Episode 164: Holding the Boundary Around Safety + Nutrition for your Gymnast

As a parent, it can be tough to hold firm when it comes to your gymnast’s nutrition—especially when you’re met with pushback from coaches, friends, or even your gymnast herself. But when we zoom out and really look at the big picture, we have to remember this: nutrition is a safety issue.

In today’s episode, I’m diving into what it really means to hold the boundary around safety and nutrition for your gymnast—and why doing so isn’t just “being mean” or “strict.” It’s about protecting your athlete’s health, performance, and long-term well-being.

But holding these boundaries around safety and nutrition for your gymnast can sometime bring up unexpected and all sorts of feelings for parents. And I totally get that. Bottom line, if your gymnast is doing 20+ hours of gymnastics a week though…they have to be adequately fueled to retain the privilege of doing gymnastics. 

In the words of my mentor, “if you can fuel it, you can do it”. Listen in to today’s episode to know you’re not alone in holding the boundary. And its the kindest, most productive thing you can do for your gymnast. Whether you’ve been feeling pressure to give in, or you’re not sure how to communicate your boundaries effectively, this episode will give you both clarity and confidence to stand firm.

In this episode, hear more about:

• Understanding parental boundaries and gymnast needs 
• Why safety and nutrition are inseparable for gymnasts 
• Real-world examples of boundaries you might need to set 

Links & Resources 

• Episode 163: The Summer Slump Is Real: Why gymnasts (AND Parents) are struggling right now
• Why Your Gymnast Won’t Reach their Off-Season Goals
• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts 
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com