In this conversation, Katie McNamee shares her personal journey with nutrition and sports, focusing on the challenges of REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). She discusses the importance of recovery, the misconceptions surrounding body image and menstruation in athletes, and the critical role of carbohydrates in fueling performance.

Takeaways

• Katie's journey with RED-S began after coming off the pill.
• She realized the importance of fueling her body adequately during training.
• Recovery is as crucial as training for athletes.
• Body image issues can arise from societal pressures on athletes.
• Not having a period is a sign of underlying health issues.
• Carbohydrates are essential for athletic performance and recovery.
• Athletes should not fear weight gain if it means better health.
• Clean eating can lead to under-fueling and health issues.
• Social media can distort perceptions of health and fitness.
• Finding balance in life outside of sports is important for overall well-being.

Follow Katie's Instagram at @fuel.with.katie

In this episode of Project Unlaced, Mia discusses the critical issues surrounding REDs and eating disorders in sports with dietitian Abby Olcott. They explore the red flags often missed by healthcare professionals, the myths perpetuated by diet culture, and the consequences of under-fueling in athletes. Abby emphasizes the importance of understanding energy needs, the role of processed foods, and strategies for preventing under-fueling. They also discuss the significance of fats in an athlete's diet, navigating injuries, and the impact of coaches and team culture on nutrition. The conversation concludes with advice for young athletes on maintaining a healthy relationship with food and debunking common myths about nutrition.

Takeaways

• Red flags in athletes often go unnoticed by doctors.
• Diet culture promotes harmful myths about weight and health.
• Under-fueling can lead to serious long-term health consequences.
• Athletes need to understand their energy needs for optimal performance.
• Processed foods can be beneficial for busy athletes.
• Consistency in fueling is crucial for athletes.
• Fats are essential for hormone health and energy.
• Injuries require adequate nutrition for recovery.
• Coaches play a significant role in shaping team culture around food.
• Carbs are vital for athletic performance and should not be demonized.

You can find more of Abby's work on Instagram @energysportsdietitian

Welcome to the very first episode of the Project Unlaced podcast. In this episode, I share my personal story: how athletics, COVID-19, and a search for control led me down the path of an eating disorder and REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport).

I talk about:

• How my struggles with food and exercise began during the pandemic.
• The moment I realized something was wrong and entered treatment.
• What recovery has looked like: five years later, and still ongoing.
• Why these conversations about REDs and eating disorders are so often missing in sports.
• The mission behind Project Unlaced: to spread awareness, create dialogue, and change the culture around athletes’ health.

Thank you for listening and being part of this first step.

Follow along at projectunlaced.org or on Instagram @project_unlaced.

Together, we can start changing the conversation.