For most gymnasts, competition season has or is coming to a close and upgrade season is starting. But why didn’t your gymnast make it to insert…regionals, Nationals, etc?

There’s a LOT you can’t control. What region your gymnast is in, what age group, session times etc. Gymnasts spend months preparing for these big meets but there is a lot that is just out of their control.

In our new series, "Upgrade Season", I'm taking a look back to really help our gymnasts with the off-season training that is happening for most by this point. And that includes discussing some of the reasons why your gymnast maybe didn't "make it" to the big post meets.

There's a lot of buzz in sports these days around focusing on what you can control. Attitude, effort, work ethic etc. But nutrition is a huge controllable and often ignored. Here’s how we see it (or lack of it) impact gymnast’s in trying to reach their big goals and dreams at the end of a long competition season.

In today's episode, I'm covering four of the reasons we see gymnasts fall short of their goals. Listen in to learn more.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Freak accidents, timing, and competition nerves
• What happens when parents and gymnasts focus on the wrong things during season
• How to support your gymnast in areas of growth this upgrade season

Links & Resources

• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Episode 77: Gymnast Nervous Stomach and Competition Nutrition
• Episode 40: Gymnast Nutrition & Recovery in the Off-Season - Look back to move ahead
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

Does gymnastics stunt growth? It's quite the hot topic and many people weigh in with their own opinions. We've even heard conflicting opinions from medical providers. It's such a big question that it's actually been investigated and researched quite a bit in the past few decades by some heavy hitters such as the International Gymnastics Federation.

Some providers will give you a flippant response like, "gymnastics stunts their growth but it's fine, they'll catch up when they quit". But not growing and developing while in gymnastics should be a big red flag to parents and doctors for underfueling. We need to do our due diligence to determine whether or not they're getting enough nutrition or if something else like a hormonal issue is at play.

In today's episode, I'm covering the 5 big questions I get on this topic of "does gymnastics stunt growth". Listen in to learn more.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Normal genetic factors in gymnasts' height vs signs of underfueling
• What causes gymnasts height failure - is it all the pounding?
• Why it's not as simple as "they'll grow when they quit" in the long term for gymnasts

Links & Resources

• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Episode 4: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and Gymnastics
• Episode 51: No Period, No Problem for the Gymnast? Not quite
• Role of Intensive Training in the Growth and Maturation of Artistic Gymnasts
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

Inside FUELED bootcamp, I’m going to help you uncover what’s working and what’s not with your gymnast’s nutrition so that crush the UPGRADE season.

The 3-day Bootcamp kicks off on Sunday April 28th and is for competitive gymnasts + parents. Click here to register.

I know so many parents who struggle with their gymnast's nutrition due to picky eating. They know their athlete needs to fuel more, but there's so much push back it feels like a no-win situation.

In today's episode, I'm breaking down what it means to truly have a picky eater versus dealing with a gymnast who demonstrates finicky eating habits. And what you can do as a parent to get your gymnast on the right track to performance and health.

I like to equate it with the conditioning every gymnast does. It might feel uncomfortable, but they know it's necessary to lay the foundation of strength they need for big skills and routines. I find when we present nutrition to gymnasts who struggle with picky eating in a similar way, we can begin to move past fueling roadblocks.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Picky eating vs Extreme Picky eating vs Pediatric Feeding Disorder
• What is "finicky eating", how it differs, and its challenges
• Why it's so important to make sure your gymnast is eating enough, even when they struggle with these challenges

Links & Resources

• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Gymnasts and ADHD: What you must know about nutrition
• Episode 36: Gymnast Nutrition and ADHD
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

Inside FUELED bootcamp, I’m going to help you uncover what’s working and what’s not with your gymnast’s nutrition so that crush the UPGRADE season.

The 3-day Bootcamp kicks off on Sunday April 28th and is for competitive gymnasts + parents. Click here to register.