Lydia is a certified health coach who trained with
The Institute of Integrative Nutrition and now sees clients on a one to one
basis. Lydia creates personalised 6 week programmes for her clients to support
their individual goals. Whether it be weightloss, stress management, ditching
the punishing diet and exercise regimes for good or addressing body image
issues.
1. Why did you decide to become a health coach?
I decided to become a health coach because I struggled all
the way through my teens with health related issues as you can see by the
pictures below. I had Epstein Barr, which is a form of Glangela Fever, which
left me feeling exhausted all the time. I was also very overweight which lead
me to having major self-esteem issues and I suffered from depression. Through
my long journey back to health I decided to become a certified health coach by
studying at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I wanted to share my
experience and knowledge to help other woman struggling with similar issues. To
support them in getting them to a place where they accept their body and start
to love themselves again. The most important relationship we will ever have in
our lives is with ourselves. Once this relationship is strong everything will
start to fall into place. You can read more about my story HERE.
2. Can you tell me about your morning routine?
I believe if you start your day off on the right foot you
are more likely to continue making healthy choices throughout the day. So when
I wake up I like to do some diaphragmatic breathing, which helps boost your
mood by increasing the level of the ‘feel good’ hormone serotonin in the body.
It also helps reduce negative stress by lowering the stress hormone Cortisol. I
will hop in the shower alternating between hot and cold water to energise me
and boost my circulation. I will have a glass of hot water and lemon to cleanse
my system and get the digestive juices flowing before having breakfast.
Recently I have been enjoying some gluten free millet by a brand called Biona
with scrambled egg, spring onion and half an avocado. A breakfast full of
healthy fats, protein and complex carbs to provide me with slow releasing
energy to get me through my morning.
3. What is the best part of your job?
There are so many parts of my job that I love. I love seeing
a client open up and share their personal fears and struggles. Seeing someone
being so honest is an amazing thing to experience and I feel so honoured that
they trust me enough that they feel at ease being so open with me. But what
tops that is when I see a client radiating happiness and self-confidence.
Witnessing a client fall back in love with themselves and knowing that they do
deserve the life they have always dreamed of. Well there is nothing better than
that.
4. What is your favourite dinner party dish?
Wow, that’s a tricky one. But I would have to go with my
chicken, butternut squash and chickpea stew with a side of wilted spinach and
broccoli. It is so creamy and indulgent while being super healthy. I am all
about cooking up delicious meals without slaving over the stove for hours.
Nutrient dense, quick and simple dishes are what I am all about.
5. How do you keep fit?
Keeping fit is very important to me. It doesn’t just keep my
weight stable but it boosts my mood, focus and energy no end. As well as
keeping my skin in good condition due to all the sweating, attractive I know.
It also allows me to sleep much better and exercise has to be the best stress
reliever for me. My problems just seem to fade away after a good workout.
I like to mix things up so I don’t get bored and keep challenging my body. I love running. I throw in some intervals and hill sprints to push myself. I make sure to incorporate some strength training into my week to build and sculpt lean muscle. I use hand weights, the TRX or body weight exercises in a type of Tabata style routine. I am trying to attend yoga twice a week to slow things down and rebalance myself.
I like to mix things up so I don’t get bored and keep challenging my body. I love running. I throw in some intervals and hill sprints to push myself. I make sure to incorporate some strength training into my week to build and sculpt lean muscle. I use hand weights, the TRX or body weight exercises in a type of Tabata style routine. I am trying to attend yoga twice a week to slow things down and rebalance myself.
6. If you had to give
someone 5 top health tips what would they be?
- Stop
the negative self-talk. The voice inside your head that says you’re too
fat, not good enough, not smart enough is lying to you. You can achieve
anything you put your mind to.
- Slow
down. Be more aware of yourself and your body. Take some time for
yourself. Have a long bath, attend a yoga class or catch up with a friend
by going for a nice walk in the park. This will stop you from burning out.
- Eat every 3 hours. This will stop you from becoming ravenous and over eating later. Eating little and often will keep your metabolism running and will help control your cravings. It will keep your energy levels stable so you can get through your day without the dreaded 4pm slump. My go to snack option is a handful of almonds. Full of healthy fats and protein plus it is so easy to carry in your bag for when hunger strikes. I also love a banana topped with almond butter and we can’t forget about a mug of green tea to go with it
- Sleep
more. Good quality sleep is essentially if you want to feel and look your
best. You should try and aim for 7 to 8 hours a night. When you have had
good quality rest you are more likely to eat better, stick to your
workouts and perform better at work. You will also find yourself having
more energy and be in a better place mentally.
- Stop with the punishing and restrictive diets and exercise routines. These are not sustainable in the long run. You will just be setting yourself up for failure, as you can’t keep up with such high standards. Your self-esteem and confidence will take a major bashing by living this way and it will soon be affecting the way you live your life. As soon as you take the pressure off yourself. That is when change can occur.
7.Do you have any stress reducing tips?
My favourite way to beat stress is to get outside and go for
a run or by working out at the gym. My stress and worries just seem to wash
away. Taking a long bath is also another great way to de stress and un-wind. I
like to take a bath straight before bed. I sleep so well when ever I do this.
8. What is your daily mantra?
We are all human. We will make mistakes and we will fall on
our ass from time to time. It is about picking ourselves up, learning from our
experiences and moving on. Perfection doesn’t exist. It’s about learning to
love and except ourselves for who we are today and be brave enough to show our
‘imperfections’ to the world just as we are.
Contact Lydia via her website for more information on her
services www.lydiamccall.com and to
book in for a complimentary
consultation to see how she can support you and to see if you would like to
work together. Sessions can take place in person in London or done via skype.
