When a gymnast is underfueled, deciding whether they should practice can feel like a tough call. But is keeping them out of practice a punishment...or protection? In this episode, we dive into why it's sometimes the safest and only option for a gymnast to miss practice because of underfueling and what it means for safety, progress, and long-term health.

When your gymnast isn’t eating enough to support their training, it can be an incredibly difficult situation for both the parent and the coach. You want your athlete to succeed, but you also have to keep them safe.

The reality that we really only have two options for gymnast who are chronically injured or behind in development—eat more or train less. And sometimes, eating more just isn't feasible when it comes to logistics, number of hours in the day and how just how much catch up a gymnast has to do.

✨ Ready to learn more? Tune in as we unpack what it really means when a gymnast should miss practice because of underfueling and how to approach this situation with both compassion and clarity.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Why ignoring underfueling has serious consequences for both performance and health
• How underfueling is actually a metabolic injury and needs to be addressed, just like any other injury
• Why missing practice is never a punishment—it’s sometimes the only safe choice

Links & Resources

• Episode 164: Holding the Boundary Around Safety + Nutrition for your Gymnast
• Episode 158: Why is my gymnast not putting on muscle/getting stronger with how much she trains?
• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com