healthy living

Carla Waldron, Personal Trainer w/ A Soulful Purpose

Carla Waldron, a daughter, sister, friend and personal trainer you dream of having and knowing. I'm personally inspired by Carla's passions for fitness and the love and dedication to her family, friendships and of course, Brad Pitt. I had to throw that in there! Let's meet Carla! -Jessica Lea Nolette (blog creator)

How has living an active and healthy lifestyle affected your relationships with family, friends, and community? 

Living an active lifestyle has inspired many relationships and has helped them thrive. Those around me know that health is important, but I preach having a balance (sure, let’s go get a burger but be prepared to walk home afterward). I also come from a very active family, so my closest relationships maintain a lifestyle much like my own. And because health is as much mental as it is physical, I make sure to keep good people around me who improve my mood. For me, it just doesn’t make sense to hang out with energy drainers. Life is too short, so I’m going to live it as best as I can and share it with only the best.  

Philly Phitness Team! Love Run 5k! ❤️ #phillyphitness @phillyphitness via Carla's Instagram

Philly Phitness Team! Love Run 5k! ❤️ #phillyphitness @phillyphitness via Carla's Instagram

What is your fitness philosophy? 

I’m not fancy when it comes to this. I believe you must make it a lifestyle. If something is important to you, you’ll make the time for it. Trust me, this is important. There’s no better time to start than right now. 

What kind of clients do you train? 

I’ll train anyone who wants to be better and get stronger, but who is ready to commit to those goals. That’s really all I ask of people. The clients I have now are incredible – they inspire me to be better. They’re a solid mix of individuals who have different levels of fitness, who have different careers, who come from different cultures, and who have different goals. What unites them are their goals of getting stronger, giving maximum effort at every session and improving every day through the power of fitness.  

Where do you train?  

I train out of a private studio, Philly Phitness. It’s located in the Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia, PA. 

Do you have a mentor or someone you look up to? 

Anyone who has a chance to talk to me knows how much I adore my family. I’m the youngest so I have older siblings and a great set of parents to look up to, and I could name about 1,000 other role models! But I’ve been so fortunate to have my best friend, Perry O’Hearn, as my mentor in this industry. Perry has a unique way of pushing me, and he knows how to motivate me to be better with business and inspired with learning through all aspects of my life. 

Carla may be our youngest sibling, but she has always carried herself in such a way that makes you more determined to push yourself to do better. Her motivation and drive is so empowering. I can’t choose just one word to describe her, I’d have to choose two: WONDER WOMAN.
— Amy Waldron (Carla's Sister)
Carla may be the baby of the family, but this girl is a beast. There is nothing that she physically can’t do; and if she falters, she will keep at it until it’s mastered- the girl is determined. She inspires me every single day.
— George Waldron (Carla's Brother)
The Fab Four! #siblings 

The Fab Four! #siblings 

I never had to worry about Carla keeping up with her siblings. Whether it was in the classroom or on the field, she always worked hard to be at the top. There is no stopping her. So proud of everything she does.
— Carla's Mom
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"Thanks to you and dad (plus siblings) for raising me to be the best person I can be!" -Carla Waldron

Perry & Carla. Best Friend + Mentor 

Perry & Carla. Best Friend + Mentor 

Trainers and clients are not always a good fit. What advice would you give someone trying to find the best trainer that matches their goals? 

I believe a trainer should always adjust to the client’s goals, but it takes work on both sides of the equation for the trainer and the client to stay committed to the end. In my experience, the most important part is the bond formed between the client and trainer, it allows for trust and honesty and elevates the experience and likelihood for success.

I started working with Carla when I hit a roadblock in my own fitness journey. I never imagined I would move past the blockage with not only a new found understanding of my personal health but also myself. She didn’t just get me over the hump but has taught me about my physical strength and my personal strength. I started to work with Carla to find my healthy routine again, however, I have truly found so much more.
— Rita Marie (Carla's Client)
"This is Rita and me. Common in our sessions to share a laugh (or lots of laughs)!"

"This is Rita and me. Common in our sessions to share a laugh (or lots of laughs)!"

What is your favorite and least favorite exercise? 

My favorite exercise is the Turkish Get Up, and my least favorite exercise is a burpee*. (*I don’t do them, so I don’t make my clients do them. It’s a sacred rule.)

How important is having a daily routine and setting goals? 

We all have a daily routine, but we don’t always have goals. Complacency is more common than we think, and that is no way to live. You deserve better, we all deserve better. So, once you figure out the goal you’re striving for, your daily routine will have to adjust. It’s that simple and not that simple all at the same time. But if it’s important to you, you’ll find a way to make it happen. If it’s not important, you’ll make an excuse and nothing will change. 

If you could have a training session with anyone in the world, who would it be with and why? 

Jane Fonda, the Queen of Fitness. I’m sure I would learn so much from her!

I'd like to share one message with the world on your behalf, what should I share

Never miss the opportunity to help another person.

What is your favorite inspirational/motivational quote? 

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neal Donald Walsch

What Superhero power do you identify with?

Without a doubt, Wonder Woman.

In one word describe yourself: 

Resilient.

