#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