Inside Sports Nutrition

Blood work can feel straightforward until you realize how much context actually matters.In this episode, we talk through why standard blood panels often miss the bigger picture, how to interpret biomarkers without jumping to conclusions, and why tracking trends over time can change how you understand your health and performance.-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

Are the original principles of Metabolic Efficiency Training still applicable with the continuing emergence of high carb fueling, gut training, and newer conversations around brain energy?  In this armchair-style conversation, Bob and Dina talk through where Metabolic Efficiency Training still holds strong, where it may be evolving, and how these approaches can coexist depending on the athlete. We also dig into why testing remains one of the most valuable tools for building a fueling strategy that actually fits you.-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

In this installment of our Under the Microscope series, we take a closer look at the product "Flow" by the company Oomph. Flow is a non-stimulant pre-workout designed to support focus and cognition without relying on caffeine or other stimulants. We break down the ingredient profile, discuss what the product is and what it isn’t, and explore which athletes might find a supplement like this useful. We also share observations from Bob’s personal trials of the product. Check out this episode to see if Flow is a supplement you may want to consider. Learn more about oomph Flow on their website. -------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

Is more carbohydrate always better, or does your gut need to be trained like your legs?In this episode, we sit down with Roxanne Vogel, PhD, Director of Research and Education at GU Energy Labs, to unpack what gut training actually means, how carbohydrates use different transport systems, and why carbohydrate tolerance varies so much between athletes. We also explore the "why" behind gut training, high carb feeding, metabolic flexibility, the role of hot environments, and what personalized carbohydrate strategies may look like in the near future.More about our guest:Roxanne Gonzales Vogel is a scientist, athlete, and adventurer. As the Director of Research and Education at GU Energy Labs, she oversees the brand’s Performance Lab and works with elite athletes to optimize nutrition for performance, health, and longevity. She holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology from Southern Cross University in Australia, where her research focused on environmental physiology and strategies to improve athletic performance in the presence of environmental stressors, including heat, cold, and hypoxia. Roxanne’s research interests are largely inspired by her pursuits as a high-altitude mountaineer and ultra-endurance athlete. In May of 2019, she summited Mount Everest in a fraction of the time it normally takes—two weeks as opposed to two months— using a novel pre-acclimation protocol and custom nutrition products she developed to make the record-breaking ascent possible. Roxanne is also an experienced trail runner, competing primarily in mountain ultramarathons, including the iconic Leadville 100 where she placed 4th in 2022. She has spent the past 15 years studying nutrition and its impact on body composition, athletic performance, and cognitive function. Roxanne currently lives and trains in Mammoth Lakes, CA.-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

We sit down with Dr. Andrew Koutnik to explore the evolving science behind carbohydrate intake, metabolic flexibility, and athletic performance. We discuss how carbohydrate recommendations have changed over time, why muscle glycogen may not fully explain performance outcomes, and how brain energy metabolism contributes to fatigue and output. This is not a pro- or anti-carbohydrate conversation, but a thoughtful look at context, individual variability, and the balance between health and performance. If you’ve ever wondered whether carbohydrate guidelines are as fixed as they seem, this episode invites a more nuanced and personalized way of thinking about fueling.Links: Learn more about Dr. Koutnik on his websiteCarbohydrate Ingestion and Exercise Metabolism review paper from 2026-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

In this installment of our Under the Microscope series, we break down the meal replacement powder: Ka’Chava. We review its nutrition profile, ingredient features, and cost while asking a simple but important question: does it actually function as a complete meal? If you’ve ever considered relying on an all-in-one shake for convenience, this conversation will help you think more critically about what you’re getting for your money.-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

We sit down with Chris Harris from Precision Fuel & Hydration to talk about hydration and sodium needs for athletes before, during, and after exercise. We reference the recent review paper by Dr. McCubbin (linked below) as our discussion guide. This conversation will help you think more clearly about your own hydration strategy and why testing and context matter far more than blanket rules.Links: Review paper we reference by Dr. Alan McCubbinPrecision Fuel & Hydration Knowledge HubChris's own case studies on the Precision Fuel & Hydration websiteMore about our guest:Chris holds an MSc in Sport and Exercise Physiology and works as a Sports Scientist at Precision Fuel & Hydration, where he helps endurance athletes develop personalised hydration and fueling strategies informed by scientific research and multiple years working in the field. He previously worked as an Exercise Physiologist for several National Governing Bodies in the UK. Chris spends his 'spare time' being a competitive triathlete who has raced at the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, ticked off a 2:40 marathon on debut, and generally loves practicing what he preaches!-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

