In Episode #77 of the OFM podcast, Peter Defty welcomes Dr. Amy Bukszpan, a behavioral analyst and endurance coach, to explore how applied behavioral science can empower athletes to take control of their nutrition, performance, and daily decisions. From breaking carb addictions to reframing failure, they dive into how modifying environmental variables and cultivating curiosity over fear can dramatically improve outcomes both in and outside of competitions. This conversation bridges cutting-edge metabolic performance with real-world psychology for anyone ready to take their performance—and life—to the next level.

OFM Podcast Host, Peter Defty sits down with Dr. Johnathan Edwards MD for an in depth and candid conversation on the underlying reality of sports nutrition. With the current hype surrounding high carbohydrate diets and fueling regimens which are dominating the conversation in sports nutrition this is a conversation every athlete needs to listen to inform their journey so they can achieve “Higher Health & Peak Performance”.

Watch the video: Watch the video

Colin’s powerful transformation from an unhealthy lifestyle to becoming an elite age-group triathlete (all while balancing a demanding career, coaching, and family) underscore the importance of performance level metabolic health. 

OFM confers metabolic efficiency by building metabolic capacity. Combined with strategic carbohydrate fueling, Colin has unlocked winning performance without compromising health and longevity. 

His journey proves that endurance success isn’t predicated upon high-carb fueling—it's about optimizing fat metabolism to establish a robust metabolic foundation then building upon it with strategic nutrition choices. Whether you're a competitive athlete or simply looking to improve your performance, Colin's insights provide a game-changing perspective on fueling for performance and lifelong health.

Phil Maffetone and Peter Defty provide a masterclass in optimizing health and performance by reconnecting with our evolutionary biology by challenging the myths propagated by modern corporate interests. 

Both emphasize the importance of

Episode Summary

John shares his incredible experiences as an elite cyclist, Marine Corps F-18 fighter pilot, ultrarunner, IronMan Triathlete then coming back full circle to his first love of cycling culminating most recently with Badlands. 

John was an early, early adopter of OFM beginning in 2010 by first using VESPA. Like so many people pursuing endurance sports John was suffering from GI issues and bonking. While VESPA made a huge difference in John’s fueling, his full adoption of OFM in the fall of 2010 has had profound long term benefits which are part of the conversation. 

Key Highlights:

Discussion Topics:

This episode showcases the transformative power of OFM for endurance athletes over the long term. John Rutherford’s journey . . . 

. . . highlights how OFM supports a person to consistently show up and be the best version of themselves no matter what the challenges of ultra-endurance events, including Life! Remember, along with being the Foreign Service Officer for the US Department of State assigned to NATO (John reports directly to the US Ambassador to NATO &  he is fluent in Russian), John has a wife and two boys. 

Hopefully John’s long term OFM journey will inspire you to reassess whether the conventional wisdom of high carb dieting and fueling (which is, essentially, “too much sugar”) and whether it really makes sense while exploring how the OFM program and protocols offer a roadmap back to your native physiology and in alignment with our evolutionary heritage. 

Doesn’t matter whether you're an elite athlete, age grouper or simply looking to be the best version of yourself in all aspects of life, John’s journey there are nuggets to glean for everyone including how to enjoy the ride, because, remember, whether you know it or not we are all signed up for that ultra-endurance event called Life! 

Peter Defty sits down with recently retired elite ultra runner, Jenny Capel, to reflect on her 22-year journey in the sport, much of it fueled by VESPA and OFM. Jenny shares personal stories about her father, Roland Martin, an early ultra running pioneer, and how she initially found running to be "stupid" before becoming one of the sport’s top competitors.

Jenny discusses her transition from a reluctant runner to an elite athlete, and how OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism) and Vespa played crucial roles in overcoming GI issues and achieving long-term success. She talks about the importance of balancing life as a mother, physical therapist, and competitive runner, highlighting her decision to scale back from racing to start a family all while maintaining her love for the sport.

Key topics covered include:

Jenny’s Early Introduction to Ultra Running and Reluctant Start

• Jenny’s father, Roland Martin, was an early ultra running pioneer, competing alongside some of the sport’s founding figures, such as Gordy Ainsleigh, Bruce LaBelle, Wayne Miles, Dana Gard and Bill Finkbeiner..

Overcoming GI Issues with Vespa and Transitioning to Fat-Adaptive Running

• Jenny was one of the early adopters of Vespa and the OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism) protocol after experiencing severe gastrointestinal issues during races.

The Mental Fortitude Required for 100-Mile Races

• Jenny highlights the difference between 50-mile/100K races and 100-milers, emphasizing that the mental challenge is significantly greater.

