In my career as a Strength Coach I have observed many things. As my life is primarily surrounded by women. Inside the gym and out I have learned that there are some differences from the opposite sex.
For this reason, I don't approach them the same. Any experienced Coach would know that to be true. I want to outline some specific considerations and foster some advice to those who may be in the position of advisement or support of female athletes. Female Athlete Triad In sports that require athletes to stay lean or perform in specific weight classes there is an underlined pressure for that athlete to maintain a certain bodyweight. Some sports that require such restrictions may be gymnastics, strength sports (weightlifting, powerlifting), etc. For this reason young female athletes are at highest risk to the Female Athlete Triad. Although, you may not have all three tenants, having some of them can cause real damage. The Triad consists of three clinical entities: menstrual dysfunction, low energy availability, and decreased bone density. This complex was first classified by the American College of Sports Medicine in 1992. There was a pattern evident amongst young adult female patients who were in athletics with such restrictions. Factor 1: Disordered Eating The pressure to lose weight means there is an urgency to lose it quickly. As humans we expect instant gratification. If you were told you would need 3 months to lose 10lbs with slow diet behavior modifications then you would not be so enthused. So here comes the crash diets, the fad pills, or the disordered eating behaviors. These can range from not eating enough calories to suffice energy demands, avoiding foods that are deemed "bad." To more serious eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Factor 2: Amenorrhea If you mix intense exercise with insufficient calorie consumption you will disrupt your hormone balance. Your hormones help to regulate your mentrual cycle. This isn't a tell-tale sign that your athlete has the Triad as there are so many other factors. It is although, something to consider. Factor 3: Osteoporosis Estrogen levels are lower with female athletes in the triad. Prolonged bouts of poor nutrition can lead to the weakening of bones due to density loss. This can lead to stress fractures and other serious injuries. If this athlete is in a high joint impact sport we may be creating the perfect storm of a myriad of injuries. Further Considerations I believe that it is a misconception for us to only believe that young female athletes are the ones at risk when it comes to unhealthy practices to excel at their sport. Females want to look good. Males want to look good. If you are telling me that you only joined the gym to get "healthier" I'm going to call you on a lie. It may not be the only reason, but we all want to look healthy. With the suffocating pressure that society places upon women to look a certain way, to be a certain size, and behave "accordingly." It would seem that there isn't much of a chance for them to do it "the right way." For the above, the path laid before any female athlete is difficult. To the Female in the Arena To the female athletes who are bogged down by pressure to be "that weight" know that in order to grow into a better athlete you must be willing to grow. This may require the numbers on the scale to raise. This doesn't automatically mean that you are failing. Building muscle means increasing lean mass. Lean mass moves your body explosively, powerfully, and more efficiently. Don't fixate on a number that will inhibit performance increase. Chase the right way. The slow way. Nothing came to anyone instantly that was worth it. Chase the feeling of accomplishment not associated with a number on a digital scale. If there was anything that I learned while coaching female athletes it was that training was never a way to build a strong woman. It was a way to show them how strong they always were. In Strength, Dan
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AuthorDan Schlemmer Archives
July 2020
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