Female Athlete Diaries
Real stories and conversations of the challenges females face during exercise, training, and racing through all stages of life. Stories of being steam rolled by PMT, the yo-yo of peri-menopause, losing confidence in your body, the diet that went too far, and many more. Listen to the experiences of other women, connect and breakthrough.
Female Athlete Diaries
The Bigger Girl That Could Run with Michelle Barnes
A Conversation with Michelle Barnes
In this episode of Female Athlete Diaries, host Kirsty She-in welcomes guest Michelle Barnes, a Trisutto coach, and accomplished triathlete, to discuss the unique challenges faced by female athletes. Michelle, who has completed 17 Ironman races and qualified for Kona nine times, shares her personal journey through the ups and downs of training, diet, and hormonal health. They dive into Michelle's brush with low-carb diets, relative energy deficiency syndrome (RED-S), and her path to achieving a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. The conversation touches on the importance of proper nutrition, the impact of weight and body composition on performance, and the nuances of training as an older athlete and coach. This episode is packed with insights for female athletes looking to improve their training and overall well-being.
00:00 Introduction to Female Athlete Diaries
00:37 Meet Michelle Barnes: Triathlon Coach and Athlete
02:13 Michelle's Journey: From Low Carb to Balanced Nutrition
03:29 Understanding Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome (REDS)
04:47 The Impact of Proper Nutrition on Performance
10:55 Embracing Your Natural Body Weight
16:13 Weight Fluctuations and Hormonal Imbalances
16:54 Marathon Achievements and Weight Impact
17:47 Strength and Injury Prevention
18:58 Nutritional Adjustments and Iron Levels
20:32 Current Running and Training Challenges
24:08 Adapting Training for Hormonal Health
27:32 Future Plans and Upcoming Topics
29:21 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview