Real Talk Fitness with ANPT

Ashleigh Cumins
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Welcome to Real Talk Fitness with ANPT, your go-to podcast for honest and relatable conversations about fitness, nutrition, and finding balance in a busy life. Hosted by Ashleigh Cumins, owner of Ashleigh Newburn Personal Training (ANPT) and a busy mum of two energetic boys, this podcast is all about making fitness work for your life. With experience as a fitness model, CrossFit competitor, and powerlifter, Ashleigh brings a unique perspective to the table, sharing both the highs and challenges of her own fitness journey. She knows firsthand how personal fitness goals can be and understands the demands of juggling work, family, and self-care. Whether you’re striving to build strength, improve body composition, or simply feel better in your own skin, Ashleigh cuts through the noise to offer practical advice, motivation, and tools to help you succeed. Expect real talk about everything from workout tips and nutrition strategies to mindset, hormones, and even how to include your family in the process. If you’re ready to take the overwhelm out of fitness and create a healthier, stronger, and more balanced version of yourself, this podcast is for you. Tune in for actionable tips, expert insights, and a dose of inspiration to keep you moving forward—no matter where you are on your journey. Web: https://www.ashleighnewburnspt.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshnewburnPT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anpt_15/

  1. Sep 6

    “I Want a More Toned Butt” — Understanding How Muscle Growth Actually Works

    “I want bigger glutes.” “I want a more toned butt.” “I don’t want to get bulky — I just want more shape.” But what does that actually mean, and how does your body create that change? In this episode, we break muscle growth down in simple terms so you can understand what’s actually happening when you train. We cover primary and secondary movers, how different muscles work together during exercises, why your glutes need enough stimulus to grow, and why simply “feeling the burn” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re building muscle. We also dive into the nutrition side — protein, calories, carbohydrates and why eating enough matters if your goal is to change the size and shape of a muscle. Plus, we unpack what people really mean when they say they want to look “toned,” the difference between building muscle and losing body fat, progressive overload, recovery, and why doing endless glute exercises isn’t necessarily going to give you better results. If you’ve ever wondered why your body isn’t changing despite training consistently, this episode will help you understand the why behind your training so you can stop chasing random exercises and start training with purpose. 🎧 Your body doesn’t understand “I want a bigger butt” — it understands the stimulus you give it.

    “I Want a More Toned Butt” — Understanding How Muscle Growth Actually Works

  2. Sep 6

    Understanding Allied Health & Building Your Health and Fitness Team

    Ever had pain, an injury or something going on with your body and thought… who am I actually supposed to see? A physio? Exercise physiologist? Dietitian? Psychologist? Podiatrist? GP? Massage therapist? Or can your personal trainer help? In this episode, I break down the world of allied health in simple terms so you can understand what different health professionals actually do, where their roles overlap, and how they can support your fitness journey. We dive into the difference between rehab and training, where a PT’s scope starts and stops, when pain needs further investigation, why simply resting isn’t always rehabilitation, and how tissue tolerance and progressive loading fit into getting you back to doing what you love. We also talk about why good coaches and health professionals should work together rather than compete with each other, and why the goal shouldn’t be to make you feel broken or dependent on treatment — it should be to help you become more capable, confident and independent. Whether you're dealing with an injury, managing a health condition, returning to exercise or simply confused about who you should see, this episode will help you better understand your options. Your health and fitness journey is a team effort — but the key is knowing who you need, when you need them, and why.

    Understanding Allied Health & Building Your Health and Fitness Team

  3. Sep 6

    You Don’t Need More Time — You Need Better Systems

    Do you constantly feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? No time to train. No time to meal prep. No time to get your steps in. No time to slow down. No time to look after yourself. But what if the problem isn’t actually time? In this episode, we’re breaking down why you don’t need more time — you need better systems. We dive into how your routines, habits, planning and environment can either make healthy choices easier or leave you constantly reacting to life. From grocery shopping and meal planning to training, family commitments, work, household jobs, screen time, boundaries and your weekly schedule, we look at practical ways to reduce decision fatigue and create more control. Because time management isn’t about squeezing more into an already busy day. It’s about deciding what actually matters, creating repeatable processes around those priorities, and making your health part of your life rather than something you try to fit in when everything else is done. We also talk about why relying on motivation doesn’t work, how to create “minimum” habits for your busiest days, why your calendar should reflect your priorities, and how having systems gives you something to return to when life inevitably gets messy. If you constantly tell yourself, “I’ll start when things calm down,” this episode is for you. Life might not get less busy. But you can get better at managing it.

