The Gymnast Nutritionist® Podcast
Welcome to The Gymnast Nutritionist® podcast, a free resource for gymnast, parents, and coaches to learn to fuel the gymnast optimal performance and longevity int he sport. Christina Anderson MS, RDN, CSP, CSSD is a board certified pediatric/adolescent registered dietitian nutritionist, former gymnast, and current nationally rated gymnastics judge. She helps gymnasts and their parents take a proactive approach to fueling, without the stress or overwhelm. This podcast is all #realtalk where she tackles tough subjects about nutrition, body image, and more in the sport of gymnastics.
Episodes
158 episodes
Episode 158: Why is my gymnast not putting on muscle/getting stronger with how much she trains?
If your gymnast is putting in the work—20, 25, even 30 hours a week in the gym—but still not building muscle or getting noticeably stronger, it’s time to take a closer look at what’s really going on.In today’s episode, I’m break...
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Season 1
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Episode 158
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26:15
Episode 157: Why your gymnast needs a pediatric/adolescent sports dietitian
Not all sports dietitians are created equal—especially when it comes to working with young, developing gymnasts. In this episode, I’m breaking down why your gymnast needs a pediatric/adolescent sports dietitian, not just any spo...
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Season 1
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Episode 157
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21:44
Episode 156: Should your gymnast eat LESS food (or carbs) on rest days?
Does every gymnast need LESS carbs (or food in general) on lighter training days or rest days? This is a HOT topic in the gymnastics world and I have some thoughts👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻 Every gymnast needs a different amount of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 156
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25:08
Episode 155: Help Your Gymnast Standout as a NCAA Recruit (and earn more money)
Things are changing rapidly with NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) which has only made NCAA recruiting more competitive in the gymnastics world. Besides NIL, most gymnasts are trying to do NCAA gymnastics to get their education paid for (...
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Season 1
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Episode 155
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43:43
BONUS: Sample TBG® Program Nutrition Coaching Call
If you haven’t heard the news, The Balanced Gymnast® Program is finally open for enrollment! TBG® Program is Christina's signature nutrition coaching program, perfect level 5-10/elite female gymnasts and parents!Investing in your ...
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Season 1
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6:06
Episode 154: The Top 5 Fueling Mistakes Gymnasts Make During Summer
Hey there, gymnastics parents and dedicated gymnasts! Today we’re diving into a super important (and often overlooked) topic—the most common fueling mistakes gymnasts make during the summer months.Summer is supposed to feel like a...
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Season 1
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Episode 154
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21:15
Episode 153: Fueling vs. Snacking: What Every Gymnast (and Parent) Needs to Know
When it comes to performance, energy, and recovery, what your gymnast eats matters—but just as important is why and how they eat it. In today’s episode, Christina Anderson, MS, RDN, CSSD—sports dietitian and founder o...
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Season 1
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Episode 153
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43:44
Episode 152: Debunking the Top 5 Myths About Gymnast Growth + Development
Hey friends, Christina here — your go-to gymnast nutritionist. Today, we’re diving into a super important topic that I talk about all the time with gymnasts, parents, and even coaches and healthcare providers: myths about gymnast gr...
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Season 1
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Episode 152
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17:17
Episode 151: What’s Next? Nutrition and Summer Training for Gymnasts
The season is finally over—and let’s be real, everyone’s exhausted. Gymnasts are sore, parents are tired, and coaches are running on fumes. Maybe you're not ready to even thing about nutrition and summer training for your gymnast. But ...
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26:14
Episode 150: When denial gets in the way of nutrition for gymnasts [Replay]
With summer training underway, we’re bringing back one of our most important conversations. In this episode, we dive into how denial can interfere with a gymnast’s nutrition — and why addressing it head-on is crucial for performance, growth, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 150
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24:58
Episode 149: Coaches Series - Do Gymnasts Really Need Snack Breaks?
In this episode of our Coaches Series, we’re diving into a topic that sparks a lot of debate in the gym: snack breaks vs. performance fueling. Should gymnasts have snack breaks during practice? What’s the difference between snacking and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 149
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24:24
Episode 148: Coaches Series-What is their role in supporting gymnasts with nutrition?
