209. Intuitive Eating for Athletes, Eating Disorder Recovery to Running 240 Mile Ultramarathons, Rest Day Nutrition + More! with Becca Rick, RDN

Female Athlete Nutrition

This episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition podcast is with Registered Sports Dietitian and certified intuitive eating counsellor Becca Rick. Becca is a lifelong runner and we spend time discussing her relationship with endurance training and nutrition. She recently completed the Moab 240-mile ultramarathon, prompting a discussion about her fueling before and during, as well as her training, sleeping and race logistics. This includes fueling training, tapering and rest days, the importance of rest days, and pre-competition nutrition strategies that can be applied to anyone preparing for an athletic event or competition.

Becca and I dive into intuitive eating as an athlete–yes, it’s possible!–and why it’s not the “hunger-fullness” diet. We give listeners tips for making intuitive eating work for you that do include planning and conscious thought about fueling your sport. Becca talks about being a dietitian for elite speed skaters, helping fuel the speed and power demands of their sport, and tackling the topic of power-to-weight ratio.

Becca opens up about past struggles with binge eating disorder and exercise dependency, and how she wishes she had help from a sports dietitian during recovery. We ask what “normal eating” really means and define being recovered. Becca’s recovery story highlights the non-linear journey to healing, but that it is possible! You can recover and continue to perform your sport! We’re here to help: find out more and get in touch today!

TOPIC TIMESTAMPS:

2:55 Becca’s ultra running journey; how sports relate to life

9:00 Running 200-mile races: logistics and limits

13:40 Fueling training and racing ultramarathons; gut training

16:55 Rest and recovery around races; fueling rest and easy days

24:30 Pre-race/ competition nutrition strategies

25:45 Intuitive eating as an athlete (+ why it’s not the “hunger-fullness” diet)

30:50 Becca’s eating disorder history: struggling with binge eating disorder and exercise dependency; ED recovery as an athlete and the role of a sports dietitian

34:45 ED recovery is non-linear; what even is “normal eating” and being “recovered”?!

40:00 How ultrarunning supported Becca’s ED recovery

44:10 Speed skating nutrition, power-to-weight ratio

52:40 Becca’s future ultrarunning plans

53:40 End of the podcast questions

Find Becca (Rebecca) online here: https://nutritionmechanic.com/

Follow Becca on Instagram @becs_slc and me, your host Lindsey Cortes, @female.athlete.nutrition

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