The Life and Fork Podcast

In this sort episode I try to challenge you to think about what it being sold to you online to fix your problems versus what you know fundamentally works but feels like harder work! The internet knows what you weaknesses are and it knows the money to be made in exploiting this and targeting you.Whereas I know the basics will serve you much better and I'm here to remind you of that.

Mind Your Mind. Mind Your Energy. How many times have you thought:"What is wrong with me?""Why can't I just get my act together?"You're doing life. You're showing up.But you feel off. Tired. Foggy. Not quite yourself.In this episode, l'm joined by Gillian from Reignite, where we bring together two powerful perspectives:Mindset, patterns, identityNutrition, energy, hormones and habitsBecause the truth is it's not just your mindset... and it's not just your hormones either.It's the interaction between your mind and your energy.Together, we explore:Why you feel "off" even when life looks fineWhy you feel in control one minute and completely off the nextWhat's really behind the "I know what to do but I don't do it" cycleWhy trying to be "good" often makes things worseHow women slowly stop being a priority in their own livesThis is a real, honest conversation that connects what's happening in your head with what's happening in your body.If you've been blaming yourself... this episode will change that

In this episode I explore what happens when people start to see the cracks in the all or nothing approach - but in trying to stay out of it, fall into the trap of feeling like they are just doing nothing! I explain why as a coach I can get on board with this and why I think you are probably doing better than you are giving yourself credit for.

In this episode I discuss the rise in women getting into recreational fitness but training at an intensity where their nutrition requirements are no longer being met - more from lack of realisation than intention.This is leading to a set of symptoms being mistaken for perimenopause and left unresolved, could potentially lead to more harm than good in future years.This is a topic that will be covered in far more depth at our Fitness Unprofessionals event on March 7th in Manchester. Details and tickets can be found here:https://www.michellecarroll.co.uk/fitnessunprofessionalslive

In this episode I explore why I found everyone's 2025 highlight reel a little triggering this year. But what I realised in trying to fathom it gave me a great reframe that I think would be useful to anyone feeling the same.Happy New Year Folks!

I never thought setting up a run club for people who hate running would have such a profound effect on my emotions! As a coach, its made me learn more in 4 weeks than I have in 4 years previous.Today I share some of the stories and the realiastions I've made about the stigma of the fitness industry, how it intimidates a lot of people and that creates paralysis to start moving in an shape or form.If we can all work in getting people to overcome this, you start to see the effect of one person empowering another and so on. This has been the most fulfilling gift I will get this Christmas.

In this episode I explain a framework I've used for many years with clients. The concept of intentionally doing a tiny segment of your usual version of health seeking behaviours throughout December so that by January 'the fear' hasn't kicked in and you have to use the toxic January hype to get back into it.This is one to listen to if every January if your 'kickstart' yet there you are again a year later in the same position or worst still, even further back that the year before!

This episode summarises the talk delivered at this weekend's mac nutrition live conference by Dr Nicola Guess on Personalised nutrition.I discuss what it actually is and share the research on its efficacy.If you've done Zoe or you've considered this, or another company's personal nutrition, this episode is worth listening to.

In this episode I explain why I coach the way I do and how it its the furthest thing away from what people expect from a nutritionist.This is worth a listen if you have tried every diet under the sun but are still no nearer your goals, or you spend your life thinking if you could just get better discipline you would crack it. You won't! If you want to understand the methods we know work and start being kinder and more understanding of yourself, this could be the episode for you, or I could be the coach for you!

I regularly hear this from people. They see that eating protein is important but they don't really know much beyond it helps grow muscle'. So in this episode I give you a brief explanation as to why it is such an important part of our diet in the hope it gives you a bit more of a reason to start making sure it features throughout your entire day.

In this episode I explore the very commonly heard phrase "nothing has changed but I'm gaining weight" or "I'm not doing anything differently" ... but you probably are. Its just so subtle you don't acknowledge it.I look at what these things might be just to make you have a closer look and also to reassure you that you have the power to control this, you are not 'doomed'!

People will more commonly hear me talk about 'what you are going to get shit at, but it doesn't make a great podcast title! In this episode I explore how just adding more things into an already chaotic life, doesn't usually have a great success rate and that picking what behaviours need bumping off to make room is far more viable and rewarding.If you are someone who knows what you should be doing but never seems to do it, this is the episode for you.

In this episode I share my thoughts after a lightbulb moment at a personal growth masterclass last week, on how to get perspective on if you are aligning your behaviours with you goals.This is the episode for you if you are constantly saying 'I know what I need to do, I just don't seem to be able to do it'. and boy do I hear that one a lot!

