This week’s episode on Adrenal Fatigue and Disordered Eating in Crossfit is part of a new series I’m starting on the podcast: Listener Stories! Mary emailed me, said she loved the show and really connected with my story so she wanted to share her own in the hopes of helping other people who are still struggling along their own personal health journeys. Today Mary Klemenok is talking about her personal battle with anorexia, disordered eating, and adrenal fatigue as a competitive Crossfit athlete (and previous marathoner). Along her health journey, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue after a brutal fight with the Epstein Barr virus, dealing with a complicated relationship with food her body, all issues which is still working through and trying to figure out today.

We have a variety of experts and recently, more listeners of the podcast coming on to share their stories. Especially in this latter category of people, we’re sharing stories where people might not be fully “there” yet. Be it fully recovered from an eating disorder or disordered eating, out of their obsessive exercise habits, maybe they’re still working on their relationship with food or their body (which let’s be honest, is more of a lifelong process rather than a finish line that you cross at some point), maybe they’re working on transitioning off of calorie counting, macros, etc., maybe they’re still dealing with feeling like they just want to lose weight before they can be happy with themselves. Maybe they’re still dealing with some serious gut issues, autoimmune flares, health complications, etc.

It’s OKAY to share your story if you’re still working on things. A lot of people assume they can’t or shouldn’t share if they’re not completely “there” yet. But what is “there” anyway? When I started sharing bits and pieces of my story, I was still struggling. I wasn’t “there” (or even here, where I currently am now). I was still wrestling with whether or not I should do another Whole30. I was still coaching Whole30. AND THAT IS OKAY. everyone’s journey is different and it’s important to remember you’re just doing the best you can given the information you’ve received, the stage of life you are in, and the resources you have to cope with the hand you’ve been dealt. The best thing you can do is be honest with yourself about what you’re struggling with, why you  may be struggling with it (highly recommend therapy for this), and that it’s okay to ask for help.

It’s okay to not know whether or not you’re currently on the right path and doubting yourself. Because this shit is messy, especially when you’re dealing with a complicated relationship with food and your body. Healing is never a linear path, and your can every setback or obstacle you run into, into a learning experience to help make you stronger going forward.

I want to put a disclaimer up front that I do NOT think weighing and measuring your food is a good idea for someone who is trying to improve their relationship with food and their body. And that if you work with a nutritionist, dietitian, health coach, whatever who says or recommends something that you think might be triggering to you, you have the power to be your own health advocate and either stop seeing that practitioner or even just get a second opinion. Because you’re the only one who’s going to stick up for you and what you know YOU need at the end of the day.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, the Podcasts app, or anywhere podcasts can be found (including right below this post!)