Welcome to the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Podcast! Brought to you by Advanced Sports Dietitian, Taryn Richardson. Listen as I break down the latest science to give you practical, easy to digest strategies to transform yourself into a Supercharged Triathlete! You have so much untapped potential...and I want to help you unlock that with the power of nutrition.

Triathlon Nutrition Academy

What's the Difference Between a Nutritionist, Dietitian and Sports Dietitian?

What if one of the biggest factors affecting your energy, recovery and long-term health wasn’t your training or nutrition… but the light you’re exposed to every day?

Most triathletes spend hours dialling in their fuelling, sessions and recovery protocols. But modern life has quietly changed something fundamental to human biology. We now spend around 90% of our time indoors under artificial lighting that is very different to the sunlight our bodies evolved with.

In this fascinating episode, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with Professor Glen Jeffery, a neuroscientist from University College London and one of the world’s leading researchers on how different wavelengths of light influence our biology.

Professor Jeffery explains how light interacts directly with your mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside your cells. And why certain types of light may influence everything from energy production and inflammation to recovery, metabolism and ageing.

You’ll also hear why athletes might be using red and infrared light the wrong way, and why the biggest benefits could actually come after hard training sessions rather than before.

If you’ve been curious about red light therapy devices or wondering whether they’re worth the investment, this episode will help you separate real science from marketing hype.

And if you want the full deep dive specifically for athletes, check out the brand new Red Light Therapy Masterclass here: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy

In This Episode We Discuss


Why light is far more than just something that helps us see


The surprising role of mitochondria in responding to light exposure


How modern LED lighting may be quietly impacting metabolism and health


The difference between short wavelength light vs long wavelength light


Why sunlight contains critical wavelengths most indoor lighting lacks


The link between light exposure, inflammation and blood glucose regulation


Whether red light therapy can actually improve athletic performance


Why athletes may benefit more from post-training light exposure for recovery


The problem with many expensive red light therapy devices


Simple, low-cost ways to improve your daily light environment

Key Takeaways for Triathletes


Mitochondria respond directly to certain wavelengths of light, influencing energy production.


Long wavelength light (including infrared) may help reduce inflammation and support cellular recovery.


Athletes are already highly efficient metabolically, so red light therapy may have limited benefits before exercise.


The biggest opportunity may be after hard sessions, when mitochondria are stressed and recovery is needed.


Many commercial red light devices deliver far more energy than necessary, meaning more is definitely not better.

About the Guest

Professor Glen Jeffery, PhD
Professor Glen Jeffery is a neuroscientist at University College London and a leading expert on how different wavelengths of light affect cellular health and biological function.

Chapters:

00:00 – The surprising role of light in human health
03:00 – The spectrum of sunlight explained
05:00 – Why mitochondria are the key to energy production
08:00 – The problem with modern LED lighting
11:00 – How indoor environments may influence metabolism and inflammation
16:00 – The benefits of long wavelength light
20:00 – Can red light therapy improve recovery and health?
21:00 – Simple ways to improve your light environment
29:00 – The explosion of red light therapy devices
30:00 – Why athletes may not benefit before exercise
32:00 – Where red light may actually help athletes recover faster
35:00 – Practical advice for athletes experimenting with red light therapy
37:00 – The potential risks of overusing red light devices

If today’s episode sparked your curiosity about how light impacts recovery and performance, dive deeper with the Red Light Therapy Masterclass for Athletes here:
https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy

