1-219-765-8600

carol@inkwellcoaching.com

Crown Point, IN

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September 28, 2023

Why You Can’t Stop Eating Junk Food

“Who ate all these chips?!” You look around and, alas, not even a dog to blame. Oops. It’s not your fault.  If you’ve had this experience—r

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Food, Health, Hope
September 21, 2023

Harvesting the Balance of Autumn

September 23rd ushers in the autumn equinox, a time when day and night are in perfect balance. It also opens the official season of cozy sweaters, pum

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Health
September 14, 2023

More Brain-Boosting Foods

Last week I shared a list of brain-boosting foods with the promise of more to come. Here are some additional foods that you may choose to include in y

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Food, Health
September 7, 2023

Ten Brain-Boosting Foods

Thank you for the many recommendations of farm stands with tasty corn on the cob. Mr. Non-Compliant happened to be in the vicinity of VanDerGriends Fa

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Blog, Food, Fun, Health
August 31, 2023

Mr. Non-Compliant’s Unwavering Passion for…Corn

Mr. Non-Compliant LOVES corn on the cob. Since the corn season is rather brief, I do my best to oblige him with this indulgence. And as my dear cousin

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Food, Health
August 24, 2023

Tips for a Sluggish Thyroid

Lately, I’ve been getting lots of questions about the little gland known as the thyroid. It seems to be underperforming for many of you. Hypothyroid

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Food, Health
August 17, 2023

Healthy Anytime Toast

Since my encounter with bar food last week, I’ve been focused on eating more plants. I came across this idea to enjoy “toast” and get more veggi

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Food, Health
August 10, 2023

Confessions from The Antler

What does one eat when in a bar? Bar food, of course. The bar options: The Brown Bear vs. The Antler: Horniest Bar Around (There were deer heads with

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Food, Fun, Health
August 3, 2023

6 Ways to Enjoy a Staycation at Home

August. Already. Is summer slipping by too quickly? Feel as though you’ve not experienced enough lazy days? Can’t manage to get away for one reaso

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Food, Fun, Health
July 26, 2023

The Wonder of Apricots

When I think about the abundant fruits of summer, apricots make the list. Although some of you may not be fans, I ask that you consider giving this da

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Food, Health

Success is Showing Up

January 16, 2020
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Health, Personal Development

How many times do you schedule your workouts for the week, and one day, you simply don’t want to show up? (Ok, that was me yesterday.)

Your heart isn’t in it, yet you muster up the courage to do what you’ve committed to do—for you. Because. (I did it, or I couldn’t write this.)

Or, you decide to cut back on the sugary treats, unless of course they are amazing, and you eat the mediocre cookie. The “former” you would have eaten at least 3 in one sitting, and not have even given it a second thought.  

And then there’s the time when you meant to skip the late night snack, and you ate it anyway. You had a piece of fruit instead of another small meal.

Success is showing up. Success is doing just a little bit better than you did in the past. Maybe it doesn’t happen exactly the way you would like, however you’re making strides toward your health and happiness goals.

You are successful! You are showing up powerfully in your life.

I sense that some of you are allowing perfectionism to write a story of failure. Let it go. You and I are not perfect at anything, and we never will be. Sorry if I’m the first one to break this news to you.

Here’s a beautiful success story from one of my client couples. They had a wonderful holiday with family, and kept their eating in check—enjoying their favorite foods in moderation, with no feelings of deprivation. YES!

And then…when their family went home, clear across the country, (taking the grandchild too), they understandably felt sad. Their emotional button switched on, and they fell away from their newer eating habits. They hit the “Pause” button of life. They were miserable on several levels. It happens.

After only FOUR days, they got back into their healthier, happier, habits. Not only did they recover quickly, this rebound has pushed them into the next level of fitness. I see this as massive success. They saw it as failure.

See the difference? It’s all in perspective. I’m very proud of their progress.

In their life before Coach Carol, they would have allowed their emotions to control their eating for far longer than 4 days.

Friends, this attitude shows up in every area of your life. Choose to show up and live powerfully, even when you don’t feel like it, or it’s a bit scary. 

If you’re stuck and don’t know what plan of action to take next, I’m here to help. Email me, and together we’ll figure out how you can rebound to the next level.

To your success,
Coach Carol

“The willingness to show up changes us, It makes us a little braver each time.”― Brené Brown, “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead”

 

When the Body Breaks

January 9, 2020
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Health, Hope

Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, our bodies don’t cooperate.

I have friends with replaced hips, knees, and shoulders. Others have asthma, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and more. They are facing a myriad of challenges and emotions.

It’s frustrating when things just don’t go as planned and the body breaks.

We do the best that we know to do, and it’s not enough.

I recently had this happen to me on an extremely minor scale. The day before Thanksgiving, I began experiencing pain in my left hand. I hadn’t consciously done anything that would have caused harm—or so I thought.  

