In this episode, I talk with professional Team USA heptathlete Chari Hawkins. We touch on Chari’s start in athletes watching her four older siblings play, before getting involved herself in high school for the social time with friends.  Chari opens up about her struggles with anorexia and body image in high school, seeking acceptance in her “skinny” appearance. This desire to fit in and keep her body small hindered her performance on the track as she no longer had the strength to win. Athletics helped pull Chari out of her eating disorder as she began to appreciate what her body could do rather than what it looked like, and the need to fuel herself appropriately. Fuelling well enabled Chari to see breakthrough performances that led her to NCAA success and on to Team USA.  Chari explains how her obsession with food transferred onto the track, tying her self-worth and value up in performance outcomes. We discuss how Chari has put in years of work to shift her mindsets and accept herself independent of her performances.  Chari tells us about the crippling performance anxiety she’s dealt with and how she’s built up her toolbox to allow her to succeed today. Different strategies work for different people, and we highlight how important it is to find what tips and tricks work for you. Chari spills the beans on her brand new program launching in March: 30 Days with Chari, where she will take participants through 30 different tools to train the mind and boost mental fitness. These techniques have allowed Chari to fall back in love with her sport and aim to help others find passion in their lives and sports too. We discuss Chari’s approach to nutrition on competition days and how she adopts a race day meal plan to keep her fuelled regardless of nerves and hunger. Chari shares a hydration horror story and we talk about effective supplements for female athletes. Maintaining optimum levels of vitamin D, omega 3, creative and iron all contribute to peak performance: always check with a doctor or dietitian first!  Follow Chari on Instagram and TikTok @_charihawkins and learn more about 30 Days with Chari Chari’s Official Bio Chari Hawkins is a Team USA Heptathlete and USA Bronze medalist. She loves sharing her journey as well as tips and lessons she has learned both on and off the track. She believes that if she can do it, you can too.  This episode is brought to you by the Female Athlete System of Transformation: Click here to Book a Call & learn more Learn more about Lindsey's Services and the Team at Rise Up Nutrition: www.RiseUpNutritionRUN.com