Performance Nutrition Pod

S2E26: Athlete Chronotypes: Performance & Coaching Implications w/ Dr. Michele Lastella PhD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #26

Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Michele Lastella, PhD to talk chronotypes and athletes. In this episode, Dr. Michele discusses the three main chronotypes and how athlete chronotype can impact performance. He also shares how athletes participating in a sport which suits their chronotype (e.g. morning type participating in a morning sport) are more likely to train and perform optimally, digs into whether athletes are unconsciously self-selecting morning or evening sports and why coaches should consider athlete chronotype when scheduling training and competition. Dr. Michele also shares sleep hygiene tips, how to adjust your chronotype and suggestions for winding down and upgrading sleep. 

About Dr. Michele Lastella PhD

Dr. Lastella is sleep researcher at the Appleton Institute for Behavioural Science at CQUniversity Adelaide, South Australia. Dr. Lastella has several research interests including sleep, recovery, sport psychology, psychological well-being and performance. Coming from an elite sporting background Dr. Lastella brings experience from both an athlete perspective as well as a researcher perspective. He has worked with several elite sporting organisations examining sleep, recovery, and performance. In the three years since completing his PhD in Psychology Michele has published twenty-eight international research papers (a majority as first-author), with two of these being amongst the most cited papers for 2014 and 2015 in the host publication, European Journal of Sports Science.  Follow Michele on Twitter.

Link to Research Papers

Sleeping to a Schedule: Does Chronotype Play a Part?

The Athlete Chronotype


S2E25: Impacts of Keto Diet on CrossFit Performance & Body Comp w Dr. Wes Kephart PhD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #25

Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Wes Kephart, PhD to discuss his recent paper on Body Composition, Blood Parameters, and Performance Metrics in CrossFit Trainees. We’ve got all the buzz words teed up for this episode as Wes dives into the rationale and set-up of his study on CrossFitters and Keto diets, impacts the 12-week nutrition strategy had on the their performance (e.g. 1-RM squat and 400m sprint), body composition, and blood markers. Wes also discusses some limitations of the study and things for the coach or athlete to consider before diving into this approach, as well as sharing his thoughts on supplementation after years in the research side of things. All this and much more!

 

About Dr. Wes Kephart PhD

Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Dr. Kephart obtained his PhD from Auburn University, where the majority of his research centered on supplementation and the ketogenic diet. He currently has 30 published manuscripts and once held an American record as a raw powerlifter in 2014.

Link to Research Papers

The Three-Month Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Body Composition, Blood Parameters,and Performance Metrics in CrossFit Trainees: A Pilot Study

Ketogenic diet does not affect strength performance in elite artistic gymnasts



S2E24: Sprinters, Hockey Players & Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) w/ Jen Sygo MSc RD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #24

Dr. Bubbs interviews Jen Sygo RD MS, Performance Nutritionist for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and Athletics Canada to talk relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). In this episode, Jen will discuss her recent study on REDS in female sprinters, share primary red flag symptoms and secondary ones to watch out for, and talk about the common misconception of low energy availability in power and sprint sports, and the consequences on performance. Jen also shares new insights on within day energy balance, the difficulties in assessing energy intake and expenditure, when athletes are “circling the drain” and share her experience working with NHL hockey players during the grueling playoff run and fueling in compressed competition schedules. 

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About Jennifer Sygo

Jennifer Sygo MS is Registered Dietitian and Performance Nutritionist for the Toronto Raptors and Athletics Canada. She is the author of Unmasking Superfoods, a national best-seller in Canada in 2014. Find out more at JenniferSygo.com and follow Jen on Twitter.


Link to Research Paper

Prevalence of Indicators of Low Energy Availability in Elite Female Sprinters


S2E23: Workload Monitoring & Player Development in the NBA w/ Ramsey Nijem DSc

SEASON 2, EPISODE #23

Dr. Bubbs interviews Ramsey Nijem DSc, the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. In this episode, Ramsey will discuss workload monitoring in team sport, the acute to chronic ratio and the relationship that exists between workload, fatigue, and injury. He’ll share his insights on the fine balance between pushing athletes too hard and not hard enough, how to balance out workloads in team sports when players are logging vastly different minutes, as well as navigating the inter-individual responses to training and why some players can tolerate much more than others. Ramsey also talks about the role of sleep and nutrition in recovery, highlights some of the fundamental exercises he uses with the Sacramento Kings players and much more. 

