Mind Your Fitness

Victoria Lambert, is a seasoned sports and eating disorder dietitian, who shares her extensive experience and insights on body composition in athletes in our latest episode! We discuss her career journey, her focus on eating disorders in athletes, and her work in division one collegiate athletics. From hospital based clinical exercise and wellness programming to DI collegiate athletics to private practice, Victoria has specialties in eating disorders and weight class sports. As three Sports & Eating Disorder Dietitians, we delve into the challenges and misconceptions surrounding body composition, the importance of individualized care, and the potential harm of using body composition as a data metric for performance. Lambert emphasizes the importance of clinical skills, early intervention, and a holistic approach to athlete health, beyond just numbers. She also critiques the widespread reliance on body composition data, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of athlete health that prioritizes well-being over appearance.  There is so much to cover on this conversation, but we hope you can take away some nuggets of knowledge related to the complexities of body composition testing in athletic and fitness settings.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction 00:14 Victoria Lambert's Journey: From Sports Nutrition to Eating Disorders Specialist 00:26 The Importance of Body Composition in Sports Nutrition 04:52 Challenges and Misconceptions Around Body Composition Testing 07:43 The Role of Body Composition in Athlete Health and Performance 12:49 Navigating Body Composition with Athletes: Strategies and Insights 31:16 Redefining Fitness and Wellness in Sports   Resources: Athlete perspectives on the enablers and barriers to nutritional adherence in high-performance sport (Oct 2020).  Come Back Skinfolds, All Is Forgiven: A Narrative Review of the Efficacy of Common Body Composition Methods in Applied Sports Practice Kasper et al. (2021) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8065383/   Swimming Australia Guide Environment & Language Guide for Discussing and Evaluating Physique   www.theembodiedathlete.com   https://www.isak.global/  

Molly Huddle is a long distance runner and two-time Olympian for Team USA in the 5000 and 10000m, and American Record holder in various distances. She has won 28 x National championships. She is a professional runner for Saucony and new mom. She is an author and co-wrote How She Did It: Stories, Advice, and Secrets to Success from Fifty Legendary Distance Runners. In this episode, we discuss Molly's career, the impact of motherhood on her body and training, and her approach to fitness and running post-pregnancy. Huddle shares insights into managing body changes during and after pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of listening to one's body and adjusting training accordingly. She also reflects on the evolution of her goals and motivations throughout her career, offering advice for new mothers and developing athletes on navigating body image and performance. 00:00 Introduction to Mind Your Fitness Podcast 00:51 Special Guest: Molly Huddle's Journey 01:27 Molly Huddle on Professional Running and Motherhood 04:55 The Evolution of Goals and Motivations in Running 10:16 Running Through Pregnancy: Molly's Experience 13:31 Navigating Postpartum Fitness and Body Image 20:58 Advice for Developing Athletes and Embracing Changes 25:55 Defining Fitness with Molly Huddle

In this episode Sport Scientist, Melissa Lodge, helps us explore research gaps in sports science, common misconceptions in sports nutrition, and the impact of low energy availability and REDS (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) on athletes. The discussion focuses on advocating for inclusive research, the importance of  individualized treatment plans, recent research on low carbohydrate availability, and promoting healthier relationships with food, body, and performance in athletics. Melissa Lodge, MS is a health sciences doctoral student, REDs researcher, and elite runner. Her research focuses on female athlete physiology, particularly under conditions of low energy availability (LEA), such as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), and its associated impact on health and performance across the lifespan. Melissa runs an educational platform  @FED_collaborative where she provides translational research on female athlete physiology, LEA, REDs, and eating disorders/disordered eating. She continues to run competitively in track & field and road racing and competed in the 2023 USATF Indoor Championship (1500m).

Sports dietitian Nancy Clark debunks common nutrition myths and emphasizes the importance of a healthy relationship with food. She discusses topics such as carb loading, processed foods, protein metabolism, sugar consumption, and youth athletes' approach to weight and body composition. Our discussion also highlights the evolution of sports nutrition, the impact of food culture, and the finding fitness through daily activities. Nancy Clark, MS, RD, CSSD is an internationally respected sports nutritionist, weight coach, nutrition author, and workshop leader. She is a registered dietitian (RD) who specializes in nutrition for performance, health, and the nutritional management of eating disorders. She is board certified as a specialist in sports dietietics (CSSD) and a certified WellCoach. Nancy is the author of the best selling sports nutrition reference Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook. Over 750,000 copies of this classic book have been enjoyed by health professionals and exercise enthusiasts alike.

