The OMNIA Performance Podcast Cut or Bulk? Or Is There A BETTER Way to Approach Body Composition?
Feb 5, 2026
Tom McClure, performance nutritionist and OMNIA’s in-house fueling expert, debunks bulking and cutting myths. He discusses why many athletes are under-fueled, when to prioritize fat loss or muscle gain, smart modest surpluses, and why maintenance can boost performance. Short, practical takes on tracking, realistic progress rates, and protecting performance while changing body composition.
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Restorative Weekend Reset For Marathon Peak
- Tom shared how peaking marathon volume left him under-recovered until a restorative weekend helped.
- He fixed it with sleep, good food, hydration, and stress reduction to return to baseline.
Concurrent Fat Loss And Muscle Gain Is Rare
- Gaining muscle and losing fat simultaneously is context dependent and rare for trained athletes.
- Prioritise one goal and periodise your year around races or events to avoid conflicting demands.
Use Scans Before You Decide To Cut
- Get objective body-composition data like DEXA or in-body scans before choosing to cut or bulk.
- If you only need 1–3 kg change, try maintenance and improved training first; larger changes signal a focused cut.