I am writing this to get people more aware of the dangers of competative cheerleading. I am not referring to the everyday injuries that can occur by participating in any sport. I am talking about eating disorders. My boss spoke with me today and his daughter happens to be on a high school cheer squad. Their family went to a competition for her this weekend and were shocked at what they saw going on around them. There was a coach yelling at one girl for eating two bananas. Now I know that seems silly, but there was a high degree of humiliation experienced by that young girl. Then, there was a group of girls in the bathroom that were all passing around a bottle of trim spa. When they were leaving the competition, there was a parent from their team who told their daughter to put some pants on for the squad photo because her legs looked too plump. Now, I am sure a lot of these events happen everyday to girls that are in high school, but I was just shocked at what I was hearing. Cheerleaders, at least competitive ones, work extremely hard to do what they do. They have to understand that everyone was built differently, and you have to do your best with what God gave you. I am just worried about all the girls and even young men who may be exposed to the mixed signals surrounding them. I hope that all coaches, parents, and teammates try hard to promote a healthy environment where physical appearance is not the main focus in life.
Some of our commandments during the summer covered this. It was an effort to try and change or improve the eating and daily habits of the athletes in our program. I think we were really successful with it. It was shared earlier and I'd like to share again.
SENIOR BLACK 8 Commandments
1. Thou shall not consume any fast food meals until October 1st, 2006. This includes but is not limited to Mc Donald’s, Carl’s Jr, Taco Bell, In N Out, Jack in the Box, Burger King and Wendy’s. If thou need food prepared quickly thou shall visit Togo’s and eat thou sandwich on wheat bread.
2. Thou shall not consume soda until October 1st, 2006. This includes but is not limited to Pepsi, Coke, Mountain Dew, Sprite, 7-Up, Sunkist, Generic Brands, Red Bull and other energy drinks. Instead, thou shall consume plenty of water, juices, flavored water or Gatorade.
3. Thou shall commit to sitting in each split; right, center and left for one minute each every single night from now until October 1st, 2006. Thou shall not skip one night regardless of where one is staying. And thou shall not cheat by holding oneself up or coming out of the split early.
4. Thou shall commit to doing 25 – 40 ground push-ups upon waking up every single morning.
5. Thou shall commit to doing 35 – 50 seal push-ups upon waking up every single morning.
6. Thou shall commit to doing 50 – 75 quick and fast pike-ups upon waking up every single morning.
7. Thou shall commit to doing 15 – 25 quick and fast windshield wipers upon waking up every single morning.
8. Thou shall not try any type of “diet” for the entire season. Because thou are still growing, going on a diet often cuts out portions of nutrients that will effect thou bone/muscle growth, digestive system, heart and kidney function. Instead, thou will follow commandments numbers 1 and 2.
My daughter is 10, her main focus in life is to get a harder six pack.... At Pyramids I think the main thing they focus on body wise is being strong, not being a stick.
I have heard of a gym that sold so called nutritional supplements to their flyers and made them weigh in each week. I never saw it first hand, but thats such a bad message to send to these young girls. Its sad to hear that these girls were sooo obsessed with wanting to fly, that their parents were giving into purchasing these supplements for them. Its the winning at all costs attitude that blinds these girls from this major health risk. Its very sad and gives cheerleading a bad name. But just like the modeling industry, its about the competition and will continue in some form (maybe not to this extreme) until people stop acting like this isnt a problem.
i like big flyers personally.. they hold there weight, and are normally more skilled... if they're big..and they're in the air...theres gotta be a reason.
plus.. its more of a challenge.. and i can literally feel myself getting stronger throughout the season.
i know this topic wasnt' about size of flyers..and lets not turn it into one...cuz we've beaten that to death...but this post was for flyers who were thinking about dieting.. don't diet...get more muscle.
I'm sorry but NO and I mean NO gym should be trying to guide the children into what they should eat and what they should not eat. yes saying some food is not allowed at the gym is okay but telling them you have to follow this is not! You can recommend but sorry this is bad! Let the parents deal with their children. They know their chid better then anyone and if anything you need to trust your parents! It is a known fact that children can have eating disorders at the young age of five. Don't add to it. I'm sorry to anyone at any gym that has coaches and owners who do this. This is disgusting and sad. If I worked at a gym that did this, I would quit! This is bad practice and honestly straight up WRONG!
If you are competing in level four or five, there is nothing wrong with your coach giving you guidelines. When you eat a bunch of nasty fast food, you do not perform at your full potential. At least that is what happens to me when i slack off on dieting. No coach should MAKE you go on a diet, but it is in your best interest to do all you can to ensure your body will be in tip top shape. If you have talent, treat yourself like a luxury car; do not fill up with cheap gas!!
I am a chunky girl cheerleader who wears midriffs and short skirts. I eat what I want, when I want without question. I don't care what others say about me behind my back or to my face. I'm fine with my body and quite content in life. I throw a mean double full and love it when the floor quakes after i land; it helps me throw a mean, fierce facial at the crowd when they cheer and scream. I'm a hardcore base and can fly if I'm asked to. My flexibility easily gives me a hot overstretch and scorp, and when I heel stretch, my knee comes to my ear. My toe-touches are hyper extended and I can rock a dance sequence flawlessly. I am humble and accept criticism from my coaches. I am loved by my teammates and have a true passion to cheer.
My point? Ladies, no matter who you are, as long as you love doing what you do, don't let anyone (including society) get you down. Love who you are and don't let anyone make you feel differently. Take your frustrations and work them out on the floor. Make the haters and critics eat your dust after you've collected your trophy.
It's kinda hard to eat right at a competition when all they serve is hotdogs and nachos. Lets have the kids be there four hours early, eat the crapy food the venue serves and then ask them to perform at their peak. Yeah, right!!!!
Well, I do not think that coaches should monitor their athletes eating habits, but they should advise them on how they need to nourish their bodies. I do think that this guidance is important because some people can't compete on french fries and coke, but some can...just like some girls can perform just fine with a hang over, but many can not. My coaches do not tell us what to eat so that we will be attractive on the mat, but so that there will be nothing holding back our bodies from achieving greatness. Some take words of wisdom to the extreme and end up anorexic, but there must have been something wronge already. Now, you kids stay healthy and dont eat too much junk this christmas!!
Chunky Chicks Rock! wrote: I am a chunky girl cheerleader who wears midriffs and short skirts. I eat what I want, when I want without question. I don't care what others say about me behind my back or to my face. I'm fine with my body and quite content in life. I throw a mean double full and love it when the floor quakes after i land; it helps me throw a mean, fierce facial at the crowd when they cheer and scream. I'm a hardcore base and can fly if I'm asked to. My flexibility easily gives me a hot overstretch and scorp, and when I heel stretch, my knee comes to my ear. My toe-touches are hyper extended and I can rock a dance sequence flawlessly. I am humble and accept criticism from my coaches. I am loved by my teammates and have a true passion to cheer.
My point? Ladies, no matter who you are, as long as you love doing what you do, don't let anyone (including society) get you down. Love who you are and don't let anyone make you feel differently. Take your frustrations and work them out on the floor. Make the haters and critics eat your dust after you've collected your trophy.
Cheer Hard, my Chunky Cheer Sisters!
please please please!! do not flaunt what you do not have...thin is in!! there's nothing wronge with being overweight, but its not fair to make other people see rolls of extra baggage...blahhhh!!
It's one thing to be "chuncky" if you are eating well, exercise often and live life healthy. It's another to eat what you want, when you want and not care. I was very very thin as a teen and am now very overweight. I've seen both sides of this fence, and trust me, it catches up with you. I have a hard time doing simple things in life. I tire easily. My health isn't good. I could go on.
Please, even though i do not believe that ANYONE should be dieting just to simply lose weight, teens doing so are at a higher health risk. Eat healthy. Exercise. Do what you need to do for YOURSELF.
Just because you can do wonderful things on the cheer floor, please remember that what you do now will affect you later in life and you will wish you had listened.
Chunky Chicks Rock! wrote: I am a chunky girl cheerleader who wears midriffs and short skirts. I eat what I want, when I want without question. I don't care what others say about me behind my back or to my face. I'm fine with my body and quite content in life. I throw a mean double full and love it when the floor quakes after i land; it helps me throw a mean, fierce facial at the crowd when they cheer and scream. I'm a hardcore base and can fly if I'm asked to. My flexibility easily gives me a hot overstretch and scorp, and when I heel stretch, my knee comes to my ear. My toe-touches are hyper extended and I can rock a dance sequence flawlessly. I am humble and accept criticism from my coaches. I am loved by my teammates and have a true passion to cheer.
My point? Ladies, no matter who you are, as long as you love doing what you do, don't let anyone (including society) get you down. Love who you are and don't let anyone make you feel differently. Take your frustrations and work them out on the floor. Make the haters and critics eat your dust after you've collected your trophy.
Cheer Hard, my Chunky Cheer Sisters!
please please please!! do not flaunt what you do not have...thin is in!! there's nothing wronge with being overweight, but its not fair to make other people see rolls of extra baggage...blahhhh!!
she said she can fly if they ask.. so she obviously can't have "rolls"
concerned parent wrote: I am writing this to get people more aware of the dangers of competative cheerleading. I am not referring to the everyday injuries that can occur by participating in any sport. I am talking about eating disorders. My boss spoke with me today and his daughter happens to be on a high school cheer squad. Their family went to a competition for her this weekend and were shocked at what they saw going on around them. There was a coach yelling at one girl for eating two bananas. Now I know that seems silly, but there was a high degree of humiliation experienced by that young girl. Then, there was a group of girls in the bathroom that were all passing around a bottle of trim spa. When they were leaving the competition, there was a parent from their team who told their daughter to put some pants on for the squad photo because her legs looked too plump. Now, I am sure a lot of these events happen everyday to girls that are in high school, but I was just shocked at what I was hearing. Cheerleaders, at least competitive ones, work extremely hard to do what they do. They have to understand that everyone was built differently, and you have to do your best with what God gave you. I am just worried about all the girls and even young men who may be exposed to the mixed signals surrounding them. I hope that all coaches, parents, and teammates try hard to promote a healthy environment where physical appearance is not the main focus in life.
