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In this July 29, 2009 free audio episode, I cover the following topics: the six key performance factors every athlete needs to know, stomach bloating while swimming, carbohydrate loading, running intervals, fat loss for breastfeeding mothers, whether mineral water actually works, more on the HCG diet for fat loss, and what to do to make raw almonds taste better.

New! You'll notice above that at the top right of this post, you now have access to a "Podtrac Player" which will allow you to open the podcast and listen in a pop-up player while you move on to surf the internet. You can also simply click here to go to our iTunes page and subscribe to have your computer automatically download episodes as they are released. To help make our show even better, take just 5 minutes to complete the quick survey below:

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Featured Topic: An interview with Dr. Richard Cohen, a physican and avid athlete who brings almost two decades of experience in preventive medicine and performance to our podcast. He has been training and counseling members of the American medical community on nutritional issues for the past 15 years and is now recognized as one of the leading authorities in the biological analysis of athletic performance factors.  Dr. Cohen brings to light  the key factors that have been identified as the major variables that effect your body ability to perform. Chances are, you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on gear and countless hours training every week, but probably don't know the answers to the following questions:

-Are your levels of Vitamin D optimal?

-Are your iron stores adequate?

-Are your mineral levels balanced?

-Is your hormonal recovery system strong?

-Do you know your essential amino acid status?

-Do the food you eat provide your body with the fuel it really needs?

-Are you a "fast oxidizer" or "slow oxidizer"?

After listening to the interview with Dr. Cohen, you'll know exactly what to do and exactly how to get tested from the comfort of your own home. I am currently in the process of being tested for all these variables myself, and can actually walk you through the entire process. Just e-mail ben@bengreenfieldfitness.com.

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Listener Q&A:

Listener David asks: "Ben, I appreciate your training and health insights.  I have followed your comments online and on the EverymanTri newsletter and I've just subscribed to your podcast. I have a question about trouble I experience with my swim workouts. Virtually every workout is interrupted or shortened by the need for a bowel movement.  I swim first thing in the morning - before breakfast- yet always exit the pool feeling bloated.  What can I do?  I suspect this is a result of gulping too much air but you recently referenced adjusting your diet. I've got a race in six weeks.  How can eliminate this discomfort and interruption?"

Listener Chuck asks: "Hey Ben, Hope everything is going well.  Just had a quick question that I thought about today.  I have a race this Saturday, its a run-swim-run, 5k, 1k, 5k respectively.  In the sense of preparing for the race, I was going to do as I usually do--focus my higher carbohydrate meals to be Thursday dinner and Friday lunch for the Saturday race.  But the race itself hopefully won't take me more than around 1:05 (I hope), which is just as long as most of my workouts.  The difference obviously is that I won't be holding anything back during the race.  This being said, why does it/ does it all, matter if I eat increased healthy carbohydrate diet before the race as opposed to eating like that before every day that I train if I plan on going hard?  I hope that makes sense.  I appreciate any insight you can offer. Again, the shirt is awesome--I plan to wear it pre and post race this weekend.  Speaking of gear, I currently don't have an actual tri jersey (or sponsor for that matter).  Does your training company have a team and jerseys for your racers?  It would be cool if I could represent it on the East coast. Thanks again Ben, I look forward to hearing from you."

Listener Scott asks: "Ben, I'd like your opinion on how to incorporate intervals into my run.  I'm not much for sprinting, but I've read enough articles and research to know how effective intervals are for fat loss.  I'm sure that altering my pace, having higher effort/medium effort laps, would be a systematic way to decrease my 1/4 mile/mile times, which is my goal.  I average 2-3 runs per week and like to go for 40-50 minutes.  I have access to a high school track so I can accurately measure my laps.  What suggestions do you have?"

Listener Mindy asks: "I have a friend who wants to start Shape21, however, she is nursing a 5 month old baby.  What do you recommend for her as far as calories needed and supplements taken?"

Listener Scott asks: "Hey Ben, I don't know how new it is, but at this weekend's race, they were handing out this Aquagenus water. What are your thoughts on it?"

Listener Todd asks: "I’ve been listening to your podcasts for a few weeks now and have really been enjoying them. I heard about you through trainingpeaks.com. I heard from one of your podcasts about mixing sea salt and some other seasonings to plain almonds but am having trouble finding it. Do you have any ideas on what to mix to flavor plain whole almonds?"

Do you have a question? Remember, you can now ask your questions via *audio* to me via the free Skype software by simply “Skyping” me at username “pacificfit“. You can also call toll free to 1-877-209-9439 and leave a voicemail for Ben Greenfield.

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Special Announcements:

1. Vote for Ben Greenfield as the best cycling tip on twitter! http://www.mindsettriathlon.com/mst_tweetcontest.php

2. The Shape21 Lean Body Challenge ended July 23, and the results are rolling in! Check out the video below, then surf on over to http://www.shape21.com/shape21challenge to vote for the winner and to get your brand new copy of Ben Greenfield's Shape21 Book/DVD package (the same book the woman below used get back leaner than her high school weight) mailed to your front doorstep, along with the opportunity to win 1 full year of online personal training and nutrition guidance from Ben!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIQIP7Hkxo

3. Farah has officially dropped under the 200 mark, using the HCG diet for fat loss. Here is her latest update video below. Go to http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/story1 for more info.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDuquisMP6o

4. Coeur D' Alene Back-To-School Sports Performance Clinic! “Move Like a Champion” by Ben Greenfield Let your young athlete learn from the nation’s top personal trainer about the exact moves that will prepare their body for fall and winter sports. Taking place in the brand new Pilgrim’s exercise facilities, in this 1 hour class for athletes ages 13-18, participants will learn:

-Functional Workouts: Full body moves to enhance human performance...

-Mind-Muscle Connections: How to ensure that your body will operate with 100% efficiency...

-Injury Prevention: Learn ways to turn muscles, ligaments, bones and tendons into natural body armor...

-Nutrition Guidance: Exactly what to eat to make your body perform like a champion...

Clinic date is Thursday, August 13. Cost is $10/participants, or $30 for teams of 4. Coaches/parents are welcome to stay. Register by e-mailing ben@bengreenfieldfitness.comor call 208-883-7705.

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That’s all for this week. Be sure to leave our podcast a rating in iTunes! Just click here to go to our iTunes page and leave feedback! Finally, remember all the time put into producing this podcast for you, and consider donating to our show (we’ll throw in a free T-shirt)!