Nutrition and Cheerleading Performance

My Sports Dietitian

Nutrition and Cheerleading Performance

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Karen Lew Feirman

Karen joined Varsity University as the Dean in October of 2014. Over the past 15 years, Karen served in a variety of capacities at Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of Miami. Most recently, she served as the Clinical Coordinator of the Athletic Training Program at the University of Miami. She is involved with the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the Louisiana Athletic Trainers Association, the Southeast Athletic Trainers Association, the National Athletic Trainers Association and the USA Cheer Safety Council.

In 1996, Karen received her Bachelor of Science degree and Certification for K-12 Health and Physical Education at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. Karen earned her Master of Education degree in Human Performance with an emphasis in Exercise Science in 1997 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, Louisiana. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Health Sciences from Nova Southeastern University.

Karen is truly committed to seeing the profession of Athletic Training continue to grow and flourish as well SEATA and the NATA. Over the past twelve years, Karen has served on a variety of committees at the state, regional, and national level. Her committee involvement in SEATA has been with the Student Symposium. She has presented at the Student SEATA symposium on a consistent basis and has served as the coordinator of sponsorships the past four years. In addition to her involvement with the Student SEATA meeting, she is currently serving as the Co-chair of the SEATA educators meeting.

Karen’s interests include learning and teaching styles in athletic training, safety and injury prevention in cheerleading, athlete education, and drug and alcohol use and abuse among college students and student athletes. Karen has several publications including, Athletic Training Exam Review: “A Student Guide to Success”, Fourth Edition, and has been published by the NATA and Cramer Athletics for her work in preventing and reducing injuries in cheerleading. She regularly participates as an athletic trainer and medical support staff for Varsity Spirit, LLC including the National Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships, and the London New Year’s Day Parade.

Karen is certified as an athletic trainer by the Board of Certification. She is licensed as an athletic trainer in Louisiana and Florida. She also serves as an Instructor for the American Heart Association.

In this podcast you will learn:

1. How and when she got involved with Varisty and her current role?
2. What type of educational programs Varsity offers for athletes
3. Is Cheerleading one of the most dangerous sports and what does the research say about the risk of traumatic injury?
4. What can be done to reduce the risk of injuries for Cheerleaders
5. The role of the Athletic Trainer in helping treat and reduce the risk of Cheer injuries
6. What is one rule that could be implemented now that could make cheerleading reduce the injury risk?

Jamie Mascari Meeks

Jamie Meeks is a 2009 graduate from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Science (Dietetics). As a former LSU Cheerleader, Jamie had the chance to cheer for some of LSU’s greatest sport teams including the 2007 LSU Football National Championship team, the 2006 SEC Champions and Final Four Men’s Basketball team, and 2007 Final Four Women’s Basketball team. She completed her Dietetic Internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. After receiving her Registered Dietitian (RD) license/registration, Jamie returned to LSU and completed her Master’s Degree in 2011 in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and worked as the first full-time Sports Dietitian for LSU Athletics from 2011-2014. At LSU, Jamie not only fulfilled the team and individual nutrition/dietary needs of teams, but she also created the Undergraduate Sports Nutrition Internship, introduced and oversaw three Athletic Fueling Stations, assisted with the Athletic Training Table Meals, and worked as an integral member of the planning team for the Tiger Athletic Nutrition Center. Jamie currently works as the Director of Sports Nutrition for the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and Pelicans (NBA). She works to help integrate healthy choices and optimal fueling into the daily training routines for all Saints and Pelicans athletes. She works closely with the teams’ Athletic Trainers, Strength Coaches, and Team Physicians in addition to providing individual counseling and Medical Nutrition Therapy that focuses on individual performance fueling strategies, hydration, and proper supplementation. Jamie oversees the weight room nutrition recovery station and offers team nutrition education, home and travel meal/menu management, and body composition analysis. Jamie is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Louisiana Dietetic Association, Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association, and the Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition dietetic practice group.

In this podcast you will learn:

1. When did she develop an interest in becoming a Cheerleader and what was her collegiate career like
2. The intensity of cheerleading and do the nutritional needs differ for Cheerleaders compared to athletes in other contact sports
3. The difference in nutritional requirements between cheerleaders and football players
4. An overview of a cheerleading practice in regards to energy expenditure and practice duration 5. Maintaining weight as a cheerleading and does that add more stress
6. The biggest nutritional challenges a cheerleader has to face. Differences between cheering in high school vs college.
7. 3 nutrition goals that you would tell a cheerleader today that will make a positive impact on their cheer performance.
8. Foods that help cheerleaders heal faster after an injury
9. Foods to avoid that may slow the healing process all 15 sports

Links and Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• Varsity Cheer

Other Related Resources

• Performance Nutrition for Cheerleaders eBook
• Meal Plan Guide for Athletes: Calculate your Caloric Needs
• Sports Nutrition for the Injured Athlete: On Demand Webinar
• What’s In a Healthy Snack: Blog Article

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