LIVE Health Coaching - How Virginia is finding Mind, Body and Soul balance

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November 27, 2020 - Episode #42 - LIVE Health Coaching - How Virginia is finding Mind, Body and Soul balance

Today is a podcast bonus with LIVE coaching! As a Dietitian turned FMHC who empowers women on their health transformation body, mind and soul.  I’m finding that there are so many misconceptions about health coaching.  Many people think that that it is a rigid environment where you are giving very strict guidelines about your diet.  And you are made to feel guilty and ashamed for how you have treated your health in the past.  
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Functional Medicine health coaching is different.  It is about empowerment, encouragement, recognizing your strengths and helping you identify obstacles that are holding you back!  This LIVE Coaching episode with Virginia is real, raw and honest.  We identify some strengths and help her remember some "wins" that are benefiting her health.   Then we strategize specific ways for her to find balance in her Body, Mind and Soul.

DON'T MISS THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL that I mentioned in this podcast.  To access your FREE gift...the Holiday Survival Guide - Beat Stress, Combat Cravings and Stay Joyful in the season and the special link that gives you a $48 off a virtual Health Coaching session, click here bit.ly/2020holidaysurvivalguide
 
Here is the link to our previous podcast on Emotional Eating and Drinking 
https://www.inspirehealthyharmony.com/binge-eating-drinking.html#/

​Read Full Transcript below
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​Where else to listen:  (note: Google is only available on android devices)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

November 27, 2020 - Episode #42 - LIVE Health Coaching - How Virginia is finding Mind, Body and Soul balance

Speaker 1:
Hey there, it's Jennifer Pickett, your host, your health coach, your friend. I am so glad you're joining us today for a podcast bonus with live coaching. Yes. Live health coaching.  As a Dietitian turned Functional Medicine Health Coach. I empower women on their health transformation, body, mind, and soul. And I'm finding that there's so many misconceptions about health coaching. So many people think that it's this really rigid environment. All we talk about is food and diets, and that you're going to be made to feel guilty or ashamed for maybe how you've treated your health in the past. And I'm here to tell you functional medicine health coaching is different. It's all about empowerment, encouragement, recognizing your strengths, helping you identify obstacles that are holding you back. So I'm giving you an inside sneak peek with this bonus podcast, featuring live coaching.  Keep listening.

And if you find yourself thinking, Hey, I need that. I want some encouragement and support. Why don't you consider booking a one hour virtual coaching call? I want you to get the personalized help you need to go to inspire healthy harmony.com and click on the coaching tab. Now let's get started with our live coaching. I have my friend from college for Virginia Kerr here with me today, and I'm so excited. She's excited. She's decided to join me and just kinda be open and get real with some health coaching. Virginia, thank you for joining me. Thank you for doing this. It's going to be fun. Um, and I love how we've been able to reconnect. It's been just a few years since we've been in college. Just a few. We won’t talk about how many. 

Speaker 2:
Yeah, about as long as, uh, the age we were when we were in college.

Speaker 1:
Oh my word. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, Virginia. Yeah, I think you're right. Uh, thank you. Right. Uh, so it's nice to reconnect. So as we just jump right into it, cause this is an abbreviated session. I want to ask you what are some really positive things you're doing right now for self care and I'll call these wins. What are some really positive things you're doing right now for self care?

Speaker 2:
I don't think they're necessarily routines or rituals that I'm doing. I think this has been a couple of years in the making I've over the last couple of years, I've gotten good at setting boundaries with my time and with people and I've gotten, gotten good at putting my family first. So I find that my it's I'm in a weird stage right now, because as much as I say this I've simplified my life, but because I'm doing new things, it feels hectic. And I have been able to, I guess, develop a way of talking myself down when things feel stressful. In fact, today's a stressful day. This is a really good day to talk about this. You know, wake up in the morning and things pop up that are surprises that you're not expecting. And you've got to put out fires as an entrepreneur that happens. And so I'm not freaking out. I have not had a meltdown. I have not gone on a cussing frenzy, which is what the old me would have done. Uh, because I know that this is just, it comes with the territory and this too shall pass. And we just take it one minute at a time, one day at a time. So I don't know if that's a win. I just think overall I'm in a healthier place. 