Perhaps I pulled something out of whack doing my strength training class, since I had been fine before that, and not so afterward. OUCH! So, I exercise because it’s a good thing to do, and this is the result.

It was a challenge to cook and slice and dice.

There was a slight knot and some swelling. I used ice, then heat, and did some stretching exercises that I found on Dr. Google.

I was annoyed. This was an inconvenience in my life, especially when making Thanksgiving dinner.

When I tried to do the same strength training class a few days later, I discovered the move that caused the problem. I continued to do other classes that wouldn’t make the injury worse, however I was mad that I couldn’t do what I was used to doing.

I needed a break. Sometimes we don’t take the break we need until we’re forced to do so. We push ourselves until we get the flu, need the new joint, or can’t slice and dice.

Since what we resist persists, I had to lighten up my anger at my injured hand. I overworked it, and it was yelling at me the only way it knew how. I had to change my attitude to one of gratitude. 

After five weeks, I’m back with my friends, doing a class I really enjoy. I’m very grateful. It was something I had taken for granted.

Aging gracefully is tricky. Like Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, “It’s always something.”

If you’re frustrated with your body and have the desire to change your attitude, I’m here to support you. Send me an email. We’ll work on it together.

Much love,
Carol

“The secret to living well and longer is: eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love without measure.”—Tibetan Proverb

What’s Your Intention for 2020?

January 2, 2020
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Health, Personal Development

Each year, I choose a word or intention that sets the stage for the days and weeks ahead.

Entering 2020, my world is full of POSSIBILITY.

Possibility came about as I reflected on the rollercoaster ride of 2019. I’m sure you’ve noticed, each year typically offers a crazy mix, with hopefully more happenings on the fun, arms-in-the-air, part of the ride.  

We’re always learning, evolving, and risking, as long as we’re thriving and truly living. With the many surprises comes possibility.

When I try something new, I see what’s possible. Playing it safe may feel more secure, however, that’s not my intention.

So, what do I see as my possibility for 2020?

  • Creating and executing opportunities that have a positive impact on my community
  •  Increasing my knowledge by reading a minimum of one book a month
  •  Practicing more Instant Pot recipes for fun—ok, all kinds of recipes—and posting them on my   website for you to enjoy
  •  Taking additional professional courses to enhance the coaching experience I provide
  •  Maintaining the “Give it a try and see what happens” attitude about life
  •  Remember that since I’m a human being, not a human doing, I’d best BE still for a time
  •  Any idea, any dream, anything, has possibility. How fun is that?

Perhaps you’d like to choose a word or intention that has significant and transformative meaning for you. If so, spend some time with it, and journal about it at least 3 times a week throughout the year.  

Here’s another possibility: If improving your health is an intention you’re committed to, I’m here to coach and support you.

With me by your side, you will:

  • Love the food you eat
  • Re-establish abundance in your thinking around food
  • Balance your blood sugar
  • Drop those lingering excess pounds
  • Be happy in your body!

My special New Year bonus: Book your NO OBLIGATION exploratory call by Saturday 1/4 and receive an extra kitchen coaching session with your program.

AND: When you schedule your call by 1/4 you’ll receive 10% off your customized 6-month coaching program!

Schedule your NO OBLIGATION call to learn more TODAY! 

This is the opportunity to shift your mindset around food, health, and fitness, for good.

May this year be full of possibility for you.

Much love,
Carol

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”― St. Francis Of Assisi

Getting (Back) into Your Routine

December 26, 2019
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Christmas, Health, Hope

We’ve gotten past the Christmas cookies, candies, and cocktails. It’s now time to get back into your “normal” routine, or figure out what that looks like.

Where and how to begin?

Simply. If it feels monumental, you’re not alone. It’s typical to feel a bit of a let down after all the holiday hoopla.

Of course, some of you may be waiting until January 2, 2020 to drop out of hoopla. You’ll be well prepared.  

Get back to basics. If you have a gym membership, make a manageable commitment to get there. Choose one or two days a week to go and do SOMETHING. Keep that commitment. It’s a date with you to feel happier, healthier, relieve post-holiday blues, and have some fun.   

Having an accountability buddy helps. When you tell another person you’re going to do something, it’s more apt to happen.

If you don’t do the gym routine, figure out what you’ll enjoy, that gets, and keeps, you moving—dance, practice yoga, walk, do Zumba, run, bike.

Pull out your calendar now and figure out what you’ll do. If you get stuck, email me and I’ll help you. Tell me your plan. You’ll have to keep your word.  

Remember, make your plan a realistic one. Start slowly and build up to doing a little more, a little at a time. Be patient with yourself. When things don’t go the way you plan, visualize a clean slate and do the next right thing.

Wishing you a really good week. Celebrate the season of merriment, friendships, and the close of another year, by getting into a routine that serves you well.

You’re worth investing in. And you do have the time.

Cheers to making the last days of 2019 memorable.

Much love,
Carol 

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.”– Neil Gaiman

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