1-219-765-8600

carol@inkwellcoaching.com

Crown Point, IN

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March 14, 2024

10 Muscle Building Tips for Women

Most women I talk with would like to build more muscle and lose more fat. While strength or resistance training is a key component to building muscle,

March 7, 2024

A Taste of Spring

In case you’ve been missing out on some of the most delectable oranges, this is your friendly reminder that we are in the midst of SUMO season. This

February 29, 2024

10 Healthy Snacks for Busy People

My family loves snacks. I love snacks. Who doesn’t love a good snack? I believe snacking can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle. When you c

February 21, 2024

Saving Dough and a Surprise Cake from Mr. Non-Compliant

Some say it’s expensive to eat healthy. I believe it’s even more expensive, especially in the long run, to eat unhealthy. Today I present some tip

February 14, 2024

My Best Workout Tip for Top Results

Ever wonder how to get the most out of your run or walk or strength training workouts? It’s the same way you can feel the most productive about your

February 8, 2024

Celebrating the Birth Month Without FOGO

This year’s birth month is a rare one because I get to celebrate for 29 days. Those of you who get 30, or if you’re REALLY lucky, 31 days, may not

February 1, 2024

How to Stick with Exercise

Work is really busy. Or your kid is going through a “phase.” Or it’s chocolate season. Any number of obstacles, distractions, and competing dema

January 24, 2024

Find the Right Foods for You

You know what it’s like to create a pump-up playlist, right? You compile a list of songs that—when they come on—make you say: “Yes, I feel lik

January 18, 2024

Mastering a Dry or Damp January with Style

As the new year begins, many of us look for ways to reset and rejuvenate our bodies and minds. One popular approach is embarking on a ‘Dry Janua

January 11, 2024

Gluten-Free Substitutes for Healthier Baking

The world of gluten-free baking can be rather intimidating. Experimenting with various “other” flours and mixes can sometimes result in frustratin

Embracing the Uncomfortable

Today’s topic hit me like a brick when I was doing just that–embracing the uncomfortable.

Why would anyone do such a crazy thing? It hardly makes sense.

Or does it?

Our nature as human beings is to try to better ourselves in some way. Perhaps we’d like a better job, better relationships, better living conditions, better health.

Getting better at ANYTHING doesn’t happen unless we take some type of action. Sitting quietly and wishing it so is not effective.

Hence, embracing the uncomfortable.

In order for personal growth to occur, we must push past our comfort level and take on new challenges.

Pushing through the fear in one arena of life helps propel us in others. We gain the confidence that we are capable of doing something we’ve never done before.

For instance, consider those athletes who have been training months for a marathon and finally get past the finish line on race day. I’d bet that the experience was rather uncomfortable—miles of training, eating right, saying “no” to some fun in order to get proper rest, overcoming injuries, dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.

Yet, they did it. Knowing they accomplished such a feat brings about an inner strength that did not exist prior.

The good news is that you don’t need to run a marathon to experience similar results. Do something that challenges or scares you, just a little. Then go do something else that challenges or scares you. Keep repeating the process. It’s a good habit to develop.

Getting comfortable in your day-to-day life may lead to complacency. Yawn.

Today I took a class at the gym that I’d never done before. It challenged me. It pushed me to a place of uncomfortable. And I’m still here to talk about it.

Try a new class, take those piano lessons you’ve always talked about, cook a vegetable you’ve never tried, search for the job you’ll really love, read a book of a different genre.

It’s good to mix things up.

What would you like to do or change, that feels a bit out of your reach? If you’re stuck, I’m here to help you figure it out.

“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”–Max DePree

Farewell, Flag Pants

“You’re getting a little wide in the beam, aren’t you kid?”

Those words literally kicked me into the basement of reality and sadness, all at the same time. They are the words I heard from my dad when he picked me up after my first year of college.

Yes, I had gained a good amount of weight (and several sizes) during my freshman year of pharmacy school.

I felt horrible and didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror.

The stress eating had taken its toll.

Fast forward to the summer of 2018.

I was going through my closet and was actually AFRAID to try on my “flag pants.” The navy capri pants with tiny American flags on them had me recalling that time when I had outgrown my clothes AND lost my identity.

Trying them on took a bit of courage.

I held my breath, stretched and tugged, and lo and behold, buttoned them.

