Episode 82: Why Our Language Around Food Matters for Gymnasts

Why does our language around food matter for our gymnasts?

January is THE month where resolutions about food are made…and broken. We are inundated with messages like “new year, new you”. Or “go clean”. Everyone is coming off the holidays and quite a few feel like they need to restrict or make huge changes to be healthy. But then why are those big changes so hard to adhere to just a couple months later?

How we talk about food and the language we use in front of our gymnasts when discussing ALL kinds of food matters here. The barrage of messages this time of year about dieting and restricting from diet culture are so detrimental to not only your gymnast’s performance, but also their long term relationship with food. We never want our gymnasts to feel shame about food, but we live in a culture that is sending this message every day. What’s a parent to do? Especially when parents have been fed lies about what and how to feed their high-level athletes.

In this episode you’ll hear about: 

• Your language around food and why it matters for your gymnast
• What is the “all or nothing” mindset?
• Competent Eaters vs Controlled Eaters, when restriction backfires

 Links & Resources 

• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Episode 48: Do Gymnasts Need Snack Breaks?
• Episode 62: When trying to get your gymnast to eat “healthy” backfires
• Episode 66: Origin Story – The Balanced Gymnast Program
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com