You’re not here to waste time—you’re showing up because you want results. But even the most motivated women can hit a plateau, and often it’s not because of lack of effort. It’s usually a few common mistakes that sneak in and stall your progress.
The great news? These are easy to fix—and when you do, you’ll start seeing more definition, dropping fat faster, and actually feeling strong in your workouts. Let’s walk through the five biggest mistakes Michelle sees all the time—and how to level up your training starting today ✨
Mistake #1: Lifting Too Light Because You’re Afraid of “Bulking”
We have to talk about this first—because it’s everywhere. The myth that lifting heavy will make you bulky is still holding way too many women back. Lifting light for “toning” sounds cute, but it’s not doing what you think it is. If your goal is to tighten up, burn fat, and actually see muscle definition, you need to challenge your body. That means picking up weights that make the last 2–3 reps feel hard. Like, “I might make a weird face” hard. Using a mix of heavy (5–8 reps), moderate (8–12), and higher rep ranges (12–20) will help you build strength, boost your metabolism, and get leaner—without ever looking bulky.
Mistake #2: Living on Bodyweight Booty Workouts
We’ve all seen the “booty band burn 🔥” reels, but most of those quickie bodyweight circuits aren’t going to change your body long-term. They’re not bad—but they’re just not enough. Your glutes (and the rest of your body) need resistance to grow and tighten. Without it, you’re just spinning your wheels. Instead of relying on high-rep band workouts, shift your focus to full-body, compound moves like squats, lunges, and weighted hip thrusts. That’s where real shape and tone come from.
Mistake #3: Thinking Glute Kickbacks Are the Secret to a Better Booty
They’re not evil, but they’re definitely not the glute-building move they’re made out to be. Glute kickbacks don’t challenge the muscle through a full range of motion or apply enough load to stimulate real growth. Sure, they make your glutes feel like they’re working (and they are, a little), but if you want to actually build and shape, swap them out. Go for exercises that hit all angles—Romanian deadlifts, split squats, step-ups, and hip thrusts with real weight behind them. This is how you build that lifted, defined look.
Mistake #4: Only Training Each Muscle Group Once a Week
Your body isn’t just capable of more—it wants more. Women generally recover faster than men, which means we’re able to train muscle groups more frequently. If you’re still doing a once-a-week leg day and wondering why nothing’s changing, that might be the issue. Training each muscle group 2–3 times a week allows for more consistent progress and better overall fat loss. You’ll build strength, increase muscle tone, and get better results with less time wasted.
Mistake #5: Taking Long Breaks Between Sets
You’re not training for a powerlifting meet—so why are you resting like it? Long breaks between sets can slow your progress and kill your momentum. If your goal is fat loss, muscle tone, or total body transformation, you need to keep that heart rate up. Aim for 60–90 second rest periods to keep your body in that sweet spot where you’re building strength and burning fat. Not only will your workouts be more effective, they’ll be quicker too (hello, more free time!).
The Bottom Line: Train Smart, Not Just Hard
You’re already showing up—and that’s the biggest step. But when you start making these small but powerful shifts in your workouts, everything starts to change. You’ll see more definition, drop fat faster, and feel stronger in every part of your life. Michelle’s approach is all about training with intention, not just intensity. No fluff. Just real results that feel as good as they look 💫
