Fat adaptation and metabolic flexibility: Should you train your body to burn more fat?

Fat adaptation and metabolic flexibility: Should you train your body to burn more fat?

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

Last week, we went in-depth on carbohydrates, so make sure you’ve listened to that one. Today, we’re talking about the benefits (and drawbacks) of fat adaptation. So what exactly is fat adaptation?

Fat adaptation is when your body uses fat as its main energy source rather than carbohydrates. This can be extremely beneficial for low-intensity exercise but causes issues when you’re doing high-intensity session. For this reason, our goal should be metabolic flexibility, where our body can switch between fuels based on exercise intensity. This not only boosts endurance but also ensures that you're not overly reliant on carbohydrate intake during your races.

Sam shared some strategies and advice for any athletes looking to train for fat adaptation.

  1. Fasted training, especially for low-intensity workouts, can push your body to become more efficient at burning fat. Think about where you can incoporate fasted sessions into your schedule. For instance, an easy morning run can be done before breakfast to encourage fat utilisation. However, this should be approached with care and potentially under the guidance of a sports nutritionist. Consistently training in this manner can improve your fat oxidative capacity over time without compromising performance.

  2. Adjust your carbohydrate intake based on your upcoming workouts. Higher-intensity sessions call for more carbs, whereas lighter training days might need less. This method, often summarised as “fuel for the work required,” allows you to maximise fat burning while still maintaining your body’s ability to perform high-intensity efforts.

  3. Individual circumstances, including work and family commitments, should dictate training and nutrition strategies. Especially for women, considerations around stress and lifestyle factors are crucial when deciding on fasted training.

  4. Consulting with a sports dietitian can help tailor these strategies to your specific needs, providing guidance and understanding about why you’re doing it and how to adjust on the fly.

    Looking ahead, Sam shared insights into emerging research areas, such as how body weight might influence the optimal carbohydrate intake during exercise and the potential role of gut microbiome in nutrient absorption.

    As exciting as the research is, it’s still evolving which is another reason why it's so important to get a nutrition strategy that’s individualised to meet your needs.

    LINKS:

    Support the TNA Podcast: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/legend

    Check how well you’re doing when it comes to your nutrition with our 50 step checklist to Triathlon Nutrition Mastery: dietitianapproved.com/checklist

    Start working on your nutrition now with my Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart course: dietitianapproved.com/kickstart

    It’s for you if you’re a triathlete and you feel like you’ve got your training under control and you’re ready to layer in your nutrition. It's your warmup on the path to becoming a SUPERCHARGED triathlete – woohoo!

    Join the waitlist for our next opening of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy www.dietitianapproved.com/academy

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    The Triathlon Nutrition Academy is a podcast by Dietitian Approved. All rights reserved. www.dietitianapproved.com/academy

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    Creatine Gummies Exposed – 9 Brands Tested, Half Failed

    Creatine Gummies Exposed – 9 Brands Tested, Half Failed

    Are your creatine gummies actually doing anything? In this week’s episode, we reveal the results of independent lab testing on nine popular creatine gummy brands—and it's not pretty. Some delivered the goods, but others? Utterly useless. With creatine booming across social media and mainstream marketing, it’s easy to fall for fancy packaging. But as triathletes, we need performance—not candy. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why creatine gummies are having a moment Quick refresher: What is creatine and why use it? Who actually benefits from creatine (spoiler: not everyone) The shocking results of James Smith’s independent testing Which 5 brands failed and why The 4 that passed and delivered close to label claims How to spot a fake: 3 simple red flags The Aussie company leading the way with transparent batch testing Is there still a place for creatine gummies in sport? Links & Resources: James Smith Creatine Studies Listen to Episode 188 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 Sep 14min

    What It Takes to Fuel Your First Ironman

    What It Takes to Fuel Your First Ironman

    What It Takes to Fuel Your First Ironman with Steve Duquette Thinking about doing your first full Ironman? Don’t leave your performance to chance. In this episode, I’m joined by long-time TNA athlete Steve Duquette, who recently completed his first Ironman at Ironman Canada—and felt strong from start to finish. We dig into the practical nutrition strategies that gave him the confidence to go all in, and how he avoided common race-day disasters like cramps, GI issues and bonking. Whether you’re considering going long or already knee-deep in training, this episode will help you understand what it actually takes to fuel the training, execute a bulletproof race day strategy and enjoy the journey. In this episode we cover: Steve’s journey from cramping cyclist to confident Ironman finisher How nutrition gave him the confidence to step up to the full distance Key differences in fuelling 70.3 vs Ironman training What went wrong in training—and how he fixed it before race day The full race day strategy: carb loading, electrolytes, hydration and more Sweat testing, spreadsheets and how data built confidence Steve’s advice for anyone still winging it What he’d change next time and his goals for 2027 Links & Resources: 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 Aug 28min

