lovely interview with sasha cohen

[leafygreens]

In one of Toller Cranston's books he talked about Witt being a very hearty eater when competitors were supplied with food trays backstage. Toller said he was jealous, he being so concerned about his weight.

Maybe Kat was a DIPE-er (google it).

[AndyWarhol]

The diet she followed as an athlete is downright scary.

My half sister was an elite gymnast who went to the Olympics twice, and her diet was similar.

This diet is not uncommon.

[hanca]

I've heard of people linking grains and sugar with depression, but not fruits and vegetables. I know you guys mean depression colloquially and not literally - that it would suck not eating the things you love. But her diet sounds pretty healthy and vibrant to me. Everything on that list has great nutritional value. There's no wasted calories.

Although, four almonds? What is even the point then? I'd rather just not have any than have to stop at four.

Maybe for the extra protein? I thought nuts contain protein but I may be mistaken.

[Cherub721]

Maybe for the extra protein? I thought nuts contain protein but I may be mistaken.

Oh no question, almonds are awesome nutritionally, but I would just have a really hard time eating less than, say, 10 at a time. They're so addictive.

[snoopysnake]

A great interview. Thanks for posting. Agreed - Sasha look wonderful. The long straight hairdo is much more flattering than the short curly 'do that she wore with SOI last year.

I agree, and I remember at the Boston SOI meet-and-greet, which was later the same day that Sasha got that haircut, Todd Eldredge saying to her, "Well, you could always get those extension things." Guess he thought she looked better with longer hair too! Sasha was saying that she loved her hair short. Assuming that she has not been wearing extensions over the years, it does seem like her hair grows incredibly fast compared to most people. I think she just likes to experiment with different styles.

[viennese]

I don't know, she said three egg white omelette with mushrooms and spinach for breakfast, apple and almonds for a snack, grilled chicken with salad and balsamic for lunch, grapefruit as a snack, grilled fish and veggies for evening meal plus she then said as many veggies as you can eat to fill up.

Definitely sounds healthy.

[hanca]

Oh no question, almonds are awesome nutritionally, but I would just have a really hard time eating less than, say, 10 at a time. They're so addictive.

Well, one day you do 10, the next day you may argue that 12 is nearly the same as ten, then it will be 15 and in a few months you may notice that you are polishing off a bag of almonds a day. They may be good nutritionally, but having a bag every day would be a lot of calories. Besides, I don't think she was eating them for enjoyment. She was probably eating them because it contained the nutritions she needed. Similar to taking a cough mixture - you just take it because it is good for you. If you like it, that's a bonus, but it still doesn't mean that you have to drink the whole bottle.

[falling_dance]

Well, one day you do 10, the next day you may argue that 12 is nearly the same as ten, then it will be 15 and in a few months you may notice that you are polishing off a bag of almonds a day. They may be good nutritionally, but having a bag every day would be a lot of calories. Besides, I don't think she was eating them for enjoyment. She was probably eating them because it contained the nutritions she needed. Similar to taking a cough mixture - you just take it because it is good for you. If you like it, that's a bonus, but it still doesn't mean that you have to drink the whole bottle.

What makes you think that Cherub721 doesn't understand that?

[Zemgirl]

Well, one day you do 10, the next day you may argue that 12 is nearly the same as ten, then it will be 15 and in a few months you may notice that you are polishing off a bag of almonds a day. They may be good nutritionally, but having a bag every day would be a lot of calories. Besides, I don't think she was eating them for enjoyment. She was probably eating them because it contained the nutritions she needed. Similar to taking a cough mixture - you just take it because it is good for you. If you like it, that's a bonus, but it still doesn't mean that you have to drink the whole bottle.

I think that if you are disciplined enough to stop at four, you'll be disciplined enough to stop at whatever number is chosen.

I only like roasted almonds myself.

I still find Sasha's old diet really questionable - it can't possibly be more than 1,200 calories a day, how is that enough for an athlete in training? I'd be hungry all the time if I was eating almost nothing but veggies and lean protein, not to mention it's boring and doesn't seem like something you'd get much energy from. Also, shouldn't a healthy diet include some whole grains? And additional sources of calcium?

Sasha does look good these days, I must say - better than she did in her competitive days. I'm happy for her.

[hanca]

What makes you think that Cherub721 doesn't understand that?

I have no idea whether Cherub721 understands that or not. I wouldn't know what is Cherub's relationship with food. I was describing my experience, but maybe Cherub is not as greedy as I am, who know!

[Cherub721]

I have no idea whether Cherub721 understands that or not. I wouldn't know what is Cherub's relationship with food. I was describing my experience, but maybe Cherub is not as greedy as I am, who know!

In fact I buy almonds at Trader Joe's in individually wrapped packages.

[hydro]

I think that if you are disciplined enough to stop at four, you'll be disciplined enough to stop at whatever number is chosen.

I only like roasted almonds myself.

I still find Sasha's old diet really questionable - it can't possibly be more than 1,200 calories a day, how is that enough for an athlete in training? I'd be hungry all the time if I was eating almost nothing but veggies and lean protein, not to mention it's boring and doesn't seem like something you'd get much energy from. Also, shouldn't a healthy diet include some whole grains? And additional sources of calcium?

Sasha does look good these days, I must say - better than she did in her competitive days. I'm happy for her.

It's probably way more than 1200 calories. I'd estimate 1800, depending on the portion of chicken and fish. Plus, she is eating all the vegetables she wants, so if she's hungry, she can snack on some. She is also very short, so she wouldn't need more calories to sustain herself, even with an active day.

Whole grains aren't that necessary for a balanced diet, especially since she is supplementing processed carbs with fruit. Calcium can be fortified in other areas, or she could take supplements.

I think it's a really disciplined approach, but again, I don't think it's out of the ordinary.

[leafygreens]

My half sister was an elite gymnast who went to the Olympics twice, and her diet was similar.

This diet is not uncommon.

I read in People recently about Aly Raisman's diet - she ate similar to Sasha, and only had yogurt for dinner!!

[brightphoton]

Was this the diet she had at the 2008 Nationals? Girl was defined, 14-16% body fat? She looked very good. Wonder what happened to her though, she messed up her signature spiral and looked resigned/unsurprised by it.

For whatever reason, she doesn't follow the same diet any more. She looks more ~20% in the yoga video.

[Japanfan]

I think doing exercizing, and exercizing the sport you love on top of it, is the greater power against depression.
I love chocolate, but guilty pleasures don't even come close in terms of feeling good to exercising.

For me, the two go hand in hand. Excerzising makes the pleasures less guilty, but no less enjoyable.

[spikydurian]

Sasha... very pretty girl.

[loulou]

My half sister was an elite gymnast who went to the Olympics twice, and her diet was similar.

This diet is not uncommon.

Defenitely not. Plus, I'm not sure girls are having much fruit at camps - I don't really check out every video that comes up, but I only ever spotted water melons.

I saw grown male skaters going by having nutrition bars for lunch. And in controlled environments, not trying to starve themselves or crush dieting, but closely advised by those who were the professionals there.

I read in People recently about Aly Raisman's diet - she ate similar to Sasha, and only had yogurt for dinner!!

Good grief: the girl is producing muscles out of thin air. She should be studied.

For me, the two go hand in hand. Excerzising makes the pleasures less guilty, but no less enjoyable.

I didn't mean to describe in what way exercizing might affect guilty pleasures. I meant to say that if someone had to chose between cholate and exercizing, then the one picking exercizing is probably going to feel better: it's very powerful against feeling blue, more so than cholate.

Cohen was definitely never crushed or abused by coaches, family or clubs. She did what she liked. She embraced the spotlight and loved it. Exercizing makes people both happy and healthy. I'm having a hard time picturing her depressed by the diet. I'm also thinking that if her diet was getting her depressed, she would have talked about it in a different tune, maybe even hinting.

[waddlercu]

Because I like numbers so much (rounding up):

Three egg white omelette = 100 calories
Apple = 100 calories
4 almonds = 50 calories
Grilled chicken breast (boneless, skinless) = 300 calories
Salad greens w/balsamic vinegar = 50 calories
Grapefruit = 50 calories
Grilled salmon (150g, half fillet) = 300 calories

Total before misc. veggies = 950 calories

Unless she was filling up on buttered corn on the cob all day, I bet she was eating closer to 1200 calories.

It is nice to learn what actually worked for her. Seems like we only hear about Johnny's coffee fasts, the unnamed SOI skater that ate just an apple a day, or Roz's yo-yo dieting. This sets a much better example for young skaters.

[milanessa]

It is nice to learn what actually worked for her. Seems like we only hear about Johnny's coffee fasts, the unnamed SOI skater that ate just an apple a day, or Roz's yo-yo dieting. This sets a much better example for young skaters.

My bold. You mean Alexei? He didn't eat like that while he was in SOI.

[kwanette]

Very enjoyable interview. Sasha appears to be very happy in her life. Good for her.