1. Breaking in a new pair of grips or wrist guards is one of the most difficult things in the world. It takes forever for them to feel “just right.” You’ve had nightmares about forgetting your grips for a meet or them ripping the day before. Heck, you might have even pranked your coach with this nightmare scenario—and it was wildly hilarious.

2. The classic “I can’t I have gymnastics” is part of your daily vernacular. No, you can’t “just miss one practice” to hang out with friends and catch the latest chick flick. Especially if they are the friends that constantly ask "Are you going to the Olympics?" and "Can you do a backflip?"



3. Sports involving a ball should probably be avoided at all costs—for the sake of your dignity and your face.

4. Re-doing your pony tail at least 6 times during practice is normal… and getting perfect hair on meet day may be just as stressful as the actual competition. It has to be tight enough to stay in for several hours through hundreds of flips, but not too tight that it gives you an insta-headache. Also, if there’s a back extension roll happening anytime in the day, that adds a whole other level of hairdo anxiety.

5. You get your driver’s license and the first place you drive? Practice. But your parents no longer have to spend half their day carting you around so it’s a win-win situation.

6. Pigging out on a burger and fries like everyone else isn’t really in the cards on a daily basis. While it may sound inviting, you know how it will feel at practice when you’re trying to run down the vault runway and do ten chin up pullovers in a row. Food is fuel for your body, so while your friends are flinging potato chips into their mouths at lunch, you eat that juicy apple and enjoy it.



7. Somehow, you can successfully do flips on a four-inch beam, but have trouble walking on solid ground without falling. If only tripping over mats was an Olympic sport…

8. Those giant callouses are a lovely addition to your hands… there’s no holding hands with anyone without a disclaimer. But a callous is better than a rip, so really they are blessings in disguise. Rips are simply the worst. Your friends try to say they are “cool” and show that you’re “tough” (which you are), but they’ve clearly never had to shower with one hand. It’s not cool.



9. Taking a trip to the bathroom before front tumbling is absolutely essential…enough said.

10. Sometimes on a weekend after many consecutive days of pounding your body to the ground (in the most productive way, of course), you just need to stay in, relax, and sit in front of the TV in an oversized T-shirt and slippers. Yes, it may be classified as anti-social, but you’re socially awkward anyway so it’s really not a big deal.

Comment below if you have other common #gymnastprobs to share!


Related:
10 Signs You're an Ex-Gymnast
10 Sacrifices Gymnasts Make
15 Signs You're The Parent Of A Gymnast