The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast by CTS

Sugar Burner vs. Fat Burner Cyclists in Lab Testing, Training, and Competition

Nov 8, 2023

Discover the value of lab testing for endurance and performance. Learn about lactate testing and its implications for carbohydrate metabolism. Explore the differences between lab testing and field testing, and the benefits of lab testing for customized training. Understand the importance of metabolic efficiency and the implications of being a sugar burner or a fat burner. Overcome time constraints as an athlete and maximize your potential. Explore the significance of testing metabolic flexibility and carbohydrate intake in athletes.

36:11

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Quick takeaways

Lab testing provides accurate data for individualized training and performance improvement based on lactate thresholds and gas exchanges.

Improving metabolic efficiency through training in zone 2 enhances fat burning and endurance performance.

Deep dives

Understanding lactate and its significance in training

Lactate is a byproduct of carbohydrate metabolism and its levels indicate the shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. Monitoring lactate levels during a lab test helps identify the aerobic threshold and lactate threshold, highlighting different phases of exercise intensity. This information allows for the prescription of specific training zones and aids in performance improvement.

Introduction

2min

Understanding Lactate Testing and Carbohydrate Metabolism

2min

Lab Testing vs. Field Testing for Lactate Thresholds in Cyclists

7min

Understanding Metabolic Efficiency for Optimal Endurance Performance

14min

Maximizing Potential Despite Time Constraints

8min

Testing Metabolic Flexibility and Carbohydrate Intake in Athletes

3min

Want to discover how lab testing can elevate your endurance and performance? Coach Adam Pulford and CTS Premier Coach Renee Eastman are back to demystify the value of lactate, draw comparisons between lab testing and field testing, and examine the performance and health implications of being a sugar burner versus a fat burner. Learn about the potential health and longevity effects of being a sugar burner, including insulin resistance and difficulty losing weight. And learn how training can enhance fat oxidation and mitochondrial function, thereby boosting endurance performance and metabolic health.

Topics Covered In This Episode:

What and how do we test physiology in a lab (LT1, LT2, VO2 max, etc.)
Pros and cons of lab testing vs. field testing
How lab testing reveals 'sugar burners' vs. 'fat burners' at low to moderate intensities
Why burning more fat at lower exercise intensities is metabolically efficient
Why Time-Crunched Cyclists tend to present as Sugar Burners in the lab, and what that means for performance and health.

Guest:

Renee Eastman is a CTS Premier Level Coach and has been coaching with the company for more than 20 years. She has a master's degree in exercise science, has worked for USA Cycling, and is a 6-time Masters National Champion.

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