Other Links & Resources

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

SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE

CONNECT WITH TARYN

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

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

What if one of the biggest factors affecting your&nbsp;energy, recovery and long-term health wasn&rsquo;t your training or nutrition&hellip; but the light you&rsquo;re exposed to every day?
Most triathletes spend hours dialling in their fuelling, sessions and recovery protocols. But modern life has quietly changed something fundamental to human biology. We now spend around 90% of our time indoors under artificial lighting that is very different to the sunlight our bodies evolved with.
In this fascinating episode, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with Professor Glen Jeffery, a neuroscientist from University College London and one of the world&rsquo;s leading researchers on how different wavelengths of light influence our biology.
Professor Jeffery explains how light interacts directly with your mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside your cells. And why certain types of light may influence everything from energy production and inflammation to recovery, metabolism and ageing.
You&rsquo;ll also hear why athletes might be using red and infrared light the wrong way, and why the biggest benefits could actually come after hard training sessions rather than before.
If you&rsquo;ve been curious about red light therapy devices or wondering whether they&rsquo;re worth the investment, this episode will help you separate real science from marketing hype.
And if you want the full deep dive specifically for athletes, check out the brand new Red Light Therapy Masterclass here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy" data-start="1609" data-end="1658">https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy</a>
In This Episode We Discuss
<ul data-start="1696" data-end="2423">
<li data-section-id="dwcfx3" data-start="1696" data-end="1761">
Why light is far more than just something that helps us see
</li>
<li data-section-id="1a098vf" data-start="1762" data-end="1835">
The surprising role of mitochondria in responding to light exposure
</li>
<li data-section-id="likioh" data-start="1836" data-end="1908">
How modern LED lighting may be quietly impacting metabolism and health
</li>
<li data-section-id="1w6530x" data-start="1909" data-end="1985">
The difference between short wavelength light vs long wavelength light
</li>
<li data-section-id="12vrqx2" data-start="1986" data-end="2057">
Why sunlight contains critical wavelengths most indoor lighting lacks
</li>
<li data-section-id="14050e2" data-start="2058" data-end="2138">
The link between light exposure, inflammation and blood glucose regulation
</li>
<li data-section-id="1kucy5k" data-start="2139" data-end="2212">
Whether red light therapy can actually improve athletic performance
</li>
<li data-section-id="11fukvt" data-start="2213" data-end="2295">
Why athletes may benefit more from post-training light exposure for recovery
</li>
<li data-section-id="lujnu1" data-start="2296" data-end="2355">
The problem with many expensive red light therapy devices
</li>
<li data-section-id="1974ug6" data-start="2356" data-end="2423">
Simple, low-cost ways to improve your daily light environment
</li>
</ul>
Key Takeaways for Triathletes
<ul data-start="2464" data-end="3027">
<li data-section-id="ase5yx" data-start="2464" data-end="2563">
Mitochondria respond directly to certain wavelengths of light, influencing energy production.
</li>
<li data-section-id="188lpik" data-start="2564" data-end="2672">
Long wavelength light (including infrared) may help reduce inflammation and support cellular recovery.
</li>
<li data-section-id="ducurm" data-start="2673" data-end="2795">
Athletes are already highly efficient metabolically, so red light therapy may have limited benefits before exercise.
</li>
<li data-section-id="7y5z5y" data-start="2796" data-end="2908">
The biggest opportunity may be after hard sessions, when mitochondria are stressed and recovery is needed.
</li>
<li data-section-id="ff91h4" data-start="2909" data-end="3027">
Many commercial red light devices deliver far more energy than necessary, meaning more is definitely not better.
</li>
</ul>
About the Guest
Professor Glen Jeffery, PhD Professor Glen Jeffery is a neuroscientist at University College London and a leading expert on how different wavelengths of light affect cellular health and biological function.
Chapters:
00:00 &ndash; The surprising role of light in human health 03:00 &ndash; The spectrum of sunlight explained 05:00 &ndash; Why mitochondria are the key to energy production 08:00 &ndash; The problem with modern LED lighting 11:00 &ndash; How indoor environments may influence metabolism and inflammation 16:00 &ndash; The benefits of long wavelength light 20:00 &ndash; Can red light therapy improve recovery and health? 21:00 &ndash; Simple ways to improve your light environment 29:00 &ndash; The explosion of red light therapy devices 30:00 &ndash; Why athletes may not benefit before exercise 32:00 &ndash; Where red light may actually help athletes recover faster 35:00 &ndash; Practical advice for athletes experimenting with red light therapy 37:00 &ndash; The potential risks of overusing red light devices
If today&rsquo;s episode sparked your curiosity about how light impacts recovery and performance, dive deeper with the&nbsp;Red Light Therapy Masterclass for Athletes here: <a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy">https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy</a>
Other Links &amp; Resources
Download the FREE audio series<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/mistakes"> The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day</a>
SUPPORT THE PODCAST<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/legend"> HERE</a>
CONNECT WITH TARYN
<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com">Website</a> |<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.approved/"> Instagram</a> |<a href="https://wwww.facebook.com/DietitianApproved"> Facebook</a> |<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dietitianapproved"> YouTube</a>
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy&reg; is a podcast by Dietitian Approved&reg;. All rights reserved.