Balancing Life as a Mother, Physical Therapist, and Competitive Ultrarunner

• After becoming a mother of two, Jenny and her husband, Steve, both physical therapists, prioritized work-life balance by cutting back on their work hours to focus on their family.

Finding Joy in Running Again After Personal Loss

• After her father’s death in 2018, Jenny questioned her relationship with running and whether racing still held meaning for her.

The Decision to Retire from Competitive Ultra Running

• After more than two decades of competing, Jenny decided to retire from racing after achieving her dream of running the Hardrock 100, which her father completed at the race’s inception in 1992.

How OFM has helped Jenny navigate Female Health

• At 51 Jenny is showing none of the signs of perimenopause symptoms.

Embracing Life After Racing and Continuing to Run for Fun

• Jenny still runs regularly but focuses on enjoying the process, often exploring new trails and embarking on adventure runs without the pressure of competition.

Dustin Armstrong, a Cat 1 Cyclist joins us  to share his metabolic transformation via OFM. Starting Life with underdeveloped lungs racing helped him develop his engine. However, following the conventional approach to sports nutrition Dustin became pre-diabetic and eventually developed heart disease. 

He’s defied the odds through the OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism) approach. Tune in as Dustin and Peter discuss the highs and lows of Dustin's athletic career, his unique insights into metabolic health, and how the OFM protocol has helped him achieve optimal performance and health.

Talking Points:

Introduction to Dustin Armstrong:

• Born with underdeveloped lungs and faced significant health challenges from the start.

The Shift to Road Racing:

• Journey from Cat 5 to Cat 1 in just one year.

Discovering OFM and Ketogenic Diet:

• Struggled with inflammation and a pre-diabetic diagnosis in 2015.

Experiences with Ketone Esters:

• Early experimentation with high-dose ketone esters and their effect on athletic performance and recovery.

Heart Surgery and Recovery:

• Diagnosis of a bicuspid valve and aortic enlargement requiring emergency surgery.

The Role of Nutrition and OFM in Athletic Success

• How Dustin optimized his fueling strategy with Vespa, strategic carbs, and ketone esters.

Current Racing and Training Insights:

• Competing in criterium races every weekend and managing a balanced diet with strategic carbohydrate intake.

Strategic Carbohydrate Use:

• Dustin shares how he strategically incorporates carbohydrates to boost performance, especially during high-intensity efforts or long endurance rides. 

Holistic Recovery Approach:

• Dustin attributes his rapid recovery from heart surgery to a nutrient-dense diet, the strategic use of OFM, and ketone esters. 

Personal Anecdotes and Success Stories:

• From his own experience overcoming a congenital heart defect to helping others through OFM, Dustin illustrates the transformative power of OFM.

Balancing Modern Nutrition Trends:

• Peter and Dustin discuss the current high-carb fueling trends in endurance sports and the pitfalls of extreme carbohydrate dependence. 

Your health and performance is not about following a one-size-fits-all approach but an individualized one that factors in your specific variables, including the demands of the sport. OFM addresses how our native metabolic pathways can be leveraged in real world ways to achieve “Higher Health & Peak Performance” . Justin is another example of how important addressing performance at the metabolic level is toward achieving your health and performance goals. More so, OFM is about fully living LIfe!

Marty Smith is heading to Nice in a week to compete at the IronMan World Championships  in the 65-69 Age Group. This is not her first rodeo. Marty has participated in 4 IronMan World Championships, including last year. She has also qualified for and competed in 2 IronMan 70.3 World Championships. Her slowest full IronMan time was 14:52 in her first World Championship in 2013, over a decade ago and before discovering VESPA and the VESPA developed OFM Protocols.

Like all our stories, Marty’s road to the World Championships is so much more than all things triathlon. Marty shares her incredible journey of recovery, her transition from addiction to athleticism, and how embracing OFM and using VESPA have been game-changers for her performance and longevity in endurance sports.

Discussion Points:

Marty’s Background: Overcoming Addiction through Athleticism

• Marty shares her personal story of addiction beginning with food addiction at a young age then segueing into alcohol and drug addiction in adolescence and adulthood.

Introduction to Endurance Sports

• How Marty transitioned from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one.

The Role of Diet and Nutrition:

• Marty discusses how her shift to OFM, by timing the balance of carbohydrate restriction with “Strategic” Carbs and using VESPA, allowed her to make the fundamental shift back to using body fat as fuel 

Marty’s Ironman Success:

• Competing in 10 Ironmans, including three appearances at the Kona World Championships and now heading to Nice.

Training and Recovery Insights:

• How Marty maintains high levels of training and performance without traditional rest days.

Living Life on Her Terms:

• Marty reflects on her experiences as a nurse which culminated in hospice care.