In this episode I explore how normalised sitting in a chair for 8 hours a day has become and how detrimental this is to both our physical and mental health.It is not how it is supposed to be and a species we are paying the price! I explore how the impact we see from throwing in a few tiny bursts of movement throughout the day versus staying sedentary in terms of our health outcomes and the impact this has when weight loss is a goal.

In this episode I explain appetite dissonance which I see so commonly in new clients. It's when we are so conditioned to trying to eat 'as little as possible' that we go through the day surviving on (usually) diet snacks and caffeinated drinks, and as a result completely dysregulate our hunger signalling so we don't actually know if we are hungry of full anymore.I explore what is actually happening and how we go about fixing it.

In this episode I answer the a client check in question:'What sort of techniques would you try for a person who has a very low opinion of themselves and always seems to put themselves second. How would you getting them to put themselves first and make them aware it is important to take care of yourself'

In this episode I sit down and reflect upon the marathon Sky and I ran as first time marathon runners.We discuss her 'F**k it and find out' approach to events and trying out new things in general, and where she goes to mentally when competing.There is nothing formal about this episode. Just two mates - where ne always does slightly better than the other!!!

You don't want to miss this one. Jo has an incredible consultancy working with women to build self worth and healthy relationships. In this episode we look inwards at how having that self worth should allow us to break the stigma of being expected to eat only 'feminine' dishes and make sure we over give to the point we have no time to see that we are looking after ourselves - a trap many of us fall into.

How the worst things we go through make doing hard things seem attainable. And how we can use this find more self confidence and growth.

In this episode I discuss the crazy week of fundraising I've had for our daughter Sylvie.What shone through, was the grit so many woman have found in baby loss, and it got me thinking, so many woman use this to make sure everyone around them is happy and safe, yey they never use to make guarantee their own wellbeing.Tune in if this resonates and lets help you find that inner grit!

In This Episode I cover the fact every woman that comes to me claims she 'knows what she needs to do but she just can't seem to do it' yet she is holding up a job, her entire family and the silent load that come with running a home. I can assure you these women are not 'lazy'. So what principles do I use to create the energy to get the important stuff done, and more importantly enjoyed?Listen in to find out.

In this episode I cover the problems I hear most from parents. What to do with fussy eaters, undereaters and overeaters. How do we know they are getting the right balance of nutrients and how to navigate stressful mealtimes.

In this episode I explore what electrolytes are, what we need them for and when we need to be supplementing with them.I've recently noticed them make their way into more and more family kitchen cupboards, and wonder in some cases are they an unnecessary commodity?

In this episode I explore the fact most of us have unknowingly been on a diet since our late teens but have never been challenged on it.How restriction is all a lot of us know, and the implications that has on the way we behave around food and the behaviour patterns it creates.I discuss methods I use with my clients to break these patterns and get rid of the food noise that is so prevalent.

Ok all day but can't get your head out the fridge on an evening?This is the episode for you! Here I cover why this is happening and what two things you can instantly implement to stop it happening and get you the food freedom to go about your day without having your head stuck in the fridge all evening 'undoing the work' you've put in all day.

In this episode I discuss why waiting for motivation to miraculously appear one day will never be the thing that gets you doing something consistently.I talk through the 'Pull over Push Method' I use to get my clients in a mindset that gets them to the place they think motivation alone will. If you are struggling to get started on something because motivation is low... this is the episode for you.

There is a lot of focus on improving our gut health but do we know that actually means?The internet would have you spending a fortune a month on a plethora of products on a promise they are the answer you are looking for. But is that the case?I explore what good gut health actually looks like and how we can achieve it.

The way we speak about and to ourselves around food massively impacts those around us. Especially if we are role modelling them. The messaging we get from our parents gets passed down generations unless we check ourselves and look at the impact some of what we are saying is having. In this episode I explore this and how we can change this narrative so our kids go into adulthood with the gift of food freedom.

In this episode I explore why in the past few years I've found myself talking about exercise more than I do about food. The two have very much a 'hand and glove' relationship and I explain why the magic lies in focusing a lot on movement and exercise because we know adding positive things in has a better success rate than shaming bad habits out.

In this first episode in true Jools fashion I dive straight into a topic I've been giving a lot of thought space to lately. Growing up in competitive sports - makes us competitive in everything we do. But is that conducive to maintaining our fitness and therefore our health is older age, or does it become a huge barrier that actually stops us doing things because we can't do them like we used to? In this episode I explore how switching from being competitive, and therefore comparative with other people to making myself and my own achievements my yardstick, changed the whole landscape of how much I enjoy my fitness and led me to begin practice this in many other facets of my life. Relevant Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX-yaiPnPM0