"Amenorhea Isn't Common, It's Normalised" - Understanding RED-S in Female Athletes

This week, Han is joined by Cerian Harries - a former elite swimmer and passionate voice for raising awareness around RED-S, amenorrhea, and fuelling properly in sport. After struggling with amenorrhea and an eating disorder during her swimming career, Cerian now shares her story to help other female athletes understand that health and performance can go hand in hand.This week, we discuss:What is RED-S and how it relates to amenorrheaCerian's experience of RED-S and support from her GP and gynaecologistNormalisation of period loss in female athletesSymptoms of RED-S: fatigue, injury, poor recoveryThe impact of disordered eating in sportRole of supportive coaching in addressing body image and food concernsPrioritising long-term health over short-term performanceFuelling correctly to improve athletic performanceThe role of elite athletes in modelling healthy habitsPerfectionism, obsessionality & rigidity in competitive athletesLetting go of athlete identity and rewriting your story post-sportUsing exercise for recovery vs. navigating exercise compulsionTimestamps:[01:56] What is RED-S?[03:14] Amenorrhea & early dismissal in sport[06:48] Cerian's RED-S experience[13:36] The slippery slope of food rules and "bad foods"[20:09] Getting a diagnosis & seeking medical help[23:36] Identity loss after sport[27:36] Rediscovering joyful movement through CrossFit[30:20] Breaking the reliance on exercise for emotion regulationResources & Links:Cerian's Instagram (@female_athletetriad_awareness)Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of eating disorders, amenorrhea, and RED-S.Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