Tattoos, Strength, and Desert Life with Kaitlin Reed
Welcome to the Counter Culture Health podcast. I'm doctor Jen McWaters.
Kaitlin:And I'm coach Kaitlin Reed. We're here
Jen:to help high achieving women overcome mental blocks, find freedom from anxiety, create an abundant life, and build the body and life that they deserve and desire. In this
Kaitlin:weekly podcast, we'll uncover the raw truth about mental health, nutrition, fitness, and beyond. Let's get to it.
Jen:Hey, guys. Welcome back to Counter Culture Health. So today, we have a fun one. We, Caitlin and I decided it'd be fun to mix things up and do a little bit more of a get to know you episode. So I have a list of questions for Caitlin, a mixture of personal questions, professional questions, but it's a chance for us to get to know her better.
Jen:And this is unscripted. So while I have briefly shared with her some of the questions I'm asking, neither of us have had time to prepare answers. So this episode will be me interviewing Caitlin, and the next episode, she will interview me, and this should be fun. And so yeah. Thanks for joining us today.
Jen:So, Caitlin, are you ready?
Kaitlin:I'm nervous.
Jen:You're nervous? This is a no judgment speech.
Kaitlin:That would be fun.
Jen:It will be fun. You can answer as in as much depth as you would like or not. So Perfect. Yes. Alright.
Jen:First question to get us warmed up. When we all are dying to know, how many tattoos do you actually have?
Kaitlin:Yeah. I like to tell people one because they all connect and touch. So it's just like one big masterpiece. Honestly, I have no idea anymore. I started when I was 17.
Kaitlin:I got my first one, and now I'm 33. So it's been years years of addition. A lot of people ask me how much time I've spent or how much money I've spent on them. And now, like, looking back, I wish I would have tracked all of those things because it would be really cool and interesting to know. But I I have no idea.
Kaitlin:Hours and hours and 1,000 and 1,000 of dollars. But this is my one justification to it is that tattoos are, like, the one thing that you can spend your money on that never breaks or goes bad or I'm supposed to get pregnant. Right?
Jen:They finish?
Kaitlin:They finish? Go back. I mean, it depends. Yeah. Genetic factor, of course, like, how your body responds to things.
Kaitlin:But, yeah. I mean, I've put on a lot of weight too. I've I've gained a lot of muscle and have put on a lot of weight over the years too, and I've had zero problems with any of them. So they all have their shape and their proper image. So, yeah.
Kaitlin:So I think I'm like, okay. I'll have these things for my entire life. So when I divide the years the the cost by the years, it's just a very small amount. That is the most unique justification I've ever heard for tattoos. We follow quick follow with that.
Jen:Is there any of them that you regret or would do differently?
Kaitlin:Well, so I have 2 blackout tattoos, which were both cover ups. Mhmm. One of the cover ups was not a great choice. It was it was, fairies and mushrooms, you know, from the previous past life. So, yeah, that one was not a great option.
Kaitlin:But I don't have it anymore. So
Jen:So, yes, there are send me regret. Yeah. You would've saved some money had
Kaitlin:you not done those. Yes. Exactly. Yes.
Jen:Awesome. Alright. Well, thank you for answering that one. So honestly Right. Okay.
Jen:More serious now. If you could enact one change, let's see, policy, etcetera, to improve the health of Americans, what would it be? So if you have power, maybe now just given what, you know, election happened, you've given the power to enact the change, what would you do? Which one would be, like, the top one you would do to help Americans?
Kaitlin:Oh, man. I don't even know how you do this, but, like, a requirement that everyone has to strike train at least once a week. Maybe that's to, like, be covered by insurance or something. Like, that's a requirement. In order to get insurance, you have to strengthen one at least one time a week.
Jen:Wow. I don't think you'd say that, but I like that one. That's a good answer. Okay.
Kaitlin:What do you think that's good to say?
Jen:I don't know. I don't know what you would say. So maybe something related to food because maybe that's what I would say.
Kaitlin:And you have to eat one steak. Oh, wait.
