Talent or Tenacity Ep. 6: “Carbohydrates Don’t Make you Fat” with Dr. Jamie Cooper

Cutting through the confusion to give athletes the real deal on fueling…

Not unlike many female athletes, I picked up triathlon partially to help lose weight. I reasoned that a sport which involved three disciplines and ample lean role models would be a great way to keep the pounds off! After a decade or so, I learned that triathlon was much less about weight control and more about smart fueling. After many years of struggling to maintain good performance, I finally figured out the fueling puzzle which unlocked better performance, more sustained energy, and less hunger! Having experienced the negative effects of under-fueling myself, I can now encourage other athletes to fuel themselves appropriately and reap the benefits. 

My guest for Episode #6 is the perfect person to explain the importance of fueling for performance as she has the academic and practical experience to show for it. Dr. Jamie Cooper is a Professor and Head of the Kinesiology Department at University of Georgia. Jamie (or “Coop” as she is lovingly known to us) is an expert in the field of sport and clinical nutrition, a seasoned athlete of marathons, triathlons, and ultra-marathons, and a nutrition consultant to athletes of all backgrounds. Jamie has spent years studying the effects of fueling strategies, content, and timing on athletic performance. Her research and practical experience in this field are hard to match and I want athletes to learn from practitioners who have the credentials to back up their conclusions. 

As we discuss in this episode, there is a glut of nutrition information available through popular media which makes it challenging for athletes to select the information that is truthful, research-backed, and effective. Jamie and I discuss how athletes can determine the veracity of nutrition claims and how to avoid being lured into “quick-fixes” or new fads when it comes to diet. One of the most salient points we explore is carbohydrate supplementation and how athletes might be unknowingly sabotaging their performance by skimping on carbs. The vilification of carbohydrates (mostly seen on social media) has lead many athletes to avoid or decrease their carb intake which has a negative effect on their performance. Jamie discusses the importance of carbohydrates and how athletes can train their bodies to use the fuel to their benefit. 

I am so honored and grateful to have had Dr. Cooper on my show and hope my audience learns valuable fueling lessons from our chat! For more about Dr. Jamie Cooper, please see the following links:

Dr. Cooper’s Faculty Page: https://people.coe.uga.edu/jamie-cooper/

Dr. Cooper’s Research Lab: https://coe.uga.edu/research/labs/human-nutrition-lab/

The Complete Nutrition Guide for Triathletes: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Nutrition-Guide-Triathletes-Step/dp/0762781041

Nutrition Consulting Website: https://www.cnsathlete.com/

Our 2012 research study looking at variables that predict performance at the “70.3” triathlon distance: HERE