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To Connect with Carla:

Personal Trainer. Lifestyle Coach. Lover of life. 

Email: carlawaldronpt@gmail.com

Instagram: @carlawaldron

Facebook: Carla Waldron Personal Fitness Group

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Would you like to suggest someone for our Blog? 

Christina Carr, Carr Eats (Founder + Owner + Chef)

I love food, too. 
So, of course, I was instantly drawn to Carr Eats Instagram account! 
Carr Eats prepares & delivers healthy meals to match your nutritional and active lifestyle needs. It's my pleasure to connect and introduce you to Christina Carr, founder + owner + chef of Carr Eats! 

What is Carr Eats?

In it’s simplest form - Carr Eats is a prepared meals business. Each week we cook + package fresh (not frozen) nutritious, great tasting, fork ready meals. We’re a catalyst for greatness beyond food…! We give you more time to do what you love outside of the kitchen and the belly power to get you there.  

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What inspired you to create Carr Eats?

I love eating!! But I love feeding people even more. I’m also a big self experimenter (if that’s a thing), so these worlds kind of collided for me when I was playing around with my diet at home; I have to credit my plate for some powerful life changes. Prior to Carr Eats, I was working in pharmaceuticals and I would see all these sick people; it was eye opening to realize how malnourished we are. People are eating and consuming calories but not getting any micro/macronutrients. I got it in my head that if I could show people how good they could feel from REAL food, I could maybe save them a doctors visit… or maybe get them off a few pills. Carr Eats was a personal mission that turned into a business once I stumbled across this huge need.  

What do you do outside of work that directly impacts your career? 

Fitness. Fitness. 100% fitness!! I've always been physically active but didn’t take my overall wellbeing seriously until a couple years ago when I started Crossfit. We had just finished renovating our house, a period where I did nothing to take care of myself. I wasn't eating great, I wasn't sleeping great, I was always thinking about work... I was a little depressed. Fitness was (really) really low on the priority list. I was at a point where I was sick of hearing myself make excuses. Focusing on what my body can do has given me a new outlook! Fitness has impacted my life in a profound way. What I eat matters. How I sleep matters. Fitness fuels the passion for what I do. I want everyone to experience what it’s like to appreciate their whole-self.  

 
"Fitness fuels the passion for what I do. I want everyone to experience what it’s like to appreciate their whole-self. " -CC 

"Fitness fuels the passion for what I do. I want everyone to experience what it’s like to appreciate their whole-self. " -CC 

 

How important is having a daily routine?

For me?! Very!!! No one would ever label me as a spontaneous person. I’m very methodical and enjoy streamlining routines to maximize efficiency. I basically do the same things in the same order daily. I budget time for the occasional variance/exception, but for the most part, I’m very routine. Very organized. It’s a term I’ve coined the “3B” rule. This may sound silly, but I go to the same grocery store weekly - at some point, I realized I was struggling to remember where I parked (like every time). This is a stress I didn’t need and something that had an easy fix! So now I always park in the same lot… 3B! I try to apply this in as many places as possible. As a small business owner, I have a ton going on, so routines save me from mistakes and reduce anxiety. Predictability is good!!

What is one challenge and one lesson you’ve learned from your experience as a founder? 

Challenge: Everyone has an opinion. 

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Lesson: Ditch your ego. Arrogance + complacency are easy traps to fall into. Try to learn + grow from every experience (you will mess up - own that). Collect people in your life that are experts in their field; surround yourself with people who support, motivate and challenge you.  

Can you give us one invaluable resource that has helped you in the development and growth of Carr Eats?

Fork Food Lab (Portland, ME). Without a commercial kitchen, I wouldn’t have a food license. Without a food license, there wouldn’t be a business. I’m always thinking about the next step and naturally, that would be to operate my own space, but Fork saved me when I didn’t have a place to go… when I was testing my concept and couldn’t afford to throw down 100k on a build-out. The timing was perfect, they were opening just as I was starting my brand, so it was really a lucky coincidence.

 
"Maine's Shared Kitchen and Tasting Room"

"Maine's Shared Kitchen and Tasting Room"

 

What are your top two CE memories thus far?

  1. I love to hear how my meals have changed lives. I have one client who thanked me and shared how her doctor asked what she was doing because she had made such progress in her health. She disclosed that she was off several medications because of my meals and feeling like she was in the best shape of her life.   
  2. This is a recurring memory, but I really enjoy remembering every morning, that THIS is what I get to do today. I don’t think this feeling will ever get old. Literally opening your eyes each day and getting to contribute to a cause that you are personally invested in. 
"Love what you do + respect the trust people have in you. You put your health in our hands and we don't take that lightly." CC via Instagram 

"Love what you do + respect the trust people have in you. You put your health in our hands and we don't take that lightly." CC via Instagram 

What is your favorite inspirational/motivational quote? 

It’s more of a question than a quote, but its something my father would say to me when I was in a tricky spot. “What are your choices here Chris?” I repeat this to myself constantly. It's a reminder that even in the hardest of times you can create options for yourself. It's a reminder that you always have the power to change your perspective. This has been invaluable on countless occasions. 

In one word, describe yourself:

Haha! Let's call it persistent

To Connect with Carr Eats: