Ever wonder what actually goes on in my Triathlon Nutrition Academy (TNA)? Well, you’re in luck! In this episode, I invited three inspiring athletes – Ben Meyer, Tony Hampton, and Kathleen Gilton – to share their experiences. We delve into how the program works, the issues they faced when they started, and the differences they’ve seen in their performance.

Transforming Performance Through Nutrition

Ben Meyer: From Exhaustion to Energy

Ben was a marathon runner before diving into triathlon, making running his strongest leg. However, his subpar nutrition left him exhausted by mid-race, especially during the run. Through the Academy, Ben mastered periodised nutrition, learning to eat more during intense training periods and scale back during recovery phases. This strategy has been a game-changer, enabling him to smash personal bests while maintaining consistent energy throughout races.

Kathleen Gilton: Tackling GI Issues Head-On

Kathleen returned to triathlon...

Achieving a 64-minute personal best in any triathlon is no small feat, and today, I’m excited to share how one of our incredible athletes, Steve Duquette, smashed his previous record at last year’s Sunshine Coast 70.3. As a dedicated member of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy, Steve’s journey is packed with insights that can inspire and guide triathletes aiming to elevate their performance.

A Race Day Full of Challenges

When you hear about such a massive PB, you might think the stars aligned for a perfect race. But Steve’s Sunshine Coast 70.3 was anything but easy. From choppy waves that felt like a washing machine to blinding sun that knocked him off course, Steve faced it all. Yet, his meticulous preparation and razor-sharp focus carried him through.

Steve’s success wasn’t just about overcoming physical challenges—it was about implementing a strategy that left nothing to chance, especially when it came to his nutrition. Here’s how he...

Welcome back to the Triathlon Nutrition Academy podcast for another year!

I still can't believe we're in 2025, but I hope you had an amazing holiday season filled with family, friends, relaxation, and perhaps a bit of training too.

The start of a new year is when a lot of us are setting set ambitious performance goals – but I want to make sure we’re setting goals we can reach, not ones that’ll be dropped by February.

That’s why today I’m sharing five practical and achievable nutrition goals designed for triathletes just like you!  Whether aiming for a personal best, tackling new distances, or simply enhancing your everyday energy levels, I've got insights to help you succeed.

1. Nail Your Pre and Post-Training Nutrition: This is one of the simplest ways to boost your performance and consistency is the name of the game. Pre-training, focus on carbohydrates for energy with options like toast or a banana. Post-training, ensure you're covering the "four...

2024 is almost over and I for one, am glad. It’s been a year of challenges and I’m ready to start the next chapter in 2025.  But before that, there’s still a few weeks of festive year. And, in the spirit of the season, I'm sharing 12 transformative tips to get you through the holiday season. 

While we’ve just entered Summer here in Australia, so it’s peak race season, but I know most of the world is entering Winter which is a much slower training phase. Wherever you are though, and no matter how much experience you have, these tips will help you to feel, and perform, at your best! 

Day 12: Recipes for Success: Start with simple, batch-cook recipes that save time and ensure nutrient-rich meals. From overnight oats to savoury muffins, having go-to meals tailored for active people like us makes all the difference. Visit dietitianapproved.com/recipes to download these recipes.

Day 11: Smart Snacking Strategies: Snacking can be your ally if...

How many calories should you be eating each day as a triathlete?

I’m asked this question constantly, but it’s not as simple as just giving you a number. There are so many factors to consider and a lot of misinformation that can confuse things. Don’t worry though! This week, I’m breaking down the topic of calories and giving you simple straightforward advice that can enhance your training and performance.   

As a triathlete, your caloric needs are unique and far greater than the general population. You’re not just training for one sport, but three, which means your body requires more energy to sustain those training hours. Unfortunately, many triathletes underestimate how much they need to fuel their bodies properly, which can hinder performance.

Every triathlete is unique, and your caloric intake should reflect that. Your daily caloric needs are impacted by various factors such as age, gender, body composition, and most importantly, your...