Speaker 1:
And that girl, I think huge win. It's a massive win. Um, and I think, it's so important to look at it as a win. I mean, it's, you know, I heard you say, Hey, I'm learning how to set boundaries and in doing so, you know, with, with my time and with other people, and I'm learning to like put family first and that's, that can be very challenging when you're trying to run your own business. Both of us are entrepreneurs and it's very, very challenging and also very stressful. But I loved hearing you say, you know, you're really practicing mindfulness and you said, uh, you know how to talk yourself down. So instead of going to that place, that kind of dark place, if you will you kind of realize, okay, um, I'm not going there, but I'm learning how to talk myself down. So that you're able to kind of cope with what life throws at you. And I think those are, those are massive wins.

Speaker 2:
Yes. This is a nice time for us to have this because it's, it's allowing me to pause and realize, okay, today is hectic.

Speaker 1:
It's not what you expected, but you are still winning because the old you would have probably gotten crawled back in bed.

Speaker 2:
Yes.

Speaker 1:
And I'm going to be, I'm going to get real with you today is one of those days it's taking everything in me, not to just crawl back in bed, cause it's been a day over here as well. So, um, I love how, you know, we're, we're being mindful and we're recognizing, first of all, it's okay to say it's just a cruddy cruddy day, but we are choosing to do something different and we're being mindful in the moment. So I am very sorry you're having a rough day, but maybe this will, um, I'm hoping you'll find yourself encouraged after our brief conversation here. So let's, let's kind of get into the struggle part. Um, so you've got some big wins and it's always good to remind ourselves of wins, but if we could talk about a struggle right now, what's the biggest struggle when you're looking at your complete health. So when I say complete health that body, mind, and soul, what would you say is your biggest struggle?

Speaker 2:
Well, if I go through all the body and the mind and the soul, then I would have to say that my mind while I can be mindful and I'm working on. So again, I'm not, I don't feel defeated it's organization and delegating so that I am not feeling like I've got a lot of things in orbit, like circling around my head and I can't catch them and put them where they're supposed to go, because that's how I feel. But, um, I am currently working on that. So that's again, why I know that this, this is a temporary stage I'm in, but organization. And in knowing I know what I need to do when it comes to being a better planner and being more intentional. And while my way works, now that I'm taking on more clients and I've got courses going on my way works for me.

But if I want to continue to serve more people, I have to, I have to get more organized. It just, it's not about me. If I'm going to serve people the way I want, I've got to get that part of me. And you know how, when you, this is embarrassing, but here it is, well, you want a closet that has not been organized or cleaned out and over a year. And it just gives you that feeling of full failing. Yes, that is my mind, right? This is my closet. And it's my mind right now. And I know that I need to go tackle the closets, which I'm going to do, but it is a reflection of where, what my mind looks like too, with all the stuff going on and not having a system to organize things and make sure that I'm not dropping balls. So there's mind. It was a very long explanation for my mind, body mind.

Speaker 1:
And I love that. I love that. Um, uh, that analogy that is the perfect picture of, you know, the cluttered closet. That's just an absolute disaster. And your mind, you feel like it's just full of clutter. There's so many things that you need to be getting done and it's not getting done. That's a really good analogy. I think every single woman listening to this is nodding her head saying, Oh my God. Yes, that's it. So I love that analogy. Tell me about the body.

Speaker 2:
Before I moved to the body. I just thought of something else. So then there's the whole COVID thing. So there's all this uncertainty going on and I keep telling myself that I'm okay. And I do think I am, I guess this is about to go into spirituality, but I just, I think that I, I, well, I know this, this is just how I am wired. I'm really good at staying focused on things that need to get done to avoid things I don't want to think about. So I know that that anxiety is also lingering and that's affecting me, even though consciously, I'm not aware of it body wise because of my lack of organization. And because I've got so many balls in the air and I'm trying, I'm working on new things, which again, I know they will settle down because the new stages of anything is, is hectic and crazy.

So I am not exercising. if I want to talk wins, I am not binge eating or binge drinking, which is what I used to do in the past. So I, I find myself distracting myself with decorating, like looking at pottery barn and talking myself into buying Christmas decorations. I don't need and spending. So that's, that's not healthy when I really need to just go exercise and I'm an all or nothing person. And I know that what it's happening is I'm picturing me having to go to the gym and do weights and get on the treadmill when really, I just need to go walk the dog, something that would physically get me out of the house and help me calm down, because I think that's going to help with the mind part.

