B&S ep7: This Is EDS- Building A Strong Body w/ Classical Ehlers-Danlos (GUEST: Abbey Phillipson)

Today's guest is Abbey Phillipson. Abbey has Classical EDS and is a Fitness Coach, she's competed in bodybuilding, is a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified Nutritionist & Personal Trainer, and received her Bachelor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University of Michigan (specialising in behavioural neuroscience amongst disabled populations).

When Abbey was 16, her spine and tailbone disconnected, resulting in an L4, L5, S1 stage four slip. This required surgery to reconstruct the area and fuse the lower part of her spine, so she spent the rest of high school using a wheelchair and walker. Three years after the surgery, Abbey started weights training and found that it completely transformed her life and significantly improved her EDS symptoms.

TOPICS COVERED:
- Building muscle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Abbey's Classical EDS symptoms and how they affect training
- How Abbey's mental & physical approach changed over the years between her "wheelchair phase" and when she started taking training seriously
- Victim mentality when you have EDS (but not in the way you think)
- Setting training goals beyond just getting healthy for people with Ehlers-Danlos
- Owning and celebrating your EDS while striving for more
- How we approach the first few months of lifting for clients who have EDS

Thanks so much for coming on Abbey! I loved the conversation and I know the listeners will too.

Find Abbey on INSTAGRAM: @abbeyphillipson

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**Disclaimer: the information in this podcast is not medical advice and is for entertainment purposes only. Consult a good doctor before engaging in any new exercise.**

Your Host - Annie Short: Strength Coach, Exercise Scientist, Powerlifter, Bodybuilder, and Ehlers-Danlos'er

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