As a gymnast, you have a lot on your plate. You're trying to do well in school, balance extra-curricular activities, and train 20+ hours a week. You've got family expectations. And you're trying to still have some sort of semblance of a social life.
As a gymnast, I know you are under a ton of pressure to perform your best. You have big goals for yourself. You have to live up to your coach's expectations. You want to make your parents proud.
I remember when I was a gymnast, I would wake up at 5:45am for school and I wouldn't stop moving until 10pm at night (if i was lucky!). It was A LOT!
And I thought I was doing great! I got good grades in honors and AP classes (and made National Honor Society). I made it to level 10 by 9th grade. I had an amazing group of friends. I volunteered. Sang in the choir.
But the red flags started popping up...
I was always falling asleep in class. My body always hurt and I was always injured. Skills and routines that used to be so simple for me now felt like a challenge.
People always said that I didn't have to pay attention to my nutrition because I exercised so much. However, as a high-level gymnast, this could not be farther from the truth. If only I recognized the signs...
3 Signs You Could Use Some Extra Help With Your Nutrition:
1. You're tired all the time: You fall asleep in school. You feel tired, sluggish, and weak during practice. You're dead by the last rotation! You wake up tired (always wake up feeling like you've been hit by a bus). You try to prioritize 8+ hours to sleep, but you have difficulty sleeping at night (you can't fall asleep or stay asleep).
If something's missing with your nutrition (whether it's enough or enough of something) it's hard to expect your body to run at 100%. Your body is constantly trying to conserve energy, and as a result, things slow down (and some "functions" even turn off).
2. You can't stay healthy: Your immune system, your bone health, your ligament, tendon, and muscle health, all require building blocks from food to grow and stay strong. If you're frequently getting sick (colds, infections, viruses, etc.) or you're always injured, it's likely that you're missing the mark with your nutrition.
3. You're getting passed in the gym: With season right around the corner, I know you're feeling the pressure to be routine ready. But, you're struggling through your skills. You're having a hard time getting through routines and assignments. Even though you do the same assignments and the same conditioning program, your teammates are way ahead of you. If you feel like your progress has stalled in the gym (especially compared to your teammates), your fueling strategy probably needs to be adjusted.
And I know you're hesitant to add another thing to your plate (literally and figuratively). How are you supposed to balance even more?
Remember, nutrition is not something you have to figure out on your own! As a Registered Dietitian, I can help you want to feel confident with your fueling plan and learn to fuel success! Are you curious about how working together could improve your performance in the gym? Apply to work with me!
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