Welcome to Episode 61 of the Eat for Endurance Podcast! My guest today is Sarah Currie (MS RD CDN), a Registered Dietitian, personal trainer, triathlon coach, and co-partner of Physical Equilibrium, a boutique gym based in Midtown Manhattan. She is passionate about helping clients get strong and lean through proper strength training and nutrition strategies, and that is our topic for this episode.
Sarah began lifting weights in high school, and learned to power lift while competing as a short sprinter for her collegiate track and field team. Post-college she competed in numerous endurance events, but then shifted her sights from endurance training to body building. She is an avid weight lifter and has participated in local figure competitions on stage. (Fun fact - Sarah and I have known each other for 11 years, and I actually watched her on stage at her first figure competition back in 2016!)
Before listening, a disclaimer: I discourage you from placing TOO much importance on weight and/or body comp for improved performance. Yes they are factors in performance, but so are many other things. The last thing we want is an under-fueled athlete, or one who ends up struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder. Thus, I usually do not recommend INTENTIONALLY trying to manipulate weight or body comp during a training cycle. Body changes may or may not occur as a result of training, but fueling adequately to match training volume should be the top priority to perform well and minimize risk of injury and illness. Please listen with that in mind.
Second - obviously no one NEEDS to achieve a certain weight or body comp to be an athlete or do well in their sport. Sarah works with personal training clients who come to her specifically wanting to get strong and lean. There definitely is a place for this type of work, when it is deemed to be a safe and appropriate goal for an active individual (i.e. NOT in people with disordered eating or eating disorders). If you might be triggered by discussions surrounding weight and body comp, please protect yourself and skip this episode.
Lastly, I acknowledge that some people are seeking these changes largely for aesthetic reasons. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to look and feel "fit," however you define that for yourself. The problem is that tricky, diet-culture related stuff often is swirling around in there too, which can lead to harmful thoughts or behaviors surrounding food, potentially impacting physical and/or mental health. Please look after yourself and question if these types of goals are appropriate for you.
Thank you Sarah for chatting with me in what was a very long overdue podcast episode together! I hope you all enjoy our discussion, and I welcome your feedback.
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