How to Actually Get Enough Protein in Your Diet (When It Feels Impossible)
Embrace Your Real
Julie Ledbetter
5.0 • 981 Ratings
🗓️ 16 March 2026
⏱️ 21 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
If you feel like getting enough protein is a constant struggle, you are not alone. I talk to women every single week who know protein matters for building muscle, staying full, and changing their body composition, but actually hitting their target feels overwhelming. In this episode, I'm breaking down why protein can feel so hard to prioritize and how to make it doable in your real life.
I walk you through the three biggest barriers I hear all the time: not liking protein-rich foods, feeling uncomfortably full when you try to eat more, and believing protein is too expensive. I also share practical, realistic solutions for each one and give you a behind-the-scenes look at what a normal week of hitting your protein goal can actually look like, including busy mornings, takeout nights, and imperfect days. This conversation is about consistency and sustainability, not perfection.
Here is what you will learn:
• Why protein should be your top macro priority
• How to find protein sources you genuinely enjoy
• Ways to prepare protein so you do not get bored
• How to spread protein throughout the day to avoid feeling overly full
• When liquid protein can be helpful
• Budget-friendly protein options that support your goals
• What a realistic week of hitting your protein target actually looks like
If you want to keep learning, I think you'll also love Episode 325: Why You Need Protein to Build the Body You Want, and Episode 371: 8 High Protein Recipes for Hitting Your Macros.
If this episode encouraged you, make sure you're following the podcast so you never miss a new one. And if you found it helpful, I would love for you to leave a quick review or share it with a friend who is trying to figure out her nutrition.
If you want to stop guessing how much protein you should be eating, head to macrocountingmadesimple.com and get your personal numbers calculated inside Macro Counting Made Simple. And if you're looking for structured workouts to pair with your nutrition, check out Movement With Julie at sale.movementwithjulie.com.
If you want more from me, be sure to check out…
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Follow me on Instagram: @juliealedbetter | @embraceyourreal | @movementwithjulie
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Movement With Julie | App: https://sale.movementwithjulie.com/
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Macro Counting Made Simple Online Academy: https://www.macrocountingmadesimple.com/
Website: www.juliealedbetter.com
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey there, beautiful human. You're listening to Embrace Your Real with me, Julie Ledbetter, |
| 0:05.4 | a podcast where I empower you to just be you. With each episode, I dish you a dose of real talk |
| 0:11.4 | and actionable advice for building your confidence, honoring your body, and unconditionally loving |
| 0:16.6 | your authentic self. Stay tuned if you're ready to embrace your real. Let's get and let's go. |
| 0:29.4 | Hello and welcome back to another episode on the Embrace Real podcast. I'm so happy that you're |
| 0:34.5 | here with me today. All right, let's get serious and talk about protein. Yes, protein, it's a serious topic because I know there are so many of you guys listening right now who are frustrated. You know you need to eat more protein. You understand it's important for building muscles, staying full, supporting your goals. But actually hitting your protein target every single day can feel like this never-ending uphill battle. Like maybe you don't |
| 0:54.9 | like the traditional protein. Maybe protein makes you feel like very uncomfortably full. Maybe you're |
| 1:00.2 | on a budget and quality protein sources just feel really expensive. Or maybe you're just tired of |
| 1:05.2 | eating the same bland chicken breast and drinking protein shake after protein shake after |
| 1:09.3 | protein shake over and over again, |
| 1:11.3 | you just have no idea what else to eat. I've heard this from so many women, and I've been there |
| 1:15.3 | myself, honestly, the struggle to get enough protein is so, so real. But here's the good news. |
| 1:21.1 | It does not have to stay that way. And that's why in today's episode, we're going deeper than |
| 1:25.2 | just like tips and tricks. We're tackling the why behind the struggle. |
| 1:28.9 | Like, why is protein so hard to eat enough of? |
| 1:31.6 | And more importantly, what can you actually do about it? |
| 1:34.5 | I'm going to be breaking down the three biggest barriers that I hear from women all the time. |
| 1:38.6 | And I'm going to be giving you real practical solutions for each one because hitting your protein goals shouldn't feel impossible. |
| 1:45.7 | It should feel doable. It should feel sustainable. And honestly, it can really be effortless once |
| 1:51.0 | you figured out what works for your body in your life. Before we dive in, though, I want to share |
| 1:55.3 | this review. I loved it. She gave a five-star review and said, age is only a number. As someone who returned to lifting |
| 2:02.0 | weights after 15-year hiatus, I find Julie's podcast inspirational, informative, and very helpful |
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