Jen:That would definitely get some pushback. I love it.
Kaitlin:No. Yeah. I think that's that would be, yeah, some some sort of requirement around strength training for, yeah, insurance coverage or health care or, like, every doctor had to prescribe strength training as the first line of treatment.
Jen:Oh, I like that. Because, you know, having people like, tracking people opens up a whole host of issues as far as that. But, but, but, yeah, I agree with you. There should be some sort
Kaitlin:of Something along those lines. Mhmm.
Jen:Cool. Like that. Okay. What's been the best or hardest part, so good and bad, of moving from the coast to the desert?
Kaitlin:Oh, actually, it's been amazing. I prefer the desert over the coast. Not I'm not a big water person, ocean person. I didn't go there a lot when I was living there. So why I ended up there, I'm not sure.
Kaitlin:But I definitely prefer the desert in the mountains over the water. So this has been a really good change, and I love it.
Jen:Has there been anything that's been hard or, like, a transition or adjustment?
Kaitlin:No. It's all been it's all been good things. I mean, it was really freaking hot when I first got here, but I adjusted pretty well. I was like, well, this is just how it is. Can't let it stop my life.
Kaitlin:So I just, you know, kept doing my thing. And now it's the other extreme where it's 38 degrees in the morning and at night. So that that's nice. Everyone here is so nice. It's so clean, cheaper.
Kaitlin:So all good things so far. I haven't found I'm closer to my sister and my family, so I haven't found any I haven't experienced anything bad yet.
Jen:Okay. Well, that's a pretty good ad for moving to Arizona.
Kaitlin:Yeah. Good place. Yes.
Jen:Okay. What is your favorite go to balanced meal?
Kaitlin:Definitely a steak and rice and I'm not a big vegetable person. Oh. Am I supposed to say that on here?
Jen:You can say whatever you want, but that's really honest answer.
Kaitlin:Yeah. It's bacon, rice, and it's almost bacon potato. And I do love fruit. I I'm a fruit person over vegetables for sure. So I'd probably add that in there somewhere.
Kaitlin:Blueberries or raspberries
Jen:Yeah. For dessert. I'm honestly with you. I hate to be honest about it, but unless it's like a salad, which I love just like fresh salads, I don't love a lot of cooked vegetables. There's just limited ones I like.
Jen:Yeah. But, yeah, fruit any day, all day,
Kaitlin:for sure. Fruit over veggies, for sure. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah.
Kaitlin:But steak is always my my go to.
Jen:Yeah. Can't go wrong with a good steak. Tell you that. Right now, I'm really into soups, but, yeah, steaks are
Kaitlin:Oh, it is soup season soon. Mhmm. Or right now. Yeah. For you, maybe.
Jen:Okay. Favorite workouts?
Kaitlin:Oh, I like, I like body part splits, where we're focusing on so, like, a like, a set leg day or, like, a set, back and buys day. I like to feel a really good pump, like, where your muscles feel swollen and tight. Like, you just feel all pumped up. I really love that feeling. So and that's it's hard to get with, like, a full body workout.
Kaitlin:I mean, I just love the feeling of movement in general, but I really like that plumps feeling, which some people hate and makes them feel uncomfortable, but I really love it. And so, yeah, really, like, hitting 2 or 3 body parts, you know, at a time and and kinda splitting the body up to be able to get that that focus and that good pump is
Jen:my favorite. Between that and your answers to my first question about tattoos, I have to do so a very high pain tolerance. Yes. Yeah. Okay.
Jen:Fair assumption.
Kaitlin:It may be a problem, but But it
Jen:helps you with working out. Right? You're able to push through a lot of discomfort where most people would shy away from that or just it'd be too intolerable. You have trained yourself to tolerate a lot of discomfort.
Kaitlin:Yeah. Honestly, it helps me get through life. So
Jen:That's a good quote there.
Kaitlin:My favorite part of it all is it always translates to real life.
Jen:Yes. Yeah. I like that. Okay. Back to you.
Jen:Biggest misconception people have about you?