And then soul actually there is lack of organization there too. I'm not making time for quiet time. I'm not making time for a devotional, which is what I've done in the past that I know it's so beneficial. Instead I do random prayers, which random prayers are fine, but that's like eating chips instead of getting full.

Speaker 1:
Yes. Yes. And, um, I'll, I'll, uh, first of all, I love the way you've kind of paint a picture here and also, I hear your strengths coming out. Now. I have the beauty of knowing you for a long time and watching you online since we're in two different States. Um, my friend is a beautiful, creative sort. So you may have seen her on Tik Tok or Instagram, like video is her thing. She's an expert. In fact, she's a video coach. And you're a creative, so I can see how sometimes some of these like details and, you know, like the list and like the planning and the organization. It can be a little bit, a little bit much. Um, I heard you say that you're not really exercising and you're doing some other things though. You're, you're decorating because, and I I'm sitting here nodding, cause I'm like, that's what I've been doing. You know, like I'm, I'm feeling stressed and I've got so much to do and what am I doing? I'm making sure that my house looks like a winter  wonderland.

Speaker 2:
I do. I do know that about you. We do share that common. Yeah.

Speaker 1:
We do. Yes. That I can't decide what psychological issue is underlying there that causes this every year. You know, I think the kids might need therapy one day because of the Christmas decorating, but that's another, that's another episode. Right. Um, so I love how you're doing some things that you enjoy. Um, cause that brings you pleasure. And we do, we need to find some things that bring us joy during this time of anxiety and stress for sure. Um, so let's talk about, let's talk about the exercise component real quick. Um, had there, has there been a time where you were exercising or you did something very simple, like walking the dog and you just saw a difference? How did you feel?

Speaker 2:
I can, I can see it and I can feel the fresh air. It's just, it's calming. And it, and that mind clutter tends to dissipate. I know that it's going to relax me and it's going to help me clear my thoughts, just like a shower. Does I get so much done thinking wise in the shower? I think that it would be very similar, but even more beneficial and it would last longer.

Speaker 1:
And you live out. So you live in this beautiful area and, um, there is just something about nature. And I think you have a deep appreciation for, for things of beauty and for nature. Like you, you connect there and it relaxes you and it calms you. So what would that look like? How would you work that into, uh, your morning routine to take the dog for a walk? Is that, is that realistic to do? And how often would that be?

Speaker 2:
Here's my excuse, my excuses. We don't live in a neighborhood. We live out in the country. Not that it's far from a neighborhood, but I live on a highway, so I would, I have to get the car. And then if I choose to take the dog, which I don't care if I take the dog, my husband would care. He would say he needs to go. Um, I would have to load the dog in the car and then drive two miles to the nearest neighborhood. But that's fine. I can do that. And I've thought about doing it after my, I drop off my son at school. So I could go then. And again, if I just tell myself and I coached this baby steps, don't overwhelm, you're sitting here realizing that if I would just tell myself, you only have to go for 10 minutes the first day, then I would most likely do it and realize how good it felt and go back and do it again. But yeah, I could do it in the morning.

Speaker 1:
And I think that sounds very simple and very realistic for you to do it right after you drop your son off either with the dog or without the dog. But you might find that it kind of forces you to get it done if he's with you, because then you brought the dog for a reason. You might as well go get that, you know, 10, 15 minutes done. And I like how you said 10 minutes, because I think sometimes when we're really busy and we're really stressed, our, our go-to is add, do not have time. And the reality is that even 10 minutes, 15 minutes, all movement matters. Um, so every little bit counts. So if you could set a goal for how many times a week you wanted to do that and just try it out for a short time, what would that goal be?

Speaker 2:
Maybe twice a week, the first week and before it got cold, I was doing this every day, but it was around my house and I didn't consider it to be exercise. It was just fun. And I would go shoot fun, little angles, a video, and put together a little 15 second videos while I walk the dogs. And I really enjoyed it again, not really exercise, but I was moving. We have a big party. So I was walking around into the cornfield and all, all the little places just to get some fun video. And I really, I think that that was a good start to my day. And then it went away when it starts cold.

Speaker 1:
Um, is it possible to still do that? Uh, even though it's a little bit colder and you'll have to bundle up a little bit more, is it still possible to do some of that.

