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.
The Gymnast Nutritionist® Podcast
Episode 162: Worried Your Gymnast Is Underfueled? Start with a Gymnast Fueling Audit
If you're worried your gymnast might be underfueled or showing signs of RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), this episode is a must-listen. In today’s episode, I'll explain why a true gymnast fueling audit doesn’t start with macros or calorie counts. It starts with tracking growth over time PLUS nutritional intake.
When parents come to me worried their gymnast might be underfueled or showing signs of RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), the first thing we do in our initial session is a gymnast fueling audit. And guess what? That session starts with growth history. AKA growth charts.
Why? Because your gymnast’s weight and height trends over time are some of the most objective, science-backed indicators we have to assess if they’re getting enough fuel to support growth, training, and recovery. And here’s the hard truth—RED-S doesn’t always show up in how a gymnast looks. It shows up in how their body is growing (or not growing).
In this episode, I’m walking you through:
- Why the growth chart is the #1 tool I use to assess underfueling
- What normal growth should look like for a gymnast and why it's completely individualized.
- How we're helping parents know once and for all: is your gymnast underfueled??
Links & Resources
- Join the Fueling Audit Waitlist
- Episode 146: Update to our Team Talks Series (what we are and aren’t doing moving forward)
- The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
- Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com
