The Health Matters Podcast

In this episode, Seán is joined by female health specialist Aisling Fox to discuss how the menstrual cycle can influence exercise performance and why understanding hormonal changes can help women train more effectively. Some of the topics discussed include: How the menstrual cycle can affect heart rate during exercise Why training can feel different at different stages of the cycle Common myths ar...

In this episode, Seán discusses everything you need to know about how to get fast, whatever the distance?  Some of the topics discuss are;  How to get faster over different distances  The importance of strength training to get faster  The role of aerobic training for speed  The importance of a training structure   The role your Vo2 max plays in getting fast  How to fuel for harder training days  T...

Calorie savers  In this episode, Seán discuss calories and just how many little wins there are if you are trying to save calories in your every day meals and snacks Calorie tracking is not a diet; it is a great awareness tool that WILL help you understand exactly how much energy you are putting into your body daily, once you know how many are coming in you can then adjust your input for your goal....

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about one of the most common statements we hear weekly  Some of the topics discuss are;  Why training too hard doesn't work  The importance of building aerobic base  How to develop aerobic capacity   Why you are in control of your speed  What training with structure could look like  Understanding the talk test and RPE scale   The r...

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you needto know about one of the most common issues we see.   Some of the topics discuss are. What is over training What is under fuelling  How to manage the train loads accordingly What are the negatives of being overtrained Some of the side effects if being overtrained The benefits of getting the balance right How to trust the process  Understand...

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about training for Hyrox .   Some of the topics discuss are;  Understand the demands of Hyrox  Why so many get it wrong   What type of training will help you perform better  Why aerobic development is important  Why less is more  Why training structure is vital for performance development  Tips for females competing in Hyrox around...

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about the power of patience   Some of the topics discuss are;  Tips for long term success   Why consistency works  Tips for weight management, long terms success   How patience influences your Vo2 and performance  The groundwork for performance growth   Stories of discipline   How patient do you need to be for zone 2 to work?  And...

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about Health Matters highly successful marathon programme “20 weeks to a better marathon”  This specialised programme is mainly aimed at the Dublin City Marathon but can be used for anyone marathon like Berlin, Chicago, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, New York or Valencia as long as there is enough time.  The goal would be to allow 20 weeks,...

Nutrition for Performance     In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about fuelling for optimal performance.   Some of the topics discuss are;  The role of carbohydrates  The importance of carbohydrates   What is carb loading  The optimal time to carb load   Getting your pre-race/training nutrition correct   Tips how to fuel for early morning training  Intra race/game f...

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about wearables    Some of the topics discuss are;  The benefits of wearables . Just how inaccurate they can be . Why live heart rate is the real winner.   Why radial pickups are so problematic.  Chest strap –vs- radical pickup –vs bicep strap . Why you should not trust the % HR model. Why you should not trust the colour zone model...

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about Heart Rate Training    Some of the topics discuss are;  Why we all have different HR zones.  Why HR training works.  The reason why people get it wrong.  Why you need to stop comparing your HR to your friend.  Why the calculations you are using don't work.  Why % of HR isn't working for you.  Understanding the reason...

Calorie tracking- How to do it and why it works? In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you needto know about calorie tracking.    Some of the topics covered are- How to track calories? The calories that often go untracked Better bad choices Easy calorie savers High calorie foods Tracking apps Why calorie tracking WORKS The benefits of calorie tracking Calorie breakdown of Marco nutrien...

Calories - What are they and why are they important?   In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you needto know about calories. Some of the topics covered are. What are they? Where do they come from? How do you burn calories? The role of calories? Why different people burn different quantities? Why calorie tracking WORKS Calories in VS calories out And much more This episode is packed wit...

Zone 2 - What does it really mean and who is it for ? In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you needto know about Vo2 max. Some of the topics covered are; What is it ? Why is it different for most people. Why people get it wrong? The benefits of Zone 2? What does it do? How it works. Just how powerful it can be And much more This episode is packed with real information from one of them...

Want to really understand why you train by Heart Rate? firstyou need to understand your energy systems. Training with zones has a purpose and that purpose is totrigger the correct response from the correct energy system to allow for stimulation and facilitate adaptation. In this episode Seán will breakdown; Exactly how your energy systems work The difference between Aerobic and Anaerobic energy Th...

In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about metabolic testing. Some of the topics covered are. Who is the testing for? How does it work? How humans burn calories? What is your metabolism? The benefits of testing? Why calorie counting the correct way works? Mistakes people often make when tracking? Why calorie algorithms don’t work? and much more! This episode is packed...

VO2 Max - What does it really mean and who is it for ? In this episode, Seán covers in detail everything you need to know about Vo2 max. Some of the topics covered are; What is Vo2 max? Who is it for? How is it done? How does Vo2 change? Why does it change? Why your watch Vo2 is inaccurate? What do you get from a Vo2 test? How Vo2 max is relevant to overall health? Protocols used for different tes...