Pamela Nisevich Bede - Fuel the Fire: A Nutrition and Body Confidence Guidebook for the Female Athlete

My kids often ask me, Mom, can I really be anything I want to be? Like any parent offering the company line, I respond with Yes, anything is possible. But the pragmatist in me adds a caveat. You can be anything if youre willing to work for it. Youll need endless dedication, grit, proper fuel, a bit of luck (it also helps if the genetic gods smile on you), and the right support to get you there.

But heres the thing. Somewhere between the bliss of childhood and the realities of adulthood, we come to learn that theres a real world out there. And the real world is hard. It often feels as if the critics outnumber the fans. And depending on the relevant influences, the thickness of our skin, and our support systems, we can find our trajectory changedfor better or for worse.

Knowing this, I want to tell them: I know you can set the world on fire, but I cant tell you exactly how. I cant tell you the exact path to the peak of a mountain, but I do know you wont get there without working for it. And I can show you several paths that will NOT take you to the top, because Ive followed some of these paths. These are frustrating and a waste of time or dark and desolate and lead you in the wrong direction.

And thats why this book matters. The knowledge shared in these pages, along with the aid of experts, leaders, and mentors, will help you find your best self. So whether youre currently on the right road and just need a few directions or you are so lost you feel like you might never get where you want to go, youve got help here. No matter where you are on your nutrition journey, youre not alone in your desire to build a better relationship with food and self or to finally find a better way to meet your health, lifestyle, and performance goals. Soon youll begin to see that light at the end of the tunnel, provided by someone who went before you and took the time to look back and weigh in with real-world advice and insights across the pages of this book.

Fitness enthusiasts, competitors, contenders, Olympians, elites, age-group stars, rising stars, mother runners, anyone too busy putting in the work to do much grandstanding.

I wrote this book for those who exercise with purpose. For sweaty people familiar with terms like Dri-FIT and fartlek and gels. For those who link their identity with action verbs. For those who own multiple pairs of running shoes. For those who see opportunities to race when they look at their calendar and feel a bit lost when not actively pursuing one goal or another. Those dedicated to the cause and the process rather than winning at all costs. Who realize life is you versus you, and therefore you are your biggest critic or your biggest fan. This book is for those who have not yet learned that life is more marathon than sprint and for those who could teach a course on that exact lesson. For those who havent even peaked and those trying their damnedest to reignite a lost spark.

Am I speaking your language? Then get ready to learn what it takes to build your best self yet. Ounce by ounce, cell by cell, built by better nutrition, habits, perspectives.

Find Pro Tips and strategies that are rooted in science and supported by practice. Advice shared while fueling countless athletes and friends throughout my time as a sports dietitian, mom, and athlete. And advice from elite athletes, coaches, Olympians, scientists, and leaders weighing in on lessons learned across their own nutrition journeys.

Discover how to rock game-day fueling, eat for health, and tear down obstacles in your path. Most of all, I hope you evolve to be comfortable in your own skin and build an amazing relationship with food. Im here to teach you how to develop a way of eating that fuels and sustains. Its now more important than ever to uncover a way to prevent and fix muddied, broken relationships with food and self. Once you are no longer willing to listen to misinformation or give way to negativity, this book will become your weapon in the fight against internal doubts and external critics.

So from the track to the road to the pitch to the gym, classroom to internship to office to home, youll build a nutrition foundation thats so solid, it will support you as you crank out countless miles and endless training sessions, and then recover and ultimately thrive. Get ready to fill a plate that works for YOU. To finally understand what it takes to fuel your performance, your health, and your best self.

What if you could go back in time and offer advice to your younger self? What would you say? How would you mentor the younger you? How would you respond to the countless important questions? Questions about whether your dedication to sport was worth it. Questions about what you should eat and why these choices were important. Questions about how to navigate dark days, work through relationships, and avoid obstacles.