Caroline worked in advertising for 20 years and following some really serious health issues, she investigated “natural” or “complimentary” therapies to support her health. One of which was dietary changes. This turned out to be life changing, as she basically went from extreme fatigue and pain from rheumatoid arthritis to living a pretty normal life. These experiences led me to study and qualify as a health coach. Her aim is to raise awareness of diet & self-care as very good strategies to manage if not reverse chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis. She also likes to help people achieve optimal health and avoid health crisis like she did – believing her crisis was very much down to a “work hard, play hard” attitude for a few too many years. Caroline likes to demystify 2 myths: 1. healthy food is bland and boring (see her instagram account and so many bloggers out there) and 2. to eat healthily, you need to spend hours in the kitchen

On January 17th Caroline is organising an event in Brentford, to check it out and find more info please click here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/embrace-screening-and-panel-discussion-tickets-40246336877

Also, her company website can be found here: www.greatingreatout.com

 

So you set up Great in Great out, why are you doing this work?
I passionately believe that what we put in our bodies has a direct influence on what comes out in terms of energy, emotions, mood, etc. Have you noticed healthy rested people are kind and patient? What we put in doesn’t just cover food, which is pretty obvious, but it is also about exercise/movement, emotions, social connections, intellectual stimulation (such as work, culture, hobbies, creativity), spirituality (meditation and mindfulness, religion, how we relate to the world around us), what we put on (our skin, our bodies), stress management and self-care and probably the biggest one: sleep. This is why, as health coaches, we often refer ourselves as “holistic health coaches”. Our starting point will be food (& drink), but you can eat as much kale as you want, if you are unhappy in your job or your relationship or if you sleep badly or not enough, your health will suffer. I help my clients then figure out what they can do to improve their lives, I help them prioritise and I provide them with the accountability and motivation. I experienced this first hand, as I was diagnosed from Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2012 and at that time, I also spent 6 weeks in hospital completely paralysed from the waist down with Guillain Barré Syndrome. Both are autoimmune diseases. We are currently experiencing an epidemic of autoimmune diseases (such as MS, Hashimoto’s, Crohn’s, Coeliac, Psoriasis – there are about 150 known AIDs). I have a lot more to write and say about all the above, but best to visit my website, as I’m probably running out of space!
What are your core values? Give us three.
Honesty, determination, passion.

As a result of starting your business what can you do today that you could not do before?
I am more flexible with my time, so I spend more time with my children (for better or worse!).

Speaking of nutrition what is the weirdest thing you have eaten?
Spirulina. Nutritionists have been recommending it for a while, but I really can’t stomach it. And I’ve consumed some pretty horrendous stuff in my time.

What is in your refrigerator right now?
Loads of vegetables. I consume about 9-12 portions of vegetables a day. I have a very wide choice of vegetables, including loads of dark leafy greens. Leafy greens are the vegetables that most people find difficult to incorporate in their diet and yet, it is one of the most important. I also have meat and fish from our local butchers and fishmongers, organic cheese & yogurt and some ketchup for my kids (they are allowed some “treats”). I also have cans of coconut milk to make dairy free puddings and golden paste to make golden latte… All my food is organic (another extensive subject that I won’t get into here). But in short, I’m pretty stereotypical in the world of nutrition! (other than I hardly take supplements, I aim to get all I need from my food).

Who should everyone be listening to now in holistic healthcare?
I would have to give a big shout out to health coaches (https://www.ukhealthcoachesassociation.co.uk), as it’s an emerging role in the UK and Europe, and it’s very interesting as well as powerful. We focus on behaviour change management, not just “prescribing” a diet or supplements. It is powerful and it works, because when it comes to health, the most important is long-term, not short-term fixes, so it’s about creating new habits and foregoing habits which aren’t so good for us.

On a personal basis, have you done anything lately that you’ll remember forever?
There are a lot of things that spring to mind right now. A special holiday with my family to Disney World, starting a business and launching my website, reading with the kids in my daughter’s reception class. But what really springs to mind is about the realisation that I would like to help change society for the better. I’m organising an event in January where I will show a movie called “Embrace” and have a debate with a few local health professionals around the negative image women have of their bodies, how much unhappiness this leads to and what we can do about it – individually and as a society. What I’ve learnt in recent years is that people are not completely in control of their choices and that a lot of it is negatively influenced by the media, corporations, governments and other institutions. I want to play a small role in changing this.

If the whole world was listening, what would you say?
Sleep… 7 to 8 hours a night. Stop celebrating people who survive on less than 6 hours a night as today’s heroes. I have a very physical symptom of inflammation (my joints hurt) and if I get less than 7, I’m in pain. Everyone suffers from chronic inflammation, but doesn’t know it, until they drop or get diagnosed with a dramatic chronic illness. This is totally preventable, if we sleep.

What is your most appealing personality trait?
Hmm, I’m really not sure about this, but I’d say generosity. I think I give a lot of myself on all levels. But you’d have to ask my husband and friends if they agree