Any recommendations on a good sports nutritionist? We have a 13 year old swimmer and have been (unsuccessfully) trying to talk to her about nutrition.

OP! I’m the same boat and I echo the PP that regrets not fueling properly as a young athlete. It screwed me up big time. Better now than later! We are in the process of finding help to figure this out for our 12 y/o too.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I feel silly scheduling my DS with a sports dietician because he's a 6th grader. On the other hand, he does spend A LOT of time in the pool and he's really close to the kids in his swim group. I know that he wants to make swimming gains and muscle gains (for aesthetic reasons, of course) but he doesn't know how to go about it.

So, maybe having him talk with an expert about increasing his caloric intake in a healthy manner would be worthwhile.

I just never thought I'd be here with a kid so young but here I am!

6th grade isn’t silly! That’s responsible. If he goes into his teen years with a better understanding of fueling and nutrition, it will be easier for him to support a changing body through the demands of swimming/high school/etc.

OP here. I feel silly scheduling my DS with a sports dietician because he's a 6th grader. On the other hand, he does spend A LOT of time in the pool and he's really close to the kids in his swim group. I know that he wants to make swimming gains and muscle gains (for aesthetic reasons, of course) but he doesn't know how to go about it.

So, maybe having him talk with an expert about increasing his caloric intake in a healthy manner would be worthwhile.

I just never thought I'd be here with a kid so young but here I am!

anyone have a recommendation for a nutritionist that focuses on female swimmers? trainer in Northern VA?

We saw a registered sports dietician when DD was 13 that specializes in endurance sports.
The plan she put together with DD made a dramatic difference in her energy and performance. We do a virtual session before winter champs and after swim finishes in July.

DD is now older and practices 6 days a week. She aims to consume 2800-3250 calories/day.

A really good post. I'd be interested in what swimers eat.

Sleep, hydration and nutrition could keep him more comfortably where he is or get him to the next level.

I have a lot of regrets about my swim career that revolve around nutrition and sleep. I was not fueling sufficiently and became injury prone. I was constantly fatigued in a way that no amount of sleep or taper could overcome. Count his calories and macros for a week or two- it’s likely that he is not getting enough calories.

There is a nutritionist who does nutrition for female gymnasts called the Gymnast Nutritionist. She is focused on sufficient energy and calories, not clean/“healthy” living, which I think is the right approach for vulnerable teens in body-conscious sports.

My DD is a gymnast and got a ton of benefit from her workshops- she is well-trained and not a rando on the internet. If you don’t have the name of a swimming-oriented nutritionist, I would message her on Instagram and ask for a recommendation.

For an athlete that age who is in a high level training group, yes it matters in a way it doesn’t for a kid the same age who swims 2x a week for an hour.

if your kid wants to be serious about it, they will do what it takes. Don't push it, let them decide and if he doesn't thank him so you can sleep past 4 am each day.

Yes

My DS, almost 12, is teetering on the edge of the high performance group in his year round swim club. He wants to stay firmly in his group but, barring a quick change in growth or strength, I don't see that happening. Personally, I'd rather see him out of the high performance group and in the "good but not zones" group.

But, for the sake of argument, how important is nutrition, etc., for tween athletes? There is a lot he could do to clean up his diet and improve his hydration. I'm not talking about anything drastic or restrictive; I'm talking low lying fruit. Some basic protein intake, and such. His diet is okay now but could be better.

Does it matter for athletes at that age?