Meet Chelsea Leigh

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea Leigh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Chelsea , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

While my parents always believed in me and encouraged me to pursue what lit me up, I’d be lying if I said I always knew what “that thing” was. My real confidence didn’t fully come alive until after college, when I finally started stepping into who I was meant to be. I never really saw myself as a leader growing up. I changed my major a few times, felt unsure of my path, and like so many others, went through a season of feeling lost.

But everything changed when I found fitness in my early 20’s. Sounds cliche a bit, but it’s what I have to thank for where I am now. Becoming a trainer, leading group classes of up to 50 people (which was NOT easy and extremely intimidating at first), and watching the energy in the room shift as I poured my passion into them… that’s when I started to really believe in myself. My confidence didn’t come from changing my body and then helping others do the same, it grew in the process and I found my voice through movement. I used to tell my clients, “Chest up, shoulders back,” and “Stick it to the man!” – not just for their posture, but as a reminder to carry themselves with confidence in every area of life, even if they had to fake it at first. That same energy is what I gave to myself, especially on the days I felt insecure.

Confidence, for me, came from showing up anyway… until one day, it wasn’t fake anymore.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a holistic fitness and wellness coach, and the founder of Balanced Babes Bootcamp, a fitness platform and app designed to help women get strong, sculpted, and actually find balance in their bodies and their lives. What makes my work special is that it’s rooted in compassion and real-life sustainability. I coach women who are often doing “all the right things” – lifting weights, tracking food, hitting workouts … but still feel inflamed, puffy, bloated, burnt out, or just stuck.

What sets my brand apart is the emotional and nervous system connection I bring into fitness. I don’t just hand my clients workouts, I help them understand their bodies, their stress, and their habits. I teach women how to lift without “bulking” (since every woman seems to be terrified of the weights these days!) how to eat without obsessing, and how to prioritize strength without losing their feminine side.

Most recently, I launched my signature 8-week challenge Sculpt Without the Bulk, inside the Balanced Babes Bootcamp app. The challenge includes functional training designed to help reduce inflammation, restore confidence, and build lean muscle without the burnout. It also includes nutrition guidance, on-demand resources like recipes and skincare tips, and a supportive community that reminds you you’re not doing this alone. Alongside this program, new workouts and additional programs are released each month – giving clients the flexibility to choose what fits their goals, lifestyle, and season of life best.

My goal isn’t to just change bodies, although that’s a major plus! It’s to help women come back home to themselves. My next program will be focused on a lot of nervous system nourishment, so if you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “everything right” and still not seeing results, this is the space I created for you.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three of the most impactful areas in my journey have been content creation, time management, and deepening my understanding of nervous system regulation.

For content creation, everything shifted once I truly understood who I was speaking to. I got clear on my audience: what she struggles with, what she dreams of, and how I can help her feel seen. I stopped trying to be perfect and started showing up with intention, which created a deeper level of trust and connection.

Time management was another major key. When you work for yourself, especially from home, it’s easy to feel like you’re always working… or never working. I had to get really honest with how I was spending my time, so I started theming my days. Now, each day has a purpose: whether it’s content, client check-ins, program development, or admin. This structure helps me stay focused, creative, and efficient- without burning out.

The last piece, and probably the most transformative, was learning to regulate my nervous system. I always say: if your body doesn’t feel safe, it’s going to hold on- whether that’s weight, water, or emotion. I realized how stress, self-criticism, and constant pushing can stall progress in every area of life. Helping my clients create safety in their bodies is now one of the cornerstones of my method.

So if I can give any piece of advice here: just show up as you. If you need to be on social media for your business, show what your business means to you. Show the BTS, show the messy, show the “not perfect” moments, because this will build connection with your audience. Another thing is to not go down the rabbit hole of comparison because it truly IS the thief of joy. No doom-scrolling…instead just go for a walk. Remember that no one is you and that is your superpower! No one has had your experiences, upbringing, or story – so use all of these to your advantage.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always open to aligned and intentional collaborations, especially with professionals who bring a complementary perspective to the table. One dream collaboration would be launching a podcast with a holistic doctor or practitioner. I think combining my expertise in fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle with someone deeply rooted in functional medicine or holistic health would create such a powerful, well-rounded approach to wellness. If you’re someone who values balance, education, and making wellness more accessible- let’s chat!

You can connect with me on Instagram @chelsleigh.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Ariel Rae Esparza
Sabine West

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