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Are you doing everything “right”… but still feeling exhausted?
If you’re a triathlete who’s training consistently, eating “clean” and still hitting the wall by the end of the week, this episode will hit close to home.
In this powerful athlete case study, Taryn sits down with TNA athlete Julia Burgess to unpack the real reason she was constantly tired, struggling with gut issues and underperforming… despite thinking she had her nutrition dialled in.
Spoiler: eating clean was actually part of the problem.
In this episode, we cover:
Key takeaways:
Timestamps:
Loved this episode?
If you’re sick of feeling tired, underfuelled and stuck guessing what to eat… it’s time to stop winging it.
Inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy, you’ll learn exactly how to fuel your training, fix your energy levels and perform at your best without the confusion.
Register your interest now here.
Links & Resources:
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are you unknowingly sabotaging your triathlon performance with your nutrition?
In this episode, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson breaks down the 7 biggest nutrition mistakes triathletes are making in 2026 and why they’re holding you back from training hard, recovering properly and performing on race day.
Some of these mistakes have been around for years, but there are a few new ones creeping in, especially with the rise of AI and tracking apps. If you’ve ever felt flat in sessions, struggled with gut issues or wondered why your race day doesn’t reflect your training, this episode is a must-listen.
What you’ll learn:
Why AI-generated nutrition plans can do more harm than good (and how to use them properly)
The problem with macro tracking apps that ignore the bigger picture
Why copying pro athletes is a fast track to frustration
How leaving nutrition until race season is costing you performance
The importance of fuelling for the work required instead of eating the same every day
Why you need to train your gut like you train your body
The real reason investing in your nutrition education changes everything
Nutrition isn’t the last piece of the puzzle, it’s the piece that holds everything together.
If you’re not fuelling properly, you’re leaving performance on the table no matter how good your training plan is.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: What’s changed in triathlon nutrition in 2026
01:50 - Mistake #1: Blindly following AI-generated plans
04:50 - Mistake #2: Relying on macro tracking apps without context
10:10 - Mistake #3: Copying what the pros do
13:20 - Mistake #4: Leaving nutrition until race season
15:50 - Mistake #5: Eating the same every day
18:20 - Mistake #6: Not training your gut for race day
20:30 - Mistake #7: Trying to figure it all out on your own
Links & Resources:
Join the Triathlon Nutrition Academy waitlist: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy
Listen to Episode 224: The Problem with Outsourcing Your Nutrition to AI
Grab your free Triathlon Nutrition Checklist: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/checklist
Ready to take action?
If you saw yourself in any of these mistakes, that’s your sign to do something about it.
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy is opening soon. This is your chance to stop guessing, start fuelling properly and finally unlock your performance.
Get on the waitlist now: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why you’re still struggling with your nutrition (and what to do about it)
You’re training consistently, trying to eat well and doing all the “right” things… so why do you still feel exhausted, hungry and stuck?
If you feel like your nutrition isn’t matching your effort, this episode will help you understand exactly why and more importantly, what to do about it.
Because here’s the truth… it’s not that you need to try harder. You need a better approach.
In this episode, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson breaks down the most common reasons triathletes struggle with nutrition, even when they’re putting in the work and how to finally start seeing results from your training.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why doing “all the right things” still isn’t getting you results
The biggest mistake triathletes make focusing on the wrong nutrition priorities
How inconsistency is quietly sabotaging your energy, recovery and performance
Why you need a structured nutrition system (not random tips from everywhere)
The problem with “winging it” and how it leads to constant second guessing
What actually matters for endurance performance and long term progress
Key takeaways:
You can’t out-train a poor nutrition strategy
Your body adapts to what you do consistently, not occasionally
The basics done well will always outperform the fancy stuff
A clear system removes the mental load and creates better results
Chapters:
03:00 – The trap of focusing on supplements and small details
04:00 – The “big rocks” that actually drive performance
05:00 – How inconsistency is holding you back
06:20 – Why your body needs consistency to adapt
07:00 – The missing piece: a structured nutrition system
08:00 – Why winging it leads to frustration and confusion
09:00 – What proper triathlon nutrition actually involves
10:50 – How to take action without overwhelming yourself
11:40 – Your next step to start making progress
Ready to stop winging it with your nutrition?
If you’re tired of second guessing what to eat, feeling flat in sessions and not seeing results from your training, it’s time to take a more structured approach.
Inside the Triathlon Nutrition Academy, you’ll learn exactly how to fuel for performance with a clear, evidence-based system that evolves with your training.
👉 Register your interest now: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if one of the biggest factors affecting your energy, recovery and long-term health wasn’t your training or nutrition… but the light you’re exposed to every day?