What's appropriate when it comes to coaches trying to help gymnasts with their nutrition?There is a lot to unpack here, including thoughts from both school's of thought when it comes to this subject. Often coaches feel like they have to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 148
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44:36
Episode 147: Why are you trying to copycat other gymnast’s nutrition?
In today's episode, we dive into a common trap many athletes and parents fall into—trying to copy gymnast nutrition. It's an easy mindset to fall into: “I’ll just do what she does—it’s working for her!” Sound familiar?
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15:58
Episode 146: Update to our Team Talks Series (what we are and aren't doing moving forward)
Over the past few years, I've had the privilege of connecting with countless gyms, coaches, owners, and booster clubs through our Team Talk series. The interest and support have been incredible, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to be part...
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Season 1
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Episode 146
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23:09
Episode 145: 5 Reasons Gymnastics Parents Wait Too Long to Get Nutrition Support for their Gymnast
Why do parents wait so long to get nutrition support for their gymnast? No parent has ever told us they started working on nutrition with us and their gymnast "too early". In fact, it's almost always the opposite. When they learn ho...
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Season 1
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Episode 145
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34:41
Episode 144: Why we do HTMA testing and labs with gymnasts (+ more of my story)
If you’ve been following me on Instagram or tuning into my podcast lately, you’ve probably heard me talk about HTMA testing and how it’s transforming the way we support gymnasts. But what exactly is HTMA, and why should you care?Hair Tis...
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Season 1
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Episode 144
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47:48
Episode 143: Does your doctor KNOW what condition your gymnast is really in when it comes to nutrition and injuries?
Does your doctor really know what condition your gymnast is in when evaluating their nutrition and injuries? Working with pediatric/adolescent athletes is VERY different than working with professional athletes or the general population adults.&...
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Season 1
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Episode 143
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30:03
Episode 142: What to do when a gymnastics coach makes a comment about your gymnast's weight
Hopefully this is never something you encounter as a gymnastics parent. But, what do you when a gymnastics coach makes a comment about your gymnast's weight to you? Or worse, directly to them?But, it's 2025 and we're STILL having issues ...
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Season 1
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Episode 142
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26:05
Episode 141- How do we prevent disordered eating in gymnastics?
TW: This is geared more towards parents + coachesIf you are a gymnastics coach, health care provider, parent, etc today's podcast is crucial because I'm talking about a question that runs rampant in our sport. Specifically, how do we pre...
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Season 1
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Episode 141
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56:05
Episode 140: What is the "best" type of school for fueling your gymnast?
When it comes to fueling your gymnast, is there an advantage based on what type of school they attend?Here at The Gymnast Nutritionist®, we have clients from all walks of school life: private, public, hybrid, homeschool, you name it. And...
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Season 1
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Episode 140
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29:58
Episode 139: Acute vs Chronic Underfueling in Gymnasts [Competition Season Edition]
This biggest mistake we’re seeing high level gymnasts make right now is…Only eating WHEN and IF they “feel hungry enough”… “my gymnast eats well” is 100% subjectiveThis can lead to "acute" underfueling....
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Season 1
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Episode 139
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16:24
Episode 138: Gymnast Labs, Endurance, and Iron Deficiency/Anemia
It's a significant topic in sports nutrition, particularly for endurance athletes, so today's podcast episode is all about understanding iron deficiency in gymnasts. In the sports nutrition world we’re super keen on screening for ir...
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Season 1
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Episode 138
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38:57
Episode 137: Will working on nutrition give your gymnast a “complex”
I hear it from parents all the time. They KNOW their gymnast isn't fueling enough for their training...BUT they worry if they bring up nutrition, they'll either give their gymnast a complex OR it'll just turn into another battle. And they just ...
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Season 1
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Episode 137
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29:12
Episode 136: 5 Mistakes gymnasts are making with their nutrition in 2025
Meet season is in full swing and we're already seeing the same five mistakes gymnasts are making with their nutrition. I know competition season is already stressful enough with nerves, travel, weird session times etc. BUT too ofte...
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Season 1
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Episode 136
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28:29
Episode 135: How to Support Your Gymnast's Nutrition When it’s a Rebuilding Season
Is it a rebuilding season for your gymnast this year? It’s hard to sit on the sidelines when everyone else is competing.We have a LOT of gymnasts in this situation right now, and honestly I am so grateful we get to support them. They are...
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Season 1
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Episode 135
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33:36