Eating is NOT Cheating! with Uri Carlson

Summary
In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell talks to sports dietician, Uri Carlson from Inner Wild Nutrition. The conversation discusses how to navigate the holidays, healthy weight loss for endurance athletes, and how to fuel before, during and after your workouts.  Uri dives into the ingrained belief that eating less is the key to weight loss and exploring how this perspective can hinder performance and overall health. Uri also emphasizes the complexity of metabolism and the body's response to dietary changes, arguing that simply eating less can lead to negative outcomes such as fatigue and decreased performance. The discussion encourages a reevaluation of traditional weight loss strategies and highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of nutrition and metabolism.

Takeaways

• Why “eating is not cheating” — the shift toward actually fueling performance.
• Yuri’s simple philosophy: science + the human element, not rigid macros.
• Easy framework for fueling before, during, and after your rides.
• Fasted training myths — when it works and why it usually doesn’t.
• How to avoid GI distress and find your personal carb tolerance.
• Signs you’re underfueling (and why evening cravings are a big clue).
• Protein reality check: it’s a daily target, not an immediate post-ride rule.
• Holiday strategies: enjoy the food without guilt or restriction.
• The biggest mindset shift: eat enough to improve performance and body composition.
• Real-food fueling options that work as well as sports nutrition products.