While waiting for my hubby at the pool last night I was talking to two of the lifeguards, one (female) is a former student of mine. The other, a guy, is really nice as well.
"She" was eating some Greek food from the "newer" restaurant across the street from the pool. We started talking about her food and the conversation quickly took a turn to how she, and many other age groupers on the team, are throwing up during workout. I was stunned and asked her why. She said that she just does it to get out early. But the others go home from school and gorge themselves and then go swimming and intentionally throw up to get rid of it (usually in the gutter!). They are bulimic. The male lifeguard concurred and said he was disgusted but yes they do do it all the time.
They both said that the synchro girls are worse and that they are constantly told they are too fat by coaches and parents. (I haven't seen a synchro girl that isn't too skinny already). They too are bulimic.
Being a former student of mine, I put on my teacher hat, and told her that if she learned about nutrition she wouldn't be so hungry, etc..
She said, "Yea, they teach us about nutrition."
I said, "Who?"
"The coaches, but we don't listen."
I just don't remember being THAT stupid as an age group swimmer...
Some coaches can be quite oblivious to it and could think throwing up in the gutters is just a sign they are pushing themselves hard.
My college coach brought in a nutritionist because it was somehow determined that 30% of the girls on the team had a form of disordered eating. We had at least 3 that I know were bulimic.
Some coaches can be quite oblivious to it and could think throwing up in the gutters is just a sign they are pushing themselves hard.
My college coach brought in a nutritionist because it was somehow determined that 30% of the girls on the team had a form of disordered eating. We had at least 3 that I know were bulimic.
