Weight and nutrition can be hard topics for coaches to address with their athletes. Of course, optimizing an athlete’s and team’s performance is one of your main priorities. In this, nutrition can play a role in enhancing athletic performance. In addition, body composition can also play a part, although weight should be less directly associated […]

There are a few body and eating related comments that come to mind from my own days as a high school athlete: “Hold that plank a little longer– c’mon, it’s bikini season!” “Did we have too much pie this Thanksgiving? You all are running slow!” “If you would lose weight, it would help you run […]

It’s important for coaches to know that disordered eating and eating disorders are not uncommon in athletes. These behaviours tend to be most common in sports with weight classes (ex. wrestling and rowing) or aesthetics (ex. bodybuilding and gymnastics). In these sports, 33% of male athletes and 62% of female athletes experience disordered eating. Coaches […]

Loving your body can be hard for anyone. For athletes, things can get even more complicated. Let’s talk about why athletes are at a higher risk of body image issues and the steps you can take to start loving your body as an athlete. The Sportsman Mentality There are some common personality traits among athletes. […]

What is PCOS?  Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal and metabolic disorder. This condition affects around 7-10% of individuals with ovaries in premenopausal years. Unfortunately, the cause of this syndrome is unknown. However, research suggests that development is likely due to both genetic and environmental factors. Diagnosis of PCOS  Polycystic ovarian syndrome can […]

Losing your period as a female athlete is, unfortunately, a pretty common experience. Less common is the conversation around what this means for your health and athletic performance. Losing your period, may seem like a convenience at first. However, the long-term impacts of hypothalamic amenorrhea, or loss of your period, are not worth it. What […]

Hydration is one of the most important topics when it comes to nutrition for active women. However, it’s often overlooked due to busy schedules, diet culture myths, and being seen as a lower priority. Active women can be at a higher risk for dehydration and hydration-related issues for several reasons. Here’s a few reasons to […]

If you’ve ever given too much thought to your BMI (body mass index) number, you are not alone. Undeservingly, this measurement has become a tool used far too often by health care practitioners to discuss overall wellbeing. So, it makes sense if this number has ever left you feeling stressed! That being said, there are […]

Attention runners – it’s time to talk about one of the biggest myths out there in the running community: thin = fast.  Where does this idea of thin = fast come from? For some athletes, this concept may have first been introduced by a well-meaning coach or a parent. For others, the media may be […]

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) describes the lack of a menstrual period for 3+ months, or a menstrual cycle consistently longer than 45 days. Losing your period for a while may seem like a blessing at first. However, developing HA can mean that your body is not functioning properly for one reason or another. All in all, […]