My Story - Part 1
My foray into nutrition and training began in my early 20’s with the release of Deliciously Ella’s first book. I was hooked, I loved the cooking from scratch element and how there were no nasties in my food. I hadn’t realised that #cleaneating was soon to become such a dirty term for some many people, polluted with disordered eating habits or the fear of additives and preservatives alongside white carbs which presumably had less nutrients and were ‘bad for you’. I lost weight but I hasten to add my relationship with food was not impacted. I would eat. A lot. At the same time, I was training 4-5 days a week; running, spin classes, Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred!
In 2016, I entered my first endurance race, sponsored by Nine Bar (linked because they’re delicious and a great fuel for endurance training!)- it was a 9x9 challenge, participants could run 3,6 or 9 x 9km laps across the Hog’s Back on the Surrey Downs. I was hooked, endurance running was my thing. I loved how it made me feel great both physically and mentally. Training for this race was concurrent with moving out of home for the first time, my first real job, living on a budget and generally trying to survive without my parents to bail me out. Running 4-5 times per week its fair to say I was more than likely in a calorie deficit and certainly wasn’t allowing for optimum recovery after sessions! Although my pre-long run Banana Choc Date porridge was insane and the highlight of my week!
On a high from my first 27km (I chose 3 laps!) I straight away chose to run the 2017 London Marathon for a charity. My training load increased, as did the weight in my legs… they felt so heavy and leaden.
I was exhausted, a fatigue that I didn’t know how to explain. Sleep didn’t change a thing. Duvet days (and weekends!), coffee after coffee and self care Sunday didn’t dent it either. One day I was out for a 10 mile training run, I got to mile 9 and started to walk. I wasn’t able to run again for another 10 months.
New to the area I was yet to register with a Doctor’s Surgery. Whether this is the case with all GPs, I had a 2 week wait to see a nurse who gave me a health assessment before I could even get a doctors appointment.
The nurse put me on the weighing scales, calculated my BMI and told me I needed to lose 8kg to be healthy. I was a dress size 10, eating 5-8 portions of fruit and veg a day, running 20-30mile weeks and rarely drinking more than 2 glasses of red wine a week but apparently BMI was a more appropriate indicator of health.
A month after going to my doctor for help I finally got my blood test. It came back normal. Everything was within the necessary reference ranges. The receptionist didn’t want to let me see the doctor, everyone gets tired. Just go to bed earlier…
I left the doctors confused, disheartened and feeling abandoned. My hopes to run the 2017 London Marathon were over.