Red Light Therapy for Athletes

What happens when someone with zero athletic background decides to completely change their life… and accidentally signs up for an Ironman four months later?

In this episode of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Podcast, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with Triathlon Nutrition Academy athlete Chris Tubbs to unpack his incredible journey from couch potato to multiple Ironman finisher.

Chris started triathlon at 48 years old, while travelling 60% of the time for work in the biotech industry. Early on, things didn’t go to plan. Despite doing the training, races were ending in DNFs, cramping, nausea and serious frustration.

The surprising part? Fitness wasn’t the problem.

Through this conversation, Chris shares how dialling in his nutrition and hydration completely changed his ability to train, race and actually finish events. From ditching an expensive supplement habit to discovering he loses more than 2 litres of sweat per hour, this episode highlights just how powerful personalised nutrition can be for endurance performance.

It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, learning from mistakes and why it’s never too late to start something big.

In This Episode We Discuss


How Chris went from “championship potato chip eater” to Ironman athlete


The moment that sparked his decision to completely change his lifestyle


Accidentally signing up for an Ironman just four months into triathlon


Why he kept experiencing DNFs, cramping and poor race performances


The surprising truth about supplements vs nutrition foundations


How he saved hundreds of dollars a month by ditching unnecessary supplements


Discovering his extremely high sweat rate of over 2L per hour


Why hydration, not carbs, was the missing piece of his race-day puzzle


The challenges of fuelling properly while travelling constantly for work


How personalised nutrition strategies helped him finally finish races feeling strong


The mindset shift that kept him pushing forward through setbacks


Why it’s faster and far more effective to get expert help rather than trying to figure it all out alone

Key Takeaway

You can be incredibly fit, train hard and still struggle on race day if your nutrition and hydration aren’t dialled in.

Chris is proof that when you stop guessing and start fuelling strategically, everything changes.

Chapters

01:10 The photo that changed everything
03:00 From couch potato to triathlon at 48
06:10 Accidentally signing up for an Ironman
09:00 Why his early races kept falling apart
12:30 The supplement mistake many triathletes make
16:00 Discovering a massive sweat rate
19:30 Hydration vs carbs for endurance performance
23:10 Learning to fuel properly while travelling
27:00 Racing in heat vs cold conditions
30:30 The mindset shift that changed everything
34:00 Why getting expert help speeds up progress
37:00 Chris’ future triathlon goals

