Kelsey HigginsonSports Nutrition Coach and Founder at Clutch Day Coaching

Female Gymnasts! Do not believe this lie.

22 Aug 2025 · 1 min

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In this instructional monologue aimed at female gymnasts, the speaker debunks the common myth that eating less leads to better performance by explaining that under‑eating (under‑fueling) both diminishes athletic output and raises the risk of injuries such as stress fractures. The speaker emphasizes that adequate fuel—specifically carbohydrates—acts as the “gas in the tank” needed for optimal performance and injury prevention. Practical guidance is offered: increase carbohydrate intake at every meal and snack, with examples of healthy carb sources (potatoes, rice, quinoa, pasta, bread), and re‑frame carbs as allies rather than enemies.

Chapters

The number one lie that my female gymnasts buy into is you gotta watch what you eat because the less you eat, the smaller you can be, and the smaller you are, the better you perform. There are two reasons why this is wrong. Number one, undereating or underfueling leads to underperforming. If you do not have enough gas in the tank, how do you expect your engine to go? And then number two is when you undereat and underfuel, it leads your body to be more prone to injury, which is why a lot of female athletes struggle with stress fractures and injuries. So gymnasts, the number one thing that you can do today to start focusing on your nutrition is increasing the amount of carbohydrates you are eating in every single meal and snack. Those carbs are going to be the gas in your tank to help you perform better and to avoid injury in the workouts. And healthy carbs looks like potatoes, rice, quinoa, pastas, breads. Do not fear them, they are your friend, they are not the enemy.