What You’ll Learn: In this blog, we will discuss what cycle syncing is and how listening to your body’s natural rhythm and fueling for the different phases of your menstrual cycle can help you as a female athlete achieve your peak performance.
By: Heidi Harris, RD-N, LD-N, CD-N
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By: Heidi Harris, RD-N, CD-N, LD-N
What you’ll learn: In this blog, we will discuss the different heart rate zones, dive into the percentages of maximum heart rate and what type of nutritional support you can provide your body to help optimize your next heart rate training session.‡
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By: Heidi Harris, RD-N, CD-N, LD-N
What You’ll Learn: In this blog, we interview Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Janet Lavrich who gives us her professional tips as to how to help support your connective tissue and overall ligament health.‡
The Connection:
It’s here: training season is upon us. I know, your performance, your outcome and your overall training schedule is probably at the forefront of your mind. But have you felt the stiffness in your joints after training? Have you noticed a slowness to recover? Have you noticed the achiness in your muscles more recently? I’d be willing to bet that there’s something else you may be concerned about… your ligaments. Ligaments are those short bands of tough, fibrous connective tissue which work to connect bones or cartilage to a larger muscle at a joint.1 As an athlete, you know nurturing your connective tissue is crucial to peak performance. The last thing anyone wants is to be sidelined for half of a season because you’re nursing poorly nurtured connective tissue.‡
By: Heidi Harris, RD-N, CD-N, LD-N
What You’ll Learn: In this blog, we will talk about why it’s important to support your hydration during the colder winter months and discuss how to support your hydration during winter fitness.‡
Winter Fitness at its Finest:
As athletes, we know how important it is to stick to our exercise training and fitness goals. Exercising in the winter can really be a challenging time, filled with many obstacles we wouldn’t otherwise experience during the warmer weather months. Getting the motivation to go exercise in the cold temperatures can be a challenge, from dealing with that cold air burn in your lungs to starting your workout in darkness – because let’s be honest, it starts getting dark at 3:30pm.‡
One way to help your winter fitness be a success is by supporting your hydration. It’s a common misconception to think dehydration may only be a risk during the summer months. While, it may not feel like it, athletes may also run the risk of dehydration during the colder weather months because of not being properly hydrated. Hydration is an important part of any fitness routine, even during the winter months and especially when exercising in colder temperatures. Keep reading to find our why your body needs to be properly hydrated before winter exercise and how you can help support your hydration before your next workout.‡
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By: Heidi Harris, RD-N, CD-N, LD-N
What You’ll Learn: In this blog, we will identify what Threshold Training is, discuss the different energy zones and which nutrients help fuel your workout in each zone.
Before We Begin:
Hello! My name is Heidi. I’m a Registered Dietitian, certified strength training and conditioning coach and certified SpinPower® instructor. Today, I want to talk with you about a common theme in both strength training and endurance exercises like cycling, running and swimming: Threshold Training. We’ll focus on nutrients to help fuel you as an athlete to your next level of optimal performance.‡
What is Threshold Training?
You may have heard of threshold training if you’ve ever researched strategies on preparing for a long-distance run, bike ride or maybe even a 500 meter freestyle swim. Threshold training is all about making small, gradual gains that lead to great outcomes and individualized improvements to help you accomplish your training goals.Threshold training is a type of individualized training program that utilizes five different training zones and a personalized threshold to help athletes yield greater athletic progress and performance without running the risk of over-exercising.1
By Retained Advisor Leslie J. Bonci, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN+
(biography click here)
Winter can be beautiful with crisp, cold air and snow, but before you venture outdoors, make sure you are properly fueled. Your winter gear is more than just external equipment (hat, gloves and coat, it is also recommended to check your internal equipment (food and fluid).
So how can you winterize to optimize?
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Created by Karlyn Grimes, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD+
(biography click here)
When training sessions or competition are successfully completed, the real work begins. Refueling and rehydrating should be the top priority so the body can favorably adapt to training demands, prepare for future sessions and progressively improve. Ultimately, optimal post-exercise nutrition will largely depend on the type of exercise, and the intensity, duration and frequency of the exercise bouts.2 This portion of the Klean Nutrient Timing series will focus mainly on repletion during the two hour post-exercise ‘anabolic window’ while the final part of the series will address daily nutrient timing strategies that will further support physiological training adaptations and performance yield.‡ Continue reading …
Created by Karlyn Grimes, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD+
(biography click here)
Now that we know what and when to eat prior to exercise, it’s time to keep the fuel tanks stocked and the bodily engines primed to go the distance. Recommendations for fueling during exercise will vary based on pre-exercise feedings, glycogen status, and planned exercise intensity and duration. Additionally, it should go without saying that all guidelines are subject to trial and error. It is crucial that athletes experiment during training so they can adjust their food and fluid intake based on gut tolerance, and find their perfect intra-exercise nutrient timing routine.
Created by Karlyn Grimes, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD+
(biography click here)
Nutrient timing refers to a strategic approach of consuming foods, beverages and/or supplements at predetermined times to obtain specific performance-based outcomes. The Klean Nutrient Timing series will address the ins and outs of pre-, during and post-nutrient timing, as well as daily maintenance, with the goal of optimizing performance and promoting immune health in athletes. Please note that all guidelines are subject to trial and error. It’s crucial to experiment during training so athletes can adjust their food and fluid volume based on gut tolerance and to find a perfect daily nutrient timing routine.
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By Sponsored Team & Friends of QT2 Training Systems
With warmer months behind us and winter in full effect, ‘tis the season for hot and humid indoor training, when hydration is furthest from our minds — yet it’s paramount to our physical fitness. Hydration dictates how we train, recover and feel throughout the day! Here are some tips and tricks to keep you at your best, and not let dehydration put a damper on your training!
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