Sports Nutrition with Kelsey Pontius

Show Notes:

Kelsey Pontius, RD, LDN, CSSD

904-337-9667         meteornutrition@gmail.com

Website: metornutrition.com    @sportsdietitionkelsey

Meteor Nutrition arose after lifelong athlete, Kelsey Pontius, wished to pursue her passion for the impact of nutrition on the human body in motion. 

Kelsey grew up playing competitive soccer, and eventually ended her career as a D1 soccer player to transform into a distance runner who has since qualified for the 2020 and 2024 US Marathon Olympic Trials. Through several instances of her athletic background, she felt the ebbs and flows with nutrition on performance.  She knew she was destined to help other athletes benefit from the implementation of optimal nutrition. 

Aside from working as a board certified specialist in sports dietetics, Kelsey has worked in the clinical arena with a multitude of different medical complexities through her experiences in working in acute care and one the country's largest spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation centers, Brooks Rehabilitation.   

She currently is a consulting dietitian with four division 1 NCAA programs and works 1:1 with athletes of all levels in a private practice setting.   Her current interests in the field include preparing for endurance racing, optimizing gut health, nutrition to support injury healing, and accomplishing hormonal balance through proper nutrition. 

Her greatest accomplishment is having success within my own business, Meteor Nutrition, where I help athletes learn how to fuel to meet their health and performance goals. I am so proud of it because many of these athletes have been told very different messages about how to fuel (or not fuel) their body. Through educating them and working together, they are able to meet their full potential as athletes and have longevity in their sports.

 Interesting Story: I had a rather challenging, unsuccessful college soccer experience. Since the time I was 3, there was no place I'd rather be but the soccer field. Therefore, having a tough experience once I got to the collegiate level was really challenging. My sophomore year, I had multiple concussions and between not being fulfilled and injured, I transferred and quit playing. I started running as a means of staying in shape and meeting friends. I got a part-time job at Lululemon Athletica and was invited to run a 50K. I had no idea how long that was in miles and said yes. Out on the course, I fell in love with racing and started signing up for races shortly after. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing coach, Matt, who helped me develop in the sport as an adult considering that I didn't run in high school or college. He is still my coach and has helped me qualify twice for the Trials.

Favorite Post-race Indulgence: Wine

Favorite Breakfast: Belgian waffles with either berries or chocolate chips and yogurt with maple syrup

Favorite Motivational Quote: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face." - Mike Tyson

Favorite Running Memory: Vacation to Crested Butte with my friends where my husband proposed

To contact the Youth Sports Safety Update Podcast

JAXSMP.com Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program or JSMP

3563 Philips Highway, Building E, Suite 502, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Email: Jim.mackie@bmcjax.com 904-477-9291

Email: Robert.Sefcik@bmcjax.com Executive Director JSMP & CEO / President FASMED 904-202-4332

Florida Alliance for Sports Medicine https://fasmed.fadss.org/