The Bodybuilding Dietitians

In this episode of the Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we delve into the often-overlooked topic of dietary fat and its role in health, performance, body composition, and bodybuilding nutrition. While protein and carbohydrates tend to receive most of the attention in the fitness space, dietary fat plays an important role in hormone production, brain health, cardiovascular health, cell function, an...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we work through three of the most persistent fitness myths we see in practice and online. We start with detox diets and elimination diets, covering what the body actually does physiologically to manage detoxification, where clinical elimination protocols like low FODMAP have a legitimate role, and why the casual use of juice cleanses, skinny...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we work through everything lifters need to know about carbohydrates. We start with what carbohydrates actually do beyond just providing energy, including the glycogen story, why resistance training depletes far less glycogen than most people assume, and the other roles carbs play in supporting training quality, recovery, and adherence. We cov...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we run through another Instagram Q&A and welcome Talia to the show for her first appearance. We start with how to decide between cutting and bulking, covering why body fat percentage tends to be the more useful dial, where recomping and maintenance phases fit in, and how to make the call based on your current composition. From there we ge...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we kick off our macronutrient series with a full deep dive on protein. We start with why protein matters for you beyond muscle, from connective tissue and hormones to satiety and the thermic effect of food. From there we get into how much you actually need, working through targets for your phase across a deficit, maintenance, or surplus, why...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we break down how to actually hold onto muscle when you are in a calorie deficit. We cover why perception of muscle loss is often inaccurate and why objective tracking matters before a deficit even begins. From there we get into how starting body fat percentage should influence your rate of loss, the research behind protein targets and why th...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we unpack why putting in effort and following a strategy doesn't always lead to the results you expect. We start by looking at the growing role of AI chatbots in nutrition advice, where they fall short compared to real coaching, and why confident answers aren't always accurate ones. From there, we get into the practical side of fat loss stall...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we share practical strategies that make fat loss more sustainable. We talk through keeping food choices consistent day to day, why that doesn't have to mean boring eating, and how it helps reduce food noise and improve scale accuracy. We cover daily movement as an underrated expenditure lever, how fibre and food volume can shift hunger manage...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we cover the four nutrient deficiencies we see most commonly across our clients and in clinical practice. We discuss vitamin D, iron, magnesium, and omega-3, including how prevalent they are, why they matter specifically for active individuals, how to test for them properly, and what adequate intake actually looks like beyond standard referen...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we take a different approach and walk through what a typical day of eating actually looks like for each of us. We share our current training phase, calorie and macro targets, and how we structure meals around our schedules. We cover topics including fuelling early morning sessions, biasing macros throughout the day to allow flexibility at din...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we do a full breakdown on fat loss, covering everything from whether you are actually ready to diet through to what to do when progress stalls. We talk through dieting readiness, rate of loss, how aggressive you can afford to be depending on body composition and experience, and why protein targets in a deficit likely need to sit higher than w...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we unpack the role of cheat meals in both bulking and cutting phases, from unstructured high calorie days to strategic diet breaks and refeeds. We discuss why context matters, how the term "cheat meal" can shape your relationship with food, and what the research says about diet breaks for hunger, satisfaction, and adherence during prolonged d...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we answer three listener questions, starting with how to reduce visceral fat more effectively, including realistic rates of loss, why visceral fat is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat, and levers beyond a calorie deficit such as aerobic fitness, anti-inflammatory nutrition, sleep, stress, and alcohol. We then break down pre-work...

In this episode of the Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we tackle the question of whether a calorie surplus is truly necessary for muscle gain or whether maintenance can be just as productive. We discuss Eric Helms' 2023 study comparing maintenance to moderate and larger surpluses, how training age shifts the equation, and why training performance is the real driver of muscle growth rather than sc...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we unpack how to structure your nutrition without rigid tracking, including the key differences between auto-regulation and intuitive eating, and practical tools like hunger awareness, portion anchoring, and body weight trend monitoring. We also discuss what deserves your attention most during prep versus the off season, covering everything f...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we work through listener questions across three topics: early morning training nutrition, the interference effect from combining resistance training with other sports, and our current favourite exercises for hypertrophy across every major muscle group.   On fuelling, we cover practical strategies for pre-dawn sessions including hydration, car...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we answer listener questions on dietary diversity, gut health, sleep during dieting, and sodium intake for active individuals.   We explore the concept of aiming for 30 different plant foods per week, why dietary variety may matter for gut health, and how physique athletes can increase food diversity without overcomplicating their nutrition....

This week we are answering the questions you have sent to us via Instagram! In this episode, we rank sleep, activity, and protein for the average person and explain why the order might surprise you. We break down the physiology behind binge eating after prep and why willpower is the wrong tool for the job. We also look at what caloric restriction actually does for longevity and whether it is worth...

Not everything in nutrition and training deserves the attention it gets. Some things are overcomplicated, overpriced, or just not moving the needle the way most people think. Others are sitting right in front of you, consistently undervalued.   In this episode, we work through what's actually worth your time. On the nutrition side, that means taking an honest look at precision tracking, electrolyt...

In this episode of the Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we delve into the critical topic of sleep, discussing its importance for overall health, body composition, and performance. We share personal experiences and actionable tips for improving sleep quality, including establishing a consistent sleep schedule, managing caffeine intake, and creating a conducive sleep environment. The conversation al...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we discuss the pros and cons of training with low glycogen levels, emphasising the importance of carbohydrates for performance. We share personal updates on our training and nutrition phases, highlighting volume in training and the balance between high and low volume approaches. The conversation concludes, as always with what we learned this...

In this episode of the Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we dive into listener questions, focusing on the consumption of sugar-free drinks and the differences between recovery diets and reverse diets. We discuss the varying perspectives on artificial sweeteners, with Jack sharing his personal avoidance of sugar-free drinks, while Damien and Lauren offer their insights on moderation and context. The...

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we discuss various aspects of nutrition, gut health, and the social dynamics of bodybuilding. Our newest host Lauren shares her background and insights into how nutrition impacts performance and mental well-being. The conversation delves into common misconceptions about gut health, the importance of adequate nutrition, and strategies for carb...

In this episode of the Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we discuss the importance of food variety in and out of competition prep, the role of micronutrients and gut health, and the psychological aspects of dieting. We explore strategies for managing hunger and appetite during prep, the significance of routine, and how to handle food focus. The conversation emphasises the need for a balanced approa...

In this episode of the Bodybuilding Dietitians podcast, we discuss our personal experiences with nutrition and training during the holiday season, particularly around Christmas. We reflect on their post-show phases, the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with food, and the adjustments they have made to their training routines. The conversation also touches on the significance of meal...