Glow Chat: Rachelle Potter
Part of our work at Glow Within is to highlight various individuals with unique and impactful stories. As an organization, we value diverse experiences and believe that there is always something to learn from one another. We came up with The Glow Chats series as a way of featuring a broad range of women while bringing light to their work and advocacies.
Annually, organizations NEDIC & NEDA conduct an Eating Disorder Awareness Week during February. During, NEDIC’s eating disorder awareness week (Feb.1-Feb.7th) Glow Within dedicated our social media efforts to provide information, and resources supporting those struggling with eating disorders. For NEDA’s awareness week, we are so grateful to bring an insightful interview to our Glow Within Community with personal trainer and massage therapist, Rachelle Potter, and discuss her journey with eating disorders and her passion for holistic wellness. Rachelle’s passion for health and fitness began as an aerialist in the circus in 2011, gradually falling in love with movement and strength, she decided to pursue her education in massage therapy and graduated from Centennial College in 2020. During COVID she took the opportunity to further her knowledge and skills by obtaining her personal training certification. She is now the manager of personal training at a national gym chain. During the interview, Rachelle shared how her experiences with eating disorders have led her to adopt a holistic approach to health and wellness, and how through her profession, she empowers her clients to find joy in movement and take control of their health.
When did you first realize you had an eating disorder, and how did it impact your life?
Rachelle: I realized I had an eating disorder at 14 years old. I became preoccupied with my body and began secretly throwing away food and avoiding eating with others. This greatly impacted both my athletic performance as an aerialist and my social life, as it often revolved around eating with friends and family. In addition to the negative impact my eating disorder had on my social and athletic life, my self-image suffered more than I realized at the time. Going through puberty is a hard and confusing time in all of our lives, and for me, it was definitely a major trigger. I had always been a thin and active child, and thinking back on that time in my life, I don’t recall a massive change in my weight, but I couldn’t shake the dysphoria and the feelings of always wanting to change what I saw in the mirror. I would always hear comments from adults around me who would make unsolicited remarks about my pubescent body. I took them as warnings, comments like “you’re so thin now, but just you wait until you get older”. This made me feel as if everything would go downhill for me unless I took some sort of control. I felt that the only thing that I could control amidst uncontrollable pubescent changes was my diet. It was almost as if I was taking a sort of “preventative measure” to keep myself from becoming a socially undesirable body type. Catching myself constantly body-checking in the mirror in my teen years caused an influx of negative thoughts. I wanted to hide and would avoid being photographed. I will always carry my eating disorder with me for the rest of my life, but it has allowed me to be more mindful in building my healthy lifestyle. The voice of 14-year-old me will always remind me that I am enough and that my journey is one of worth and value.
How did fitness and exercise play a role in your eating disorder? But, also how did it play a role in your recovery?
Rachelle : Growing up, I was always fixated on the idea of being a certain body type. I worked part-time as an extra on movie sets when I was a teen. This led family members to call me their “little supermodel”. Combine that with the inescapable impact of the media along with the iconic mid-2000s “heroine-chic” body type, it was so easy to get sucked into that downward spiral. It seemed to me that growing up thin placed me on the “correct and acceptable side” of the societal norm. I felt that in our society, if I were to gain weight or grow into a larger body-type that my worth would significantly decrease. I was terrified by the thought that people’s perceptions of me would change as a child. Because of this at 18, I began resistance training with the goal of making myself even smaller, but over time, it became a powerful tool for building my confidence. Now as an adult, the experience of unlearning the nasty habit of comparing myself to others or constantly seeking external validation have been the foundation to build my confidence and health.
Can you tell us about your journey to recovery?
Rachelle: When I was 16, I sought out the help of a psychologist who diagnosed me with an eating disorder and helped me inform my family. I was soon admitted into an outpatient recovery program that involved weekly visits to the hospital for weigh-ins, blood and urine tests, as well as family and individual therapy. Initially, I wasn't very responsive to the program and was told that if I didn't show signs of improvement, I'd be taken out of school to attend an inpatient program. The threat of that course of action gave me the determination to be discharged from the program. Within a year, I was discharged by pretending that I was doing better. Another year of struggling later, I returned to my previous psychologist for further help. I did not want to live my life in the same miserable state and knew that I could not break the cycle of restriction and low self-esteem on my own. Over the course of five years, my psychologist helped me greatly, and each year, the voice of my eating disorder became quieter and quieter.
How did you develop a healthy relationship with food and fitness?
Rachelle: Developing a healthy relationship with food and fitness can be a long and challenging journey, but seeking help from a therapist was instrumental in my success. Although there is often a stigma attached to seeking help, I can confidently say that therapy has been incredibly beneficial to me. It provided me with a safe and supportive space to work through my struggles and learn healthy coping mechanisms.
In addition to therapy, I found that using positive affirmations played a significant role in changing my attitude toward my self-image. By focusing on the positive aspects of myself and my abilities, I was able to shift my perspective and cultivate a more positive and self-loving mindset. This, in turn, helped me to develop healthier habits around food and fitness.
It's important to remember that everyone's journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to developing a healthy relationship with food and fitness. However, seeking help and incorporating positive affirmations into your daily routine can be a powerful step toward a healthier, happier life.
What inspired you to be a personal trainer?
Rachelle: What inspired me to become a personal trainer was the transformative power of resistance training. After struggling with an eating disorder, I realized how much my relationship with my body and food was intertwined with exercise. Through consistent strength training, I was able to see my body's capabilities and how it could thrive when properly nourished. It was a complete shift in mindset for me, and I found myself using exercise as a form of self-care and self-love instead of punishment. Becoming a personal trainer allows me to empower and support others in their fitness goals while also promoting a healthy and sustainable approach to wellness.
As a personal trainer now, what are some mantras you preach to your clients to ensure their exercise is a healthy habit?
To ensure that exercise is a healthy habit, I preach to my clients a few mantras that help them stay motivated and focused. One of the most important things I remind them is that consistency is key, and that small changes over time can lead to big results. I also encourage them to celebrate their successes, no matter how small, and to not get discouraged by setbacks. Another important mantra is that progress is not always linear, and that it's normal to have ups and downs in their fitness journey. I also emphasize the importance of setting realistic goals and creating a plan to achieve them, as well as tracking their progress along the way. Finally, I remind them that exercise is not just about physical health, but also mental and emotional health, and that taking care of all aspects of their wellbeing is crucial for long-term success.
What is some advice you would provide girls aged 14-25 regarding eating, food and fitness?
Rachelle: As a young woman, it can be overwhelming to navigate the often confusing and contradictory information about health and wellness that's readily available online. That's why my advice to girls aged 14-25 regarding eating, food, and fitness is to seek advice from trusted professionals in the field, and to be mindful of the impact that social media influencers can have on your body image and self-esteem.
In my own experience, I've found that limiting my exposure to negative influences and embracing my own unique body has been key to developing a healthy mindset and attitude towards food and fitness. Rather than striving for a specific body type or weight, I focus on making small, incremental changes that help me feel stronger and more energized.
This means being mindful of what and how I eat, and learning to unlearn the old, unhealthy habits and tendencies that once held me back. It also means being kind and patient with myself, recognizing that any physical changes I want to achieve won't happen overnight. Instead, I approach my wellness journey as a lifelong process of growth and self-improvement.
Ultimately, my advice to young women is to stay true to yourself, listen to your body, and trust the process. With dedication, patience, and a supportive community, anyone can achieve their health and wellness goals and live a long, healthy, and fulfilled life.
