In this episode, I’m joined by my lovely friend and fellow health coach, Vicky Chisholm, who lives in Yorkshire in the UK. We chat about how we first met through our health coaching course, bonded over hikes in the Yorkshire Dales, and how online friendships can be a real lifeline when you work for yourself.

Vicky shares her own health and career journey – from massage therapist and PT in her 20s, to working as a PA for 25 years, to retraining as a naturopathic health coach during lockdown. She talks openly about living with a lifelong iron-related fatigue condition, watching her mum struggle with ulcerative colitis, and how those experiences shaped her interest in truly holistic health – looking at the whole person, not just symptoms.

We dive into why strength training can feel intimidating for midlife women, how to make it feel safe and doable, and Vicky’s brilliant “Strong & Centred 50” series on Instagram – 50 days of one-minute foundational strength moves to help women build confidence, form, and consistency without overwhelm. We also talk about boundaries, burnout, perimenopausal fatigue, and the small non-negotiable habits that keep us both grounded.

We talk about:

• Vicki’s path from massage therapist and PA to health coach, PT, and online membership owner

• What “holistic” really means in practice – looking at the whole person, not just one system

• Living with chronic fatigue and why burnout is so common for midlife women

• Why strength training feels scary for many women – and how to make it approachable

• Vicky’s one-minute-a-day strength series and why tiny daily actions matter more than perfection

• How shifting your macros (especially protein) can transform energy levels in midlife

• Boundaries, saying no, and protecting your “energy budget” as life gets busier

• Swapping Netflix and extra drinks for sleep, recovery, and feeling genuinely well

Vicky’s 3 simple daily habits for midlife women:

1. Drink water before your tea or coffee.

2. Get outside every day – even 10 minutes of fresh air and walking helps.

3. Do at least one minute of movement every day – to reinforce the identity of “I am someone who moves”.

Connect with Vicky
Instagram: @strongandcentred.coach

Website: https://www.centred.coach/