Catherine the ‘workhorse’
That was the nickname I used to go by. Before becoming a health coach, I was competing at weightlifting competitions, practising as a professional and financial risk defence lawyer, writing and publishing my own books and acing professional courses left, right and centre. Sounds like I had it all and was super confident and a total boss babe, right?
My family and friends certainly thought so until I started coming out with the truth of what was happening behind closed doors!
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I regularly went on very strict fad diets which destroyed my energy and mood (especially after having my heart broken by a man)
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I binge-ate on crisps, cake, chocolate, toast, cereal and other convenient junk food when I felt lonely, fat, stressed, burned out, like a failure or not good enough (which was often)
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I overworked and overexercised to smother negative emotions I had about my body and self-worth
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I never felt WHOLE and COMPLETE. For years I chased that missing “thing” externally. More work, more exercise, more competitions, more trophies but it was NEVER ENOUGH.
That “thing” was still missing. All the time meanwhile I disconnected from my body more and more. I struggled with endless dieting, bingeing, restriction, over-exercising, overworking, and the relentless pursuit of perfection as a Busy Woman for over a DECADE.
So yes, I had achieved a lot. BUT at a price for my health. I knew I needed to make changes so I did. Thus started my journey of healing via taking a holistic approach and sure enough, I found the “thing” that was missing (hint - it wasn’t out there, it was inside of me!).
Practising holistic health means that I take a wholesome approach to all areas of life (i.e. nutrition, movement, career, family, recovery etc). I look at how all areas of life are connected and intertwined. Blocks and barriers in any area of life affect other areas. So when we work on one area the other areas inevitably improve too. The same occurs if we neglect any areas of life; the other ones suffer too.
When I focused on my relationship with my mind, body and nutrition, I unravelled SO MANY obstacles that were getting in my way. Making friends with all parts of me allowed me to continue with my incredible and fulfilling external successes while ALSO loving myself and feeling WHOLE. It was like coming home.
I learned this truth the hard way (and I'm still discovering and integrating the nuances of this wisdom). I’m here as a resource to help you discover your truth minus feeling lost, overwhelmed or conflicted. It’s this journey back to wholeness that I support strong, intelligent and hardworking Busy Women to navigate. We start with food and finish by bringing intentionality to every area of life.
My Qualifications and Training
Mental Health First Aider
MHFA England
2023
MHFA England teaches about mental health and how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue. It uses evidenced-based training which gives the skills to spot the signs of poor mental health, the confidence to start a conversation and the knowledge to signpost to appropriate support.
Holistic Health Coach Training
Institute for Integrative Nutrition
2022 to 2023
IIN is the largest nutrition school in the world, and recognises that health is made up of much more than food, but includes a focus on career, physical activity, relationships and spirituality. The school has more than 100 world-class educators who are leading physicians, researchers, doctors and nutrition experts at the forefront of the health and wellness movement.
CrossFit Level One
CrossFit
2022
Provides an introductory education on the fundamental principles and movements of CrossFit. It is the starting point for anyone seeking to improve their health and fitness through effective training and nutritional strategies. Prospective coaches and gym owners take the Level 1 to acquire the foundational training required to help others become fitter and healthier using the CrossFit methodology.
The Landmark Forum
Landmark Worldwide
2022
The Landmark Forum is designed to bring about positive, permanent shifts in the quality of people’s lives. These shifts are the direct cause for a new and unique kind of freedom and power - the freedom to be at ease and the power to be effective in all areas of life. This includes relationships, career, hobbies and general enjoyment.
I’m also half English and half Foochow (Chinese) so I have the luxury of two strong cultures
and bring the best of both to my way of living and health coach practice.
When it comes to YOUR health and life, I am not interested in what is good or bad, right or wrong. All I am interested in is what WORKS for YOU. What worked for you last year might not work for you today and what works for you today might not work for you tomorrow, next month or next year. YOUR HEALTH is a constantly moving status.
I’m here to help you with...
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Health and well-being
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Intuition
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Nutrition basics
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Self-respect and self-love
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Mindfulness
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Menstrual cycle issues
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Body confidence
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Boundaries
WISWY
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Work In Sync With Yourself
What works, works
A community of holistic health-centred people who aren’t concerned about what is good or bad, right or wrong. In this space, the emphasis is on personal well-being and understanding that there's no one-size-fits-all approach. What matters most is discovering what works best for YOU.