About Ramsey Nijem

Ramsey Nijem DSc is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings responsible for all aspects of sport performance including strength and conditioning, sport science, and nutrition. Ramsey earned his M.S. from the Center for Sport Performance at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a Doctor of Science candidate studying Human and Sport Performance.


S2E22: Blood Tests & Biomarkers for Coaches Health & Longevity w/ Dr. Richard Maurer ND

SEASON 2, EPISODE #22

Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Richard Maurer ND, author of The Blood Code to talk about the top blood tests and biomarkers for health and longevity. In this episode, Dr. Maurer discusses measures of insulin resistance and how it may impact your health and nutrition choices, the value of the Tg/HDL ratio in heart health and how it compares to more conventional markers, thyroid markers, key micronutrients and the role of inflammation in health and longevity. Dr. Maurer shares some great pearls of wisdom from over two decades of working with clients. 

About Dr. Richard Maurer ND

Dr. Richard Maurer is a licensed naturopathic doctor who, after practicing in a primary care setting for over twenty years, now provides a unique perspective on metabolic health and recovery. Dr. Maurer puts you in the driver’s seat of your health and wellness, helping you decode blood test results to find the diet and fitness habits that reverse and prevent pre and type 2 diabetes, weight gain and hypothyroid problems.


Link to Research Paper/Book

The Blood Code: Unlock the secrets of your metabolism


S2E21: Nutrition for Figure Competition Prep and Getting Lean w/ Alicia Bell

SEASON 2, EPISODE #21

Dr. Bubbs chats with figure competitor, fitness model and former track and field coach Alicia Bell to discuss prep for figure competition. In this episode, Alicia talks nutrition, training and supplement strategies she uses to beat the competition: how far out from competition she starts dieting, her macro splits and percentage calorie drops from week to week. She discusses her preferred cardio, from steady-state to HIIT, as well as her favourite recovery strategies like infra-red sauna and cryotherapy. Alicia finishes off by talking mindset and the mental game of competition prep and leaning out, as well as some pearls of wisdom from years of competing.

About Alicia Bell

Alicia Bell is an elite Figure Athlete, Fitness Model, and former Track & Field Coach, based in Toronto, Canada

Books/Research Article Links

http://www.trainitright.com

 


S2E20: Flow-State, The Athletic Brain & Overcoming Over-Thinking w Amit Katwala

SEASON 2, EPISODE #20

Dr. Bubbs interviews award-winning writer Amit Katwala to discuss how the athletic brain impacts performance. In this episode, Amit discusses how the art of anticipation and high-speed decision making sets elite athlete’s brains apart from the rest of us, describes what happens in the brain when athletes overthink during competition, reviews the connection between brain neuroplasticity, BDNF and dopamine, how to get into a flow-state, strategies for performing under pressure… and much, much more. 

About Amit Katwala

Amit is an award-winning sport, science and technology writer, editor, speaker. He is author of the highly acclaimed book The Athletic Brain: How Neuroscience is Revolutionising Sport and Can Help You Perform Better . Follow Amit on Twitter.


S2E19: Periodization, Concurrent Training & Nutrition for Powerlifters w Greg Nuckols MS(c)

SEASON 2, EPISODE #19

Dr. Bubbs sits down with Greg Nuckols MSc, exercise physiologist with special research interest in strength development and former world-record holding powerlifter. In this episode, Greg talks about the history and theory of periodization, and where theory meets practice in the application of the concept. He outlines concurrent training, the interference effect and factors to consider for strength and team sport athletes, as well as finding the root cause of an athlete’s inability to perform, overcoming training roadblocks in powerlifting, nutrition factors to consider for powerlifters and much, much more! 

About Greg Nuckols

Greg has over a decade of experience under the bar, a BSc in Exercise and Sports Science, and is working on a Masters in Exercise Physiology. Greg has also held 3 all-time world records in powerlifting in the 220 and 242 classes. His passion is making complex information more easily understandable for athletes, coaches, and fitness enthusiasts. Find out more at strongerbyscience.com and subscribe to his Monthly Applications in Strength Sport (MASS).


