You train hard and have a great plan, yet you're still not getting the results as an endurance athlete. Maybe you're feeling exhausted or battling mood swings? Something is off and the dots just aren’t connecting - but you don’t know why. It is frustrating!

It could be your fueling strategy.

In Episode 38, Dr. Kate Ackerman, Harvard professor, sports medicine doctor, and team physician for USA Rowing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sheds light on the often-overlooked issue of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and its profound impact on both athletic performance and overall health.

Key Topics:

• Insights from the IOC’s 2023 Consensus on RED-S, including the difference between short-term and chronic low energy availability.
• How to recognize the red flags of under-fueling and its effects on physical health, bone density, reproductive function, and mental well-being.
• Practical advice for athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals on maintaining proper energy balance to support peak performance.
• Challenges athletes face when increasing calorie intake after periods of restriction, including body image and mental health considerations.
• Guidance on fostering healthy development in young athletes, emphasizing skill growth over energy manipulation.

Resources Mentioned:

• Visit Redinsport.org for tools like the RED-S CAT2 clinical assessment tool.
• Follow Dr. Kate Ackerman on X (Twitter) at https://x.com/DrKateAckerman for more insights on athlete health and performance.

Subscribe to Imperfect Progress with Anne Guzman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. If you love what you're hearing, please leave a 5-star rating to help spread this credible information to more people worldwide. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Welcome to Imperfect Progress!! We're talking all things KNEE PAIN today with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Howard Luks who specializes in sports medicine.

Dr. Luks was Chief of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy at New York Medical College for over 20 years, where he taught the next generation of Orthopedic Surgeons about the needs of athletes of all ages.

Inside the podcast I ask the burning questions about:

• When you push through knee pain, and when is it a sign to dial it back?
• The complexities of inflammation and pain management.
• When knee surgery might be necessary and who is a suitable candidate.
• Mysteries of joint health and aging. Are your joints really "torn" or wearing out?
• Why can some people run marathons well into their 80s, while others struggle with joint agony in their 40s?

Dr. Luks shares insights into the impact of factors like excess weight, diet, and lifestyle on inflammation and joint pain, offering a holistic perspective on the issue.

We explore intriguing new research emerging from GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, which show promise for alleviating joint pain (this is INTERESTING!).

Dr. Luks provides valuable advice on steps patients can take before considering knee surgery, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches to joint health.

And finally, we confront the realities of aging and joint pain, discussing how individuals can navigate these challenges while maintaining an active lifestyle.

If you're anything like me, you NEED this episode! Tune in today and embark on this enlightening journey with Dr. Howard Luks, uncovering the secrets to managing knee pain and optimizing joint health.

Have you ever pushed yourself to the limit in a ride or race, only to be held back because you're struggling to breathe? You're not alone - as many as half of athletes face respiratory issues. During this episode of the Imperfect Progress Podcast, Dr. James Hull, a pulmonologist and Professor at the ISEH- the Institute of Sport Exercise and Health at UCL unpacks what athletes may be struggling with and why a diagnosis can be complicated.

We'll explore the differences between asthma and exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction - EILO - and why the sensations and solutions differ. Dr. Hull shares how misdiagnosis can hamper athletic careers when the root cause goes unaddressed. And how conditions are influenced by factors like local pollution levels and lung infections.

When you listen you'll gain tools to advocate for your own respiratory health evaluation. Proper diagnosis is key to treatment maximizing performance potential long-term. Don't let breathing hold you back - tune in to improve your understanding and keep advocating for yourself with this knowledge in hand.

To learn more from Dr. Hull follow him @Breathe_to_win on X (Twitter). To learn more from me and get updates about podcasts, sports nutrition, and mindset, follow me on X (Twitter) @guzmannutrition, and here on LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you haven't yet subscribed to my newsletter, head to anneguzman.com. You'll get more sports nutrition, sports science, and mindset insights to help you succeed in sports and life. Head to the footer of any page on my website and join over 500 athletes and active people in this curious and driven community today.

Now let's step inside and learn how to breathe easier.