Christine Yu is an award-winning journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of sports science and women athletes. Her writing has appeared in Outside, The Washington Post, Time, Runner’s World, and other publications. She’s a lifelong athlete and yoga teacher who loves running, surfing, and skiing. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
About the book:
“In the past half-century, women have achieved remarkable progress in the realm of athletics. More women are participating in sports and maintaining an active lifestyle throughout their lives. Whether they're elite athletes striving for excellence or passionate amateurs enjoying their athletic pursuits, women deserve a sports culture that empowers them.
This culture should offer training programs and equipment specifically designed to support their unique physiologies, along with nutrition and injury prevention guidelines grounded in scientific research and tailored to their individual experiences.
Unfortunately, women have often received guidance based on research that fails to consider their distinct experiences and physical characteristics. Much of what we've accepted as the standard in exercise and sports science is rooted solely in studies conducted on men.
But the landscape is changing for the better. Researchers are now conducting more inclusive studies to close the gender data gap. They're investigating how women can enhance their athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury, and maintain good health.
In 'Up to Speed,' sports and health journalist Christine Yu unravels myths and dissects gender bias in light of real science. She advocates for new approaches that empower female athletes to excel at every life stage, from adolescence through adulthood, encompassing pregnancy, menopause, and beyond.
Christine delves into the latest research findings and shines a light on the researchers, athletes, and advocates challenging the status quo. They are pioneering innovative solutions to enhance the active and athletic lives of women and girls, ushering in a new era of gender equality in sports science and performance.”
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Show notes
Who is Christine
Being based in New York
Growing up in Connecticut before moving to San Francisco
Being sporty from a young age and always being active
Getting into running, strength training and yoga
Working in the non profit sector for 10/15 years before making the switch to journalism
Wanting to write and tell more stories
Taking time off after having her first child
Combing her love for writing with her love for sports, science and health
Wanting to focus on issues relating to women, women’s health and women’s sports
Being curious and wanting to know more
The lack of easily accessible information available for women
Wanting to learn how to make her body more resilient
Wanting to improve her health and wanting to move her body in a way that makes her feel good
Wanting to be strong and healthy over the long term
The starting point with research
Knowledge from print magazines….. which wasn’t women specific
Looking at more specific sports science research
Dr Stacy Sims: ROAR
The lack of knowledge for women who want to do strength training
More women getting into strength training
New Book: Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes
Where the idea came from and how easy it was to get it published
Only 6% of sports science (2014-2020) studies focus on issues related to women
Why do we know so much less about women’s physiology?
What are the implication due to the gender data gap?
What you can expect from the book - information on the menstrual cycle, breast health, sporting gear, injury rates and chapters devoted to the life stages of a women’s life
‘Women are Not Small Men: a paradigm shift in the science of nutrition’ - TED Talk
How to study women with the challenges of women’s menstrual cycle
The blindspots in science
Leaving women out of the narrative
Hormones related to the menstrual cycle and how they can impact performance
Noticing the trends when tracking your period
Don’t blame yourself - blame your hormones
Peri-menopause and menopause where is the science?
Food and nutrition
Weight and performance
Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)
How to connect with Christine
Final words of advice for women who want to learn more about the science
Pay attention to your own body, track your cycle and see how your body responds throughout the month
Be a critical consumer of the media you are consuming
Social Media
Instagram: @cyu888
Substack: christinemyu.substack.com
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