Links & Resources

Learn more about the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program

Listen to Episode 101: How much money triathletes waste on supplements

Connect with Chris on Instagram
@iron_clydesdale

Other Links & Resources

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

SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE

CONNECT WITH TARYN

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

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

What happens when someone with zero athletic background decides to completely change their life&hellip; and accidentally signs up for an Ironman four months later?
In this episode of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Podcast, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with <a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy">Triathlon Nutrition Academy</a> athlete Chris Tubbs to unpack his incredible journey from couch potato to multiple Ironman finisher.
Chris started triathlon at 48 years old, while travelling 60% of the time for work in the biotech industry. Early on, things didn&rsquo;t go to plan. Despite doing the training, races were ending in DNFs, cramping, nausea and serious frustration.
The surprising part? Fitness wasn&rsquo;t the problem.
Through this conversation, Chris shares how dialling in his nutrition and hydration completely changed his ability to train, race and actually finish events. From ditching an expensive supplement habit to discovering he loses more than 2 litres of sweat per hour, this episode highlights just how powerful personalised nutrition can be for endurance performance.
It&rsquo;s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, learning from mistakes and why it&rsquo;s never too late to start something big.
In This Episode We Discuss
<ul data-start="1308" data-end="2246">
<li data-start="1308" data-end="1385">
How Chris went from &ldquo;championship potato chip eater&rdquo; to Ironman athlete
</li>
<li data-start="1386" data-end="1459">
The moment that sparked his decision to completely change his lifestyle
</li>
<li data-start="1460" data-end="1536">
Accidentally signing up for an Ironman just four months into triathlon
</li>
<li data-start="1537" data-end="1609">
Why he kept experiencing DNFs, cramping and poor race performances
</li>
<li data-start="1610" data-end="1679">
The surprising truth about supplements vs nutrition foundations
</li>
<li data-start="1680" data-end="1762">
How he saved hundreds of dollars a month by ditching unnecessary supplements
</li>
<li data-start="1763" data-end="1830">
Discovering his extremely high sweat rate of over 2L per hour
</li>
<li data-start="1831" data-end="1903">
Why hydration, not carbs, was the missing piece of his race-day puzzle
</li>
<li data-start="1904" data-end="1982">
The challenges of fuelling properly while travelling constantly for work
</li>
<li data-start="1983" data-end="2069">
How personalised nutrition strategies helped him finally finish races feeling strong
</li>
<li data-start="2070" data-end="2136">
The mindset shift that kept him pushing forward through setbacks
</li>
<li data-start="2137" data-end="2246">
Why it&rsquo;s faster and far more effective to get expert help rather than trying to figure it all out alone
</li>
</ul>
Key Takeaway
You can be incredibly fit, train hard and still struggle on race day if your nutrition and hydration aren&rsquo;t dialled in.
Chris is proof that when you stop guessing and start fuelling strategically, everything changes.
Chapters
01:10 The photo that changed everything 03:00 From couch potato to triathlon at 48 06:10 Accidentally signing up for an Ironman 09:00 Why his early races kept falling apart 12:30 The supplement mistake many triathletes make 16:00 Discovering a massive sweat rate 19:30 Hydration vs carbs for endurance performance 23:10 Learning to fuel properly while travelling 27:00 Racing in heat vs cold conditions 30:30 The mindset shift that changed everything 34:00 Why getting expert help speeds up progress 37:00 Chris&rsquo; future triathlon goals
Links &amp; Resources
Learn more about the <a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy">Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program</a>
Listen to <a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/101">Episode 101</a>: How much money triathletes waste on supplements
Connect with Chris on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iron_clydesdale/">@iron_clydesdale</a>
Other Links &amp; Resources
Download the FREE audio series<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/mistakes"> The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day</a>
SUPPORT THE PODCAST<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/legend"> HERE</a>
CONNECT WITH TARYN
<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com">Website</a> |<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.approved/"> Instagram</a> |<a href="https://wwww.facebook.com/DietitianApproved"> Facebook</a> |<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dietitianapproved"> YouTube</a>
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy&reg; is a podcast by Dietitian Approved&reg;. All rights reserved.

From Couch to Ironman at 48

Trying to lean up but your FTP keeps tanking?

If every time you try to “eat less” your watts drop, your legs feel flat and your sessions turn into survival mode… this episode is for you.

In this week’s podcast, I’m breaking down how to lose body fat strategically without compromising performance. Because you don’t get faster by shrinking yourself. You get faster by building a strong engine and fuelling it properly.

Inside this episode, I walk you through:


Why slashing carbs across the board is one of the biggest mistakes triathletes make


How to fuel threshold, VO2, long bricks and key sessions properly without blowing your fat loss goals


What carbohydrate periodisation actually looks like in a real training week


Why protecting muscle mass is critical for both metabolism and power output


How small, boring calorie deficits beat aggressive six week shreds every time


A real athlete case study of a masters triathlete who lost 45 pounds while improving her FTP and keeping it off long term

This is the difference between dieting and performance nutrition. Dieting just shrinks you. Strategic fuelling supports your training, your recovery and your long term triathlon career.