Research Articles

Macronutrient intake in Collegiate powerlifters participating in off season training

 

S2E18: Fasting Glucose, Inflammation, Keto & HIIT w/ Alessandro Ferretti

Season 2 Episode #18

Dr. Bubbs sits down with Alessandro Ferretti to discuss the role of fasted morning glucose as a marker for health, recovery and longevity. Alessandro outlines what impacts your fasting glucose marker, when and how to measure, and some pitfalls of over-interpretation. Alessandro also discusses his recent research with Dr. Daniel Plews and Prof Paul Laursen on the effects of a ketogenic diet on HIIT training performance and the keys of how to interpret them into your practice.

About Alessandro Ferretti

Alessandro Ferretti is founder of Equilibria Health, recognized as one of the UK’s leading providers of nutrition education. His most recent focus is studying the relationship between HRV and blood glucose levels, recently Collaborating with Dr. Daniel Plews, Dr. Paul Larsen in 3 scientific papers in sport performance. Keep up-to-date with Alessandro's work on Twitter.

 

Research Article

Effects of a 4-Week Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet on High-Intensity Interval Training Responses


S2E16: Dietary Supplements & The High Performance Athlete w Prof. Stuart Phillips PhD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #16

Dr. Bubbs interviews world expert Professor Stuart Phillips PhD to talk about his contribution to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recent research and consensus statement on the use of supplements in sport. In this episode, Stu discusses athlete rationale and motives for using supplements, caffeine dosing strategies for endurance based exercise versus repeated sprints, the application of dietary nitrates and what exercise duration benefits most, as well as evidence-based immune support supplements (sharing which are more hype than substance). Stu also outlines supplements that indirectly support performance via improving capacity to train or recovery such as HMB, omega-3s, and collagen supplements, as well as the  ‘decision making’ tree to help coaches, athletes and practitioners figure out how to best apply supplement strategies.

About Prof. Stuart Phillips, PhD

Professor Phillips is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health, Professor in Kinesiology, and Adjunct Professor in the School of Medicine at McMaster University in Canada. He is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American College of Nutrition (ACN) and his research is focused on the impact of nutrition and exercise on human skeletal muscle protein turnover. Professor Phillips currently has more than 18,000 career citations, and 200 original scientific research and review papers. Follow Prof. Phillips on Twitter


Research Article

IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete


The “Big Rocks” – Stu’s Tip

“Sleep, training and nutrition must be dialed in… Supplements are the sprinkles on the cake!”

S2E15: Analytics, Monitoring & The 24-Hour Athlete w Jordan Webb, MS

SEASON 2, EPISODE #15

Dr. Bubbs sits down with strength coach and head of sport science at The University of Notre-Dame Jordan Webb. In this episode, Jordan shares his experiences working in professional sport in the NBA, NFL, MLS as well as his current role with men’s soccer and women’s rowing. Jordan talks pros and cons of athlete monitoring, integrating technology and analytics into a system, and the fundamental role of effective communication to achieve athlete buy-in and program success.


 About Jordan Webb

Head of Sport Science at the world-renowned University of Notre-Dame. Follow Jordan on Twitter.

Check out the University of Notre-Dame – Human Performance Summit

Jordan's “Big Rock” 

Learning to effectively communicate to be a great coach (a lesson he learned from his mentors).

S2E14: Energy Balance, Carb Availability & Micronutrients for Performance w/ Kelly Anne Erdman MS, RD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #14

Dr. Bubbs interviews former Olympian and nutrition expert Kelly Anne Erdman of the Canadian Sport Institute in Calgary to talk Nutrition and Athletic Performance. In this episode, Kelly Anne dives into the key role of energy balance and availability, factors that impact energy availability, the crucial role of carbohydrates in high-intensity exercise, glycogen’s direct and indirect role in regulating training adaptations, as well as daily carb requirements depending on your sport, acute fueling strategies, key micronutrients and much more. Terrific insights from Kelly Anne.


About Kelly Anne Erdman MS, RD

Kelly Anne Erdman is a Performance Dietician at the Canadian Sport Institute in Calgary and contributing author to the recent Joint Position Statement by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics,  Dieticians of Canada and American College of Sports Medicine on Nutrition and Athletic Performance. She provides nutrition services forOlympic & World Championship-bound athletes including the following Canadian national teams: Women’s Hockey, Men’s Sledge Hockey, Long Track Speed Skating, Paralympic Cycling, Luge Canada as well as Athletics Canada-Decathlete Damian Warner. Kelly Anne Erdman was herself a member of the Canadian Cycling team from 1985 - 1992, competing in 7 World Championships and the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.