    You Don’t Need More Time — You Need Better Systems

  4. Sep 6

    THE NUMBER ISN'T THE PROBLEM

    Have you ever stepped on the scales, seen the number go up, and instantly felt like you've failed? Maybe yesterday you felt great about yourself. You trained, hit your steps, ate well and felt like you were making progress. Then this morning you're 700g heavier and suddenly you're questioning everything. But did you actually gain body fat overnight? Probably not. In this episode, we're going deep into what the scales are actually measuring and why your body weight naturally fluctuates from day to day. We unpack how carbohydrates, glycogen, sodium, hydration, food volume, bowel movements, your menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, alcohol, meal timing and hard training sessions can all change the number on the scales — without necessarily representing fat gain. We also talk about why weekly averages and trends matter far more than one individual weigh-in, why weighing under similar conditions gives you better data, and how learning your body's patterns can completely change your relationship with the scales. But this episode goes deeper than physiology. Why does seeing a higher number change your mood? Why can 500g make you feel less confident, less disciplined or like you've "ruined" your progress? When did a number become a daily report card telling you whether you've been good or bad? And what are you actually making that number mean about you? Because sometimes the problem isn't the scales. It's the meaning we've attached to them. This episode is about developing body awareness, understanding your data, removing the emotion from normal fluctuations and learning to see the bigger picture. Your weight will fluctuate. That's not failure. That's physiology.

    THE NUMBER ISN'T THE PROBLEM

  5. Sep 5

    Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn — Understanding Your Stress Responses

    Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn: Understanding Why You React the Way You DoHave you ever snapped at someone and later wondered, “Why did I react like that?” Maybe you avoid difficult conversations. Maybe you completely shut down when you're overwhelmed. Maybe you constantly keep yourself busy so you don't have to sit with how you're feeling. Or maybe you're always saying yes, keeping everyone happy and putting yourself last. These behaviours can sometimes connect back to four common stress responses: Fight. Flight. Freeze. Fawn. In this episode, we break down what each response can look like in everyday life — because they don't always look the way you think they do. We dive into: Why your body can react before your logical brain catches upHow fight can show up as defensiveness, anger or needing controlWhy constantly staying busy can sometimes be a form of flightThe difference between being “lazy” and feeling completely frozen or overwhelmedHow fawning can show up through people-pleasing and struggling to say noWhy different situations can bring out different responsesHow these patterns can show up in relationships, work, training and your health journeyThe importance of recognising your triggers instead of immediately judging your reactionHow to create more space between trigger → reaction so you can start responding with more awarenessThis isn't about putting yourself into a box or trying to never experience stress again. It's about getting curious about your own patterns and asking: “What am I actually trying to protect myself from?” Because once you start understanding why you react the way you do, you can start creating space to choose how you want to respond.

    Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn — Understanding Your Stress Responses

  6. Aug 13

    The Truth About Energy Systems: Why Your Training Should Match Your Goal

    Why can someone be incredibly strong but struggle to run 5km? Why can a great runner get destroyed by a heavy sled? And why does a powerlifter rest five minutes between sets while a Hyrox athlete barely stops moving? In this episode of Real Talk Fitness with ANPT, I break down the three main energy systems your body uses to fuel training: the ATP-PC system, anaerobic glycolytic system, and aerobic system. We dive into how each system works, when your body relies on it most, and why your training needs to look completely different depending on your goal. Whether you're training for strength, Hyrox, running, fat loss, or overall fitness, you'll learn why more intensity isn't always better, why easy sessions actually matter, why rest periods are part of training, and how to make sure every session has a purpose. We also cover compromised running, threshold work, Zone 2 training, strength recovery, HIIT, carbohydrates, fatigue, and why trying to train every energy system hard at the same time can leave you exhausted without actually progressing. The biggest takeaway? Stop training just to feel tired and start training for the result you actually want.