Kaitlin:Wow. That I am intimidating.
Jen:Because of what?
Kaitlin:I get that a lot just from my look and appearance of being tattooed, having muscle, having black hair. I think when people just look at me, I look like a tough, hardcore, intimidating, maybe rough person. And then this is what I always get from people. Like, oh, I'm so scared of you and so intimidated by you. And then I talk to you, and you're so nice.
Kaitlin:That's usually what I get from people. What I found out that it takes people a while to, like, they're interested in working with me or approaching me, but and it takes them a while to actually get to the point of approaching me or working with me, which is kind of I don't know if that's sad, but, I'm like, oh, yeah. Took you, like, months to get through to find me or, yeah. But that's what I get from a lot of people. We're not intimidating or scary at all.
Kaitlin:Yeah.
Jen:You are now.
Kaitlin:I'm quite the opposite, actually. I'm pretty soft.
Jen:Yeah. Yeah. For sure. True story. So Kayla and I met randomly in San Diego when she applied to be a nanny for my son at that time who was less than a year old.
Jen:And, she was one of the top candidates, and I interviewed her. And in her picture, did not see all the tattoos and was very surprised and just not knowing what to do with all that of, like, this very sweet person, very qualified, who also is super tatted up and just not something you typically see. So, yes, I definitely would agree that that's kind of a misconception of, like, And then I ran into Caitlin again at church and actually had conversations, more conversations with her, and I was like, oh, that is not at all who you are, but, you know, people make assumptions rightly or wrongly. And so, yeah, I could see that being the case for lots of people.
Kaitlin:Yep. It sure is.
Jen:Yeah. Which is about I mean, makes you kinda fun because it's like a surprise, but also it's a bummer because I think I'm sure people miss out on you and, make wrong assumptions that keep them from digging deeper and connecting with you.
Kaitlin:Yep. Absolutely. So don't read a book by its cover.
Jen:Hey. Lesson. Sweet. Lesson learned. I learned that lesson for sure.
Jen:And you were a great nanny, and my son loved you. And we were heartbreaking when you left. That's okay.
Kaitlin:Like, what are all the neighbors gonna think with this tattered chick walking my baby around the neighborhood?
Jen:We'll have an offline conversation about that because I have some funny stories about that for you.
Kaitlin:That's so funny. Oh, yeah. Okay.
Jen:If you were not doing coaching, what would you do instead?
Kaitlin:Oh, man. Oh, prowling, and doing some sort of mission work. Anything specific? You know, I just like to help people that are struggling. So and there's so much of that everywhere, so I don't think it would really matter, where I was or what I was doing.
Jen:Okay. Fair. So something in ministry, mission work, ministry work you'd be doing?
Kaitlin:Yeah. Yeah. I'd have to think about that a little more. Yeah. But that's always been in the back of my mind.
Jen:Mhmm. Okay. So if you win the lottery, you didn't have to work, you would do that?
Kaitlin:I would just do mission work, charity work. Yeah. I like that.
Jen:That speaks to your heart. To your point, misconception from the outside. Caitlin is a softy. She's the same personality person. Yes.
Jen:Okay. So as a coach, tell us what your coaching style is. How would you describe that?
Kaitlin:I'm a chameleon. I think I know. It's just, you know, everybody is so different and responds to things differently. I think as a coach, it's important to read that in your people and adapt to them and what they need. Like, what approach is going to be best for them to to be able to make change?
Kaitlin:And I think that's, like, one of my skills that I have and I'm pretty good at is being able to adapt and have different approaches for different people. You know, I can be very soft with people. I also can be very, firm and straightforward with people if that's what they need as well.
Jen:I like that. So flexible and adaptable. Yes. The best kind of coach, I think. What would be the most difficult part of your work with clients?
Jen:The difficult parts, or you think of something specific?
