Nutrition is such a key aspect to anyone’s diet and it is something that we must start appreciating from an early age. For that reason I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to write a blog for the junior rugby players out there to try to guide them into making healthy choices not only now, but also throughout their lives.
Before I go on to tell you more, I think it would be a good idea to introduce myself and tell you a bit about my background. I studied at Loughborough University where I undertook both my undergraduate and master’s degrees. Throughout my time there I worked with a variety of sports enthusiasts who were keen to utilise effective nutrition to its fullest potential in order to improve health and of course sports performance.
I have worked with Loughborough University’s Triathlon team, Wreake running club, GB junior rowing camp, the West Midlands Regional Academy Triatletes and Absolute Triathlon to name a few. The work I have done has varied from broad educational nutrition talks to private sessions with the athletes. I have also led various nutrition centred workshops with children aged 11-16 years and written various articles, for example in “Cycling plus magazine”.
From university I have gone on to work in the nutrition industry as well as continuing my work with athletes. I have been given the opportunity to work with Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club as their nutrition advisor where I work with the athletes on both a private and group basis in order to help them achieve body composition goals and performance improvements.
Rugby is such a dynamic sport that emphasises stress on all of the energy systems, from sprint work to endurance, and so it is very important to undertake the correct approach to nutrition.
So that’s me! Now I will tell you more about what my nutrition beliefs are and how I think I can help you. As cliché as it sounds I believe that a great diet is a balanced diet – a plate that is full of colour and nutrients is what we should aim for. Every nutrient has a role in the body so why not make the most of it!
I also believe that nutrition and food can help us achieve many things, whether it is performance related, body composition goals or generally just feeling good. And this is where I come in. I want to help you get the most out of the food and drink you fuel your body with.
In sport the support team plays a crucial role in the success of a team and of individuals within that team, and so it is vital to have all of those support systems in place. Nutrition is a vital aspect of any support system, and I want to make this accessible to all (without having to empty your wallets!).
I want to be able to help you achieve your goals – whether it is getting as lean as a winger to enable you to speed through to the try line or to get stronger in order to block the opposition – I am here to help.
Of course I will be answering those common questions such as “when should I eat before a match” or “what should I eat after training”, however I am here to tackle (pardon the pun) your specific nutrition queries –so please let me know what they are and I will do my best to dedicate a blog to them.
Over to you! Please email info@findrugbynow.com with “Ask Sophie” in the subject for all of your nutrition questions.