it is really just the recipe for you to burn out before you even completely started. So here's the truth Real. Like I mentioned, lasting change comes from focusing on small, consistent steps over time, not from trying to do it perfectly from day one. With that being said, the strategy that I love and the strategy that works and has worked for me and thousands of other women is writing down five habits that you want to build this year. These should be things that truly matter to you and align with the goals that you want to achieve. And then instead of trying to do all five right away, pick just two of them. Two of those habits that you want to master this year and execute on daily, maybe day one, you nail habit number two and number five. And then the next day maybe you hit habit number one and number four. For example, let's say your habits are drinking more water, working out more consistently, eating more protein, getting more sleep, praying, having that quiet time, which two of those things feel more manageable today? And this genuinely will change daily. And especially like depending on the season of life that you're in. But once you're able to commit to two of the habits daily, then start to hit three, then start to hit that fourth and so on. This method works because it builds momentum, So each small success gives you the confidence to take on more without feeling overwhelmed. And it also allows for flexibility and doesn't make you strive for perfection. It also ensures that you are creating habits that actually stick instead of starting strong and then fizzling out a few weeks later. Remember that progress is what leads to long term success, not perfection. The beauty of this approach is that it keeps you from falling into this all or nothing mindset. It's not about doing everything perfectly. It's about doing something consistently. And that, my friend, is the key to really turning your resolutions into real sustainable progress. Number four, you have to believe that you absolutely, unequivocally can do this. Listen up. Because this one is so important. You will never reach a goal if you don't believe deep down that you are actually capable of achieving it. You need to have this unwavering belief that you are capable. That belief will take you further than anything else. I guarantee you and here's here's what I want you to do. I want you to spend a few minutes every single day seeing yourself as if you've already achieved your goal. Like, close your eyes and really visualize it. What is it look like? How does it feel to be strong and confident and proud of the progress that you've made? What are you wearing? How do you hold yourself? What do you feel when you think about how far you've come? I know this might sound cheesy, but this kind of daily visualization really does rewire your brain to believe that it's possible. And when you believe it, you actually start showing up for it even on the hardest of days. Another thing that you can do is write down these affirmations or prayers that remind you of who you are becoming or who God says you are and say them out loud. Like seriously out loud until you believe it. And how you speak to yourself matters. If you're consistently doubting yourself or telling yourself that you can't do it, guess what? You're going to start acting like it's true. But if you speak kindly to yourself, if you remind yourself that you can do hard things, you'll start showing up in a whole new way. And I want this to be a daily practice. Like, see it, say it and believe it. Number five, focus on the minimal effective dose. So I talk about consistency because I know this is where a lot of us trip up. But if you have. Been struggling to stay consistent. Let me tell you about this game changing approach, like focus just on the minimal effective dose. I know what you're thinking. Okay, what does that even mean? Julie Like, what is the minimal effective dose? It means doing the smallest, most manageable thing that still moves you towards your goal. Not the biggest, not the flashiest, the smallest. And trust me, it still counts. Like for fitness, this could mean swapping that 60 minute workout for that 30 minute workout. Or maybe that's committing to 2 to 3 workouts instead of 5 to 6. For nutrition, this means maybe only tracking your protein intake, not all of your macros. The key is to lower the barrier so much that it feels impossible not to do it. And when you make that bar low, even on your busiest, most unmotivated days, you can still show up. And here's the magic that those small efforts build momentum and over time they actually compound into something big. And here's the magic. Those small efforts build momentum, and over time, they actually compound into something big. It's better to do a little consistently than a lot sporadically. Let me say that again. It's better to do a little consistently than a lot sporadically. Think of it this way Would you rather water plants every few days to keep them alive or dump a gallon on them once a week and hope for the best? The same goes for your goals. Once you're nailing the basics and they start to feel like second nature, you can layer on more. But in the beginning, it's not about going all out. It's just about showing up. Simple, manageable, consistent. That's what creates real progress. So I want us to ditch this all or nothing mindset and a little bit gun every day will take you so much further than burning yourself out trying to do it all at once. Number six Understand your hurdles and plan for them. Life is full of hurdles, busy schedules, low motivation, unexpected setbacks. They all happen to us. All of us. But here's the thing. Those hurdles don't have to derail you. The secret is really anticipating ahead of time and creating a plan for when they show up. It's not about avoiding challenges altogether because let's be real. That's impossible. It's really about being prepared so that those hurdles feel less overwhelming when they hit. Like think about your life right now. Are mornings just total chaos? If so, plan to work out in the evenings or during a lunch break or vice versa? Do you always end up ordering takeout because you have no time to cook? Look for a handful of quick simple recipes or meal prep hacks that make dinner a no brainer. One thing for me, and this is completely