What actually happens when you stop winging your nutrition and start doing it properly?

In this episode, I’m joined by three brand new Triathlon Nutrition Academy athletes who are right at the beginning of their journey and still remember exactly what it felt like on the outside looking in.

From sitting on the fence for months (or years), to finally taking the leap, they share the honest truth about what held them back, what surprised them most and the changes they’ve already noticed in just a few short weeks.

If you’ve ever thought “my nutrition is probably fine” or quietly closed the tab when looking at getting help, this conversation is for you.

Meet the athletes:

• Jade Collins – Busy mum from WA, juggling Ironman training, work and family life
• Curtis Yanish – Age group triathlete from Texas who spent years underfuelled and hangry
• Stephen Sutherland – 71-year-old athlete with 30 years of racing experience, finally dialling in nutrition

In this episode, we cover:

• Why so many triathletes “wing it” with nutrition (even after years in the sport)
• The real reason athletes delay investing in their nutrition
• How underfuelling shows up in training, racing and daily life
• The biggest early wins from improving nutrition (within weeks, not months)
• Why recovery nutrition is the missing piece for most triathletes
• How better fuelling = more energy, faster recovery and better performance
• The concept of “free speed” through nutrition
• Common mistakes like fasted training, skipping pre-session fuel and delaying recovery
• What surprised these athletes most once they joined TNA
• Why nutrition is not an optional extra in triathlon

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Meet the athletes and their backgrounds
• 03:40 – Why a 30-year triathlete finally focused on nutrition
• 05:20 – Sitting on the sidelines and the “secret bank account”
• 07:00 – Constant bonking, low energy and underfuelling
• 12:30 – Finding time for nutrition (even with a busy life)
• 14:10 – Nutrition as “free speed”
• 17:20 – Biggest surprises after joining TNA
• 18:00 – Underfuelled training and calorie misconceptions
• 19:00 – The importance of recovery nutrition
• 21:10 – Changes implemented straight away
• 23:00 – From reactive to proactive fuelling
• 28:00 – What they’re most excited to learn next
• 31:50 – Advice for triathletes sitting on the fence
• 42:00 – Why waiting costs more than starting

Key takeaways:

• You can’t out-train poor nutrition
• Eating enough carbohydrates is critical for performance
• Recovery starts immediately after training, not hours later
• Fuelling properly improves both performance and daily life
• Nutrition is the fourth leg of triathlon

Ready to stop winging it?

If you’re tired of guessing your nutrition, bonking mid-session or feeling wrecked after training, it’s time to get a plan.

Head to dietitianapproved.com/academy and get on the waitlist for the next intake.

Because nutrition isn’t an optional extra. It’s the piece that holds everything together.

Links & Resources

Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day

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The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.