Most triathletes spend hours dialling in their fuelling, sessions and recovery protocols. But modern life has quietly changed something fundamental to human biology. We now spend around 90% of our time indoors under artificial lighting that is very different to the sunlight our bodies evolved with.
In this fascinating episode, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with Professor Glen Jeffery, a neuroscientist from University College London and one of the world’s leading researchers on how different wavelengths of light influence our biology.
Professor Jeffery explains how light interacts directly with your mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside your cells. And why certain types of light may influence everything from energy production and inflammation to recovery, metabolism and ageing.
You’ll also hear why athletes might be using red and infrared light the wrong way, and why the biggest benefits could actually come after hard training sessions rather than before.
If you’ve been curious about red light therapy devices or wondering whether they’re worth the investment, this episode will help you separate real science from marketing hype.
And if you want the full deep dive specifically for athletes, check out the brand new Red Light Therapy Masterclass here: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy
In This Episode We Discuss
Why light is far more than just something that helps us see
The surprising role of mitochondria in responding to light exposure
How modern LED lighting may be quietly impacting metabolism and health
The difference between short wavelength light vs long wavelength light
Why sunlight contains critical wavelengths most indoor lighting lacks
The link between light exposure, inflammation and blood glucose regulation
Whether red light therapy can actually improve athletic performance
Why athletes may benefit more from post-training light exposure for recovery
The problem with many expensive red light therapy devices
Simple, low-cost ways to improve your daily light environment
Key Takeaways for Triathletes
Mitochondria respond directly to certain wavelengths of light, influencing energy production.
Long wavelength light (including infrared) may help reduce inflammation and support cellular recovery.
Athletes are already highly efficient metabolically, so red light therapy may have limited benefits before exercise.
The biggest opportunity may be after hard sessions, when mitochondria are stressed and recovery is needed.
Many commercial red light devices deliver far more energy than necessary, meaning more is definitely not better.
About the Guest
Professor Glen Jeffery, PhD
Professor Glen Jeffery is a neuroscientist at University College London and a leading expert on how different wavelengths of light affect cellular health and biological function.
Chapters:
00:00 – The surprising role of light in human health
03:00 – The spectrum of sunlight explained
05:00 – Why mitochondria are the key to energy production
08:00 – The problem with modern LED lighting
11:00 – How indoor environments may influence metabolism and inflammation
16:00 – The benefits of long wavelength light
20:00 – Can red light therapy improve recovery and health?
21:00 – Simple ways to improve your light environment
29:00 – The explosion of red light therapy devices
30:00 – Why athletes may not benefit before exercise
32:00 – Where red light may actually help athletes recover faster
35:00 – Practical advice for athletes experimenting with red light therapy
37:00 – The potential risks of overusing red light devices
If today’s episode sparked your curiosity about how light impacts recovery and performance, dive deeper with the Red Light Therapy Masterclass for Athletes here:
https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happens when someone with zero athletic background decides to completely change their life… and accidentally signs up for an Ironman four months later?
In this episode of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Podcast, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with Triathlon Nutrition Academy athlete Chris Tubbs to unpack his incredible journey from couch potato to multiple Ironman finisher.
Chris started triathlon at 48 years old, while travelling 60% of the time for work in the biotech industry. Early on, things didn’t go to plan. Despite doing the training, races were ending in DNFs, cramping, nausea and serious frustration.
The surprising part? Fitness wasn’t the problem.
Through this conversation, Chris shares how dialling in his nutrition and hydration completely changed his ability to train, race and actually finish events. From ditching an expensive supplement habit to discovering he loses more than 2 litres of sweat per hour, this episode highlights just how powerful personalised nutrition can be for endurance performance.
It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, learning from mistakes and why it’s never too late to start something big.
In This Episode We Discuss
How Chris went from “championship potato chip eater” to Ironman athlete
The moment that sparked his decision to completely change his lifestyle
Accidentally signing up for an Ironman just four months into triathlon
Why he kept experiencing DNFs, cramping and poor race performances
The surprising truth about supplements vs nutrition foundations
How he saved hundreds of dollars a month by ditching unnecessary supplements
Discovering his extremely high sweat rate of over 2L per hour
Why hydration, not carbs, was the missing piece of his race-day puzzle
The challenges of fuelling properly while travelling constantly for work
How personalised nutrition strategies helped him finally finish races feeling strong
The mindset shift that kept him pushing forward through setbacks
Why it’s faster and far more effective to get expert help rather than trying to figure it all out alone
Key Takeaway
You can be incredibly fit, train hard and still struggle on race day if your nutrition and hydration aren’t dialled in.
