#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.I'm so excited to tell you about my first ever sponsor Bear Bar, who make the highest quality shower soaps. If you’d like to try them you can get 15% off by heading to https://bit.ly/barejase and entering JASE at checkout.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***15% Off Bare Bar (CODE: JASE):https://bit.ly/barejaseEllie’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ZpISrUMY STUFF:Awaken Out Of Context Podcast (YouTube & Podcast Links):https://bit.ly/3tk8FVvFollow Me On Instagram (@awakenoutofjason):https://bit.ly/3RAkKQj#bodybuilding #grief #weightlossjourney