It was at that point I realized that they don’t reflect the present day me. I’ve outgrown the “flag pants” in lots of ways, even though I could physically still wear them—barely!

Do you hit the rewind button and play an old, unflattering story when you go to try on your version of “flag pants?”

Many people do. It’s not who you are today.

I understand how scary it can be to even pull those “flag pants” out from the closet depths, let alone try them on.

I’d like to help.     

If this kind of thinking has been a challenge for you, hit “reply” to email me and we’ll set up a time to get on a call together.

I currently have space to take on 3 clients before the holidays are upon us. Could one of them be you?

If you are nervous and feel a bit of resistance, that is OK! We’ll talk about that too.

I want to see you thrive! I want you to have the choice of whether to dump your “flag pants” or wear them– IF they make you feel AMAZING!

“When people shine a little light on their monster, we find out how similar most of our monsters are.” ― Anne Lamott, “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”

Share the Love

Today, give some positive encouragement to another human being. This person may be a workout buddy, neighbor, co-worker, friend, family member, stranger, etc.

It matters not who you encourage. It only matters that you do.

In order to stay healthy, and happy, it’s important to help others.   

Scientists who study genetics and molecular biology of cancer and other chronic diseases have recently made some interesting discoveries:

* Loneliness and feeling alienated from other people triggers our cells to produce inflammation and suppress our immune system.

* Social connections do the opposite. Strong relationships and helping other people strengthens our bodies.

In a nutshell, helping others and feeling like you’re making a positive impact for the greater good contributes to overall health and well-being.

Fitness, strength, and health are a shared goal.

Some ideas to help you become a lean, healthy, and happy machine:

  • When your co-worker makes the claim that she needs to eat healthier, encourage her to eat an extra helping of vegetables each day.
  • That buddy of yours who is going to start working out on Monday… make a plan to meet him at the gym and do something together, today.
  • The next time your friend says she’s going to stop drinking those sugar-filled sodas and you meet for lunch, order water for BOTH of you, and let her know that you are also trying to do better.

We all know that staying on the healthy lifestyle track has its challenges. When we encourage others, we do better ourselves. How cool is that?

Many of you in my Inkwell community have been practicing powerful habits for quite a long time. When you consider how you may have felt a couple years ago compared to now, you know that the choices you make today DO matter.

I am with you every step of the way. Some days go better than others. However it goes, I know that we are doing our best TOGETHER!

If you’re reading this and feel as though you’re struggling all by your lonesome, send me an email. I’m here to help. My health depends on it too.

“Make a lean body a ‘side effect’ of your life in three ways: Understand who you are and what is truly, deeply important to you; Honour your body with meaningful choices; Focus on the quality of the journey.”—Ryan Andrews

How’s Your Juggling Act?

I recently got a call from my son who started a new job as a rehabilitation therapist in conjunction with a chiropractor.

He is learning lots of information, including the in’s and out’s of being a small business owner.

His routine for cooking meals, working out, and other tasks, has become a bit challenging.

As he put it, “I’m drinking water from a fire hydrant.”     

In addition to all of this, he needs sleep.

He loves his new life, yet at the same time, his juggling act is not the best.

Can you relate?

I can. Life gets a bit hectic at times and we feel our routines slipping away. I too, have lost it on more than one occasion.

Sometimes it’s a short-term thing. Sometimes, it goes on for…years.

My son thought he’d have a handle on all of this within a couple months. Not quite.

I’ve met people who have been drinking from that fire hydrant much longer than they had ever intended.

The reasons vary—children’s activities, work schedules, aging parents, and the list goes on.

Our juggling act isn’t as polished as we’d like, and we start dropping those colorful juggling balls.

Planning, cooking, exercising, playing, sleeping…all get dropped.

Blood pressure, cholesterol, frustration level, and weight…all go up.

It doesn’t have to be this way. When the right habits FOR YOU are implemented, the juggling act gets much easier.

Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy an amazing life without dropping you?

Consider what it would be like to feel lighter, healthier, and happier. What if you were able to find space in your day to take a break from juggling and have some fun?

I’d love to help you figure out what steps you can take TODAY to create the health and life you truly desire.

If you could use some help with your juggling act, shoot me an email and we’ll find a time to chat.

Decide now to live your best life.

“The body needs its rest, and sleep is extremely important in any health regimen. There should be three main things: eating, exercise and sleep. All three together in the right balance make for a truly healthy lifestyle.”—Rohit Shetty