Wondering what you can realistically do to stay healthy during training, travel, and sick season? That's what Laura Ligos, RD (aka The Sassy Dietitian) and I chat about in Episode 130 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast.

This episode is not about immune “hacks” or doing more. Instead, we break down what actually supports immune health from a nutrition and lifestyle perspective, and explore where athletes often get tripped up when training, underfueling, poor sleep, and life stress stack up.

Laura and I discuss:

• How training, recovery, fueling, sleep, and life stress interact to influence immune function
• The J-curve relationship between exercise and immune health
• Why eating enough is key to preventing illness
• The role of carbs, specific micronutrients, and other fueling patterns
• Why sleep and rest from exercise make your immune system more resilient
• What to do if you’ve been exposed to illness but aren’t sick yet
• Dietary and lifestyle tips for when symptoms start showing up
• Which supplements may be helpful, and when to take them
• How your approach should differ when dealing with respiratory vs GI illness
• Immune health considerations during travel, including foodborne illness

If you’re dealing with stress, constant colds, lingering fatigue, or that frustrating feeling of being almost sick for days on end, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Tune in to learn more!

Links & Resources

• Follow Laura Ligos on Instagram and visit Laura's Website
• In the J-Curve study we mentioned, it's worth noting: "The main limitation in the field is that most of the studies were conducted in military populations. Military intensive training introduces a wide range of bias because this intensive training usually is accompanied with dietary energy deficiency, sleep deprivation, and psychological stress."
• Join my membership, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $39/month (cancel anytime)
• Check out my free nutrition downloads
• Browse my library of nutrition masterclasses (all are included inside the Fuel for Life Crew membership)
• Interested in comprehensive, in-depth 1:1 coaching? Fill out a new client inquiry form (limited spots available)
• Support the podcast by shopping all my affiliate links (e.g. Skratch, Tailwind, Momentous) and joining my Patreon community
• Get in touch at claire@eatforendurance.com

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to help more athletes fuel smarter!

Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.

Want to get in touch? Send Claire a message!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).

In Episode 129 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast, I’m joined by ultrarunner, coach, and host of The Everyday Ultra Podcast, Joe Corcione.

Joe’s story is not the typical “natural-born athlete” narrative. He wasn't active growing up, and he struggled with drugs and alcohol as a teenager and young adult.

With a willingness to do the work (both physically and mentally) and make small changes, Joe gradually became sober and reshaped his identity. He went on to finish over 25 ultramarathons, coach runners around the world, and build the Everyday Ultra community.

Throughout our conversation, you’ll notice a powerful theme around the stories we tell ourselves and how these stories impact our behavior.

Joe and I explore:

• How his early beliefs that he was "unathletic" held him back for years to come
• Why small, consistent changes matter more than extremes
• How shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset helped him recover from addiction, start running longer distances, and determine what eating style worked best for his body
• Why endurance athletes cannot only rely on exercise as a coping tool
• What sustainable ultramarathon training really looks like
• How he fuels himself during training runs and races

🎧 Tune in to learn more!

Links & Resources

• Follow Joe Corcione on Instagram and visit Joe's Website
• Join my membership, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $39/month (cancel anytime)
• Check out my free nutrition downloads
• Browse my library of nutrition masterclasses (all are included inside the Fuel for Life Crew membership)
• Interested in comprehensive, in-depth 1:1 coaching? Fill out a new client inquiry form (limited spots available)
• Support the podcast by shopping all my affiliate links (e.g. Skratch, Tailwind, Momentous) and joining my Patreon community
• Get in touch at claire@eatforendurance.com

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to help more athletes fuel smarter and to show your support for my work!

Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.

Want to get in touch? Send Claire a message!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).

Welcome to Season 8 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast! In this episode, I'm joined by Registered Dietitian Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSCS, CEDS-C for an important conversation about exercise dependence, a pattern of compulsive movement that can threaten an athlete’s mental and physical health.

I heard Leslie speak on this topic at a conference and immediately knew I wanted to bring her on the show. This is partly because I struggled with exercise dependence in the past, and also because of how frequently I see people exercise beyond what is safe or recommended.

Leslie and I discuss:

• What exercise dependence is, and who is most at risk
• How to tell if exercise is healthy or potentially harmful
• What Leslie's message, "If you fuel it, you can do it" means in practice
• The connection between underfueling and over exercise
• Signs that you might be weight suppressed
• What compassionate change can look like

Also, toward the end of the episode, we walk you through a validated questionnaire to help you evaluate if you may be experiencing some level of exercise addiction.

🎧 Tune in to learn more!

Links & Resources

• Follow Leslie Schilling on Instagram and visit Leslie's Website
• Join my membership, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $39/month (cancel anytime)
• Check out my free nutrition downloads
• Browse my library of nutrition masterclasses (all are included inside the Fuel for Life Crew membership)
• Interested in comprehensive, in-depth 1:1 coaching? Fill out a new client inquiry form (limited spots available)
• Support the podcast by shopping all my affiliate links (e.g. Skratch, Tailwind, Momentous) and joining my Patreon community
• Get in touch at claire@eatforendurance.com

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to help more athletes fuel smarter!

Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.

Want to get in touch? Send Claire a message!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).