If you’re training for three sports, juggling work and family and still trying to create a massive calorie deficit on top of that, you’re setting yourself up to underfuel and underperform.

You don’t need to eat less. You need to eat smarter.

Chapters:

00:00 Why your FTP drops when you try to lose weight
01:05 The biggest mistake triathletes make when dieting
02:40 Why cutting carbs hurts performance
04:15 Can you lose fat and maintain power?
05:30 Real athlete case study: 45 pounds down, FTP up
08:00 Fuel the sessions that matter
10:00 How to periodise carbohydrates properly
12:00 Protecting muscle mass and metabolism
14:00 Why your calorie deficit should be small
16:00 How to lean up without losing watts
17:30 What to do next

Links & Resources Mentioned

Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart Course
Step-by-step guidance to build your performance plate, pre-training fuel, during-training targets and recovery plan.

Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program
Ongoing coaching, support and accountability inside our comprehensive group program.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start fuelling like a performance-driven triathlete, this episode is your starting point.

Other Links & Resources

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

SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE

CONNECT WITH TARYN

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

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

Trying to lean up but your FTP keeps tanking?
If every time you try to &ldquo;eat less&rdquo; your watts drop, your legs feel flat and your sessions turn into survival mode&hellip; this episode is for you.
In this week&rsquo;s podcast, I&rsquo;m breaking down how to lose body fat strategically without compromising performance. Because you don&rsquo;t get faster by shrinking yourself. You get faster by building a strong engine and fuelling it properly.
Inside this episode, I walk you through:
<ul data-start="523" data-end="1084">
<li data-start="523" data-end="610">
Why slashing carbs across the board is one of the biggest mistakes triathletes make
</li>
<li data-start="611" data-end="716">
How to fuel threshold, VO2, long bricks and key sessions properly without blowing your fat loss goals
</li>
<li data-start="717" data-end="796">
What carbohydrate periodisation actually looks like in a real training week
</li>
<li data-start="797" data-end="876">
Why protecting muscle mass is critical for both metabolism and power output
</li>
<li data-start="877" data-end="958">
How small, boring calorie deficits beat aggressive six week shreds every time
</li>
<li data-start="959" data-end="1084">
A real athlete case study of a masters triathlete who lost 45 pounds while improving her FTP and keeping it off long term
</li>
</ul>
This is the difference between dieting and performance nutrition. Dieting just shrinks you. Strategic fuelling supports your training, your recovery and your long term triathlon career.
If you&rsquo;re training for three sports, juggling work and family and still trying to create a massive calorie deficit on top of that, you&rsquo;re setting yourself up to underfuel and underperform.
You don&rsquo;t need to eat less. You need to eat smarter.
Chapters:
00:00 Why your FTP drops when you try to lose weight 01:05 The biggest mistake triathletes make when dieting 02:40 Why cutting carbs hurts performance 04:15 Can you lose fat and maintain power? 05:30 Real athlete case study: 45 pounds down, FTP up 08:00 Fuel the sessions that matter 10:00 How to periodise carbohydrates properly 12:00 Protecting muscle mass and metabolism 14:00 Why your calorie deficit should be small 16:00 How to lean up without losing watts 17:30 What to do next
Links &amp; Resources Mentioned
<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/kickstart">Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart Course</a> Step-by-step guidance to build your performance plate, pre-training fuel, during-training targets and recovery plan.
<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy">Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program</a> Ongoing coaching, support and accountability inside our comprehensive group program.
If you&rsquo;re ready to stop guessing and start fuelling like a performance-driven triathlete, this episode is your starting point.
Other Links &amp; Resources
Download the FREE audio series<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/mistakes"> The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day</a>
SUPPORT THE PODCAST<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/legend"> HERE</a>
CONNECT WITH TARYN
<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com">Website</a> |<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.approved/"> Instagram</a> |<a href="https://wwww.facebook.com/DietitianApproved"> Facebook</a> |<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dietitianapproved"> YouTube</a>
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy&reg; is a podcast by Dietitian Approved&reg;. All rights reserved.

What's the Difference Between a Nutritionist, Dietitian and Sports Dietitian?

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