Carrie is a sport dietitian with the United States Olympic Committee and shares insights into the challenges and strategies of managing nutrition while traveling for athletes and active individuals. Carrie discusses her journey from a figure skater to a dietitian for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. She highlights the importance of planning and flexibility in athletes' diet, the role of supplements, and the importance of coaches in impacting travel nutrition. We also discuss the psychological aspects of eating, how athletes can optimally fuel in any environment, and on-the-go snack options that maximize space and provide necessary nutrition. Carrie Aprik, MS, RD, CSSD is the winter sport dietitian for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Prior to serving in this role, she was a Team USA contract dietitian for US Figure Skating and USA Hockey, and served as a team dietitian at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Additionally, she spent 5 years as the sport dietitian for the Detroit Pistons, and 10 years with Oakland University Athletics.  The views discussed in this podcast episode do not represent that of the United States Olympic Committee. 

In this episode, we dive deep into common digestive issues faced by athletes. We cover various topics that can relate to both active individuals and athletes who struggle with gut issues. Meg Steffey-Schrier is a Certified Sports Dietitian and Digestive Health Expert with her own private practice. Prior to that, she was the Lead Dietitian at Harvard University having worked within both athletics and health services. 

Adrianne Haslet was a professional ballroom dancer when she survived the terrorist attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon where she lost her left leg. She quickly rose to meet her daily challenges with fierce determination and Boston Strong strength. A full time dancer at the peak of her career, she had to learn an entirely new way to navigate her daily life. She has since become a distance runner, and ran in multiple Boston Marathons, most recently in April, coming in 4th place in the division she advocated for for six years. In the wake of the terror, she has become a global inspiration.  In this special episode, we talk all about Adrianne's life experiences and outlook on fitness. We discuss her background as a dancer, her transition to being a runner, navigating perfectionism, learning to love her new body, and her advocacy work for inclusivity in sports for differently-abled individuals. Throughout the conversation, Adrianne emphasizes the importance of adaptability, resilience, and self-care in pursuing fitness.   You can follow Adrianne at @adriannehaslet on Instagram. You can also learn more about her first year of recovery through her documentary The Survivor Diaries, which she did with Anderson Cooper.   Host Affiliations: Shira Evans, MS, RD, CSSD, LD is on Instagram @ShiraEvansRD and her nutrition practice is Shira Evans Nutrition (https://shiraevansrd.com) Lexi Moriarty, MS, RDN, CSSD is on Instagram @FueledandBalanced.Dietitian and her nutrition practice is Fueled + Balanced Nutrition (https://fueledandbalanced.com

Riley Nickols, PhD, CEDS-S is a counseling and sport psychologist who specializes in working with athletes to address mental health and performance concerns through his practice, Mind Body Endurance (@mindbodyendurance). He is also the Senior Program Advisor with Athlete EDGE and a Scientific Advisory Board Member for EDCare. He regularly speaks to athletes, coaches, and sports medicine personnel about disordered eating and unbalanced exercise in sport. In addition to competing in endurance sports for over 20 yeras, Dr. Nickols is a running coach and a USA Triatholon coach. In this episode, we touch on topics such as body image concerns and RED-s in male athletes, exercise and sports participation in eating disorder recovery, and anxiety in sport. Riley shares his insights on these topics, drawing from his extensive professional experience.    Riley's Affiliations: Found at Mind Body Endurance (https://mindbodyendurance.com) Senior Program Advisor at Athlete EDGE (@athlete_edge_at_edcare) Scientific Advisory Board Member at EDCare (@eatingdisordercare)   Host Affiliations: Shira Evans, MS, RD, CSSD, LD is on Instagram @ShiraEvansRD and her nutrition practice is Shira Evans Nutrition (https://shiraevansrd.com) Lexi Moriarty, MS, RDN, CSSD is on Instagram @FueledandBalanced.Dietitian and her nutrition practice is Fueled + Balanced Nutrition (https://fueledandbalanced.com)

Kara is an adventurer and auther of Gorge, My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 pounds (soon to be a movie starring Chrissy Metz. She is also a major trailblazer and CEO of the GORGEous Agency, where she helps brands attain growth and profitability in the plus-size market. She's partnered with brands like Peloton, LL. Bean, and Columbia to showcase diversity, inclusion, and belonging. She is also on a mission to influence people of all sizes to get outside and live in the now.  In this episode, we chat about fitness at any size, finding joy in movement through intuitive exercise, how brands can be more size inclusive, body autonomy, and Kara's recovery journey from binge eating disorder. 

Rebecca McConville is a Certified Sports Dietitian and Eating Disorder Specialist. As a leader in the performance nutrition field, she believes in optimizing performance through focusing on an athlete's physical and mental health and building resilience. She is uniquely equipped in teaching athlete's of all ages/levels the keys to keeping athlete's resilient all year long. She helps athletes navigate their experiences, understand their body's wisdom, and strengthen their relationship with food, weight, body image, and performance.  In this episode, we discuss the overlaps and differences between RED-S, Eating Disorders, and Disordered Eating, how parents can help their teenage athlete develop a healthy relationship with food, intuitive eating vs. performance nutrition, and how to navigate hard conversations around eating. 

