Maybe you’re thinking of changing your focus in nutrition to sports nutrition: Are you thinking about working towards a CSSD, consulting for a local team, or investigating opportunities at a fitness club? Whether it’s for your own professional development or just for fun, it’s always helpful to hear about the experience of colleagues. This piece features movers, shakers and doers in the area of sports nutrition. It’s interesting, fun, and potentially quite helpful to hear from your peers! Click to read about these RDs in sports nutrition.
Alicia Kendig, MS, RD, CSSD
Carmichael Training Systems Sports Dietitian
Q. What is your educational background?
A. BS in Nutrition, MS in Public Health Nutrition
Q. Where do you work as a sports dietitian? With whom do you work?
A. I work with Carmichael Training Systems, and although we are located in Colorado Springs, CO. I work with athletes all over the country, of all ages and levels. I work predominantly with cyclists and triathletes, but also runners, swimmers, gymnasts, tennis players, etc.
Q. What is your favorite part about sports dietetics?
A. The perspective of using food for performance, opposed to food being the enemy to achieve weight loss.
Q. What is your greatest challenge working with athletes? In developing your sports dietetics practice?
A. Nutrition is just as much a psychology as it is a food science. Convincing a person to change behavior is a challenge on a daily basis. We have to form relationships with each athlete to help them achieve their best.
Q. If you were talking to an aspiring sports dietitian, what would you tell them? How could they get started? What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned?
A. Take any opportunity that you are offered, even if it’s in an area that you are not as comfortable with. Realize that your education has given you the tools to grow (e.g., research skills, educational
network, organizational skills, etc).
Create a professional network.
Meet athletes and coaches in the field of sports nutrition that you are interested in. Ask them if they would be interested in educational materials/presentations for their teams. You have to start somewhere, and each additional experience is a great résumé builder.
Q. Are you an athlete yourself?
A. Yes, I have been a swimmer all of my life. I swam competitively in college (national champion in the 500 freestyle my junior year). I picked up running after college, and caught the cycling bug after moving to Colorado. I compete in triathlon and open-water swims, and run local races.
Q. What is the craziest, funniest, or most successful experience you've had as a sports dietitian?
A. I have had the opportunity to work with Hollywood actors that are playing athletes in movies. They want to look the part, and must put their time and effort into "being that athlete." It’s quite a challenge to filter out the Hollywood diet/fitness myths and give them the truth!
Q. Do you have a personal aphorism that you share with clients?
A. Treat your nutrition program like your training program. It’s going to take time out of your day. Skipping days makes it that much harder to get back to the plan, and eating well is one more piece of the puzzle to help you reach your goals.
Chris Halagarda, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS
Navy Fitness Headquarters, Washington, DC
Q. What is your educational background?
A. Bachelor's in Nutrition; Master's in Health Care Policy and Management with a concentration on Nutrition; Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach; Board-Certified Specialist in Sport
Q. Where do you work as a sports dietitian? With whom do you work?
A. I work with active duty US sailors, all ages and ranks, at the Navy Fitness Headquarters, based in Washington, DC.
Q. What is your favorite part about sports dietetics?
A. Seeing individuals succeed at passing and excelling at their Physical Readiness Test; also, helping individuals train for personal events, such as running and biking events, sports teams, etc.
Q. What is your greatest challenge in working with athletes? In developing your sports dietetics practice?
A. Getting clients to "make their weight," when they don't have enough time to safely or realistically lose the amount of fat needed to achieve an appropriate body composition to stay within Navy Body Composition Standards.
Q. If you were talking to an aspiring sports dietitian, what would you tell them? How could they get started? What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned? What education has been most helpful to you?
A. Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer: for SCAN, for other sports RDs, or for sports teams with sports RDs. Networking is key.
Q. Are you an athlete yourself?
A. Yes, not elite, but I participate in running and biking events, lacrosse, weight training, softball, etc.
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