Meteor Runner & Rockstar: Olivia S.
“I reached out to Meteor because I knew something needed to change. I started running in college and have fallen in love with the sport. However, after several miserable races and a number of GI problems, I began to realize that what I was experiencing throughout my training and on race day did not (and should not) have to be my normal. I thought I had checked all the boxes by seeing different doctors and specialists, but nothing seemed to click, and I was having the same persistent problems: bloating, acid reflux, heartburn, amenorrhea, lack of sleep, (the list goes on :-).
Prior to working with Meteor, I had a long list of challenges that all stemmed from under-fueling (some of which I did not even know were side effects of not eating enough). Throughout these last five years, I have had persistent GI issues and struggled with amenorrhea. I went to numerous doctors, tried to eliminate different foods, and was still experiencing nearly daily discomfort in my stomach with no answers. I struggled with GI issues during my runs, at races (never fun!), and also with normal daily activities. For years, I also had a very hard time falling asleep. I thought I was just one of those people that was more anxious so it took me longer to fall asleep.
Lastly, one of the biggest hurdles I still am working through is the perception of fueling effectively and body image standards. Our world bombards us with countless messages and beauty standards, and it is impossible to achieve what everyone has to say.
When it came to nutrition, my biggest frustration was knowing how much and what to eat. I have always enjoyed eating healthy but was tired of feeling like I was doing everything the right way and still not reaching my performance goals, not to mention how I was not feeling great!
As mentioned above, when it came to race day, I had horrible stomach pain and nausea. I was frustrated because I wanted my lungs and legs to be the thing holding me back, but instead, it was always my stomach. I was never able to hit the goals I wanted, and as silly as it sounds, I was tired of my body not being sore after a big race, and my stomach feeling like I had done the most intense ab workout in the days to follow.
When it came to my training, I would be extremely consistent but then would hit a wall where my mind was miserable and my body felt like it was shutting down. I felt as if it was telling me to stop running with every step I would take.
After working with Kelsey, I truly feel as if she has changed my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but I feel like I can now fuel myself knowing I am setting myself up for success. I know that not all runs are perfect, but I feel like each day my body has the energy it needs to perform. The results might not always be linear growth, but I am able to accomplish each day feeling strong. I no longer have GI problems, I fall asleep easily and have energy throughout the day. The foods I thought I could not tolerate have now been integrated back into my diet, and I am no longer worried about being a hindrance at restaurants and events with friends and family.
Since being in the program, I have nearly doubled the amount I eat. I have seen the transition from looking at food and thinking there is too much on my plate, to viewing it as the energy I need to perform. I also feel like my body is now capable of achieving the goals I have for it. I no longer get to a start line and feel small and weak, worried about what my stomach might do. I feel strong and confident in what I have practiced.
Also, I am just having fun running and moving my body. I was always having fun, but there is a pressure that has been released since learning about what my body needs and actually providing that for it!
Since working with Kelsey, I am most proud of myself for being able to consistently implement what she tells me to do. I am not going to say it is the easiest thing ever to nearly double what you eat and not worry about gaining weight, but each day I remind myself that I have never felt this good, so I need to keep going. I decided that I care more about how feel and perform than how look and continue to practice everything I have learned from Kelsey. Not every day is perfect, but I feel like I have a new stomach; I truly feel great! I get excited thinking about how this is setting me up for success not only right now, but in the years to come.”