Nutrition for Strength and Health
Practical nutrition guidance for strength, energy and healthier living after 40.
Everyone Knows What Good Nutrition Is … but …
Nutrition is a big topic but I’ll start with weight management. The rise of GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro and Ozempic tell us many things but one in particular is very important (I think). That is, some people are bigger and some people are smaller and it’s because of your hormones … not will power, not laziness. Ghrelin and (in particular) leptin work differently from person to person.
It’s not inherently unhealthy to be extremely low body fat. It’s not inherently unhealthy to have excess body fat (within reason), but on both counts it’s important to exercise.
I don’t use GLP-1 drugs for the simple fact that everything you take in has to eventually go via your liver and kidneys and the long-term effects are not know for non-diabetic populations … but …
… I’m not anti GLP-1 drugs either, for some people they are very positive … but …
… regardless where you stand, good nutrition should be at the heart of every weight management programme, and it’s not just a case of eating eggs for breakfast, then more fruit and veg.
We have deep consultations with you and it’s important to know why we do what we do. For example, if you have a decreased sensitivity to leptin, then we need strategies to get around that.
Or it may be that you overeat when stressed, and how this affects cortisol.
It may be that your body responds well to one type of exercise, but not another.
Or it may be you’re not good at cooking so reach for poor choices, we can address that with simple good recipes.
There’s more to it than get off your arse more, or just have an apple.
Nutrition isn’t just about weight management either. We’re trained for other conditions/populations too …
… type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke, hypertension, heart disease, ADHD, (some) cancers … and having good gut health helps conditions such as autism also.
We must stress that we’re Sports Scientists, not medical professionals, so we never override, for example, the advice given by a heart surgeon or pediatric neurologists (as examples).
I hope to convey that we take this very seriously and see everyone as an individual. One size definitely does not fit all. We have to get to know you and what we can and can’t do … and go from there. Make a start, drop us a line
ahuman@leedsstrengthhealth.com
Why Use a Sports Scientist?
Sports Scientists are trained to a significantly greater degree than Personal Trainers in human physiology. There are some good Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors, but far too often, too many are prescribing unproven, ineffective treatments. It baffles.
Modern science and a deep understanding of the body is of paramount importance so that you receive the safest, best advice and effective personalised programming.
ahuman@leedsstrengthhealth.com