not sponsored, but I saw so many people talking about this company called Just Meats. And I'm telling you, it is a total game changer and the meats are delicious. I don't have a promo code, so you can Google, like just Meat's promo code. I'm sure you'll be able to find an influencer that talks about it. But I'm telling you, they're so freaking good. And basically all it is, is it's literally what the name of the company is just meats. And so it has, you know, we have carne asada, we have herb roasted chicken, we have braised shark, shredded beef. There are so many different meats that you can do and it's like a delivery subscription. So you can say, you know, I want it twice a month or I want it three times a month or I want it once a month or once every other month you get to decide. But that has been a total game changer, especially as we are now a family of three and just like handling baby life because we know at the very least we have our proteins and then we can build a real meal around that. And just in this season of life right now, like either it's us using the just meat's protein and building meal around that or going to like sprouts and getting like the shredded premade chicken. And because that in and of itself you can make so many different ways, but that is going to be so helpful for you and I. The idea is to really think ahead and find these practical solutions so that when those hurdles appear, you've already know how to handle them. So for us, we were realizing like, okay, we're DoorDash ING so much food, we need to figure this out because we don't have the time that we used to to prep X, Y and Z. Like in this season of Life and the Just Meats has been such a game changing solution. So really, again, just finding those practical solutions is so, so important. And what I want you to do is really just take a few minutes to reflect on what's tripped you up in the past. Like maybe that's hitting snooze one too many times, getting stuck in this all or nothing mindset or letting a busy week throw you completely off track. I want you to write 1 or 2 strategies to deal with each hurdle when it comes up again. And think of it like packing an umbrella, like you can't stop the rain, but you can stay dry. When you have a plan, you are less likely to feel caught off guard and you'll feel more confident and in control moving forward. Because preparation isn't just practical, it's actually empowering. You've got this with a little bit of planning. Those hurdles won't stand a chance. And last but not least, number seven focus on feeling good. So at. The end of the day, your goal should be about feeling good. Like when you feel better, you're more likely to stay consistent. And when you're consistent, that's when real change happens. If you focus solely on the esthetics or hitting a certain number on the scale or trying to fit into a certain pant size, that's so easy to get discouraged. But when you shift your focus to how you feel more energized, less stressed, stronger, happier, whatever it might be, you're more likely to stay motivated. Like feeling good means listening to your body, honoring what it needs. Somedays, that means pushing yourself in a workout. Other days that means resting and recharging. Both are valid and both are a part of the journey. Like feeling good means eating in a way that fuels you and makes you feel energized and not in a way that an influencer might have told you because you need to eat X, Y, and Z in order to see results like working out because it makes you feel good, not because you need to punish yourself for what you ate or for the weight that you need to lose because you went crazy overboard in the holiday season. Like staying consistent with nourishing your body with what it needs because it makes you feel good. Remember, when you feel better, you're most likely changing your body to like feeling stronger, feeling healthier, feeling more confident is the ultimate win. So as you set goals for 2025, just make sure that they are aligned with what truly makes you feel good and really pay attention to that. If you're doing something that doesn't make you feel good, it's probably not something that you should even spend or waste your time on in the first place. Okay, so there you have it. Those are my seven Best tips for entering 2025 with confidence and intention. Remember, it's not about overhauling your life overnight or chasing perfection. It's genuinely about building these small habits and staying consistent and believing in your ability to achieve what you set out to do. Let me quickly recap. Number one goals are only as good as their execution plan. Number two, set realistic goals. Number three, don't transform all of your habits overnight. Number four, believe that you can do this. Number five, focus on the minimal effective dose. Number six, understand your hurdles and plan for them. And last but not least. Number seven, focus on feeling good. If you are looking for a structured plan to kickstart your fitness journey, my Or Julie app is here to help. It's not just about a work it the workouts. It's genuinely about creating a lifestyle that makes you feel good and helps you reach your goal. I also have nutrition and nutrition goes hand in hand with your fitness, so if you need help with your nutrition, you can go check out macro candy made simple.com to get your macros custom calculated for the new year. Thank you so much for tuning in. And here's to making 2025 your strongest happiest year yet. Love ya. All right, sister. That's all I got for you today. But I have two things that I need you to do. First thing, if you are not already following me on the gram. Be sure to do so, Julie. A lot better. Yes, it's with an A in the middle for that Daily Post workout. Real talk. Healthy tips and tricks and honest accountability to keep your mind and heart in check. The second thing, be sure to subscribe to Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. Thank you so much for joining me. It means the absolute world. And I'm going to leave you with one last thought. The most beautiful women that I have met in my life are the ones who are completely confident and secure in being authentically themselves. Remember that beauty goes so much deeper than the surface. So go out there and embrace real because you're worth it. [00:00:00]