Sad Article about Zagitova's Eating Habits

[qwertyskates]

this thread surely has some dangerous information floating around...


In no way, should people on this thread encourage young skaters to adopt the eating habits/ small food variation of monks. Those monks are adults and don't grow anymore. They also don't do extreme sports. Yes, monks to physical activity, but not on elite athletes level.

Fasting can be good and healthy for your overweight friend or an healthy adult, but you don't put babies or children on a fast. Neither should teenagers.

First, fasting isn't equivalent to no food. It simply means no animal protein but all the vegetables one can eat on those days. Secondly, a huge population of people on this earth are vegetarians/vegans and eat like these monks and feed their children similarly, eg. most Buddhists. I personally know loving, responsible vegan parents who raise healthy, athletic young children on a diet similar to the monk's vegetarian meals. The meals of fruits, nuts, beans and vegetables are filling, nutritious but low in calories, with some supplements like Vitamin B. Even if they are high in calories, they will still eat the same way. It is not even about counting calories but getting natural nutrients and refraining from harming animals. There are many successful athletes who are vegan. There is nothing "dangerous" in their way of life. They are HEALTHY and thriving. They do not have an eating disorder.

What is dangerous is athletes starving themselves unaware that there are healthy options instead of chips, half a burger, bread, margarine, etc.

Skaters all want to keep an optimum weight, it is a given they WILL watch their diet. There are non ED ways to achieve their targets and they should know about them. It's shocking that they don't. Vegan meals might have helped Adam much more than 3 slices of bread a day.

 

[charlotte14]

If people are worried about Alina’s statement about eating issues, they should have listened to Hanyu’s numerous answers since he was young (he has said many many times) that he doesn’t like foods and he doesn’t like eating... lol but he still goes to McDonald so there we go.

 

[Eclair]

First, fasting isn't equivalent to no food. It simply means no animal protein but all the vegetables one can eat on those days. Secondly, a huge population of people on this earth are vegetarians/vegans and eat like these monks and feed their children similarly, eg. most Buddhists. I personally know loving, responsible vegan parents who raise healthy, athletic young children on a diet similar to the monk's vegetarian meals. The meals of fruits, nuts, beans and vegetables are filling, nutritious but low in calories, with some supplements like Vitamin B. There are many successful athletes who are vegan. There is nothing "dangerous" in their way of life. They are HEALTHY and thriving. They do not have an eating disorder.

look up wikipedia's definition of fasting:

fasting is a willing abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time

So no, fasting doesn't mean you just don't eat animal protein. That's veganism.

I never said anything against athletes living a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Megan Duhamel is vegan and she is pretty muscular and never said anything about having an ED. What I said was that fasting is bad for babies, children and teenagers, especially ones who do elite sports.

In fact, I know no culture, that demands fasts of their children/teenagers. There are poor countries were children are forced to fast due to lack of food. They are not healthy.

Like I said before, you should stop spreading that nonsense that 800 calories a day with 'healthy foods' is somehow better than a 2000 calories a day with 'unhealthy foods'.
If you eat 2000 calories a day of unhealthy foods you'll get vitamin deficiencies.
If you eat 800 calories a day of healthy foods, you'll die of starvation and then it's pretty irrelevant that you're not vitamin deficient.

people burn 800 calories by going jogging for 17km alone. an 800 calories diet for an elite athlete is not sufficient. Just because you can eat 800 calories a day doesn't mean they can.

 

[qwertyskates]

look up wikipedia's definition of fasting: So no, fasting doesn't mean you just don't eat animal protein. That's veganism.

I never said anything against athletes living a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Megan Duhamel is vegan and she is pretty muscular and never said anything about having an ED. What I said was that fasting is bad for babies, children and teenagers, especially ones who do elite sports.

In fact, I know no culture, that demands fasts of their children/teenagers. There are poor countries were children are forced to fast due to lack of food. They are not healthy.

Like I said before, you should stop spreading that nonsense that 800 calories a day with 'healthy foods' is somehow better than a 2000 calories a day with 'unhealthy foods'.
If you eat 2000 calories a day of unhealthy foods you'll get vitamin deficiencies.
If you eat 800 calories a day of healthy foods, you'll die of starvation and then it's pretty irrelevant that you're not vitamin deficient.

people burn 800 calories by going jogging for 17km alone. an 800 calories diet for an elite athlete is not sufficient. Just because you can eat 800 calories a day doesn't mean they can.

Well, then you should take the trouble of reading the links I posted, or the words I actually wrote about what the monks ate on fasting and moderate days before you judge it. Fasting has many definitions. Muslims fast during Ramadan by only eating at night, for example! They are getting <1000 calories a day for thousands of years during Ramadan, young or old.

These cultures that you claim fast their children do NOT - they simply feed them rice, lentils, vegetables, and that isn't unhealthy. How many societies are Buddhist in the world? That's how many are eating similarly to the monks, for thousands of years.

