Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition

An eating disorder distorts the way you think about food and your body, causing you to eat and exercise in a way that can be harmful to your mental and physical health. A critical step in eating disorder recovery is working through counterproductive and destructive thoughts, emotions and behaviors - not just relating to food and the body but also with self-esteem, confidence, control and perfectionism. To fuel, nourish and train in a way that will optimize performance and to become more comfortable and confident with your body image, it's necessary to break away from unhealthy food and exercise-related behaviors and to challenge and fight against disordered thoughts. Keep in mind that the weight/body image that you think you need to perform well in sport will likely be different than the body composition/weight that allows you to train and race in a way that supports your physical and mental health. An eating disorder is not about food. Body weight is also not the issue. The body c...

“The goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is to shine the spotlight on eating disorders by educating the public, spreading a message of hope, and putting lifesaving resources into the hands of those in need.” According to the the Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness , 29 million Americans will experience a clinically significant eating disorder during their lifetime. Yet, only one-third of people with eating disorders will ever receive treatment. Eating Disorders Awareness Week was developed to reduce the stigma, raise awareness and provide better access to support for those suffering from an eating disorder. In a field where marginalized communities continue to be underrepresented, it's important to welcome conversations on raising awareness, challenging systemic biases, and sharing stories from all backgrounds and experiences ( NEDA ). If you or a loved one is currently struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to know that you are not alone. Know that a li...

We are all experiencing challenges during which words just can't describe what we are feeling. Politics, police brutality, a pandemic and an international human rights movement - alongside other ongoing issues like global warming, animal rights, LGBTQ discrimination, wage inequality, homelessness, human trafficking, disability discrimination, deforestation, weight bias, air pollution - may make it impossible to make sense of our emotions. No matter how hard you try, you can't avoid stress. And sometimes it gets the best of us. Stress can become a problem when you are unable to cope. Without a productive and healthy outlet, stress levels can escalate. Poor body image and an unhealthy relationship with food can cause stress but it also works the other way around. The relationship between stress and disordered eating is a vicious cycle. When you feel overwhelmed or out of control, it's natural to find ways to cope with those unpleasant and uncomfortable feelings. Fe...

Since my first Ironman in 2006, I've developed a strong connection to my body. Rather than seeing it for what it looks like, I constantly thank my body for what it allows me to do. While it's not easy in a body-image obsessed society, Karel and I spend no time discussing body image in our house. We don't weigh ourselves so we couldn't tell you what our "race weight" was at any of our past races.  There's no dieting, restrictive eating, watching what we eat or cheat meals. I'd say that our house is a very good place if you'd like to eat where there are no food rules, off-limit foods or controversial food discussions. While our dedication to sport, love for an active lifestyle and enjoyment for wholesome eating greatly influences the way we look, we have never fallen victim to the idea of "competitive leanness"  - that the leaner we are, the more competitive (or faster) we will be in sport. We've never tried to change the way that ...

For many people, the New Year welcomes a great opportunity for change as it relates to health, wellness and diet. But among all of the chatter regarding weight loss, diet plans and fitness, at least 30 million people of all ages and genders are suffering from eating disorders in the US. Every 62 minutes, at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. For any individual who is currently struggling with an eating disorder, it can be very difficult to wake up on January 1st and simply stop the behaviors associated with a mental health condition. Beyond acceptance of a problem, seeking the appropriate care can be difficult. Denial, shame, misconceptions, money/insurance, stigma and fear can prevent someone from getting the necessary help/treatment needed. If you know someone who may have an eating disorder, it can be very difficult to watch/see that person damage his/her health. Eat...

Picture source For much of my career as a Board Certified Sport Dietitian with a Master of Science in exercise physiology, I have spent a great amount of time and energy helping athletes with their relationship with food and the body. Knowing that athletes feel a strong relationship between food and body composition relating to athletic success, I have never refrained from speaking about this topic openly and honestly for many years in an effort to help athletes stay healthy throughout a sporting career (and for many more decades to come). I have even reached out to many magazines (and publishing companies) to write more about the topic of body image and athletes but my pitches are often denied and in exchange, I am asked to write about the latest diet fad or nutrition strategy to help athletes gain the competitive edge. In light of another recent social media  post involving a professional athlete discussing body image struggles and restrictive eating measures, I am remind...

Many athletes feel personal struggles with body image. Eating disorders and disordered eating habits are evident in athletes in all sports (and in non-athletes) and in all ages but specifically in sports where leanness associates with an improvement in performance (lighter = better).  It's extremely upsetting to hear of nutrition "experts" advising athletes to restrict food around workouts and to intentionally not fuel or hydrate during workouts as a way to improve performance or to lose weight.  Due to a society that has a poor relationship with food and overemphasizes leanness as the 'ideal' image for athletes, more and more athletes are becoming more and more dissatisfied with their bodies.  Athletes may experience strong feelings before, during and after workouts as if they do not have "an athlete's body" and ultimately underfuel in an effort to lose weight. Rather than fueling for success, good health and a stronger body, athlet...

When I was finishing graduate school at FAU to earn my Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology in December 2005, I found myself obsessed with sport nutrition. I was reading every book, research article and magazine I could access in the Exercise Science department. When I heard Krebs cycle, I got excited and when we discussed metabolism of carbohydrates or anerobic training, I could not get enough of the topics.  I became an endurance athlete in graduate school despite having very little time to train for anything. But after 4-years of collegiate swimming, something was missing from my student-athlete lifestyle and running and triathlons was my missing link.  In January 2005, I crossed my first marathon finish line and qualified for the Boston Marathon which I ran in April of 2006, 1 month before my first half Ironman and 7 months before my first Ironman. Yep, I got the endurance bug and it bit me hard. My boyfriend (at the time), Karel was along for the...

-Slow heart rate -Low blood pressure -Risk for heart failure -Reduced bone density (osteopenia, osteoporosis, stress fractures) -Muscle loss and weakness -Severe dehydration -Kidney failure -Fainting -Low blood sugar -Weakness/fatigue -Dry skin -Hair loss -Obsessed with "good" vs "bad" food -Feelings of guilt around food -Fear of certain food -Extreme control of food -Intense fear of body composition -Distorted self-image -Excessive exercise -Calorie/macronutrient obsessing -Lack of emotion/mood -Isolation/social withdrawal -Fear of eating around others or in public -Preoccupation with food -Difficulty sleeping -Amenorrhea or menstrual irregularities -Constipation -Abdominal pain -Headaches -Frequently being cold -Restricted dieting -Feeling extremely upset when others don't understand your eating style -Extreme eating styles - fasting, juicing, cleansing, detoxing -Not eating enough or adequately around/during training sessions -Feeling guilty about miss...