Any gymnasts/former gymnasts?

[DanishThorn]

Long story short, my 7 year old daughter is a competitive gymnast/cheerleader. She is in GREAT shape for a 7 year old little girl. Her tumbling coach is getting onto her and her teammates about thier diet already!
Now, dont get me wrong. My family is very much into fitness and we spend quality time together riding bikes, walks, jogs, etc., so my daughter is very fit. Im just wondering if this is normal in the industry. I let my daughter eat about anything. I dont let her have soda and she does not get candy often. However, she is 7 and if she wants to have pizza, then Im not going to tell her no, you have to have a salad. We have dinner together as a family every night and she eats clean breakfast and dinner in that respect. But, Im just cant condone putting my baby on a strict diet at this age. She has plenty of nutrients in her diet and you can see from her pic, although she is small frame, she has plenty of muscle tone...I am really thrown by this and dont know how I should handle it.
Any experiences with this ladies?

[frolik]

I'm sorry, I don't really have any advice, but I just wanted to say- that kid is PERFECT. She's adorable!! And drop-dead gorgeous.

[DanishThorn]

Originally Posted by frolik

I'm sorry, I don't really have any advice, but I just wanted to say- that kid is PERFECT. She's adorable!! And drop-dead gorgeous.

Thank so much! I agree, but Im partial to my kid

My main thing is I dont know how to approach her coach and if I would even have a valid point. I think I can handle her nutrition, and he can focus on her training...thats my job as her Mom.

[littlechick]

pro gymnastics is by far one of the hardest sports....if the coach is already pressuring for a diet..he is the wrong one for your daughter...she will end up with seriuos issues about food/weight if she is forced to watch what she eats now....

unless you plan to allow her to compete and become an olympic gymnast..I would say the extra stress is not needed, and will most likely lead her to an unhelathy body image/weight.....

[katyloyal]

As someone who also did gymnastics as a child, I would be very mindful of the "advice" that they give.

As early as 8yrs old, I too was pressured into watching my eating habits, and we even had periodic "weigh-ins".

I was mainly upset with coaches because they opposed to the fact that I also played soccer, and would even use intimidating measures to get me to quit soccer. I remember a time where I even had to slump down and hide in the car because I was in my soccer uniform driving past one of my coaches.

I've played a lot of sports in my lifetime, but I can say with honesty that gymnastics is by far one of the most negatively pressuring of them all. I would be VERY careful of what is being said to your daughter.

If she starts to show ANY signs that their influence is intimidating her into doing something negative, then pull her out and find another coach or have her quite altogether.

[jovinni]

I was a gymnast for many years. Gymnastics can be a high stress high pressure sport, but so are many other sports. Pressuring a child to monitor her diet in such a way is not good no matter what sport it is.

I would consider finding a new coach for your daughter. Which can be hard because of the bond the girls form with each other in the gym. It's a sisterhood.

However, any situation where you're questioning how an environment is or is going to affect your daughters physical and mental health is a big, red, lit up, flag flapping in the wind.

I have three boys (9, 8 and 7) that are very active and excel in sports and we live a healthy and active life. In my opinion their only concern in life should be doing well in school, having fun with friends and having supportive positive people in their life. I just couldn't imagine having my 7 year old, or the other two have to watch what they eat. That's just too much...kids should be having fun, not counting calories.

Good luck, I know this has to be hard.

[DanishThorn]

Originally Posted by jovinni

I was a gymnast for many years. Gymnastics can be a high stress high pressure sport, but so are many other sports. Pressuring a child to monitor her diet in such a way is not good no matter what sport it is.

I would consider finding a new coach for your daughter. Which can be hard because of the bond the girls form with each other in the gym. It's a sisterhood.

However, any situation where you're questioning how an environment is or is going to affect your daughters physical and mental health is a big, red, lit up, flag flapping in the wind.

I have three boys (9, 8 and 7) that are very active and excel in sports and we live a healthy and active life. In my opinion their only concern in life should be doing well in school, having fun with friends and having supportive positive people in their life. I just couldn't imagine having my 7 year old, or the other two have to watch what they eat. That's just too much...kids should be having fun, not counting calories.

Good luck, I know this has to be hard.

Thanks. I am going to talk to her coach privately. I really dont want to pull her out of the gym because she LOVES it and she really does have close bonds with her teammates. I just cant have another adult pressuring my child about her body at this or any age. I think that her health and nutrition it up to me and me only.

Thanks for the replys! I think I have the confidence now to approach him and know that I am not overstepping or being an overbearing parent.

[anandagirl]

I'm sorry, I don't have advice as a gymnast, but i do have advice as a former little girl, a big sister, and a concerned woman. Gymnastics, ballet, dance, and the media all make it so hard on girls these days. When else in your life do you have the ability to eat, feel normal, and not worry about weight? I am so sad when I hear these things - yout 7 year old daughter should not have to worry about weighing in and fat!!!! You are here, so I know you are aware of healthy nutrition which I know is important no matter what age you are, but making young girls self conscious is completely irresponsible. Good luck with all of this. I hope it all works out for the best, and be proud of that little athlete in your family!!!!

[dolphingurl]

Just wanted to post my exprience also. I'd be VERY careful with this situation. I used to compete in figure skating really competively and when I moved to a higher level club my coach one day actually pointed out another skater and told me I would do much better if I could look like her (I was 5'6" and 130 at the time). That led me to an ED that lasted for 6 years and I'm still trying to recover some of the mental aspects of it.

