You'd be surprised how often I hear gymnasts say "Oh, I eat healthy! I don't need to focus on my nutrition." AND YET they still struggle with low energy at practice, stalled progress, frequent colds and chronic injuries.
These are the 5 most common mistakes I see gymnasts who think they are "eating healthy" make:
1. You 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 how much you eat:
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Gymnastics, growth, and recovery takes a lot of energy! The "eat less / do more" attitude probably will not work in your favor. It may affect your energy and all of your body's systems that could affect your progress.
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2. You 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 how much you eat:
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Just because it's labeled "healthy" doesn't mean you should eat it until you're sick. GIANT smoothie bowls, HUGE loaded salads, it's really easy to overdo it. Keep your athlete's plate in mind and stop eating when your body tells you it's full (weather cookies or veggies).
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3. Your eating habits are 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕:
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You're great with your "routine" on training days, but on days off you're all over the place. You eat plenty on training days but sell yourself short on days off because you didn't "earn" your carbs. Without a consistent amount of enough nutrients, you may fall behind.
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4. You forget about your drinks.
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Fancy coffee drinks, XL sodas, sports drinks without the sports. These all provide energy, but with no real nutrition for your body to use. They're fine every once in a while, but too many can hold you back.
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5. You judge ALL "ORGANIC" & "NATURAL" foods and restaurants as "healthy". While they can be great choices, they might not be as special as you think. Read nutrition facts labels for products to know what's in them. And realize most restaurants serve overly large portions and cook with significantly more butter/oil that you would at home. Both can fit in your balanced fueling plan, but being in the know makes that easier.
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So how do you start making changes to your you're routine when you already eat HEALTHY? - Work with a registered dietitian who can help you make adjustments that help YOU fuel for success.
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Curious how your performance can improve? Apply to work with me today!
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