Dr. Thomas Cunningham, MD: Pro Clinic on Supplementation and Biohacking to Boost Strength, Recover Faster, Improve Endurance, and Feel Better
Sep 25, 2024
auto_awesome
Dr. Thomas Cunningham, a medical doctor specializing in supplementation and biohacking, shares insights on optimizing athletic performance and health. He discusses clinical studies on supplements like protein and creatine, detailing their impacts on strength, endurance, and recovery. Listeners learn about the essential roles of vitamin D, magnesium, caffeine, and unique interventions like CO2 tolerance training. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of balanced nutrition prior to considering supplementation—providing a pathway for climbers to enhance performance and overall well-being.
Optimizing hormone levels, particularly testosterone, significantly enhances climbers' recovery, muscle building, and overall performance during training sessions.
Key supplements such as protein, creatine, and vitamin D, combined with novel biohacks like breath work, can substantially improve climbing endurance and recovery.
Deep dives
The Importance of Hormonal Optimization
Optimizing hormone levels, specifically testosterone and estrogen, is crucial for climbers to enhance recovery, muscle building, and energy for training sessions. By maintaining balanced hormones, athletes can significantly improve their performance and enjoyment of climbing. Hormonal optimization is often overlooked, but it plays a vital role in helping climbers reach their genetic potential and get the most out of their training. Simple lifestyle changes and proper supplementation can lead to substantial improvements in performance.
Foundational Supplements for Climbing Performance
Key supplements that every serious climber should consider include protein, creatine, vitamin D, magnesium, and caffeine. Aiming for approximately one gram of protein per pound of body weight ensures muscle recovery and minimizes fatigue over time. Creatine enhances energy levels, reduces muscle soreness, and improves recovery, making it particularly beneficial for high-intensity climbing. Additionally, vitamin D and magnesium support hormone regulation and overall well-being, while caffeine can serve as an effective performance enhancer when used strategically.
Managing Fear and Mental Training Techniques
Addressing fear of falling is essential for climbers to improve their performance and confidence on the wall. Engaging in structured programs designed to help climbers manage their fear can result in significant breakthroughs and progress in climbing grades. These mental training techniques add another layer of preparation that is equally important as physical conditioning. By overcoming psychological barriers, climbers can enhance their enjoyment and mastery of the sport.
Exploring Advanced Supplements and Biohacks
In addition to foundational supplements, climbers may benefit from exploring more advanced options such as beta-alanine, collagen, and beetroot extract. These supplements can provide additional advantages, particularly for endurance and recovery. Alongside supplements, biohacking methods like breath work and regular self-assessments can offer insight into recovery levels and performance readiness. By combining these strategies with traditional training, climbers can gain a competitive edge and optimize their overall performance.
In this Pro Clinic, Dr. Thomas Cunningham, MD covers:
Clinical trials and studies that show the most promise for enhancing performance and health on and off the rock
Supplements and biohacks that range from most-proven to most-fringe
How to boost:
strength
endurance
recovery
longevity
focus
mood
Dosage and frequency recommendations
Non-supplementation interventions, including C02 tolerance training and glucose monitoring
-
The free version of this Pro Clinic is being brought to you at zero cost thanks to:
Altitude Climbing: Get free access to Hazel Findlay’s mini-course on fear of falling, and learn more about the 6-week course that has the power to totally change the way you perform as a climber!
Grab your tickets to ROCKTOBERFEST and come say hi as I interview Babsi and Jacopo at Miguel's on Oct 9, and premier my film, 'Struggling with Alex Honnold' on Oct 11!
-
Gain instant access to the FULL Pro Clinic by supporting the show as a Patron (you can even check it out for FREE with a 7-day trial):
A collection of sources cited by Dr. Cunningham can be found HERE
-
This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation and is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry.
-
The struggle makes us stronger! Let's get out there and try hard. Thanks for supporting the show, y'all.
-
And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode