From Insecure Teen to Confident Running Coach
Today I want to share with you some of my real struggles with my body image and relationship with food – which honestly always feels a little scary/vulnerable – but here we go.
I hated my body for over a decade of my life, starting in 6th grade.
And yesterday, I got professional photos taken for 90 minutes, feeling strong, beautiful and confident in each outfit I changed in to (Tbh a little awkward actually during the photo shoot).
This transformation – from insecure and overweight teen and obsessive 20-something — to confident coach – is exactly WHY I am so passionate about what I do. Because it’s never come easily to me and I know that I can help others who are struggling too.
My Early Struggles With Body Image and Food
In 6th grade, I’d take the bus home, let myself in & start eating while I watched Family Matters. I didn’t realize my body was changing until a “friend” told me I looked fat in my plaid peddle pushers. I started wearing big baggy shirts & hiding in my bathing suit at the pool.
Diet Culture in the Early 2000s
In high school, I read that Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie shared ONE sushi roll for dinner. It was the time of Victoria’s Secret Angels starving themselves before shows and Andy from Devil Wears Prada (saw the sequel last Saturday – meh) being called fat because she wore a size 6 (I wore a 12). I assumed I’d stay overweight because I liked food too much.
Calorie Counting and Restrictive Eating in College
I gained another 15 pounds my freshman year of college & lost it that summer counting calories – but I was miserable because I didn’t know to be social without eating the Fajita Pita at Chilis & getting ice cream afterward so I stayed home.
The Female Role Models I Didn’t Have
I had no female role models in my life to show me balance – the only woman in my life who was not overweight was my grandma and she pretty much lived on a piece of sourdough toast and coffee with Sweet n’ Low.
(The summer before I left for college with grandma Millie)
Why Running Alone Didn’t Help Me Lose Weight
When I trained for my first half-marathon, I assumed I’d lose a ton of weight and finally be skinny. But I didn’t – I just got hungrier and my sweet tooth got even bigger.Why Running Alone Didn’t Help Me Lose Weight
How Performance Fueling Changed My Body and Mindset
While training for my 3rd half-marathon, 14 years ago, I learned what I know now about nutrition. I changed what I ate, but ultimately eating significantly MORE food & cut 6 minutes off my half marathon PR in just a few months (on an insanely hilly course) and lost 11 pounds.
My body completely transformed & everyone noticed (which to be honest, felt good after hiding for so long) — but more importantly, my mindset around food changed to performance focused fueling.
What My Relationship With Food Looks Like at 42
At age 42, I have a body that my younger self would never recognize. I don’t have the intense need for sugar after every meal like I did for years, and years – and I don’t need to start and stop diets every few months. I feel good in my skin and confident and happy with the way I eat – without obsessing over everything I eat or being the friend who doesn’t eat at every social event (I had a giant plate of lasagna last night at bunco and went back for seconds).
Why My Struggles Made Me a Better Coach
I truly believe that my struggles with my own self-image paved the path for me to be a better coach for female runners. Because no, it has NEVER come easily — so I know the demons the women I help face.
Why Eating Less Is Not the Answer
If you’re not feeling great in your body – simply eating less is not the answer, and it’s not too late to change your relationship with food.
Happy running,
Nicole Dobransky
PS I mentioned this blog would be about the 5K and the factors that went into running 20 sec/mile faster than my last 5K (and winning my age group) – but that’ll be for next week.
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