Metabolic Efficiency Training with Sports Dietitian Bob Seebohar
Jan 11, 2024
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Sports Dietitian Bob Seebohar joins the show to discuss Metabolic Efficiency Training (MET) and nutrition periodization for athletes. They delve into the concept of MET, testing for metabolic efficiency, and optimizing blood sugar levels. They also touch on the importance of nutrition changes for carbohydrate burning and share their favorite foods and essential gear.
Metabolic efficiency training focuses on optimizing blood sugar levels and enhancing the body's ability to use internal stores of carbohydrates and fat.
Nutrition periodization allows athletes to adjust macronutrient intake based on energy needs and training cycle, supporting flexibility and adaptation.
Metabolic efficiency testing provides valuable insights into an athlete's fat and carbohydrate utilization, calorie burning rates, and personalized nutrient timing protocols.
Metabolic efficiency training is a nutrition and exercise approach to enhance the body's ability to use its internal stores of carbohydrates and fat. This concept focuses on optimizing blood sugar levels through proper nutrition and periodization. By testing metabolic efficiency, experts can determine if the body efficiently burns fat and carbohydrates at rest and during low to moderate intensity exercise. Additionally, the test provides insights into calorie burning rates and offers recommendations for nutrient timing and intake ratios. This personalized approach helps athletes tailor their nutrition to support their health and performance goals.
Nutrition Periodization: Adjusting Macronutrients for Optimal Performance
Nutrition periodization involves adjusting macronutrient intake based on an individual's specific energy needs and training cycle. Athletes should consider their goals, training intensity, and activity levels when determining their nutrition strategy. This approach allows for flexibility and adaptation as energy demands vary throughout different stages of training or competition. Rather than rigidly adhering to specific diets or macronutrient ratios, athletes can focus on fueling their bodies to support their health and performance requirements.
The Benefits and Insights of Metabolic Efficiency Testing
Metabolic efficiency testing provides valuable information about an individual's ability to burn fat and carbohydrates during exercise. The test helps assess if the body efficiently utilizes fat as an energy source and determines the metabolic efficiency point. Additionally, the test measures calorie burning rates and offers nutrient timing protocols tailored to an athlete's specific needs. With the insights gained from metabolic efficiency testing, athletes can make informed dietary adjustments and optimize their nutrient utilization to enhance performance and achieve their goals.
The Importance of Fueling Based on Energy System Dominance
It is crucial to understand the energy system dominance in different types of workouts and fuel accordingly. For instance, for high-intensity efforts like track workouts, more carbohydrates are needed. On the other hand, for shorter, easier runs, excessive carbohydrate intake may not be necessary, as the body already has enough stored carbohydrates to sustain a 45-minute run.
Optimizing Blood Sugar for Metabolic Efficiency
By combining protein, fiber, and fat in our meals, we can stabilize blood sugar levels and optimize metabolic efficiency. This balanced approach to nutrition helps maintain steady energy levels throughout the day, improves brain function, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Balancing blood sugar also promotes efficient fat burning and prevents spikes that can lead to insulin resistance and other health issues.
Happy New Year and welcome to Episode81 of the Eat for Endurance Podcast!
Today Sports Dietitian Bob Seebohar (MS RD CSSD CSCS) of eNRG Performance joins me on the show to chat all about Metabolic Efficiency Training (MET), a concept that he created in the early 2000s. MET can be defined as a systematic nutrition and exercise approach to improving the body's ability to use its internal stores of nutrients, specifically carbohydrates and fat. It’s also a way to optimize your blood sugar through proper periodization of food, using a non-diet approach.
We explore this concept in great detail, talk about what nutrition periodization for athletes looks like in everyday and performance nutrition, and discuss how you can test for metabolic efficiency.
This was a fantastic conversation and I hope you all enjoy it and find it useful!
Disclaimer – all information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendations