Do you need help with what to eat to maximize your performance results?
Working with a Sports Nutritionist can help! A Sports Nutritionist is a specialist in providing nutrition support for athletes. They work 1:1 with athletes or in a team setting to help athletes achieve their performance goals.
In this article, I will share how an online sports nutritionist can help you maximize energy levels, increase performance, and feel confident on the field. I break down what exactly a sports nutritionist is, the benefits of working with one, and how I can help you reach your goals.
Let’s get started!
What is a Sports Nutritionist?
Sports Nutritionists (also known as Sports Dietitians) are specialists in providing nutrition support for athletes. They work with professional athletes, Olympic Athletes, NCAA athletes, high school athletes, and lifelong athletes.
Athletes work with sports nutritionists to develop individualized nutrition plans to help them optimize their health and performance. They work with athletes on sports teams, in athletic departments, in hospitals, at physical therapy offices, in eating disorder clinics, in gyms, at schools, in performance centers, and online.
How to Become a Sports Nutritionist
Sports Nutritionists are Registered Dietitians who specialize in working with athletes. To be a Registered Dietitian, you must obtain a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, complete a nutrition residency program (minimum 1200 hours), and pass a national exam. In addition to the basic course work, many Sports Dietitians have master’s degrees in similar fields (nutrition, sports nutrition, exercise science).
To become a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Registered Dietitians must complete an additional board certification, be a Registered Dietitian for a minimum of two years, and complete 2000 hours working in sports.
What’s the Difference Between a Nutritionist and a Sports Nutritionist?
Top Sports Nutritionists are Certified Specialists in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). Registered Dietitians are the only people who can obtain this credential. Nutritionists with the CSSD credential differ from clinical nutritionists, health coaches, or generalized Registered Dietitians. CSSDs have thousands of hours working in sports and receive advanced training.
Registered Dietitians work with the general population to optimize their health and longevity. These individuals may or may not know how to athletes with their nutrition.
Since general population needs are different than athletes, working with a sports nutritionist is a better way for athletes to receive individualized sports nutrition support. Working with a sports nutritionist ensures you receive the correct nutrition information for your sport.
Do Professional Athletes have Nutritionists?
Yes! Eating correctly as a professional athlete is extremely important. Proper nutrition ensures top performance and longevity in their athletic career. Many professional athletes have team sports nutritionists or private sports dietitians they work with individually.
Nutrition Benefits for Athletes
Why is Proper Nutrition Important?
After working with a sports nutrition professional, athletes report more energy, better body image, more power, more speed, better endurance, and desirable body composition. Additionally, athletes learn skills that promote a long and healthy life.
How Do Athletes Work with an Online Sports Nutritionist?
Due to busy schedules, athletes love having access to online sports nutrition resources. As an online sports nutritionist, I provide athletes with individualized on-demand programming that includes educational videos, handouts, meal plans, messenger support, and live coaching sessions.
How can a Performance Nutritionist Help You?
Working with a Sports Nutritionist can help you go from under-fueled and confused to confident and powerful on the field. In my on-demand and online sports nutrition program, athletes receive an individualized and immersive program that supports them through their busy schedules. My on-demand sports nutrition program, the Performance Fueling Club, provides an individualized and immersive program for busy elite athletes.
How Much Does It Cost?
To work 1:1 with a sports nutritionist, most sports dietitians charge a minimum of $200 for a one-hour counseling session. During this session, you may receive an individualized plan, tips on fueling before and after training, hydration, and more.
Practicing proper nutrition consistently is how athletes see results. Professional, Olympic, and NCAA athletes meet with their performance nutritionists weekly to ensure they meet their goals. This additional session can be very costly and very time-consuming for the athlete. Between practice, work/school, rehab, strength & conditioning, etc, it can be challenging to fit another hour into the day.
Luckily, I have been able to solve both of these problems with my online sports nutrition coaching program.
My nutrition coaching program, the Performance Fueling Club (PFC), is a low monthly cost that provides on-demand support for athletes. With this model, athletes always have answers at their fingertips.
Services in PFC include
- Live weekly coaching calls
- 30+ video modules
- Downloadable cookbook with fueling focuses for over 50 recipes
- Educational handouts
- Private messenger with a sports nutritionist
- Individualized supplement protocols
- Group messenger and community
The combination of on-demand and live coaching opportunities allows athletes to feel confident and supported during all game or competition times!
Final Thoughts
Sports Nutritionists are specialized Registered Dietitians that help athletes with their nutrition. They help athletes reach their performance goals. Some topics sports nutritionists help athletes with are pre/post-workout fueling, hydration/electrolytes, game-day nutrition, travel nutrition, bloating, energy levels, and injury nutrition. Fine-tuning your nutrition will allow you to acheive your performance results and meet your athletic goals.
My online sports nutrition coaching program, the Performance Fueling Club, is now accepting athletes. I help athletes go from being sluggish and underperforming to confident and strong on the field. Apply today to meet your goals.