Speaker 2:
And maybe it's because I didn't think it was as pretty as it was then, but I'm sure it's, I'm sure I can find some unique angles and shots. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 1:
And especially because that's how you're driven is looking for those, you know, creative angles and shots. Um, uh, you know, it might kind of spurred some additional creativity and like you said, you didn't think of it as exercise, but it is like, it is it's exercise, you're outside, um, where you're getting that fresh air, you're connecting with nature, but also you're doing what you love. You're getting to be creative. The dog's getting attention. So there's just some body mind and soul benefits right there, because we're getting rid of some of that, of that mind clutter, and you're getting the additional benefit of just movement in general, you know?

Speaker 2:
Um, so I love that.

Speaker 1: 
So maybe incorporating both of those, you know, maybe some neighborhood walks with the dog after school and then maybe just sometimes, you know, there's not enough time to take the dog for a walk, but maybe just walking around the property and seeing if you can get some good shots that way for your videos.

Speaker 2:
I can do that.

Speaker 1:
Good. I love it. Okay. So let's talk about, uh, the spiritual health component, because you said that during this time you are feeling a lot of anxiety. And I think, again, everybody is sitting here like, Oh my word, yes. We're I think we're all just at, at this point in time, in a moment, it just absolutely stunned with everything that's going on and just the anxiety that we feel every single day. And so it really comes back to, okay, what are we doing to nourish our soul? And you said, you know what? I really hadn't been, you know,  really haven't been making that quiet time. I haven't been, um, you know, doing a devotion. So do you have a devotional book that you like to read, or what would, what is your quiet time look like in the past that you were pleased with?

Speaker 2:
In the past? I had either a devotional book or I would use the Bible app and I would go through a lesson with that, or I had streams in the desert, which is an amazing book. And I would, I would just open up that each day and then pray afterward. And I know I still have that book. I should go get that book. I mean, I can, you can even Google streams in the desert and with the day it is, and it'll pop on that. So there's no excuses, but yes, that's what I used to do. And then, well, you know, you go through seasons. So there were seasons where I would do it twice a day. There were seasons where I would wake up early in the morning and I go downstairs. I would even be one of those people that would just, um, I shouldn't call it Russian roulette, but I would just, I would just open the Bible and say, okay, God, show me what you need to show me today. And I would do that, that's it? It was always so miraculous how I needed that specific scripture. It was very fun, but that, yes, I've done all sorts of different ways of quiet time.

Speaker 1:
I love that. Now, where do you like to do your quiet time? Where in your house do you like to do it?

Speaker 2:
And that was most disciplined. It was downstairs in the den on couch. I'm thinking wintertime. I don't know why, but, well, maybe cause it's getting cold here, but there was always like the fire and the, the sound of the furnace was calming and it was just, it was super relaxing and nobody was up at that.

Speaker 1:
Oh, I love it. I love it. Again. You, you paint such beautiful pictures. Um, again, that creativity comes out, you paint such beautiful pictures and we're tapping into something here because what you're doing is you're describing this really nice sane where your soul felt at ease, where your soul felt at rest. And so, um, you've done quiet time in the past. You did it in the den with the fire. The furnace had a nice little comforting sound. And did you, did you drink coffee in the morning with your quiet time?

Speaker 2:
I think I would go straight down to the den. The basement

Speaker  1:
Okay. You haven't gone into the kitchen.

Speaker 2:
It was just, I would just beeline for it.

Speaker 1:
Okay. Okay. Um, how do you feel about recreating that? Um, cause now I'm assuming the Den is decorated for Christmas, am I correct?

Speaker 2:
The room that I keep playing with in my head. And I'm like, I'm going to hobby lobby this weekend. We're going to tweak things, recreate some expensive looks. I found in some magazines, I'm all about, yes. So it's going to be gorgeous.

Speaker 1:
Yes, love it. So it, that is a space for, you can sit there and truly relax. It's decorated for Christmas. You're going to make some amazing tweaks and going back to doing some of those things that really brought you joy and nourish your soul before. Um, and I have a book I'm going to send you, um, and, uh, it's called Embraced by Lisa TerKeurst and it is, I think it is my top devotional of all times. And I can honestly say every single coaching client of mine has gotten this devotional from me because it is, it's just that good. And it always seemed to be exactly what I needed for that day. And girl, I will tell you that when I have gotten off track with my, um, quiet time in the morning and I haven't made it a priority. And as you know, instead like spent the, my coffee time, you know, scrolling social media, I'm a disaster.

