Macabolic Podcast

In episode 81 of the Macabolic Podcast, I sit down with Tyson Brown to discuss nutrition and social media.

A key topic we fleshed out was comparing and contrasting 3 different approaches to social media that nutrition professionals may take. 1) Simply keeping to yourself. 2) Constructive messages when you don’t agree with something. 3) Aggressive call outs.

Interestingly, benefits and instances when even aggressive calls out (full blown James Smith or Layne Norton style) might be of net benefit to all parties, was discussed.

Great food for thought for nutrition professionals, influencers, nutrition enthusiasts, and even clients who follow various nutrition pages on social media.

Of course Tyson also takes a dive into his history including how he got into nutrition, some key lessons learned along the way, and his 7 year PT journey at Fitness First Newtown.

You can follow Tyson at @tysonthetrainerr

You can follow me, and stay up to date with any new Macabolic Podcast episodes at @mackenziebaker_

Best, Mac

In this episode I cover. 1. Define nutrition tracking. 2. Identify the benefits and times where tracking is helpful. 3. Identify the negative of macro tracking. 4. Explore the connection between macro tracking and disordered eating and whether it’s a driver or just ‘there for the ride’. 5. Define intuitive eating including its 3 primary principles. 6. Identify the benefits and times where intuitive eating has utility. 7. Discuss whether initiative eating can be considered a ‘weight loss diet’ or not. 8. Outline a list of questions to identify whether tracking or intuitive eating is right for you. 9. Explain that it does not need to be one or the other. Propose a graded approach to nutrition tracking and intuitive eating. 10. Explain how the 3 underpinning concepts behind entitle eating can be applied to a tracking phase to reduce the risk of disordered eating.

If you’d like to read the full blog post featuring complete references list, please click the link below. https://www.fortitudenutritioncoaching.com.au/blog/10-ways-to-use-intuitive-eating-whilst-tracking

Best, Mac

In episode 79 of the Macabolic Podcast I was lucky enough to be joined by a GOAT.

Dr Zoya Huschtscha (@nourished_by_science ) is a 2x Arnold competitor, Victoria’s strongest women, a PhD researcher, AND an accredited sports dietitian. So yeh, a pretty impressive CV.

We discuss…

-Dr Zoya’s journey in sport and academia.

-What got her into nutrition study, research and being a strongwomen athlete.

-The cultural significance of food, and how it’s more than just fuel.

-Her research in caffeine metabolism.

-Her PhD research looking at training and nutrition interventions to help manage age related muscle loss in elderly populations.

-Why and how sport and exercise research in females is limited.

-Performance and nutrition, as it relates to the female menstrual cycle. The state of exisiting evidence and why it’s limited.

-Why applying blanket, multi phase nutrition and training approaches to female clients based on their menstrual cycle is like throwing s**t at the wall, and hoping something sticks.

Overall, a fantastic episode, that I’m sure you’ll gain some value from.

Best, Mac

Zoya on Instagram: @nourished_by_science

In episode 78 of the Macabolic Podcast, Adv Sports Dietitian Alicia Edge discusses her experiences, observations, and opinions around Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), Low Energy Availability (LEA), and the largely unspoken deep dark effects of blanket Calorie tracking recommendations. Alicia and I discuss the role of Calorie tracking in triggering or worsening eating disorders, and how Calorie tracking should probably NOT be the first-port-of-call for athletes and individuals who’re trying to prevent or navigate RED-S, and LEA, or even lose weight.

This emotion and passion fuelled episode speaks volumes as to why giving nutrition advice isn’t this fun little game. It runs deep, and the impacts on ones life can be very profoundly negative. I feel so many are completely oblivious to the severe, almost debilitating impact, seemingly simple, 100% well meaning nutrition recommendations can have.

Alicia on Instagram: @compeat_nutrition Alicia’s website: https://www.compeatnutrition.com/

Mackenzie on Instagram: @mackenziebaker_

In episode 77 of the Macabolic Podcast I was lucky enough to be joined by Alan Flanagan (PhD[c]) ( @thenutritional_advocate ), who you might know as “that science, quack asylum guy” from Danny Lennon's Sigma Nutrition podcast, to clear up the confusion around ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ fats.⁠ ⁠ There are many different types of fats in the food we eat, and the terminologies often cross over. We start with ‘healthy v unhealthy’. Then we hear terms such as saturated, unsaturated, trans, omega’s, EPA, ALA, cholesterol, etc … which is when it really becomes confusing.⁠ ⁠ And that’s before we’ve even thought about the cluster fuck that is whats’s actually a ‘good or a bad’ fat…⁠ ⁠ Some folks say we should put butter in our coffee, and that ‘big science’ is out to make us fat and sick. Yet dietary guidelines across the globe advise we limit animal fat. ⁠ ⁠ 

PT’s are telling us to avoid salmon because it doesn't align with their disordered take on 'volume eating'. Despite the fact, it’s well established that omega 3’s are our friends?⁠ ⁠ Then we have ‘plant seed oils’, and dietary cholesterol which is a whole other kettle of fish. ⁠ ⁠ This episode seeks to provide some clarity among a sea of confusion and conflicting messages. ⁠

I hope you enjoy it.

Alan’s website: https://www.alineanutrition.com/ Alan's Instagram: @thenutritional_advocate My Instagram: @mackenziebaker_

In episode 76 of the Macabolic Podcast, I was joined by @denver_steyn who is one of Australia’s OG flexible dieting proponents, and longest-serving online coaches.

In this episode, Denver explains his journey through bodybuilding, flexible dieting, and online coaching. When both were new, novel concepts, susceptible to much scrutiny from his peers and colleagues, with ‘clean eating’ being the stock-standard approach at the time.

Denver explains how his approach has changed through experience, and what he now feels is an ‘appropriate way’ to engage with the notion of a flexible dieting method.

Ep 75. Finding motivation for diet longevity - Shannon Beer How many times have you started a new exciting fat loss diet, on absolute fire, with perfect adherence for the first few weeks. Only to let a few minor slip ups, accumulate to completely ‘falling off the wagon’ and never getting back on?

The points, and types of motivation we identify and ‘use’ can heavily influence our ‘diet longevity’ and whether we’re able to ‘stick to our guns’ for a sufficient time frame to see long lasting success.

In episode 75 of the Macabolic Podcast, Shannon Beer (@shannonbeer_ ) and I discuss motivation, what it is, the different types and how YOU can identify deeper more meaningful point of motivation, that promote longevity and long lasting commitment.

This includes, ideas and even ‘tips’, that will help you stay true to your nutrition related goals. This includes reacting and responding to lapses, and slip-ups.

Scenario: You’re a PT or a gym owner. You have a client, or you want to run a group fat loss program for your gym. You have no formal nutrition qualifications, what do you do?

Can you give meal plans and macros?

Do you have to refer out, or can you do something??

Is your PT OR online coach stepping outside of his/her legal scope of practice, by giving you a meal plan or macros?

Well, believe it or not, PT’s/online coaches with no formal nutrition qualifications do have some scope to guide their clients through nutrition.

In episode 74 of the Macabolic Podcast, myself and Alex (@aussiesportsnutritionist) cover some of our favourite non-tracking weight loss nutrition strategies. We also explain how PT’s can apply nutrition guidance to help their clients get better results, whilst staying with in their legal scope off practice.

Details regarding the 'nutrition horror story' Alex referred to in the episode, can be found below. 

https://jordansullivandietittian.medium.com/weight-cutting-is-dangerous-ask-the-girl-who-was-rushed-in-for-emergency-surgery-after-following-61a3fae2366d

In episode 73 of the Macabolic Podcast I was joined by Josh Smith, a sports nutritionist and founder of Fortitude Nutrition Coaching.

Josh uses his relatable and understandable approach to nutrition communication to explain how the ‘clean foods only’ mindset of many dedicated athletes can cause more harm than good.

Josh and I discuss how the job of an athletes diet is vastly different to the diet of most people, and how using ‘the right tool’ for the job, is imperative to meet fuelling, and recovery demands, as well the intended benefit of training. 

Josh outlines why ensuring adequate fuel availability is a vital part of not only being the best athlete you can be, but also avoiding the hefty health consequences associated with chronic under fuelling.

We round the episode off with some practical ‘hows’ behind determining your Calorie requirements and aligning your food selection to make achieving targets feasible, and comfortable.

Follow FNC on Instagram @fortitudenutritioncoaching and follow myself @mackenziebaker_

In episode 72 of the Macabolic Podcast Janina ’@Naturally_Nina’ Gelbke reflects on her nutrition journey through severe disordered eating, and an obsessive ‘all or nothing’ approach to food, that negatively impacted her life throughout her childhood and teenage years.

Nina is an accredited nutritionist, and nutrition influencer specialising in vegan nutrition guidance and disordered eating. She’s also the GOAT of aesthetically pleasing ‘Insta recipes’.

We discuss how Nina now views food, what she now seeks to obtain from her diet, and what lessons she wishes to pass onto others in order for them to avoid the ‘nutrition whirlwind’ she previously endured.

We touch on the pitfalls of an ‘all or nothing’ approach to both nutrition and being a vegan. As well as how a ‘numbers obsession’ can turn your diet from ‘health-seeking’, to ‘health-impairing’.

Follow Nina at @naturally_nina on Instagram, and follow myself @mackenziebaker_