Research & Articles

Nutrition and Athletic Performance

The “Big Rocks” – Kelly Anne’s Tip

Meal frequency – Don’t skip meals or snacks, it will catch up with you later in the day! 

S2E13: The Opioid Epidemic, Meditation & Managing Chronic Pain w Dr. Abhimanyu Sud MD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #13

Dr. Bubbs sits down with expert Dr. Abhimanyu Sud MD to talk about managing chronic pain and today’s opioid crisis. In this episode, Dr. Sud will share staggering statistics on the scope and intensity of today’s opioid epidemic, what’s driving the opioid crisis, the research evidence supporting the use of opioids for treating long-term pain, as well as the impact of opioids in sports – in particular contact sports like hockey and the NFL – and how meditation can alter areas of the brain that impact pain intensity and pain suffering. Dr. Sud also provides tips on meditation and shares insights into his routine. Make sure you listen to this fantastic episode!

About Dr. Abhimanyu Sud MD

Dr. Abhimanyu Sud MD is a family doctor and lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. He directs the Safe Opioid Prescribing Program through Continuing Professional Development at the Faculty of Medicine, which teaches doctors how to prescribe opioids for chronic pain in a safer and more evidence-informed manner. Follow Dr. Sud on Twitter.

Links To Research & Articles

https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2016/10/31/rethinking-our-understanding-of-chronic-pain-and-use-of-opioids-doctors-notes.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5056880/


The “Big Rocks” – Dr. Sud’s Tip

Commit to the meditation practice, do it everyday. 


S2E12: Bodyweight Training & Overcoming Gravity w Dr. Steven Low DPT

SEASON 2, EPISODE #12

Dr. Bubbs sits down with movement expert Dr. Steven Low to talk bodyweight training. Over the past decade gymnastic-based training has surged in popularity and in this episode, Dr. Low will discuss the principles of bodyweight training, exercise progressions and training frequency for beginners, intermediate and advanced, how to overcome roadblocks and plateaus in bodyweight training, How to perform a 1-arm push, 1-arm chin-up and awesome tips for achieving a free handstand, as well as some great warm-up and prehab work before you dive in with both feet. Tons of great tips and insights from Steve!

 

About Dr. Steven Low PhD

A former gymnast, coach, and the author of Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength (Second Edition) and Overcoming Poor Posture Steven holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland. Steve has spent thousands of hours independently researching the scientific foundations of health, fitness and nutrition. His unique knowledge base enables him to offer numerous insights into practical care for performance and injuries. Stay connected with Steven on Instagram

The “Big Rocks” - Steven’s Tip

Consistency and discipline are the key. (If you’re missing workouts, you won’t progress successfully)

 

S2E11: Assessing Body Composition, Performance Metrics & Biomarkers w/ Dr. Shawn Arent PhD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #11

Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Shawn Arent PhD, Director of the Center for Health & Human Performance at Rutgers University. Shawn dives into why body composition testing is important for athletes, compares DEXA/Bodpod/BIA/Calipers, and talks about the importance of consistency and tracking. He also discusses the use of performance metrics to assess athlete development and then take a deep dive into lab biomarkers for health and performance. Great stuff from one of the absolute best in the game!

About Dr. Shawn Arent PhD

Shawn is the Director of the Center for Health & Human Performance at Rutgers University and the current President of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Shawn’s also a fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine and the recipient of a Presidential Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. His research focuses on the relationship between physical activity and stress and the implications for health and performance. Follow Shawn on Twitter, and stay up-to-date with The Rutgers Center for Health and Human Performance.

Research Links

Workload, Energy Expenditure, and Biomarker Differences in Division I Male and Female Soccer Players: 2078 Board #91 June 1 3

Workload-related Psychological And Physiological Changes In Female College Soccer Players During A Competitive Season: 2096 Board #109 June 1 3 

Shawn’s “Big Rocks”

Take stock in “why” you want to make a change; what is the underlying reason behind that reason. Take the time to peel back the layers to find out.

S2E10: How To Apply Sleep Science Into Practice With Athletes w Dr. Cheri Mah MD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #10

Dr. Bubbs interviews world-renowned sleep expert Cheri Mah, MD, consultant to professional sports teams in all four major leagues. In this episode Cheri discusses the physiology of sleep, her early research on sleep in collegiate athletes, impacts of jet lag and crossing time zones, why pro baseball teams are sleeping in during spring training, the infamous NBA nap and her NBA Schedule Alert project with ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, as well as her key tips for supporting sleep in athletes.

