100. Burn Out GOT ME. I almost quit being a sports dietitian.
In this special 100th episode, I open up about a deeply personal moment — the time I nearly walked away from being a sports dietitian. It's easy to see success from the outside, but behind the scenes, we all face self-doubt, criticism, and burnout. I share the emotional rollercoaster of feeling like a failure, dealing with online negativity, and why I ultimately chose not to give up.
You'll also hear the honest truth about how much pressure we can put on ourselves when we tie our identity to our work, and how stepping back — even temporarily — can help us realign with our purpose.
I talk about managing ADHD, setting personal and professional boundaries, and the critical role of small, consistent actions over time — both in fuelling and in life. I reflect on the importance of vision, faith, and living in alignment with your values. Whether you're an athlete, health professional, or simply someone trying to keep moving forward when life feels overwhelming, this episode is a raw and real reminder that progress isn’t always linear.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on Youtube.
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TRANSCRIPT
Why I Almost Quit Being a Sports Dietitian – And What Pulled Me Back
There was a moment recently when I almost quit being a sports dietitian. I don’t mean I thought about slowing down or taking a holiday. I mean, I was done. After years of sharing advice, creating content, and helping athletes fuel better, I hit a point where I genuinely questioned whether it was worth continuing.
And strangely enough, this moment of burnout and self-doubt coincided with a milestone — my 100th podcast episode. A time that should have felt like an achievement instead left me wondering if I had anything left to give.
The Weight of ‘Success’
From the outside, it probably looked like everything was going well. I’ve worked with incredible athletes, run a growing business, and had the chance to help shift the narrative around fuelling and performance. But internally, I felt stuck. Online criticism, negative voices, and my own perfectionist tendencies got the better of me.
The thought spiral went something like this:
“Am I even helping anyone?”
“Why am I working so hard for so little return?”
“What if I’m just making noise and not changing anything?”
These thoughts weren’t new — but this time, they felt louder than ever.
Small Changes, Big Impact
One of the principles I teach my clients is that small, consistent changes create big results over time. And yet, I’d forgotten to apply that to myself. When everything felt overwhelming, I took a step back and did the one thing I always tell others to do: go back to basics.
I took a break. I cleared my schedule. I stopped trying to power through and instead focused on reconnecting with the “why” behind my work.
That’s when I pulled out my journal — something I use religiously when I’m on track, and often neglect when I’m not. Inside was a vision I wrote years ago, about inspiring others to fuel their bodies, transform their relationship with food, and live with energy and intention.
Reading it again reminded me: this work matters. And so do I.
Learning to Separate Worth from Work
What I also realised in this time was how much of my self-worth had become tied to productivity. I love what I do, but I’d blurred the line between doing meaningful work and proving my worth through output.
That’s a dangerous place to sit in — especially for people with ADHD like me, who can easily hyperfocus on external validation. Part of my journey has been learning how to create boundaries, protect my energy, and give myself permission to rest. That includes unplugging from social media, setting up physical boundaries like removing my phone from my bedroom, and reviewing my goals regularly.
Creating Space for the Bigger Picture
This experience also made me reflect on how fuelling is about so much more than food and sport. It’s about how we show up in the world — for our partners, our kids, our friends, our communities. I’ve seen it with my clients: when they fuel better, they don’t just ride harder or recover faster. They become better parents, more present partners, more energetic people.
Fuelling isn’t just about performance. It’s about potential.
The Next Chapter
I’m not going anywhere. In fact, I feel more aligned than I have in a long time. I’ll be showing up more authentically — not just as a sports dietitian, but as a woman of faith, an advocate for mental wellbeing, and someone who knows what it’s like to question everything.
My advice to you? If you’re feeling stuck, zoom out. Revisit your vision. Make one small change. And know that just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
This next chapter might just be the best one yet.