Mary Cain is a former professional American middle distance runner and founder of the non-profit, Atalanta NYC, which employs professional runners to mentor young girls in the community.  With incredible talent and speed, Mary started her professional running career at a young age. Her elite running career included becoming the 2014 World Junior Champion in the 3000m and a 2013 World Championship Finalist in the 1500m. After sharing her story of survivorship in a 2019 Op-Ed in the New York Times, Mary is on a mission to make sports a safer and more supportive place for all future athletes, with an emphasis on athlete well-being and gender equity.  In this episode we discuss support and equity for female athletes, sports nutrition, RED-S, advocating for your healthy, and Mary's plans for the future.

Christine Yu is an award-winning journalist, lifelong athlete, and author of Up To Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes. Her book is a must read for female athletes, and coaches, parents, administrators, and all stakeholders involved in womens' sports! In this episode Christine discusses the research that went into writing Up To Speed, and helping dismantle common diet culture beliefs that are present amond female sporting environments.

Dr. Bender is a former college athlete and Hall of Fame basketball player, she understands the challenges and solutions for athletes to sleep better. Dr. Bender is an expert in sleep and performance who has studied and worked with NBA, NHL, NFL, and Olympic athletes throughout Canada and the US. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. In this episode we discuss a variety of factors related to sleep and athletic performance, including sleep tips, sleep and injury prevention, sleep supplements, and how to optimize sleep for athlete health and performance.

Retired GB athlete and cross country runner, Pippa Woolven, experienced her share of highs and lows during her career as an international athlete, including RED-S. Now a Positive Psychology Coach (MSc) and Athlete Mentor, Pippa is aiming to educate and inform other athletes on the seriousness and warning signs of RED-S. Several years after overcoming the condition herself, Pippa established Project RED-S with the aim of providing the resources she needed at the start of her struggles and increasing awareness among athletes and support staff

Dr. Natasha Trujillo is a licensed counseling and sport psychologist who obtained her doctorate degree from Purdue University in Counseling Psychology in 2019 where she built specialties in grief/loss, self-injury, and addressing mental health needs and access to services with collegiate athletes. During her time in collegiate athletics, she conducted interventions to address concerns both in and out of sport for athletes, teams, coaches, and entire athletic departments. She worked to increase knowledge and awareness of athlete mental health, including athletes with eating disorders and body image concerns. She also went on to work as a therapist at an eating disorder treatment program specializing in high performance athletes.  Natasha brings a unique perspective on mental health, athletic performance, and mental toughness to the conversation. Together, we cover topics from mental health challenges in certain sports, body image and athletic body ideals, eating disorders in athletes, and the challeges of grief and loss in athletes and eating disorder recovery.      

Will Lay is a certified personal trainer, powerlifting coach, and competitive powerlifter. He holds multiple state records in powerlifting as a masters super heavy weight lifter. As the the owner of Bear Strong Fitness in Portland, OR, he has a passion for helping others in big bodies find their happiness and strength in fitness. He strongly believes that all bodies belong in the gym and is on a mission to help everyone feel like they belong at the gym as soon as they walk through the door.  In this episode, Will talks about living in a bigger body and the disparities in the gym that hold individuals in larger bodies back from achieving their fitness potential. We dive deep into his coaching philosophies, body size diversity, inclusivity in sports, and how weight training isn't just for those who look a certain way - it's for ALL bodies.  

Amanda Tierney comes from a strength and conditioning background, and is a true trailblazer in the eating disorder treatment world. In this episode, we discuss how she became a fitness expert for athletes during eating disorder recovery, how she learned to support all diverse athletes while eliminating diet culture in fitness spaces, and true metrics of fitness that have nothing to do with weight. 

Beliefs in athletic body ideals and rigid diets often only works against active athletes and gymgoers. Join us as we set out to change the narrative around what a "fit" body looks like and requires. 

What does fitness mean to you? Join us as we explore the intersection between anti-diet and performance-focused nutrition. 

Katie Spada is a former elite synchronized swimmer. As with many sports, the pressure of athletic body ideals and to "look" a certain way as an artistic swimmer was strong, which led to disordered eating patterns while she was competing and continued even after her competitive career ended. With time, education, and support, not only did Katie redefine her relationship with food and movement but she's now a Registered Dietitian helping other former athletes find food freedom, address body image concerns, and adapt to life after sport. Katie is the owner of Spada Strong Nutrition LLC and @FuelingFormerAthletes, which educates and empowers athletes on all of these topics during their transition out of competitive sport.