Chris is proof that when you stop guessing and start fuelling strategically, everything changes.
Chapters
01:10 The photo that changed everything
03:00 From couch potato to triathlon at 48
06:10 Accidentally signing up for an Ironman
09:00 Why his early races kept falling apart
12:30 The supplement mistake many triathletes make
16:00 Discovering a massive sweat rate
19:30 Hydration vs carbs for endurance performance
23:10 Learning to fuel properly while travelling
27:00 Racing in heat vs cold conditions
30:30 The mindset shift that changed everything
34:00 Why getting expert help speeds up progress
37:00 Chris’ future triathlon goals
Links & Resources
Learn more about the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program
Listen to Episode 101: How much money triathletes waste on supplements
Connect with Chris on Instagram
@iron_clydesdale
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trying to lean up but your FTP keeps tanking?
If every time you try to “eat less” your watts drop, your legs feel flat and your sessions turn into survival mode… this episode is for you.
In this week’s podcast, I’m breaking down how to lose body fat strategically without compromising performance. Because you don’t get faster by shrinking yourself. You get faster by building a strong engine and fuelling it properly.
Inside this episode, I walk you through:
Why slashing carbs across the board is one of the biggest mistakes triathletes make
How to fuel threshold, VO2, long bricks and key sessions properly without blowing your fat loss goals
What carbohydrate periodisation actually looks like in a real training week
Why protecting muscle mass is critical for both metabolism and power output
How small, boring calorie deficits beat aggressive six week shreds every time
A real athlete case study of a masters triathlete who lost 45 pounds while improving her FTP and keeping it off long term
This is the difference between dieting and performance nutrition. Dieting just shrinks you. Strategic fuelling supports your training, your recovery and your long term triathlon career.
If you’re training for three sports, juggling work and family and still trying to create a massive calorie deficit on top of that, you’re setting yourself up to underfuel and underperform.
You don’t need to eat less. You need to eat smarter.
Chapters:
00:00 Why your FTP drops when you try to lose weight
01:05 The biggest mistake triathletes make when dieting
02:40 Why cutting carbs hurts performance
04:15 Can you lose fat and maintain power?
05:30 Real athlete case study: 45 pounds down, FTP up
08:00 Fuel the sessions that matter
10:00 How to periodise carbohydrates properly
12:00 Protecting muscle mass and metabolism
14:00 Why your calorie deficit should be small
16:00 How to lean up without losing watts
17:30 What to do next
Links & Resources Mentioned
Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart Course
Step-by-step guidance to build your performance plate, pre-training fuel, during-training targets and recovery plan.
Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program
Ongoing coaching, support and accountability inside our comprehensive group program.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start fuelling like a performance-driven triathlete, this episode is your starting point.
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Training hard but still feeling flat, constantly hungry or stuck at a performance plateau?
If you dropped into my world tomorrow as a triathlete, there are four things I would fix immediately. And no, it’s not your supplements, your race day gel strategy or your power to weight ratio.
In this episode, I break down the four big rocks of triathlon nutrition that almost every age group triathlete gets wrong. These are the foundations that make everything else work. Before you worry about fancy fuelling strategies, you need to get these right.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Most triathletes love structure in their training but completely wing their nutrition. They copy what their mates are doing, grab tips from Instagram and end up with inconsistent carbs, random recovery and underfuelled long sessions.
Chapters:
00:00 - Training hard but still underperforming?
01:20 - Why most triathletes DIY their nutrition
04:10 - The 4 foundations that actually matter
06:15 - Fix #1: Recovery nutrition done properly
09:10 - Fix #2: Pre-training fuel, especially mornings
12:30 - Fix #3: Building your triathlete performance plate
16:55 - Fix #4: During-training carbs and sodium strategy
21:40 - What happens when you nail the fundamentals
24:30 - Stop jumping to advanced strategies
26:00 - How to get structured support
When you nail these four fundamentals:
These aren’t sexy strategies. They’re the foundations. And they change everything.
Links & Resources Mentioned
Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart Course
Step-by-step guidance to build your performance plate, pre-training fuel, during-training targets and recovery plan.
Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program
Ongoing coaching, support and accountability inside our comprehensive group program.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start fuelling like a performance-driven triathlete, this episode is your starting point.
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ironman has changed its on-course hydration globally. Sounds simple. It’s not.
All Ironman-branded events have now moved to PH1000 for hydration and Maurten for carbohydrate fuelling, separating fluids and carbs completely. If you’ve relied on sports drink to do both jobs, this shift has major implications for your race nutrition plan.
