Welcome to Fueled Gymnast Fall, a podcast series on what you need to know about fueling your gymnast as we move into this next competitive season. And on today's episode, we're diving right in with the question, "Are so many gymnasts really underfueled?"

Yes, yes they are…

Why do parents and coaches not believe us? Maybe it's because we are so conditioned to seeing “teeny, tiny pre-pubescents gymnasts” especially at the upper levels that we assume this is normal. So many parents and coaches assume they can tell whether a gymnast is getting enough fuel just by looking at her. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. You can’t “look” at a gymnast and know if she’s underfueled.

Gymnasts are some of the toughest athletes out there. They push through pain, fatigue, and injuries that would sideline most others. And because of that, we often mistake symptoms of underfueling as “just part of the sport.” Let's unpack why this mindset needs to change and how to start recognizing when a gymnast really is underfueled.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Understanding what underfueling really looks like
• How inconsistency (skipping meals, uneven fueling, post-practice exhaustion) contributes to underfueling and disrupts recovery
• When it’s time to seek help and solutions

Links & Resources

• Episode 04: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and Gymnastics
• Episode 64: Is your gymnast overtrained or underfueled?
• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

What Is OCD (Osteochondritis Dissecans) and how does nutrition play a role for your gymnast?

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood overuse injuries in gymnastics. OCD, or Osteochondritis Dissecans, and how nutrition plays a powerful role in both prevention and recovery. Parents, if you’ve ever wondered whether your gymnast’s elbow or knee pain could be related to underfueling, this is a must-listen.

We’ll start by breaking down why gymnasts are at higher risk for OCD compared to other athletes. It’s not just the pounding on joints. It’s the combination of intense training volume, early specialization, and often, inadequate nutrition for the demands of the sport.

And we'll discuss how this injury happens in gymnasts and answer one of the biggest questions parents have: Is it overtraining or underfueling? The truth is, both play a role. When the body doesn’t get enough energy or nutrients, bone and cartilage lose their ability to keep up with repetitive impact, setting the stage for breakdown and injury.

✨ Ready to learn more? Tune in as we dive deep on this dreaded diagnosis, and hear more about how nutrition plays a part in prevention and recovery from OCD for your gymnast.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• What Is OCD (Osteochondritis Dissecans) and who is at risk?
• The role nutrition plays: why fueling literally determines healing.
• Return to sport and what parents must understand about progressing safely back to training once cleared

Links & Resources

• ROCKET Elbow OCD
• Dave Tilley and SHIFT Movement Science
• Dr. Ian Crider The Gymnastics Doc
• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

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