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
167 episodes
Episode 169: What we learned from our Gymnast Fueling Audits
When parents hear “fueling,” they often assume their gymnast is doing okay—but our recent gymnast fueling audits revealed a very different story.Here’s what we found:2 out of 3 gymnasts had already fall...
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Season 1
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Episode 169
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24:42
Episode 168: What can parents *actually* control to help their gymnast crush it this competition season?
There’s a lot in gymnastics that frustrates parents—but truthfully, much of it is out of your control. You can’t control the judging. Or the coaching. You can’t control every practice or every skill. So as a parent of a gymnast, what c...
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Season 1
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Episode 168
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17:12
Episode 167: Why Eating Healthy Isn’t Enough for Gymnast Success (and What to Do Instead)
When it comes to gymnast nutrition, “healthy” and “adequate” are not the same thing. And confusing the two can keep your gymnast stuck in frustration, struggling with performance, and at higher risk of injury.So many parents tel...
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Season 1
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Episode 167
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30:53
Episode 166: What’s the difference between a Nutritionist vs Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?
Why is our practice The Gymnast Nutritionist® even though we are all Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (specialized in pediatrics and sports nutrition). Marketing. No one knows what a dietitian is. Not even in the hospital. We get ...
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Season 1
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Episode 166
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18:21
Episode 165: What to Do When Your Gymnast’s Lunch Comes Home Uneaten?
Your gymnast’s lunchbox comes home full… and your heart drops.You know what’s ahead—hours of intense training—and your gymnast skipping lunch just isn’t an option. But between picky eating, short lunch breaks, and the chaos of the sc...
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Season 1
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Episode 165
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15:36
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 t...
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Season 1
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Episode 164
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36:45
Episode 163: The Summer Slump Is Real: Why gymnasts (AND Parents) are struggling right now
In this episode of The Gymnast Nutritionist Podcast, I'm diving into the all-too-familiar gymnast summer struggle—and why it’s hitting both athletes and parents hard right now.From chaotic training schedules to t...
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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32:47
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 st...
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Season 1
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Episode 162
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30:55
Episode 161: Can gymnasts make up a deficit with a few "good days" of nutrition? [Replay]
Most gymnasts are wildly inconsistent with their nutrition. They skip breakfast or lunch, or they get out of practice so late they skip dinner. But one question I get asked by parents a lot is will a few "good days" of nutrition and fueli...
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Season 1
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Episode 161
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20:14
Episode 160: Fueling the Gymnast at College Camps [Replay]
Is your gymnast attending any college camps this summer?! Does your gymnast know how to optimize her fueling at college camps to stand out and make a lasting impression?Summer camps are like a rite of passage for gymnasts. They're usual...
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Season 1
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Episode 160
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16:08
Episode 159: Should you allow your gymnast to drink an energy drink?
In this episode, we’re diving into a hot topic that comes up all the time in conversations with parents and gymnasts: Should you allow your gymnast to drink an energy drink?It's tempting to reach for that quick boost—espe...
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35:47
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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27:29
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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22:58
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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26:22
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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44:58
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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7:21
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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22:30
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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44:59
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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18:31
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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27:28
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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26:12
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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25:39
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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45:50
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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17:12
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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24:23