One of the most striking changes in the new 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the inverted food pyramid. In this episode, we talk through what stood out to us, including updated protein recommendations, how fats and added sugars are positioned, and what the guidelines emphasize about real food. Check it out and see what may pertain to your food plan.-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. Let's connect on your platform of choice:  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

If you’ve ever stood in front of a wall of plant-based protein bars wondering which one actually to choose, this episode is for you. We break down the crowded protein bar landscape by reviewing a handful of vegan options (NuGo, IQ Bar, TruBar, and Aloha) and talk through what ingredients, macronutrient profiles, and other details to consider when you’re making a choice.For a summary chart of the bars we review, join our Patreon Community to get the breakdown. -------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. We’d love to connect with you on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

If you’re heading into a new season with the same fueling plan, it might be time to pause and ask one important question: "Should I change my sports nutrition?"In this episode, we talk through when it makes sense to change your sports nutrition and how to recognize signs that your current fueling approach may no longer match your training or your body. If you’re an endurance athlete or team sport athlete wondering whether your nutrition plan still fits your goals for this season, this conversation will help you think more clearly about when to adjust and when to stay the course.-------Drop a question in our free Patreon Community and get access to bonus content with Bob and Dina by upgrading to the Gold Level membership. You'll also be showing your support and helping to keep the podcast free of sponsorship ads. We’d love to connect with you on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.The show is brought to you by eNRG Performance and The Nutrition Mechanic. 

Alcohol doesn’t just affect you the night you’re drinking - it influences how you sleep, recover, and perform (cognitively and physically) in the time that follows. If you do consume alcohol, this episode walks through practical ways to reduce its potential impact by paying attention to what happens before, during, and after drinking.Here is the relatively new probiotic supplement we mention towards the end of the episode.Let us know your questions about alcohol over in our free Patreon Community where you can interact with us (@isnpodcast) and opt to show your support for the by joining our low-cost Silver or Gold level membership. -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out our YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

Your physiology doesn't always follow what the textbooks say. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Marco Altini (ultra runner, endurance coach, data scientist, and thinker at the intersection of physiology, technology, and performance). Marco opens up about the moment he realized that doing the same high-carb diet he recommended to himself for years wasn’t actually working as well as he thought. He walks us through how shifting to a periodized approach - changing fueling based on training demands rather than sticking to a fixed carb ratio - improved his fat oxidation, gut health, and performance markers in ways he hadn’t seen before. Marco grounds the discussion in real data, including how his substrate oxidation changed after adjusting his diet and why better metabolic flexibility matters for endurance athletes. Along the way, we tackle common misconceptions about high-carb diets, the link between GI distress and fueling strategy, and why testing beats guessing when you want to understand your own response to food and training.What we cover in this episode:Why metabolic efficiency is not a single target, but a moving rangeHow nutrition periodization can support training without wrecking your gutThe overlooked connection between GI distress and everyday dietary patternsWhat Marco learned from tracking substrate oxidation instead of guessingHow fat oxidation and VO₂-related metrics can change with nutrition shiftsWhy weight loss is not the same thing as improved performanceThe role of testing in understanding what your body actually responds toHow to think critically about fueling without copying elite or influencer strategiesLinks:Follow Dr. Altini's Substack and find him on Instagram @altini_marcoMarco's Substack article "Periodized Nutrition and Metabolic Flexbility for Endurance Performance"Marco's Substack article "Learnings from a Year of Periodized Nutrition and Metabolic Testing"Bob's Metabolic Efficiency Training book (3rd edition)More about our guest: Marco holds a PhD cum laude in applied machine learning, a M.Sc. cum laude in computer science engineering, and a M.Sc. cum laude in human movement sciences and high-performance coaching. He has published more than 50 papers and patents at the intersection between physiology, health, technology and human performance. He is the co-founder of HRV4Training, Endurance Coach at Destination Unknown, advisor at Oura, guest lecturer at VU Amsterdam, and editor of the Wearables department of IEEE Pervasive Computing. He loves running.Download the Patreon app to join our free Community (@isnpodcast) and become a supporter of the show by joining our low-cost Silver or Gold level membership. -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out the YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

In this last episode of 2025, we provide our top 2 recommendations for what to do in 2026. -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out our YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

Are PRMs just another trendy supplement, or are they doing something fundamentally different? In this episode, we do a quick overview of Pro Resolving Mediator supplements, how they differ from fish oil, and why resolving inflammation is not the same as suppressing it. Tune in to learn more! What are your questions about PRM supplements? Let us know over in our free Patreon Community (@isnpodcast).  -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out our YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

