#66 - Losing Her Dad at 19: How Ellie Crabtree Found Purpose Through Competitive Bodybuilding
My guest today is Ellie Crabtree — a weight loss coach helping women transform both their minds and bodies. Ellie came second in the NABBA (National Amateur Body-Builders Association) Britain's Miss Novice Toned Figure, and her story is one of grief, rebuilding, and finding purpose. After losing her dad at just 19, she spiralled into emotional eating and isolation. What followed was a remarkable journey — not just of weight loss, but of self-discovery, discipline, and healing. We talk about food as comfort, the emotional crash after competition, why control can be both a shield and a struggle, and how she now helps other women with their own weight loss and mindset journeys.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ellie Crabtree.
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Fully Timestamped Chapter List
00:00:00 Intro Trailer for Ellie Crabtree
00:00:42 Ellie’s Story, Early Life, Loss of Father & Weight Struggles
00:04:32 Why Bodybuilding
00:05:42 Training Around Her Dad’s Illness
00:07:17 Relationship With Food Then & Now
00:11:40 Coaching Other Women With Food & Body Image
00:12:55 Strategies For Getting Back On Track With Food
00:14:23 Bodybuilding vs Hybrid Training & HYROX
00:17:10 Post-Competition Blues & Structure Collapse
00:19:15 Control, Therapy & Why She Gravitate to Structured Sports
00:22:19 Replacing Addictions & Finding Identity Outside Fitness
00:24:48 Grief & Her Relationship With Her Dad’s Passing
00:27:04 How She’d Handle Grief Differently Now
00:28:29 Turning Loss Into Motivation & Life Philosophy
00:33:05 What Her Dad Was Like
00:35:46 Making The Most Of Her Dad’s Final Months
00:42:00 Competing With NABBA
00:44:10 First Time On Stage & Posing Nerves
00:46:13 Why Dark Chocolate & Pre-Show Nutrition
00:48:21 Peak Week Explained
00:53:08 Current Training & Injury Recovery
00:57:17 Learning To Listen To Her Body
00:58:38 David Goggins' Mindset & Overtraining
01:00:34 Long-Term Fitness Journey & Individual Methods
01:01:25 Goals: Injury Recovery, Marathon & HYROX
01:03:44 Ultimate Goal: Ultra Marathon
01:04:51 Enjoyment-Based Running Approach
01:06:37 Closing Remarks & Final Reflections
01:07:31 Morning Reflection: Practising Gratitude
01:08:58 Where To Find Ellie & Coaching Plug
01:10:32 Outro & Sponsor Reminder
***LINKS***
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#bodybuilding #grief #weightlossjourney
Awaken Out Of Context
I created Awaken Out of Context as a way to better understand myself and connect with high performers from around the world. While it’s primarily a personal journey of self-exploration, my sincere hope is that the raw authenticity and candour shared here will resonate with you - that the questions I’m asking and the reflections I’m sharing might help illuminate your own path. New episodes drop every Monday at 5 AM UK time, and Sunday at 9 PM Pacific Standard Time. Thank you for checking out my show.
- No. of episodes: 71
- Latest episode: 2025-06-23
- Education Self-Improvement
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