Advice for Aspiring Athletes:

• Marty emphasizes that it's never too late to start living a healthier, more active life.

Marty Smith is another powerful example of how it's possible to not only  turn your life around at any age but achieve the extraordinary. Her journey from addiction to becoming a top competitor in her age group at Ironman events inspires and educates. . . and, as discussed in the podcast, it begins with getting down to the basics. One of those basics is your foundational physiology which is precisely what the OFM Metabolic Reset does; re-establish your native metabolism which uses body fat as the primary aerobic energy source. 

This episode is not just for Triathletes. For anyone seriously considering making positive lifestyle changes this podcast is a must listen because Marty’s journey can be anyone’s journey. Please share with your friends and family.

As I like to say, “Whether everyone knows it or not, we are all signed up for that ultra-endurance event called Life.” Kate Hubber’s OFM journey demonstrates how one can successfully navigate the complexities of modern life by being grounded in the foundational physiology OFM. 

Kate originally came to us seeking to use OFM and VESPA as a means to improve her half marathon, marathon and ultramarathon running as she was starting to experience all the typical challenges most runners face of energy swings, bonking, GI issues and weight gain as she entered her thirties. 

She got much more than she bargained for because within months of making the fundamental metabolic shift she fell pregnant with her first child. Prior to making the switch to OFM she had not been able to conceive. 

Not only has Kate been able to successfully juggle the demands of being a mum to two young children, a husband and full-time career as an environmental engineer but continues to smash her athletic performance goal. All with aplomb, a sense of humor and positivity. This is what happens when your foundational physiology shifts from the constant “fight of flight” physiology of being glucose dependent to the blood sugar stability of OFM. 

Podcast Synopsis:   

Introduction

• Kate discusses her background, including her competitive sailing career, transition to running, the challenges she eventually faced as a consequence of the conventional approach of high carb diet and fueling which brought her to  OFM.

The OFM Transformation

• Kate shares her experience transitioning from a conventional high-carb diet to a carb restricted, fat-adapted lifestyle and the positive changes it brought.

Running and Endurance

• Kate talks about her experience running ultra-marathons and how OFM has enhanced her performance.

Balancing Life and Health

• Strategies Kate uses to juggle her running, work, kiddos and family life.

Health, Mindset, and Longevity:

• The broader implications of metabolic health for long-term wellness.

Practical Advice and Tips:

• Kate’s tips for anyone looking to start their own OFM journey or improve their endurance training.

The episode wraps up with a discussion on the importance of finding your unique path in health and fitness, and how OFM and VESPA can be powerful tools toward achieving balance, performance, and longevity.

In today’s OFM Podcast Dr. Linda Frazier joins Peter Defty in a conversation on the intricacies of women's health and their long term ramifications. 

While retired from a full time practice as a Pediatrician, Dr. Frazier continues to provide pediatric care for those who need it most, working a few days a month in the Sacramento Juvenile Detention Center and volunteering as a Pediatrician on mission trips to Central and South America. 

As importantly Dr. Frazier has the perspective of both an athlete and health professional who has been through the journey of health and performance long before arriving at OFM. As someone who ‘gets it’ as well as understands the ramifications of the conventional approaches to diet, nutrition, and exercise, especially when it comes to female health and performance. 

Dr. Frazier openly talks about her years following the conventional ‘healthy’ dietary advice of a high carbohydrate diet and how doing so resulted in being diagnosed with Celiac in 2005. The turning point was reading the Primal Blueprint which led Dr. Linda in the right direction eventually leading to Peter, VESPA and OFM. Within a few short years Linda has achieved a lifetime Personal Best time in the marathon at the age of 64 and completing an IronMan Triathlon at the age of 65.

The conversation is filled with great information and real world scenarios and solutions to help the listener fully understand the implications and impacts the modern world has on female health. Below are some of the points covered..

Metabolic Health and Women’s Health:

• The impact of diet on fertility, pregnancy, and young women's health.

Challenges in Modern Women’s Health:

• Observations of poor dietary habits in young mothers and their children.

The Role of Stress and Social Media:

• Impact of constant cortisol spikes due to social media on young girls.

Women’s Gestational Health:

• Importance of metabolic health before and during pregnancy.

Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits:

• Strategies for parents to instill good dietary habits in children.

Conclusion:

This podcast makes clear the importance of metabolic health for women at all stages of life, from adolescence to pregnancy and beyond. Her insights and experiences provide valuable guidance for improving health outcomes for women, their families and their athletic performance.. Tune in to learn more about optimizing your health and setting a positive example for future generations, just like Dr. LInda Frazier. 

If you are looking for guidance our Team can provide you with the same tools and expertise we provided Dr. Frazier