Kids at that age are so sensitive to comments and gymnastics from what I hear is almost worse than skating. Be really careful otherwise it could really destroy her life if she went down the wrong path. I wouldn't wish what happened to me on my worst enemy - I ended up quitting the sport because of it.

[DanishThorn]

Just thought Id update everyone: I spoke with her coach and asst coach this past week about my concerns and was advised that "this is how the sport is" and that my daughter is tough and can handle the criticism.

ARGHHHH. I wanted to punch someone. So....needless to say, Michaela is training at a new gym as of Friday of last week! She actually knew one of the girls on the team and is getting along fine.

Any of you ladies with children in competitive athletics, make sure you are aware of what their coaches are filling thier heads with. You just never know.

[TurbulentFluid]

Originally Posted by DanishThorn

Her tumbling coach is getting onto her and her teammates about thier diet already! (...) Im just wondering if this is normal in the industry.

You answered your question yourself... I have no personal experience, but my cousin was in gymnastics (she quit because of kidney problems), and my other cousin was in swimming and it was all the same: when "the industry" takes over you have to realise it is THE INDUSTRY, and industry consumes people. Sporty INDUSTRY stopped being about health and well-being quite some time ago.
Coaches that are in THE INDUSTRY will do everything in their power for THE INDUSTRY, disregarding the requirements and needs of your child.
You and your daughter have to be in the clear here: do you want her to become a pro athlete gymnast, or do you want her to become a fit, healthy person? Depending of this choice, you should have an open, heart-to-heart with her coach and tell him what is exactly that you want to do. Coaches that are in THE INDUSTRY are hound dogs who are in it for THE CASH and nothing else matters, they will push your child as hard as they can.

[abcreations]

As you can see in my avatar my 7 year old is also in competative cheer. Our gym is 4 to 18 years old. I have never heard one of the coaches say anything about anyone's weight. We have boys and girls of all shapes and sizes. My daughter also plays softball. My son plays Football, wrestling, baseball and track. Funny I always hear "eat a sandwich" He is very thin and we can't get him to gain weight. I was the same way as a child so I know it's just genetics.

So you were very right in moving her to another gym. She is a child and should be having fun.

[maryeliz]

I agree with some but not all of the "industry" comments in the above post~ I used to coach gymnastics, and not all coaches are obsessed with the industry. You did the right thing for talking to the coach first, and you did the right thing by moving her to another gym. Good job! The only other thing I would suggest is talking to your daughter about what her coach said to her and about why it is wrong and why you moved her to another gym. 7 is fairly young... but she needs to understand the difference between how healthy she eats now (which is great!) and how unhealthy it is to cut calories at such a young age. You probably moved her before the damage was done, but it never hurts to make sure!

good luck!! she looks like quite the little athlete

[lorabeann]

Originally Posted by DanishThorn

Just thought Id update everyone: I spoke with her coach and asst coach this past week about my concerns and was advised that "this is how the sport is" and that my daughter is tough and can handle the criticism.

ARGHHHH. I wanted to punch someone. So....needless to say, Michaela is training at a new gym as of Friday of last week! She actually knew one of the girls on the team and is getting along fine.

Any of you ladies with children in competitive athletics, make sure you are aware of what their coaches are filling thier heads with. You just never know.

Good for you! That coach should have listened to you... Now a future Olympian is at another gym! HA!

Too bad you aren't in Texas- I would recommend W.O.G.A. That's where I trained with great coaches. Carly Patterson also trained there, after I did, with my coach! Oh I love the coaches there!!!

[HzlEyezThikThyz]

when i was 7,8,9, and 10 years old i wrestled. I had to be on a diet and watch my weight. I even had to run in sweat suits to lose weight. The reason I never made weight is because I would sneak a brownie or chips or whatever I wanted. I wouldn't recommend cutting out the foods your beatuiful daughter wants just because I know what it is like and its not fun when you have school pizza parties and all you get to eat is an apple....lol. bad memories. However, I'm 19 now and I do not have weight issues or any other psycological issues. My advice is to just do what you think is best for you daugter. Maybe talk to her about not being able to eat the things she wants to do.

[jovinni]

I'm glad to hear (read) that things turned out positively. Life is so short, children should be able to be children. It's great when they fall in love with a sport, it's a shame that it can be tainted by anything negative. Good for you for speaking to the coach and (unfortunately) gaining confirmation of what was going on.

[SuziCue]

Hi. I am was former gymnast and I am the assistant head gymnastic coach. Currently, our level 3 and 4 are ranked first in the nation and we have some of the top athletes in level 5-7 at our gym (blah, blah, blah). I tell you this not to boast to to stress that we are a major gym and we DO NOT have any children on diets. We do have a talk about nutrition before our competitive season stressing good fruits but that is it. Our motto to our athletes is "junk in, junk out". All of our gymnasts respond great to this and brag about "the good grapes they took to school, etc." It has been my experience that the more you stress healthy eating choices to young girls, verses a "diet" the better they respond. If I were you, I would have a private talk with the gym owner about your concerns.

Go Legend's Gymnastics! www.legendsgymnastics.com

[Dante33]

I can remember when I did my first double spring no hand backflip, I almost tore open my ~~~~~~.


and then I got banned for rude disgusting posts in the female forum
.
.

[Exsuffer]

And then I created a new account, and posted some cool pictures