100% Real With Ruby; nutrition, strength, fat loss, muscle, macros - without the fluff
100% Real With Ruby; nutrition, strength, fat loss, muscle, macros - without the fluff
Ruby Cherie | Evidence based transformation coach + nutrition expert
479. Building A LEAN, STRONG + DEFINED body after 35; one of the most crucial elements that matters more than calorie deficits
1 hour 6 minutes Posted Jun 12, 2026 at 6:34 pm.
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Show notes

If you’re scared that building muscle will make you bulky, but you’re also frustrated that dieting harder still isn’t giving you the lean, defined look you want… this episode is the mindset shift.

In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between losing weight and actually building a body that looks lean, strong and shaped.

Because if you’re training hard, eating low calories, avoiding carbs, doing more cardio, chasing more control, and still feeling soft or stuck, the answer probably isn’t “diet harder.”

It might be that you’re under-fuelled, under-recovered, practising the wrong things, and expecting your body to perform without giving it what it needs to build.

We cover:

• why building muscle does not mean getting bulky
• why carbs matter for training performance, muscle, energy and body recomposition
• why low calories can make you feel like you’re working hard but not actually progressing
• the difference between scale weight and how your body looks, feels and performs
• why the basics work — but only if you stop getting bored of them
• why getting lean is not just about shrinking, it’s about building enough muscle to create shape

This is for the woman who wants to look lean, toned and defined — but is tired of living like fat loss is the only answer.

Find me on Instagram: @transformxruby