Ep 173 Ellen Johnston PT — Injury, Body Image & Fuelling Female Athletes

What does it really take to recover from a serious injury—not just physically, but mentally?In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Johnston, personal trainer and strength & conditioning coach, to discuss her journey through the fitness industry, women's football and the lessons she's learned from working with female athletes.Ellen opens up about her own ACL injury and rehabilitation, the psychological challenge of returning to sport, and how that experience completely changed her relationship with food, body image and performance. We also discuss why so many active women unknowingly under-fuel, the importance of strength training, and why chasing performance leads to better long-term results than chasing aesthetics.We also explore social media, external validation, before-and-after photos, coaching female footballers, and how Ellen's experience with dyspraxia has shaped both her confidence and the coach she has become.Whether you're an athlete, coach, footballer or simply someone trying to build a healthier relationship with training and nutrition, this conversation is packed with honest insights and practical advice.In this episode we cover:Ellen's journey into the fitness industryGrowing up in DonegalWomen's football and strength & conditioningWhy female athletes need to get strongerFuelling performance vs dietingCommon nutrition mistakes active women makeACL injury recovery and rehabilitationThe psychological impact of long-term injuryBody image in sportSocial media and external validationWhy Ellen doesn't use before-and-after photosConfidence, self-worth and coachingAdvice for young female athletesIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a comment letting us know your biggest takeaway.#HybridTraining #EllenJohnston #WomensFootball #ACLRecovery #FemaleAthletes #StrengthAndConditioning #Nutrition #BodyImage #PersonalTrainer #SportsPerformance #GirlsInSport #FitnessPodcast #SportsPodcast #IrishPodcast