It is only with modern food industries that we are eating a jaw-dropping load of calories, as before industrial food and mass production of sugar, humans ate completely natural food, like these monks, and definitely not the kind of calories like today's.

Simply because these societies eat differently from your's doesn't mean they are sick with ED.

 

[Eclair]

Well, then you should take the trouble of reading the links I posted, or the words I actually wrote about what the monks ate on fasting and moderate days before you judge it. Fasting has many definitions. Muslims fast during Ramadan by only eating at night, for example!

1. muslim children don't have to do it until they are 14-15.
2. also, a lot of muslim athletes don't do it - especially if they're in preparation for a big competition like the olympics. There is a reason for that.
3. Muslims only fast through Ramadan. What you suggested, was for athletes in a sport that is known to have higher numbers of ED's than in the general population to always fast - as a lifestyle - like monks, who keep this their whole lives.

 

[OniBan]

this thread surely has some dangerous information floating around...

it's a misconception, that it's impossible to do physical challenging programs with anorexia. Often people with ED will be extremely fit and have very good stamina - but only for a short period of time, until the balance tilts and they loose more and more strength. Often when the anorexia spiral totally out of control in a very short time or when they have to keep going with a relative 'stable' anorexia for a very long time.

it's also a misconception, that just because skaters occasionally eats a piece of chocolate on TV or social media, it means they don't have an ED. There are youtube videos of Satoko eating fatty meat and desserts on TV, she still under-ate in real life.

Kiira Korpi used to post photos of lots of healthy food - lots of fruits, vegetable, sometimes a brunch with good bread.In an interview she still explained, that during her competitive career she under-ate and that this was part of the cause of some injuries.
It's a misconception, that just because someone eat 'healthy foods' they can't be anorexic. You can eat healthy foods in healthy portions, or you can starve yourself while eating only small amounts of healthy foods.

Just because someone is not the absolute thinnest, doesn't mean they don't have an ED. Gracie was never the thinnest, still had an ED. At the same time, looking very thin, doesn't automatically mean that they have an ED.

Alina's statements are worrisome, but only she or her team knows, whether there is something serious behind this or not. Right now, I think people are justified to worry about her attitude towards eating, but should not assume, that she has an ED.

In no way, should people on this thread encourage young skaters to adopt the eating habits/ small food variation of monks. Those monks are adults and don't grow anymore. They also don't do extreme sports. Yes, monks to physical activity, but not on elite athletes level.

Fasting can be good and healthy for your overweight friend or an healthy adult, but you don't put babies or children on a fast. Neither should teenagers.

Please refer back to my point no.1. Nobody is saying the subject of eating disorder can't be discussed, but the reason why this thread is even here is because ONE particular skater's alleged eating habit - from news we can't even verify yet.

It more and more seems to me to be a vicious rumour vehicle than something that can actually constructively help a skater, or anyone tbh

P/s Akiko Suzuki actually wrote about her experience with anorexia and what she went through, and I based my opinion from the account of her first hand experience. Was her own experience of not being able to skate nor jump a misconception?

P/p/s not related but would like to keep the record straight re your reply to qwertyskates: muslim kids can start fasting at any reasonable age if they are able (obviously no one makes a toddler or babies fast), but they are REQUIRED to do it when they reach puberty. Some (not all) kids start practicing to fast as early as 7 or 8 (though usually only half day as to not burden them. And before anyone jumps on me for OMG CRUEL comments - half day fast basically means you just skip breakfast till noon...and then you get lunch. And before puberty you only do this if you want to - if not, it's fine).
I know this from first hand experience so no 'misconceptions', okay.

 

[Eclair]

Please refer back to my point no.1. Nobody is saying the subject of eating disorder can't be discussed, but the reason why this thread is even here is because ONE particular skater's alleged eating habit - from news we can't even verify yet.
It more and more seems to me to be a vicious rumour vehicle than something that can actually constructively help a skater, or anyone tbh

P/s Akiko Suzuki actually wrote about her experience with anorexia and what she went through, and I based my opinion from the account of her first hand experience. Was her own experience of not being able to skate nor jump a misconception?

I don't know about Akiko, but Jenny Kirk said that often skaters with full on ED's will have a great season the first year. They are fitter and faster. But then the second year they regress and then they think they have to loose more weight because the last year went so well when they lost weight and then they regress even more.

 

[Eclair]

Well, then you should take the trouble of reading the links I posted, or the words I actually wrote about what the monks ate on fasting and moderate days before you judge it. Fasting has many definitions. Muslims fast during Ramadan by only eating at night, for example! They are getting <1000 calories a day for thousands of years during Ramadan, young or old.

These cultures that you claim fast their children do NOT - they simply feed them rice, lentils, vegetables, and that isn't unhealthy. How many societies are Buddhist in the world? That's how many are eating similarly to the monks, for thousands of years.

It is only with modern food industries that we are eating a jaw-dropping load of calories, as before industrial food and mass production of sugar, humans ate completely natural food, like these monks, and definitely not the kind of calories like today's.

