Performhappy With Rebecca Smith

Fueling a gymnast is not just about eating “healthy.” It is about giving the body and brain what they need to perform, recover, and grow. In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast I sit down with Dr. Roger Adams to break down what most gymnastics families get wrong about nutrition and how to fix it.One of the biggest takeaways is that carbs are not the enemy. Many athletes are underfueling because they restrict carbs and calories to stay lean. But carbohydrates are the main source of energy for both the body and the brain. When an athlete does not get enough, performance drops, recovery slows, and injury risk goes up. Simply put, carbs are fuel, not something to fear.We also talk about the difference between healthy eating and performance fueling. What works for the average kid does not work for an athlete training 20 or more hours a week. Gymnasts need enough calories for performance, recovery, and growth. That means sometimes food is less about being “clean” and more about being effective.Another key poi