Puberty, Periods, and Performance- What Every Gymnast Parent Needs to Know with Dr. Nicky Keay

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Nicky Keay to talk about puberty, periods, hormones, and how they affect young athletes physically and mentally during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.For many gymnasts, puberty can feel confusing and frustrating. Skills suddenly feel different, emotions feel bigger, and bodies begin to change in ways athletes are often taught to fear instead of understand.Dr. Keay explains why these changes are not something athletes should fight against. Hormones play a critical role in bone health, strength, recovery, cognition, and long-term athletic performance. While puberty can temporarily affect coordination, balance, and confidence, it is also what helps young athletes grow into stronger, healthier women.We also discuss the importance of fueling properly during adolescence, especially in sports like gymnastics and dance where underfueling is extremely common. Dr. Keay explains how missing or irregular periods can be a warning sign of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and why parents and coaches should pay attention early.One of the most helpful parts of this conversation is learning how athletes can better understand their own menstrual cycles instead of fearing them. Rather than seeing periods as a weakness, athletes can learn patterns, prepare ahead of time, and build confidence through awareness and recovery.In this episode you will hearWhy puberty changes athletic performance How hormones affect strength, recovery, and coordination Why missing periods can signal RED-S How underfueling impacts health and performance Why body changes during puberty are normal and necessary How athletes can track and work with their menstrual cycles Why parents and coaches need to create healthier conversations around pubertyThis conversation is a powerful reminder that puberty is not the end of an athlete’s potential. With the right support, nutrition, and understanding, young athletes can grow into stronger, healthier, and more confident competitors.Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990BurFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/Write to me! Email: [email protected] to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com