In this solo episode, I break down exactly what’s changed, how much sodium you’re actually getting per bottle and how to decide whether this setup works for your individual sweat rate, sodium losses and fuelling preferences.
Because hydration and sodium are never one-size-fits-all. And winging it at 70.3 or full distance is how you end up walking the marathon.
Chapters & Highlights:
00:00 - Why this Ironman change matters
02:15 - What’s actually changed on course
05:30 - PH1000 explained: sodium without carbs
08:10 - How to calculate sodium per bottle
11:45 - Will this setup work for you?
14:20 - What if you prefer to drink your carbs?
16:00 - Why practising in training is non-negotiable
18:00 - How to build a race plan that actually works
Key Takeaways:
PH1000 provides 1000mg sodium per litre and zero carbohydrate
Carbohydrates now come separately via Maurten gels and solids
Your sweat rate and sodium losses determine whether this works for you
You may need to be more self-sufficient on race day
Testing your full race setup in training is essential
Hydration isn’t about what’s on course. It’s about knowing your body and executing with confidence.
If you want help building a personalised race nutrition plan:
Register your interest for the Triathlon Nutrition Academy
Or start with the Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart Course
And if you’re not sure where your current plan stands, download the free Triathlon Nutrition Checklist
Other Links & Resources
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does it take to go from a promising junior to a world champion triathlete?
In this episode, I sit down with Aussie triathlete and 2025 World Champion Matt Hauser for a real, behind-the-scenes chat about his training load, nutrition evolution and what’s driven his rise to the top of the world triathlon stage. Matt shares what his day-to-day looks like, how his mindset and fuelling approach have shifted over time, and the routines that support peak performance.
Whether you're an age-grouper trying to balance work and training, or just keen to hear what it takes to compete at the highest level, this episode is packed with golden takeaways.
Here’s what we cover:
⏱️ [00:00] Welcome and intro to Matt
⏱️ [01:08] Career highlights: From Junior World Champ to World #1
⏱️ [03:00] What it means to win on home soil
⏱️ [05:00] A typical training week: 30 hours of triathlon training
⏱️ [08:28] Daily routine: early starts, fuelling strategies & coffee orders
⏱️ [13:00] The role of gym strength in elite triathlon
⏱️ [15:27] Cramping: The strength connection
⏱️ [17:18] Matt’s fuelling evolution - from mayo subs to plain rice
⏱️ [21:00] The realities of early-career athlete life
⏱️ [24:44] Mental resilience, setbacks and chasing progress
⏱️ [27:00] Transitioning from raw talent to strategic athlete
⏱️ [29:29] Building an identity outside of sport
⏱️ [31:38] What’s next: Going back-to-back, Olympic goals & short course focus
⏱️ [35:00] Will Matt ever go long course? His take on 70.3 and Ironman
⏱️ [37:45] The future of triathlon and Matt’s legacy
If you’re ready to take your nutrition (and racing) to the next level, don’t just wing it. Start with the Triathlon Nutrition Checklist and get clear on what you need to work on today.
Links & Resources
🎙 Listen to the Episode that proves Results (EP 227)
👉 Grab the free Triathlon Nutrition Checklist to find out exactly what you're missing:
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What do a rookie, a masters athlete and a seasoned racer all have in common?
They nailed their nutrition strategy - and the results speak for themselves.
In this episode, Taryn sits down with three very different athletes from the Triathlon Nutrition Academy - Jo, Kelly and Erin - to unpack the surprising impact of getting their fuelling right. Each had their own goals, challenges and training loads, but all saw game-changing results after implementing the same evidence-based framework.
If you’ve ever wondered whether nutrition could be your missing link, this episode will show you what’s possible when you get it right.
Timestamps & Highlights
00:00 – Intro: The effort gap between training and fuelling
01:35 – Meet Jo, Kelly & Erin: Different athletes, same frustration
06:00 – Why nutrition felt confusing (and what they used to get wrong)
14:00 – The turning point: How each athlete transformed their approach
22:00 – The race-day difference: Confidence, control and results
37:00 – Real-world results: Massive time gains, body comp shifts & more
51:00 – Advice for triathletes: When (and why) to start focusing on nutrition
58:00 – Final takeaways: What they'd tell their pre-TNA selves
Key Takeaways
Links & Resources
🎧 Want to feel confident in your nutrition like Jo, Kelly and Erin?
Join the next Triathlon Nutrition Academy intake at dietitianapproved.com/academy
🎙 Listen to the Episode that proves Results (EP 226)
👉 Grab the free Triathlon Nutrition Checklist to find out exactly what you're missing:
Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day
SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE
CONNECT WITH TARYN
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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