Simply because these societies eat differently from your's doesn't mean they are sick with ED.

It doesn't matter the society. Suggesting that eating 800 calories a day consisting of 10 salads and 2 eggs is somehow healthy and sufficient for athletes is wrong.

An elite athlete needs more than 800 calories. Just because those 800 calories come out of healthy food, doesn't mean that they can't starve on it. Like I said, an elite athlete runs about 17 km a day or does some kind of equivalent work-out minimum. That alone burns 800 calories.
They can eat whatever calories they need all from vegetables, rice and lentils, I don't care. But they need more than those 800 calories a day you're suggesting.

 

[RobinA]

Anyone surprised has simply been ignoring the evidence that has built up over the years, in public, and refused to accept observable reality for a contorted, impossible-to-justify illusion that somehow everyone was simply sailing through puberty without consequence and change and somehow 100% healthy. It’s not that there weren’t warning signs; there were an almost comedic number. It’s too late to be shocked. Spare me your regrets. Don’t tell me you didn’t know; the evidence has always been there. You saw what you wanted to: convenient fiction.

I have no horror left for the coaches, the sport, or the system, only those who kept trying to spread the tiniest dab of an “explanation” over an ever-growing loaf of casualties. Congratulations.

You took the words right off my keyboard. Although I do believe many people don't get it. Very few of these ladies or men are normal, or probably healthy, weight. Some probably have an easier time than others, but the more demanding the sport gets the more unhealthy it will be.

 

[RobinA]

To me it sounds like she is dispelling the myth that because of puberty “you’ll get fat”...at least that’s how I read it. Anyone else? I can’t determine what she means by “I eat but small amounts”. That could be completely healthy if done right but yes it could be unhealthy if done improperly. I see no indicators here as to which it is she is telling us.

Thank you for the translation BTW

I read it as her saying that puberty is when you get fat and then saying that it's made up that you get fat during puberty, you just have to not eat. Pretty dangerous thinking in my book. Sad.

 

[RobinA]

Johnny has always been candid about his very light diet, but has said he does not necessarily recommend it to others. I also remember a post-Vancouver interview where Evan said his pre-Olympics diet was so strict he sometimes hallucinated about food. Russian coaches are not the only ones promoting very strict diets--Frank Carroll certainly seems to be of that school of thought.

Oh, that's just great. Hallucinating is a symptom of starvation. I'm not ready to blame any coach. Success in the sport requires, among other things, that one be able to rotate quickly in the air. Being able to rotate quickly in the air requires one to have less mass off the axis. Which in human terms means less weight. The more rotations, the less weight. With individual differences of course, but physics is physics. If I'm a coach and somebody comes to me and says they want success, I gotta say what they need to do to be successful. Elite sports is not a normal, or a healthy, thing.

 

[RobinA]

My concern with skaters, especially skaters in Russia where the competition is so stiff, is that there's more incentive to make risky health decisions since it often works out for them in the short-term. Do we really believe Evgenia wasn't skating on a broken foot at the Olympics or Europeans? Or if you're in the rink watching Trusova bang out 4L after 4L, it must be hard not to consider, "If I were that small, I could do that." After all, it's just physics. You spin faster if there is less mass, and if that mass is concentrated closer to your axis of rotation. I think at some point, this sport will have to consider banning jumps not because the jumps themselves are dangerous, but because of what skaters are willing to do to their bodies to achieve those jumps. If we continue down this path, figure skating is going to consist of adults watching 11 year-olds in tiny dresses doing programs full of quads. It's not healthy for skaters and their coaches to view puberty as an enemy to fight and not a natural and healthy process. Athletics should not only focus on what can humans do, but should emphasize what can humans do safely.

Sadly, you are right.

 

[Cindy1983]

I think that even if the article itself is fake, there is a grain of truth to it. It SHOULD be a concern, but we AREN'T in her head and as a result don't know exactly what she meant and how she meant it. I try to avoid putting words in people's mouths. Only time will tell if it was only an unguarded moment due to teenage emotions or a genuine cry for help. Unfortunately, we won't know if something bad happens until it happens and hindsight is always 20/20. If you read the article on gymnastics, the atmosphere was present to allow a man like Nassar to do their thing. One of the ways he groomed girls was through using food. The depth of the issues in gymnastics and with the Karolyis specifically weren't known until the scandal erupted.

Whatever it is, it can give insight into the possible dark side of Eteri as shown by both the positive and negative reactions to the comment. I was always a little skeptical of Eteri's success, but most were on an elation high with the insane technical ability of the girls and not willing to see the negatives. I always wondered if their success and methods were sustainable in the long run. I also commented on their youth because a teenager is much easier to control than a woman in her 20. My guess is that, if she gets away with this comment, it will have everything to do with her Olympic title. I guarantee you that the Eteri coaches DON'T want anyone sniffing around or questioning their methods. My intuition tells me that it may be very secretive and want to stay that way.

 

[gsk8]

Time to move on folks. Lots of other interesting things to discuss that don't involve speculation