I mean, it just, it literally affects every single aspect of my life, but it seems like when I, when I make that a top priority, um, giving my soul what it needs, connecting with my creator and talking to God and just laying it all at his feet, then I am able to better handle what comes my way. And I'm not trying to muscle through on my own strength because I'm kind of stupid and stubborn like that. Sometimes trying to muscle through my own strength. So that quiet time, it I've seen it make all the difference the world to me. Um, and I love how we, we kind of do that. We just think the same, we do the same thing. You know, we have to have the right scene. So I have like, you know, uh, mine is in the kitchen and these little comfy chairs and this morning I was even diffusing frankincense. Cause I thought, Hey, it doesn't get any holier than that. Right. I mean, it can only help, but you know, that scent and then my quiet time and some journaling, um, it just, it helps. So, so very much. So if you could set a goal for doing your quiet time in the beautifully decorated den, um, how many times a week would you like to try to do that? To start off with.

Speaker 2:
Maybe three times a week? So I could, if I'm looking at just Monday through Friday, I'm exercising two of those days and then I'm doing a quiet time. Three of those days.

Speaker 1:
I love it. I love it. That's a fantastic, fantastic goal. Um, and I like how you're being realistic with your goal. You're not saying, Oh no, I'm going to do it seven days a week. We have to be realistic, especially when we're trying to get back into some healthier habits. Um, so we've had such a good, good conversation today. I do want to tell our listeners something real quick as we wrap up, um, Virginia and I, this is an abbreviated coaching session. We just want to kind of give you a taste and have a good conversation that we hope encouraged. You Virginia referenced something earlier. She said that she's not binge eating and binge drinking. And that's a really big win with her because Virginia has a significant, um, track history of binge eating and binge drinking. And we have a full podcast about this. 

It aired earlier this year. So I'm going to be sure and link that in the show notes. So you can hear that. So if emotional eating and emotional drinking is your struggle, I really want you to listen to that podcast. So for Virginia, thank you so much for joining me today. I like the goals that you've set. Um, and I just want to encourage you to keep being open and girl, you keep doing you, you're doing fantastic. You've got some good wins. And so I feel like today, we kinda, we kind of built on those wins. What would you say is your biggest takeaway from our session today?

Speaker 2:
It doesn't feel so daunting when you break it down the way you did. It just, it seems doable. And it took me back to, well, it's, it's the wins you're talking about. It took me back to those times when, Oh yeah. That was working for me. And I really did enjoy that. Why am I not making the time to do that? Now when I know that that's going to help me with this, this clutter I was describing.

Speaker 1:
Yes. Yes. And I think for all just feeling that, that clutter, and sometimes we just need somebody to help us remember, you know, to help us connect the dots. So I'm so glad that we were able to do that today. Thank you so much for joining me, my friend. I appreciate you.

Speaker 2:
Thank you. I appreciate you too.

Speaker 1:
And that wraps up our live coaching session for today. I am so grateful to Virginia for just her vulnerability in her honesty and her willingness to be open, man. You know, so often we are struggling with the same things. And as you could hear, it was just a matter of someone helping her connect the dots and helping her remember some things that have worked with her in the past. So you might be thinking, I need somebody to help me connect the dots. That's what I'm here for. As you are considering booking a coaching session. I want to remind you, I have a holiday special. Now today is black Friday. So you're probably hearing about lots of specials out there. You might be out shopping, are looking or shopping and looking online. Um, so remember, I've got a free gift for you. That free gift is a holiday survival guide.
How to beat stress, combat cravings, and stay joyful in the season. You download your free gift that going to Bitly B I T dot L Y forward slash 2020 holiday survival guide. Again, that's Bitly forward slash 2020 holiday survival guide in that holiday survival guide, there is a special link. So you can book a discounted coaching session. It's $48 off Now, I have to warn you. There's a limited quantity available, and these are going quickly. So, um, is of the essence, my friend, but I am looking forward to giving you that personalized, customized help that you have been looking for. So until we meet again, I hope you have a happy holiday. Stay safe out there. My friends and I will see you next time. Bye y'all.
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