    Why Sleep Is Your #1 Recovery Tool with Dr Michael Grandner

    Why Sleep Is Your #1 Recovery Tool with Dr Michael Grandner

    Struggling to recover despite solid training and nutrition? You might be missing the most powerful recovery tool of all — sleep. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Michael Grandner, Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona and a world-leading expert in sleep science. We break down exactly why sleep matters so much for endurance athletes, what’s really going on when you miss sleep, and how to get better quality shut-eye — even when you’re training hard, managing work and juggling life. We cover: Why sleep is essential for adaptation and recovery — not just rest The truth about how much sleep triathletes actually need What to do if your sleep is disrupted or inconsistent Why wearables are helpful — but not the whole story Practical strategies to improve sleep tonight Links & Resources: Dive into Dr Grandners Research: Google Scholar Citations Connect with Dr Michael Grandner:WebsiteInstagram LinkedIn 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 Aug 42min

    Are You a Burnt-Out Triathlete? Answer These 3 Questions

    Are You a Burnt-Out Triathlete? Answer These 3 Questions

    Feeling flat, foggy or just can’t be bothered to train? Burnout doesn’t always come in hot with a meltdown and a for-sale bike post. Sometimes it’s the slow creep of fatigue, motivation dips and sugar cravings that chip away at your performance and love of the sport. In this episode, Taryn unpacks the 3 key questions every triathlete should ask themselves to figure out if they’re on the burnout train — and what to do if the answer is yes. What you’ll learn: Why this topic hits close to home for so many triathletes Question 1: Are you feeling flat all the time? The sneaky signs of under-fuelling you might be ignoring Question 2: What’s really happening after your sessions? Recovery nutrition mistakes that cost you more than you think Question 3: Hungry all the time or not at all? Here’s why that matters Real talk on what burnout looks like and how to fix it LINKS: Link to paper 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 Aug 13min

    Extra Virgin Olive Oil vs Ibuprofen – What the Science Says

    Extra Virgin Olive Oil vs Ibuprofen – What the Science Says

    Did you know the humble bottle of extra virgin olive oil in your pantry could be doing more than just making your salad taste good? In this episode, I’m unpacking a game-changing compound found in high quality EVOO – oleocanthal – which behaves just like ibuprofen. We’re talking natural anti-inflammatory power that can help reduce exercise-associated inflammation, support recovery and keep your immune system firing – without wrecking your gut or kidneys like NSAIDs can. You’ll learn: What oleocanthal is and why it’s like nature’s ibuprofen How to spot a good quality EVOO (not all are created equal) Why this simple pantry staple could be a secret weapon in your recovery strategy LINKS: Link to paper 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 Aug 12min

    200 Episodes In – Fuel Tactics That Made TNA Athletes Faster

    200 Episodes In – Fuel Tactics That Made TNA Athletes Faster

    Think you're eating right for triathlon but still underperforming? In this milestone 200th episode, the mic flips as four inspiring Triathlon Nutrition Academy athletes interview Taryn about the game-changing strategies that turned their training, racing and health around. From ditching the guesswork to losing 20kg, improving diabetes, and smashing PBs, this episode is packed with real stories of what's possible when your nutrition is dialled. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the philosophies behind the TNA program, why age-groupers should stop copying the pros, and what actually works when you're juggling training with work, family and life. If you're serious about improving performance, staying injury-free and fuelling smarter, not harder, this episode is a must-listen. LINKS: 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 Juli 36min

    Plant vs Animal Protein – Which Builds More Muscle?

    Plant vs Animal Protein – Which Builds More Muscle?

    Are plant-based proteins really good enough for triathletes chasing strength gains and performance? Or do animal proteins still reign supreme? In this episode, I dive into a brand-new systematic review comparing plant and animal proteins on muscle mass, strength and performance outcomes – and break down exactly what it means for you as a triathlete. You’ll get a no-fluff summary of the science, plus practical takeaways whether you're a carnivore, vegetarian or full vegan. Discover which protein sources really matter, how to optimise your intake for recovery and strength, and why you can’t out-supplement a lack of lifting. Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39813010/ LINKS: 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 Juli 14min

    Three Triathlon Nutrition Myths Costing You Performance – Stop Doing Them!

    Three Triathlon Nutrition Myths Costing You Performance – Stop Doing Them!

    Still chasing race weight? Skipping food before training to burn more fat? Meticulously tracking every calorie? In this week’s episode, I’m calling out the three biggest nutrition myths that are still messing with triathletes in 2025. If you’ve been feeling flat, frustrated or just not seeing the performance gains you expect—this one's for you. Learn why these outdated beliefs are holding you back and what to do instead, including: Why fuelling beats weight loss for real results When fasted training helps (and when it hurts) Why tracking calories isn’t the silver bullet LINKS: 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Build your personalised triathlon fuelling plan inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 Juli 24min

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