Working WITH my body + How I got here
Pictures from 2011-2022 at the bottom.
Today I want to share more about my own healing journey with my body and metabolism–how it started with eating disorders, to CrossFit competitor, to hitting a wall with my health and struggling with metabolic “damage.”
In 2010 I started competing in CrossFit.
I was coming off years of struggling with eating disorders that morphed into dysregulated eating (major fear around food, cutting out carbs, restricting/binging).
I was tired, anxious, and didn’t trust myself around food.
The next 4-5 years were a whirlwind of…
Gaining 40lbs in a short period of time, with no sign of leaning out in my future, despite all my efforts.
Training multiple hours a day, despite feeling exhausted and riddled with injuries.
Restricting food and then binging (any kind of nut butter was my binge food of choice)
Digestive issues that would take years to work through (something I still struggle with)
My hormonal health was in the tank, literally. When I got my sex hormones tested they were all well below normal levels.
I went through bouts of extreme approaches over those years, desperation can be a powerful feeling, but it’s short lived.
During those times, I would lose some of the weight but then regain everything I lost, and then some.
2015 was the last year I competed in CrossFit and around that time I started eating more.
Once I finally closed the door on competing in CrossFit, I FINALLY had room to heal.
I started increasing my calories and stayed there, for years, yes years, and I stopped exercising like a mad woman.
And you know what, I started feeling less anxious and exhausted–-this gave me room to learn more about…
Intuitive Eating, the Nervous system, and Strength Training.
Here’s a few things I did:
✔️I started resting at least 2 days a week from the gym.
✔️I stopped doing 2-a-days.
✔️I started going for more walks (less intense exercise all together)
✔️I focused on building muscle and getting stronger; my physique started to change in the direction I was happy with!
✔️I continued to expand my eating; I became more open to trying new things and finding the joy and pleasure in food again.
✔️I started going to therapy, it took me a while to find a therapist I really connected with, but regardless, I was committed to unraveling deep seeded negative beliefs about food and my body.
Because I spent YEARS (yes years), eating at maintenance and at times, in a surplus because that’s what my body craved after years of deprivation...
Because I spent time resting, doing less intense exercise, and focusing on strength training...
And finally, because I spent time doing belief work and therefore, moving through the world with way more self-compassion (I’m not perfect but I’m much nicer to myself than I was in 2010)
Today, I’m able to work WITH my body.
✓ I know when I can go into a fat loss phase (if I want)
✓ I know when I need to eat at maintenance, and I genuinely enjoy that phase the most!
✓ I know when I need to back off the intensity and focus on slower, more intentional movement.
✓ And I know when I can put my foot on the gas pedal and push the intensity and the weight.
I understand how my metabolism responds to stressors and threats.
I know, first hand, how my psyche responds to extreme restriction through calories or cutting out foods.
THAT is key in maintaining your health AND going after physique goals.
Inside of my 1:1 Health Coaching we look at your relationship with food and exercise, first.
If you're solid in those areas, we look at establishing consistent healthy habits.
Then, if your goal is to lose body fat and/or put on muscle, we can look at phasic nutrition and different approaches so you can reach your goals, without losing your mind.
Not sure where to start?
Take this 6 question quiz to find out what your next best step is!
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If you're ready to jump in for 5 months of 1:1 Health coaching, you can apply HERE!
Sending strength and encouragement,
Alicia