    The Truth About Energy Systems: Why Your Training Should Match Your Goal

  7. Aug 13

    The Cost of Always Being Strong: Control, Self-Worth & Learning to Feel

    What happens when one of your greatest strengths is also the thing stopping you from truly feeling? This episode is probably one of the rawest I've recorded. Recently, my personality coach Steve Johns and my coach Ish helped me recognise something about myself that I hadn't fully understood before — I need to feel in control. Control has helped me achieve a lot. It's helped me build a business, become a coach, train hard, set goals, keep moving forward and be the person other people can rely on. But there's another side to it. I've realised that constantly being in control has also been my way of avoiding uncomfortable emotions. I struggle to celebrate my wins. I struggle to accept compliments. I achieve something and immediately ask, "What's next?" I attach so much of my identity to titles — coach, athlete, business owner, mum, the strong one, the person who helps everyone else. And recently I had to ask myself a question that scared me: Who am I without all of those things? In this episode, I reflect on experiences from my past, including a friendship that deeply affected my confidence and self-worth, and how those experiences eventually led me down the path of self-development. I studied it. I taught it. I learned how to help other people through the very things I'd struggled with myself. But knowing the tools doesn't mean you've finished doing the work. We dive into body image and why sometimes our fear around our bodies isn't really about our bodies at all. We talk about achievement, perfectionism, control, vulnerability and the pressure that comes with always being "the strong one." And I ask some uncomfortable questions: Am I chasing success, or am I chasing the feeling of being enough? What am I afraid will happen if I stop? What emotions have I avoided by constantly staying busy? Why is it easier to help someone else recognise their worth than recognise my own? And… Can I actually allow myself to feel something without immediately trying to fix it? There aren't perfect answers in this episode. It's a reflection on the last few years of my life and the realisation that self-development isn't about reaching a point where you're completely "fixed." Sometimes growth is sitting in an uncomfortable feeling instead of running from it. Sometimes it's accepting the compliment. Sometimes it's celebrating the win before chasing the next one. And sometimes it's taking away every title you've given yourself and asking: Who am I underneath all of this? This one is vulnerable. It's uncomfortable. But I think it's a conversation a lot of high-achieving people need to have.

    The Cost of Always Being Strong: Control, Self-Worth & Learning to Feel

  8. Aug 4

    Life After the Uniform

    What happens when the uniform comes off? When the role you've identified with for years is suddenly gone, who are you underneath it all? In this episode, I sit down with Vanessa from Life After the Military to explore the realities of transitioning out of military life and the journey of rediscovering yourself beyond the uniform. We talk about the challenges of leaving behind the structure, purpose and identity that the military provides, and how CrossFit became a new outlet that offered community, discipline and belonging. But when your identity becomes tied to performance, achievement and being "the athlete", it can be easy to lose sight of who you truly are. Together, we discuss: Vanessa's experience in the military.The emotional challenges of transitioning into civilian life.How CrossFit shaped her identity after leaving the military.Losing yourself in sport and performance.Rebuilding confidence and finding purpose again.Discovering who you are beyond titles, uniforms and achievements.This is an honest conversation about identity, self-discovery and learning that your worth is about far more than what you do—it's about who you are. If you've ever struggled with change, lost your sense of self or wondered who you are outside of your career or sport, this episode is for you.

    Life After the Uniform
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About

Welcome to Real Talk Fitness with ANPT, your go-to podcast for honest and relatable conversations about fitness, nutrition, and finding balance in a busy life. Hosted by Ashleigh Cumins, owner of Ashleigh Newburn Personal Training (ANPT) and a busy mum of two energetic boys, this podcast is all about making fitness work for your life. With experience as a fitness model, CrossFit competitor, and powerlifter, Ashleigh brings a unique perspective to the table, sharing both the highs and challenges of her own fitness journey. She knows firsthand how personal fitness goals can be and understands the demands of juggling work, family, and self-care. Whether you’re striving to build strength, improve body composition, or simply feel better in your own skin, Ashleigh cuts through the noise to offer practical advice, motivation, and tools to help you succeed. Expect real talk about everything from workout tips and nutrition strategies to mindset, hormones, and even how to include your family in the process. If you’re ready to take the overwhelm out of fitness and create a healthier, stronger, and more balanced version of yourself, this podcast is for you. Tune in for actionable tips, expert insights, and a dose of inspiration to keep you moving forward—no matter where you are on your journey. Web: https://www.ashleighnewburnspt.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshnewburnPT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anpt_15/

Information

  • Creator
    Ashleigh Cumins
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Real Talk Fitness with ANPT