About Cheri Mah

Cheri Mah MS is a research fellow at the University of California San Francisco Human Performance Center and advisor to elite athletes and professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL on sleep and performance. Follow Cheri on Twitter.

Research Links & Articles

The Effects of Sleep Extension on the Athletic Performance of Collegiate Basketball Players

The NBA schedule turns teams into the sleepwalking dead 


S2E9: The Impacts of Caffeine On Sleep & Circadian Rhythms in Athletes w Dr. Ian Dunican PhD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #9

Dr. Bubbs interviews Dr. Ian Dunican PhD to talk about the use of caffeine in pro sport and how it impacts sleep duration and efficiency. Ian shares his insights on caffeine use and habits of athletes, how caffeine use impacts sleep on game days, the fact many athletes are unaware of the amount of caffeine they consume overall, as well as his research on jet lag and sleep disorders in athletes.

About Dr. Ian Dunican PhD

Ian Dunican has twenty years international professional experience in Project Management, Health and Safety and Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) in military, mining, oil and gas. He is the Director of Sleep4Performance, an expert consultancy for FRMS and operations, and a researcher at the University of Western Australia (UWA), where he works with elite sporting organisations for optimisation of performance and recovery. Follow Ian on Twitter here.


Link to Research

Caffeine use in a Super Rugby game and its relationship to post-game sleep

S2E8: Strongman Training & Nutrition Strategies w Dain Wallis

SEASON 2, EPISODE #8

Dr. Bubbs sits down with Canadian Strongman Champion Dain Wallis to talk about his preparation for competition; training periodization, importance of technical proficiency, nutrition for hypertrophy, sleep and recovery strategies, the psychology of competition as well as applications of Strongman training for the recreational athlete. Great tips from Dain!

About Dain Wallis

Dain is a nutrition & strength coach from Toronto, Canada and currently Canada's Strongest Man in the 80kg weight class. He’s also a fellow instructor at DTS Fitness Education on the Nutrition Fundamentals course. Follow Dain on Twitter or find out more at canadasnutritioncoach.com


S2E7: Ketone Supplements & Endurance Exercise Performance with w Dr. Brianna Stubbs PhD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #7

Dr. Bubbs interviews ketone expert Dr. Brianna Stubbs PhD to discuss the impact of supplemental ketones on endurance exercise performance. In this episode, Brianna explains the differences between endogenous and exogenous ketosis, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ketones, and the impact of ketone supplements on blood glucose and lactic acid levels, as well as endurance time-trial performance. She also discusses research on exogenous ketone effects on satiety and potential implications for weight loss. Fantastic insights here from Brianna!

About Dr. Brianna Stubbs

Dr. Brianna Stubbs is a British rower and research scientist who won two gold medals for Great Britain at the 2013 and 2016 World Rowing Championships. She was the youngest person to row across the English Channel when she completed the feat in 2004, at the age of 12. Her research is focussed on ketone metabolism in athletes, the effects of different ketone supplements on human physiology, and the effects of ketone drinks on appetite. Follow Dr. Brianna Stubbs on Twitter and check out HVMN.com.

Research Link

Nutritional Ketosis Alters Fuel Preference and Thereby Endurance Performance in Athletes 


S2E6: Nutrition For Bodybuilders, Hypertrophy and Physique-Focused Athletes w Dr. Eric Helms PhD

SEASON 2, EPISODE #6

Dr. Bubbs chats with expert strength and hypertrophy researcher Dr. Eric Helms PhD to talk nutritional strategies for bodybuilders and physique-focused athletes.  In this episode, Eric outlines how protein requirements shift depending on training phase, effective weekly targets for weight loss, the key role of carbohydrates for bodybuilders and suggested intake ranges, as well as how contest prep impacts testosterone levels, evidence-based supplements to potentially add to your arsenal and the importance of using your eyes and ears to monitor progress.


About Dr. Eric Helms

An active researcher in the areas of maximum strength development, fat loss, hypertrophy and competitive physique and strength sport. He is the co-founder and regular contributor to the Monthly Applications in Strength Sport research review and is the author of the Muscle & Strength Nutrition and Training Pyramids books. Eric also coaches a handful of drug free strength and physique athletes through 3D Muscle Journey LLC, which he co-founded in 2009.


Research Link

Evidence-based recommendations for natural bodybuilding contest preparation: Nutrition and supplementation. May 2014 Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 11(1):20