Psychology, why people do things and how they do them – has always fascinated me.
During my Sport Science Degree at The University of Leeds, I studied four disciplines - psychology, anatomy, physiology and biomechanics.
Psychology captivated me then and it still does today.
After university, I travelled and lived in Australia. When I returned, I fell into the corporate world, but something never felt quite right.
In 2018, I decided to put that degree to good use and follow my passion, becoming a PT and Pilates teacher. My Mum was a PE teacher, so I grew up around sport. I wanted everyone to love moving their body and exercising as much as I did.
That's when Classes with Cara + Personal Training was born.
Welcome
"I never thought I'd be able to do this."
"For years, I'd finish everything on my plate no matter what.
It was just what you did, wasn't it?
Now I can push the plate away halfway through and it feels... fine.
Actually fine. Not guilty, not anxious. Just done."
Lucy C - Shrewsbury
"Dessert used to be the thing I thought about most at dinner."
"I'd plan my meal around it.
What could I have so I'd 'deserve' pudding.
Last week at my sister's, she brought out a beautiful cheesecake and I just had a small spoonful and stopped.
Because I was full.
That's it. No drama, no negotiation with myself."
Ashleigh B - Wem
"I booked an all-inclusive and felt genuinely excited.
"A year ago that would have sent me into a panic.
The buffet, the free drinks, the pudding bar, it would have been all I thought about for weeks before.
This time I just enjoyed it. Ate what I fancied, had a glass of wine, went back to the pool.
I didn't 'make up for it' when I got home. I just... carried on."
Sophie M - Shrewsbury
Then came a pandemic shortly after becoming self-employed (thanks Boris). I had to adapt quickly, working remotely with my clients (which worked surprisingly well).
A house move from Telford to Wem followed, along with a full renovation and all the life stuff that comes with your early thirties (and well late thirties now too!)
Watching my clients navigate their lives, the juggling of work, family and trying to stay healthy. I could see exactly why the women I was coaching struggled with losing weight, feeling healthier and fitting it all in.
This is where I went deep into coaching - the psychology of why people struggle to do something even though they say they want to and how to change that for them.
Here's what I uncovered.
My clients weren't lacking knowledge (they're all incredibly smart). They weren't lacking willpower (they excel at other areas of their life - they are great at life).
The real issue holding them back?
Their relationship with food.
Years of diet culture conditioning, telling them to eat this, avoid that, become like those people.
Years of being told to finish everything on their plate because "children are starving in Africa."
Years of using exercise as punishment instead of moving their body for health and enjoyment.
It had all come back to weight loss.
And it wasn’t working for them.
I studied more.
Learned deeper.
Became a EIQAccredited Nutritionist.
And fell completely in love with educating and changing women's relationship with food.
Because once we sorted that out?
The weight came off. They became consistent with exercise. They enjoyed food again without guilt.
After having my toddler two years ago, I decided to do this work entirely remotely from my home in Wem – just like during the pandemic, it works beautifully over calls.
Now I transform women's relationship with food in the comfort of their own home from mine.
When you understand the psychology of why you struggle, you stop fighting yourself.
You start working with yourself. And that's when everything shifts.
It's the most rewarding work I've ever done.
Based in Wem, Shropshire, I work remotely with women who are tired of dieting and ready for lasting change.