Weekly Newsletter: The Danger of Dieting, Calorie Counting, and Body Image
Weekly Newsletter
The Danger of Dieting, Calorie Counting, and Body Image
By: Sam Ybarra
As an Ace Aquatics swimmer, I will display positivity and empathy. I will always hope for the success of my peers and be willing to help and comfort those who need it, because I understand that the success of my team and my community relies on my participation in others.
Sam and I have heard a shocking ammount of talk reguarding athlete’s and their peers perception of their body, diet, and weight. This conversation has grown increasingly disturbing after we have found out some athletes are not eating food before and after practice, counting their calories, and weighing themselves regularly. What athletes eat play a huge role in their preformance as athletes, students, and people. It affects all aspects of their lives. We are growing increasily worried with our athlete’s perception of themselves, and how they are treating their bodies because of it. Please read Coach Sam’s message and watch both videos below. Sam has spent a lot of time and effort to make a presentation/speech on the topic, and to find a great video related to the topic. This is important. Take the 20 minutes out of your day to watch this with your athlete/parents and learn how to treat your body the way it deserves to be treated.
Sam’s Message
Hey guys here is my long overdue video on nutrition and how it affects your athletes. It affects them more than you would imagine. I have had some struggles both in high school and in college with what I look like in a mirror and what I am putting in my body because of that. I didn't understand how that can be detrimental to the success of an athlete until it was too late. I want to share this information with you in hopes it tells you why your swimmer is eating, that they need to eat more, and that its ok to do so. Nutrition and treating your body like it should be treated as an athlete is more than just the food you do, or don't put in your mouth. I hope this video sheds some light on that.
The second video is of a swimmer who, at one point was on the national team and the number one recruit coming out of California. Her story is extremely powerful and one that athletes in the swimming community should all hear.
“You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” — Louise Hay
