I was 17 years old and had just reached my ultimate goal when I began my fight. Let me back things up, my entire life was spent within the four walls of a gym. I was an allstar cheerleader. Forever feeling average I decided to take it to the next level and join the best gym in the midwest. No, this article is not meant to slam my gym, in fact they were my safe zone and biggest support system. My struggle came from within. My first year of being part of this program was amazing to say the least. I made unforgettable friends and memories, along with winning the coveted national title in Dallas, Texas. But it was never enough, I always wanted more. In the months leading up to my second tryout I started training with a new coach. I was gaining experience and skills left and right, but it still was not ENOUGH. I was doing everything I thought was right in order to make my body unstoppable including restricting my diet. About a month before tryouts I started feeling extreme fatigue, we later found that this was due to low blood pressure and didn’t attribute my new diet as the issue. Upon telling my coach about this, he suggested that I cut any and all carbs. He emphasized that my rigorous training needed to be supplemented with all protein and no fats, grains, etc. He also emphasized that my body was a bit too “healthy” around the edges and that I would need to look lean and muscular if I wanted to reach my goal. Naturally, I followed his advice because he had never steered me wrong before. This approach worked for about two months and within those two months I became a lean mean fighting machine. I had six pack abs and leg muscles that could land any tumbling skill I attempted. I did in fact level up and I was thrilled. My whole life I wanted to be an upper level cheerleader and I had finally reached my potential. It lasted all of about a month. I started to feel fatigued no matter how much rest I got. Every practice became worse than the last and I was failing at the one thing I had worked so hard for. The tumbling coach who had given me this advice had left and my new coaches were astounded by my now steady decline. I cursed my body for not giving me the strength I needed. Still not considering the high protein, low carb diet as a factor. This continued until I was too weak to continue. My mom insisted that I take an extended break and i was devastated, but I knew that there was no way for me to keep training. My thyroid had been a factor as well and something that I unknowingly struggled with for years. As for which affected me more, I am not at all sure. Daily, I cried and pleaded with myself and whoever would listen to, “give me my life back”, but it was no use. On July 6, 2015 I was admitted to the hospital with a pulse of 34 bpm. After getting many evaluations, the team of doctors and nurses did conclude that my thyroid was low, but also that I may have had an eating disorder. Upon hearing this news, I lashed out. I was always trying the best for my body how DARE somebody tell me that I had an eating disorder. I had no idea that this was actually called “Orthorexia” and would haunt me for the next months to come…..
