Cycle syncing has taken the fitness and nutrition world by storm, with social media touting it as the secret to optimizing women's health. But is it really the magic solution it’s made out to be, especially for outdoor athletes? In this episode, special guest and strength & conditioning coach Casey Westbrook and I unpack the hype around cycle syncing and explore why it might not be as practical as it seems for those of us hitting the trails, crags, or roads.

We discuss:

• The natural shifts in energy and performance that outdoor athletes might notice across their menstrual cycle,
• Limitations of syncing your workouts and nutrition to specific phases.
• Instead of following a rigid framework, we dive into the power of understanding your own body through tracking and using tools like RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) to make real-time adjustments based on how you’re feeling.

From identifying the main goal of each training session to mastering the art of adaptability, this episode is packed with actionable strategies that go beyond your cycle. Tune in to learn how listening to your body can help you achieve longevity and success in your sport, without the need to “perfectly sync” your life to your cycle.

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Casey Westbrook is a strength & conditioning coach for female outdoor athletes. Motivated by her personal experiences with injuries, overtraining, and burnout, she is dedicated to helping women improve their strength, performance, and longevity in adventure sports. Casey believes in the transformative power of smart training and aims to empower women to stay injury-free and active now & well into their later years.

Follow Casey Westbrook on instagram here

To inquire about overcoming debilitating hormone symptoms, fill out a coaching inquiry form here to chat with Amanda.

In this episode, host and Clinical Nutritionist Amanda Fitt dives into the world of food tracking for outdoor athletes. Whether you’ve considered tracking your food but don’t know where to start, or you’re curious about how to optimize your nutrition for performance, this episode is packed with practical insights and actionable tips.

Highlights from this episode:

• Why the Cronometer app is my go-to platform for food tracking.
• How to establish a baseline of your current intake without making changes.
• The importance of accurate food measurement and when precision matters most.
• Addressing concerns about food tracking and its impact on your relationship with food.
• Why fitness trackers might not be the best tool for estimating your energy expenditure.

If you’re ready to take your nutrition to the next level and get personalized guidance tailored to your goals, fill out my Coaching Inquiry Form HERE. This is the first step to connecting with me for a complimentary 15-minute discovery call, where we’ll chat about your health, performance goals, and how I can help you fuel smarter. Let’s work together to optimize your nutrition and unlock your full potential as an athlete.

Follow me on Instagram @purely_nourished for more nutrition tips and education for outdoor athletes and active people!

Get ready to uncover the hidden links between stress, blood sugar, inflammation, and your hormones! In today's episode, we're diving deep into the hormone cortisol. We cover: the many hats cortisol wears, different types of stressors (hint: these may not be what you think!), the stress response and the HPA axis, "burn out," cortisol's impact on blood sugar regulation & sex hormones, and more. Per usual, Amanda delivers actionable nutrition & lifestyle tips on how to nurture your stress response for optimal cortisol levels, plus testing considerations to fully uncover where your personal cortisol levels are actually at. Buckle up, it's time to demystify this stress hormone!

Resources mentioned in the show:

• Sign up now for Beat the Bonk! Are you ready to conquer fatigue and supercharge your sports performance? Join us for the 6 week self-paced online course specifically designed to teach outdoor athletes and active people how to eat to increase energy levels, overcome hormonal imbalances, and level up their performance. You don't want to miss out on the very first round of this program - Beat the Bonk is being offered at an extremely discounted rate, PLUS you get to join 4 complimentary group Q+A video calls to receive live personalized support and feedback. Course opens Sept. 11th.

• Take the Blood Sugar Dysregulation Quiz! Are you curious as to which blood sugar type you are? Take the 2 min quiz to see if you are a fast, steady, or sluggish blood sugar type (and what to do about it).

• Curious about cortisol testing? Schedule a free 15 minute discovery call to get your questions answered.