193. How Being More Than an Athlete Can Improve Your Mindset + Performance with Mackenzie Myatt

Female Athlete Nutrition

In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition, I speak with elite cyclist and author Mackenzie Myatt. Mackenzie shares her introduction to sports, beginning with gymnastics and then working her way up to elite mountain biking. We discuss the highs and lows of an athletic life, and how competitive sports can be balanced with fun. Mackenzie highlights how periods of low motivation were the catalyst for her finding her identity outside of sports. For Mackenzie, this was combining her love of writing with cycling, and in 2023 she published her first book, “In Defense of Big Dreams”. We talk about the importance of writing as an outlet for emotions and processing feelings. For Mackenzie, poetry helps her navigate injuries and athletic lows, gain perspective and develop self-belief. I recommend all my clients also journal to understand their thoughts and feelings around food, their body, mindset and other challenges. This episode finishes with a fun new “Ask The Dietitian” section where Mackenzie asks me about why she is bonking. We chat about her nutrition challenges as an athlete, and how her intake and timing of carbohydrates can help regulate her blood sugar levels. Mackenzie shares the difficulty of fueling on a gluten free diet and the food anxiety is caused. We highlight the point that food intolerances can reverse, and how consuming more carbohydrates from gluten has elevated Mackenzie’s performance.

We referenced Mackenzie’s book “In Defense of Big Dreams” throughout this episode and I recommend you check it out too!

TOPIC TIMESTAMPS:

6:00 Introducing Mackenzie Myatt; her athletic path from gymnastics to elite mountain biking

13:00 Athletic highs and lows; why competitive sport can be fun

19:10 Being more than an athlete; carving out your own unique career path

30:00 Merging different identities: cycling and writing, athletics and femininity

33:30 The importance of expressing emotions and being your true self

38:50 Dealing with injury setbacks and finding happiness outside of sport

51:30 Confidence, self-belief and injury comeback mentalities

1:01:00 Why am I bonking? What are my carbohydrate needs? Understanding carbohydrate needs, fueling for sustained blood sugar levels, and carb drinks.

1:11:45 Gluten free as an athlete and food anxieties

Mackenzie published her book with previous Female Athlete Podcast guest Molly Hurford at Strong Girl Publishing, and you can tune into that episode here: 170. Keeping Girls + Women Strong & In Sports (+ Mountain Dew & More!) with Molly Hurford.

Follow Mackenzie on Instagram @kenzimtber and me, your host Lindsey Cortes, @female.athlete.nutrition

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