113: Overcoming Disordered Eating with an NCAA D1 Athlete

In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition podcast, I talk with a former client of mine and current NCAA Division I athlete, Elena. Elena worked through our signature Female Athlete System of Transformation (FAST Track) Program and now is a member of our Alumni Program. A lifelong athlete involved in the sport of track and field since age 4, Elena currently competes collegiately as a sprinter and hurdler.

In this client testimonial episode, Elena opens up about her story of disordered mindsets and athletics stemming from unhealthy team cultures and the influences of peers and coaches. We highlight the importance of getting help for your mental health, as well as improving your internal relationship with food and body, regardless of your physical health. Elena and I debunk some common myths around sports nutrition, such as: “good food/ bad food”, “lighter is faster”, and not getting a period. Elena shares how working with Jenna and myself through our FAST Track Program helped her overcome these disordered nutrition beliefs and body image struggles, and find intuitive eating while fueling as an athlete. Elena gives hope to listeners that they are not alone, help is out there, and recovery is worthwhile!

Follow me, your host Lindsey Cortes, @female.athlete.nutrition 

Need help with your fueling? Want to get in touch with Lindsey? Interested in the Female Athlete System of Transformation? 

Head to www.RiseUpNutritionRUN.com to learn more & book a call!

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In this episode we talk about:

3:00 Why Elena wanted to share her story on the podcast, and the importance of increasing awareness of disordered eating and mental health struggles

6:30 Finding Lindsey, and being open to help and intuitive eating

9:30 Elena’s sporting childhood, beginning in track and field aged 4, and how athletics, teammates and coaches negatively influenced her perspective on nutrition

10:30 Myths around weight and performance, puberty, good/bad nutrition, and what it does or does not take to be a good athlete

13:00 How environment and the people around you shape beliefs around fueling and relationship with food

16:00 Recognizing and challenging negative mindsets about appearance and weight. Opening up your mind to think differently about food

23:00 The benefits of recovery, having a healthy relationship with food, and creating healthy nutrition and training environments

25:45 It’s not just physical signs of underfueling that deserve attention: the mental side is just as worthy of treatment regardless of your physical health: sometimes it’s not about the food! 

33:00 Self-acceptance, and having permission to eat more than you think you should: working with Jenna and myself to overcome food guilt and shame and disordered thoughts

40:00 Intuitive eating as a collegiate student-athlete and fueling for performance and recovery, with practical tips for listeners

43:00 Paying attention to body cues and differentiating between personal preferences and diet culture/ disordered beliefs

49:00 Life after completing the Rise Up Nutrition FAST Track Program

52:30 The effects of doing the mental work and having a healthy relationship with food affects performance, recovery from training, injuries, focus and confidence 

56:15 Advice to athletes resonating with Elena’s story: it’s okay to struggle and you deserve help now!

57:50 End of the podcast questions

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