1. What education have you undertaken to this point in your career?
I started my education off by doing a 1-year Fitness & Health PLC course in Waterford College of Further Education. Then continued on to study a 4-year BA (Hons) degree in Exercise and Health Studies at Waterford Institute of Technology, now known as SETU. This is where my interest in Sports Nutrition began to grow, which led me to explore different options to pursue a qualification in Sports Nutrition. I then completed a MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition online through the University of Ulster.
2. What experience have you accumulated in the field of performance nutrition?
I own a small group training facility, this is where I’ve gained so much experience with your average gym goer seeking to improve performance for various different goals through the gym. I’ve also worked in many different sports with 1 - 1 clients. From Endurance athletes looking to PB in Marathons, Iron man’s and also World championship level Hyrox athletes mostly my performance nutrition work is within the GAA Teams such as Waterford Senior Football Team (4 Seasons), Waterford under 20 hurlers (2 seasons) , Waterford Minor Hurlers (3 seasons), Kildare Ladies Football (1 season) and Waterford Senior Camogie (1 season),
3. What one piece of advice would you offer aspiring performance nutritionists or sports dieticians?
One piece of advice for aspiring practitioners is be yourself with athletes get to know them first, find something you have in common and create a trust and bond with them! They are much more likely to open up and be receptive to advice and change if they feel comfortable with you. This is more so in a team setting as not every player is keen on change if somebody approaches you to work 1-1, it’s clear they are seeking help and advice. Some of the best conversations I’ve had with athletes come when standing on the side of pitch or on a bus to a game. They normally start with normal chit chat and lead to them bringing up something I mentioned and quizzing me on it or asking my thoughts on something nutrition-related! I find this type of interaction a great way to arrange a sit-down consultation to explore the issue further if needed.