In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Nicky Keay to talk about puberty, periods, hormones, and how they affect young athletes physically and mentally during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.

For many gymnasts, puberty can feel confusing and frustrating. Skills suddenly feel different, emotions feel bigger, and bodies begin to change in ways athletes are often taught to fear instead of understand.

Dr. Keay explains why these changes are not something athletes should fight against. Hormones play a critical role in bone health, strength, recovery, cognition, and long-term athletic performance. While puberty can temporarily affect coordination, balance, and confidence, it is also what helps young athletes grow into stronger, healthier women.

We also discuss the importance of fueling properly during adolescence, especially in sports like gymnastics and dance where underfueling is extremely common. Dr. Keay explains how missing or irregular periods can be a warning sign of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and why parents and coaches should pay attention early.

One of the most helpful parts of this conversation is learning how athletes can better understand their own menstrual cycles instead of fearing them. Rather than seeing periods as a weakness, athletes can learn patterns, prepare ahead of time, and build confidence through awareness and recovery.

In this episode you will hear

• Why puberty changes athletic performance
• How hormones affect strength, recovery, and coordination
• Why missing periods can signal RED-S
• How underfueling impacts health and performance
• Why body changes during puberty are normal and necessary
• How athletes can track and work with their menstrual cycles
• Why parents and coaches need to create healthier conversations around puberty

This conversation is a powerful reminder that puberty is not the end of an athlete’s potential. With the right support, nutrition, and understanding, young athletes can grow into stronger, healthier, and more confident competitors.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

One of the hardest things athletes can experience is watching a dream fall apart. In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Alexis Crockett to talk about mental blocks, burnout, body image, and how setbacks can lead to an even better path forward.

Alexis was one of the most talented gymnasts of her generation. She made elite at just 10 years old, represented the United States internationally, and became the first gymnast to compete a double twisting double pike. From the outside, it looked like her Olympic future was guaranteed.

But behind the success was a young athlete carrying enormous pressure.

We talk about how mental blocks can appear suddenly, even for athletes performing at the highest level. Alexis shares how burnout, overtraining, and years of pressure eventually caught up with her, leading to a mental block that completely changed the course of her gymnastics career.

What stood out to me most was her honesty about the shame and frustration she carried for years. So many athletes believe mental blocks mean they are weak or not trying hard enough, but Alexis explains why that simply is not true. Often, the brain is trying to protect the athlete from emotional or physical pain, even when the athlete desperately wants to keep going.

We also discuss body image in gymnastics, the unhealthy messages many athletes grew up hearing, and how Alexis is approaching her own daughter’s gymnastics journey differently. Instead of rushing success, she wants her daughter to enjoy being a kid first.

In this episode you will hear

• Why mental blocks can happen to any athlete
• How burnout and pressure affect performance
• Why body image struggles are so common in gymnastics
• How Alexis rebuilt confidence after setbacks
• Why athletes need support, not shame
• How parents and coaches can create healthier environments

This conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the dream falling apart leads you toward the life you were actually meant to build.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Most athletes assume great coaching is only about teaching skills, but the best coaches know that understanding the athlete matters just as much. In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Lexi Funk to talk about mental blocks, communication, confidence, and what athletes really need from their coaches.

Lexi is a former All-American beam athlete from the University of Michigan and now a college coach at Pitt. She shares how her experience as both an athlete and coach has shaped the way she helps gymnasts work through fear, pressure, and self-doubt.

We talk about communication. Many athletes try to push through pain, exhaustion, or fear without saying anything because they worry about looking weak or losing opportunities. Lexi explains why honest conversations between athletes and coaches build trust and lead to better performance.

Another big part of the conversation is mental blocks. Lexi shares her own experience struggling on beam after a bad fall, even after successfully doing the skill thousands of times before. She explains why mental blocks do not always make logical sense and how rebuilding confidence takes patience and trust in the process.

We also discuss coaching styles, adaptability, and why athletes improve the most when they feel supported as people, not just performers.

In this episode you will hear

• Why communication builds trust
• How mental blocks happen to every athlete
• Why confidence can disappear after one mistake
• How coaches can better support athletes
• Why patience is important during setbacks

In this episode, Lexi Funk shares how athletes and coaches can work together to build trust, overcome fear, and grow through challenges.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com