#451; you're chasing lean the wrong way; here's what actually works - the maintenance paradox

100% Real With Ruby; nutrition, strength, fat loss, muscle, macros - without the fluff

the lean look is built in maintenance calories or above, not a deficit. here’s why eating more and training smarter is the real path to strength, shape + lasting change.

this is why maintenance isn't maintenance. its not maintaining. its creating.

you want to get lean, strong and sculpted — but your approach is keeping you stuck. in this episode, we unpack the maintenance paradox: the idea that most women are chasing a physique built through fueling, lifting and maintaining… while stuck in endless dieting, cardio and chasing the scale.

we break down why the lean, defined look doesn’t come from cutting forever — it comes from building muscle in a phase your brain thinks is “doing nothing.” you’ll learn why maintenance isn’t a holding tank, it’s the actual path to lasting body change. and we’ll show you how to rewire your mindset so you stop sabotaging results with short-term strategies.

if you’re constantly jumping back into a deficit, scared to eat more, or feel like progress stalls when you stop “doing more,” this one’s for you.

what we cover:
• why the look you want is built, not lost
• how maintenance creates muscle, shape + definition
• scale obsession vs physique development
• mindset shifts for fueling + training effectively
• breaking the restrict-binge cycle with smart phases

👉 ready to build lean muscle and stop chasing fat loss forever? follow us on instagram [https://www.instagram.com/transformxruby/] or apply for coaching [link] to work with us.

inside, we reframe maintenance as a skill: eating enough to lift heavy, hit protein, manage stress and sleep, without spiraling into all-or-nothing. you’ll learn how to use simple metrics beyond the scale, why body recomp happens best when you’re fed, and how to program training so performance drives physique. we also cover cognitive biases that derail you, like perfectionism, catastrophizing and deadline thinking, plus a body neutrality approach that keeps you consistent when change feels slow.

#maintenancephase #buildlean #strengthtrainingwomen #metabolismreset #musclesculpting #fitover35 #tonednottiny #womensfitness #bodyrecomp #fatlossmindset