Kaitlin:Yeah. It's, you know, I really struggled with this early on in my career of you know, do you think you can help everyone and change everyone and get through to everyone? And when you don't, you feel like a failure or, you know, start to look at yourself and, like, what's wrong with me as a coach or what's wrong with my approach or, you know, what don't I know or you know, you start to go through the whole list of, blaming yourself, when really, you know, people are challenging to work with and not everybody is willing to change and and will make change. And so and that's the most difficult part for me, just because I want the best for people always, you know, to to feel better, to get better, to to not be stuck in their current circumstances and situations. So it's really frustrating to not be able to help or save everybody.
Kaitlin:Yeah. It's really hard it's heartbreaking for me just because, like, I know what it's like to be in that place. And I know it's possible to come out of it, but not everybody will, unfortunately, and that's really hard to see.
Jen:Yeah. Yeah. That's a good answer. I think probably everyone in the helping profession could resonate with that. Yeah.
Jen:For sure.
Kaitlin:But learn not to always blame myself for that. Mhmm. Be confident in my skills, regardless.
Jen:Yeah. Can't take ownership if someone maybe isn't willing to do the work. It can be not attempting to blame ourselves, right, that
Kaitlin:we're
Jen:doing something wrong. But
Kaitlin:Exactly.
Jen:Everyone has free will, free choice.
Kaitlin:Exactly.
Jen:Yes. Okay. I have a couple left for you. Okay. What's one healthy habit that you do every day?
Kaitlin:I move my body every single day in some capacity. So I go to the gym and lift at least 3 to 4 days a week. And then on those other days, I make sure I get outside and walk. And that's super important for me. Yes.
Kaitlin:Love that. It's nonnegotiable.
Jen:Well, given the work you do, that's probably a good thing.
Kaitlin:I like to try to lead by example. Right.
Jen:Okay. Final question. If you could give only one piece of health advice, what would it be?
Kaitlin:Cool. Stop chasing goals and make your health just something who you are and how you operate. Make it a lifestyle, not just a goal to achieve. What else do I wanna say on that? Because I feel like when we have these when we when we make it a a goal, you know, change takes a long time.
Kaitlin:So if you're only focused on change, it's very easy to stop or quit. It's very easy to have, like, a all or nothing or all on or off mindset. And then also what happens when you achieve your goal. You can't just quit. You have to keep going to maintain what you've achieved.
Kaitlin:And, also, it's just what's best for your health. And so just making it who you are and how you operate in a lifestyle rather than this thing that you do or just a goal to achieve for the short term.
Jen:Love that. That's a good take home message for sure. Well, thank you, Caitlin, for being willing to do this today. And That was fun. It was fun.
Jen:It. So, like, I got to know you better too. So, guys, if you're interested in working with Caitlin, her information is in the show notes. But you wanna share anything else around anything else you have going on right now as far as, like, programs for people or resources or anything like that?
Kaitlin:Yeah. I'll be starting a new group, strength training program in 2 weeks. So we're finishing off our current one, which is performance. So we have 2 weeks left of that, and then we'll start a new one. So you can keep your eye on my social media for the next one.
Kaitlin:I'm I don't know. I haven't decided what the next one will be yet. But it'll be fun, and, you'll get great results from it. So
Jen:Awesome. And that is your handle's what again? Remind us.
Kaitlin:Caitlin Reed_.
Jen:Is it?
Kaitlin:It is now.
Jen:Oh, okay. Well, I'm so glad I asked you that, so you changed it recently. Okay. There you go. So that is where you can find Caitlin's information and her website and show notes and all that good stuff.
Jen:So thank you guys for being with us today, and stay tuned for next episode in which, Caitlin will interview me. So we'll see how that goes. Alright, guys. Have a great week. We will talk to you soon.
Jen:Thanks for joining us on the Counter Culture Health podcast. To support this show, please rate, review, and share with your friends and family. If you wanna be reminded of new episodes, click the subscribe button on your preferred podcast player. You can find me, Jen, at awaken.holistic.healthandatawakeningholistichealth.com.
Kaitlin:And me, Caitlin, at Caitlin Reed Wellness and Caitlin Reed Wellness dot com. The content of the show is for educational and informational purposes only. As always, talk to your doctor and health team. See you next time.
