By Caroline Roberts, EDC Intern Dear Athlete, Congratulations on making it to this level in your athletic career! Congratulations on all your hard work paying off to get you to this moment. Congratulations on being part of that (approximately) 7% of high school athletes that move on to play at the college level. Congratulations, you deserve to take pride in this accomplishment. However, with this experience, please be sure to reflect and stay informed about the less glamorous territory that may come with being a collegiate athlete. I know putting in hours of additional work after your mandated practice time may seem like the secret to success at this level, however it is not. I know only eating “clean” foods in order to “stay lean” may seem like the secret to success at this level, however it is not. Restricting caloric intake in order to lose weight so that you “move faster” may sound like a productive approach, however it is not. At times during your sport, it may seem appropriate to base your worth on your success on the field, court, track, etc., however it is not. The secret to being a successful college athlete is finding a healthy balance. When you enter the collegiate level of any sport, the expectations of your coaches, teammates, and even family members seem to be much higher than they were at any point in your athletic career prior. It’s very easy to want to exceed all these expectations by utilizing whatever your version of “the secret to success” is, yet this distorted approach can oftentimes create an unhealthy mindset that can lead to anxiety, depression, and/or eating disorders. So how do you find a healthy balance for both your mental and physical health? Well first, you must reflect. It can be difficult to acknowledge or even realize that your behavior could be potentially harmful to your health, but there are many signs that your body and brain display that can be clear indicators. 1. Your body is in constant pain or you constantly obtain overuse injuries While it is normal to play through some minor aches and soreness, if your body is constantly hurting this could be a red flag. As an athlete it is crucial to take care of your body so that you cannot only thrive as an athlete but as an individual as well. Injured athletes are impacted far beyond the quality of their physical state. Being injured greatly increases an athletes’ risk of developing anxiety and depression due to not being able to perform in their sport. So, listen to the aches of your body in order to protect both your physical and mental health! 2. You feel extremely fatigued all the time Feeling tired is different from feeling fatigued. If you are taking proper care of yourself, i.e., getting sufficient rest and nutrients, it is likely that you may still feel tired due to the amount of physical activity that athletics demand, but you should not feel fatigued. You may feel tired from an early morning lift, or a late-night training session, however fatigue is feeling constantly tired and weak. Fatigue can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. If you notice you are feeling this way, reflect on your moods and eating habits, and if necessary, reach out to a family member, friend, or doctor for support! 3. Your weight fluctuates greatly in the downward direction in a short duration of time Weight fluctuation is normal, especially as an athlete. This fluctuation can oftentimes be due to loss of water weight through sweating, or a gain in weight due to gaining muscle. However, if you are noticing that your weight is trending down at a rapid rate, it may be time to reflect on your eating habits! With the increased exercise load that athletes endure, it is crucial to properly fuel your body. The notion that “if you are thinner or leaner you will perform better” is FALSE. This is a common misconception for athletes that leads to unhealthy disordered eating. Thinking with this mentality, combined with other overwhelming anxieties that may come with playing sports, can lead to disorders such as orthorexia nervosa or anorexia nervosa. If you notice that you are struggling mentally and physically with your relationship to food, reach out to a loved one or doctor for support! And remember, your weight has nothing to do with your performance, as long as that weight is appropriate for your body! 4. You no longer enjoy something you once loved This may be the biggest indicator your behaviors surrounding your athletic career are at an imbalance. This is the game you are supposed to love, so if you find yourself no longer excited to play your sport, then you may be experiencing burnout. This is a condition in which athletes no longer enjoy their sport, often feeling fatigued and showing a decline in their performance. While burnout can occur just from a college athletes’ busy schedule, the severity of it is often amplified by overtraining or the toxic misconceptions surrounding “the ideal athlete”. This condition tends to lead to anxiety and/or depression. If you find yourself feeling this way, don’t panic! Sometimes the solution is just a break or some time away from your sport. Another solution may be reaching out to your schools’ Sports Psychologist. College is supposed to be fun! Playing your sport is supposed to be fun! Creating a healthy balance to ensure optimal mental and physical health, will help you not only find success in those endeavors, but also allow you to have fun while doing so. So remember to reflect on your behaviors, and listen to your body if you experience constant injury, fatigue, or burnout! These signs should not be dismissed as normal occurrences, but rather reminders to take care of yourself. Want more? Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, NY, FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, and California. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator Looking for extra recovery support in between therapy or coaching sessions? Maybe you are a clinician looking for activities to incorporate into sessions with folks struggling with disordered eating. This blog outlines three different eating disorder recovery activities that may be helpful.
To access a handout from our team to create your own eating disorder/body image timeline, click HERE! Want more? The therapists and coaches at The Eating Disorder Center often use creative interventions during sessions to support eating disorder recovery. Contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation to see if we would be a good fit. Are you a clinician looking to increase your skills or knowledge about treating folks with eating disorders or body image disturbance? You have come to the right place! We offer clinical consultations and trainings to support each clinician’s unique learning journey. Contact us today for more information on these services. *Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for your independent medical decision-making nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, NY, FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, and California. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
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The Eating Disorder CenterWe are a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center in Rockville, Maryland.
We also provide eating disorder recovery coaching to people worldwide via Zoom. Click here to book your free 15 minute phone consultation! Phone: 301-246-6856 Email: [email protected] Archives
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