We're back with part two of my conversation with Sam Shepherd, a researcher and fellow nutrition enthusiast, diving into the science of energy production.

Last week, we explored carbohydrates in detail, so be sure to catch up on that episode. Today, we’re discussing the benefits—and drawbacks—of fat adaptation.

What is Fat Adaptation?

Fat adaptation occurs when your body uses fat as its primary energy source instead of carbohydrates. While this can be highly beneficial for low-intensity exercise, it can present challenges during high-intensity sessions. For this reason, the ultimate goal is metabolic flexibility—the ability to switch seamlessly between fuel sources based on exercise intensity. This not only enhances endurance but also reduces reliance on carbohydrate intake during races.

Training for Fat Adaptation

Sam shared strategies for athletes interested in fat adaptation:

1. Fasted Training
   Incorporating fasted sessions, especially for low-intensity...

Carbohydrates and Fats are the body’s main sources of energy in endurance sports and getting them right can make or break your race day. 

That’s why I invited Sam Shepard, a researcher and fellow nutrition enthusiast, onto the TNA podcast to discuss the science of energy production and how you can use it to perform at your best.  There’s a lot to talk about here so we’re breaking the conversation into two episodes. This week we’re focusing on carbohydrates, and next week we’ll dive into fats. 

Sam begins by sharing studies on the oxidation of carbohydrate and fat during endurance events. They’ve show that carbohydrates are the body’s main source of fuel early on but, after about two hours, fats take the lead. Knowing this can help us make better fuelling choices, but like all things sport nutrition there are a lot more factors to consider.

• Your fitness level, training status, and environmental conditions (like altitude...

Around this time last year I shared my list of gift suggestions for triathletes in episode 120 (definitely worth a listen if you haven’t done so already!). This year I’m back with four of Santa's helpers (who are also exceptional triathletes) to share 25 of their top Christmas gift ideas. 

From essential gear and training must-haves, to high-tech gadgets and professional services, this episode has something for every budget.

So if you’re looking for inspiration or want to drop some hints to friends and family, this episode is for you.

Unwrap the complete list of 25 gift ideas at: dietitianapproved.com/xmas

Some of the highlights include: 

• Triathlon is an expensive sport, so one of the best gifts you can give is paying for someone's race entry. Just make sure you’re signing them up for something they’ll actually want to do. 
• In a similar vein, bulk supplies of someone's nutrition products will always be warmly appreciated. 
• ...

As the official race nutrition products for Ironman events, Maurten gels have gained a lot of popularity among endurance athletes. But with two big options on the market, Gel 100 and Gel 160, it can be difficult to know what the right choice is for you. Today I’m breaking down the differences between the two, so you can fuel right and feel your best.

Nutrition Content: The biggest difference between Gel 100 and Gel 160 lies in their nutrition content. Gel 100 offers 20mg of sodium as well as 25 grams of carbohydrates, equating to 100 calories. On the other hand, Gel 160 contains 30mg of sodium and 40 grams of carbohydrates at 160 calories.

Overall, the Gel 160 is more energy dense, providing higher energy output per gel, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best choice. Your fuelling should be based on your individual needs and race day goals.

Caffeine Content: While Gel 100 is available in caffeinated versions, Gel 160 currently isn’t. This might change in...

As a sports dietitian I’ve studied for years to help you use nutrition to achieve your performance and health goals.  

That’s why it frustrates me to no end that people go to literally every other source (like Dr. Google, blogs, podcasts, YouTube, magazines) before talking to an expert.

People would rather listen to their coach, a training buddy, naturopaths, chiropractors, literally any other person instead of consulting a qualified sports dietitian. But none of these people are experts, and they shouldn’t be giving advice to others.

This is a big reason why there is so much confusion and misinformation around nutrition and I’m sick of spending so much time clearing it up. So today I want to talk about what exactly a sports dietician is and why we should be the gold standard source for your information.

So, what is a sports dietician?

A sports dietitian is a registered dietitian who specialises in helping athletes enhance performance through...