In this episode the dietitians and Maria interview AYB client, Christian Seyler. Cristian is a 23-year-old engineering student who has used nutrition and training services at AYB for the past 7 months. During his time here, he has made remarkable strides in his health goals. Christian discusses his personal journey with Ozempic, weight-loss, nutrition, training, and most importantly to him: mental health. Christian has worked hard to achieve his best through self-awareness and self-acceptance, and shares his inspiring outlook on how he stays motivated when times get tough!

Artificial sweeteners (also called low-calorie sweeteners, non-caloric sweeteners, and sugar substitutes) have been around for over 100 years. They became extremely popular during the 1950s-1980s by ultra-processed food and beverage companies as a “healthier alternative” for those with diabetes and/or weight management goals.

Last week the World Health Organization made a statement about  using caution with their intake: 

“WHO suggests that non-sugar sweeteners not be used as a means of achieving weight control or reducing the risk of noncommunicable diseases.” 

So today we are going to talk about the history of these sweeteners, how they are regulated by the government, how they are metabolized by the body, possible adverse health effects, and the recommendations for intake.

Link to Consumer Labs pros/cons article of each sweetener:

As sports dietitians, we have been using the words “pre-workout” for years, but what most people think about when they hear “pre-workout” is totally different from what we have been talking about. Nowadays, the term “Pre-workout" is more about which pre-workout supplement you use instead of “what is your pre-workout food and fluid”. We are going to dive into what pre-workouts are, if they work, are they safe, and our recommendations for achieving your best workout in a safe way!

Whether you’re a long-time fitness enthusiast, or a fitness newbie, you have probably experienced muscle soreness after a hard workout. Recovery is one of the most vital parts of a health journey, because it allows you to live with less soreness, have quick turnaround time between workouts, and reduce the risk of injury. In our current culture, there are many trends that promote physical and mental recovery from workouts. Today we are going to break down the reasons why you might experience muscle soreness, how to prevent it, and the trends that tout increased recovery time.

That illusive good night's sleep: everyone wants it, but few of us get it. How can we use nutrition to improve our sleep? How can we learn more about our own sleep cycles? What does a healthy bedtime routine look like? The dietitians share research-based information about improving sleep patterns.

Everyone has felt like this before: hungry and angry, or hangry! What causes us to feel this way? How can we get more in touch with our hunger cues? How can we improve our nutrition to prevent that hangry feeling?

Featuring special guests Nikki and Stephanie: co-owners of SUMITS Hot Yoga in Springfield, MO. We discuss the health benefits of yoga, how it compliments other types of fitness, misconceptions, classes that SUMITS offers, and what to expect for your first class.

Today we discuss the 5 most important components of a well-rounded fitness routine. We walk through recommendations and benefits of cardio, strength training, balance, mobility, and recovery. The dietitians chat about their favorite types of exercise.