If you’ve seen the growing wave of menopause supplements and felt unsure what to make of them, you’re not alone. In this Under the Microscope episode, Dina and Bob review a few products targeted towards menopause and discuss ingredient profiles, quality, safety, and marketing tactics being used in this supplement category. The episode is designed to help you cut through the noise and encourage you to evaluate supplements more carefully so you can decide what’s worth your attention and what is not worth your money.What are your questions menopause supplements? Let us know over in our free Patreon Community (@isnpodcast).  -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out our YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

In this episode, Dina and Bob talk through a recent Triathlete magazine article outlining how some of the top professional athletes fueled at the Ironman World Championships in Nice and Kona this year. We review the carbohydrate intake ranges along with the fluid and sodium data and add context for what may explain the differences among the pros and why these strategies don’t always translate to age-group competition.Links:Article from Triathlete.com: An Analysis of Ironman World Championship Pros' High-Carb Nutrition Plans What are your questions about high carb fueling? Let us know over in our free Patreon Community (@isnpodcast).  -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out our YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

We sit down with Selene Yeager, Menopause & Women's Health Expert and Host of the Hit Play Not Pause Podcast, for a grounded conversation about the current pulse of women's specific nutrition and fitness recommendations, along with what’s changing in menopause healthcare. We discuss some of the issues with research, health advice on social media that causes confusion for women, and the importance of acknowledging unique physiology paired with the individual experience. It's an engaging and refreshing conversation with Selene that we hope you'll enjoy as much as we did!Links:Follow Selene Yeager on Instagram at @fitchick3Check out Selene's podcast Hit Play Not PauseFind a Certified Menopause Practitioner in the USA or other menopause resourcesSelene's Feisty 40+ NewsletterOur previous conversation with Selene in episode #93More about our guest: Selene Yeager is host of the Hit Play Not Pause podcast, Content Manager at Feisty Menopause, and a best-selling professional health and fitness writer, including the co-author of ROAR and Next Level with Dr. Stacy Sims. She lives what she writes as an NASM certified personal trainer, Pn1 certified nutrition coach, off road racer, and former All-American Ironman triathlete. Download the Patreon app to join our free Community (@isnpodcast) and become a supporter of the show by joining our low-cost Silver or Gold level membership. -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out the YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

We’re kicking off our new Under the Microscope series where we do an analysis and review of various sports nutrition products, supplements, and food products. In this episode, we highlight Frog Fuel—a Navy SEAL–developed recovery protein shot—and UCAN Edge Energy Gel, uncovering some interesting and surprising findings about amino acids, nutrition data provided on labels, and carbohydrate sources that may or may not provide energy. For extra fun, also check out our YouTube video where we do some show-and-tell with the products themselves.Links:FrogFuel Recovery Protein ShotUCAN Edge Salted CaramelWhat product would you like us to review? Let us know over in our free Patreon Community (@isnpodcast).  -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out our YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

How many calories does someone actually consume over a 240-mile foot race, and what’s happening in the body during the days it takes to feel human again? And what do Oatmeal Creme Pies and Nutter Butters have to do with it?Sports Dietitian Becca Rick returns to walk us through her second Moab 240, sharing what shifted in her training, nutrition, and race prep that helped her cut eight hours off her stop time from last year. We dig into her fluid and calorie intake during the race, how her gut handled the highs and lows, and what her early “energy burn” data revealed in the four days after finishing. It’s a rare look at the demands of a 240-mile effort and the repair work the body launches into as soon as the race is over.Follow Becca on Instagram @becs_slc and find her at The Nutrition Mechanic or University of Utah.Links:Instagram Video from @destinationtrail immediately after Becca won the raceTotal Energy Expenditure and Intake During a 161-km Mountain Ultramarathon (Creer et al, 2025)Ultra-endurance athletes and the metabolic ceiling (Best et al, 2025)Total Energy Expenditure and Nutritional Intake in Continuous Multiday Ultramarathon Events (Best et al, 2023)Download the Patreon app to join our free Community (@isnpodcast) and become a supporter of the show by joining our low-cost Silver or Gold level membership. -------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out the YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.

What’s missing from the "Carbs are King" narrative that could be a disservice to your health? In this episode, Bob and Dina explore the often overlooked layers of nutrition message, including the roles of hormonal control, gut health, and food quality. It’s a fresh, nuanced take that goes beyond macros and brings context, clarity, and the need for personalization back into the conversation.Let us know your questions and concerns about carbohydrates over in our free Patreon Community (@isnpodcast).  We’d love to hear from you!-------Subscribe to our show to get the weekly episodes and also check out the YouTube channel.You can help us remain 100% ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content and behind-the-scenes conversations with Bob and Dina. Join our Patreon community or find us in the Patreon app by searching ISNPodcast.We’d love to connect with you on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition And when you’re ready to level up your health and performance even more, check out the services offered by Bob and Dina at their respective businesses.