Real Fuel with SLS

More Than a Finish Line: Untangling Identity, Suffering, and Mental Performance with Neal Palles

In this episode we dive deep into the "middle space" between athletic coaching, mental performance, and clinical therapy. Guest Neal Palles is a psychotherapist, certified mental performance consultant, and ultra-running coach. He shares his unique perspective on the "many hats" he wears supporting athletes We explore the dangerous glorification of suffering in endurance sports and how "grit" can often transform into "rigidity."  Neal breaks down the critical differences between performance coaching (skills and strategy) and therapy (core beliefs and identity). We also chat more about: * Athlete identity * Burnout, overtraining, and resilience in endurance sport athletes * Mental health for athletes * The "suck it up" mentality in sport * Viewing injury from a mental health perspective * ADHD in athletes * And so much more! Stay connected: * Check out Neal's website here [https://coloradopsychotherapyandsport.com/] * Follow Neal on Instagram @nealpalles [https://www.instagram.com/nealpalles/] * Follow Stevie on Instagram: @stevielynlyn [https://www.instagram.com/stevielynlyn/] * Join Stevie’s newsletter: Stevie Lyn Nutrition newsletter [https://stevie-lyn-nutrition.kit.com/newsletter]

Nutrition for Tactical Athletes and High- Performers and How to Spot Nutrition Misinformation with Dr. Brandon Lee

In this episode I sit down with my colleague to dive into how sports nutrition is growing in the tactical and high-performance field. He also shares practical tips to spot nutrition misinformation, gives his take on the new dietary guidelines, and more! Brandon Lee, DHSc, RD, CSSD, CCRP, FAND, is a human performance practitioner, researcher, and educator dedicated to advancing athlete health, readiness, and resilience. A Registered Dietitian and Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, he serves as a Dietitian within the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system, providing performance nutrition support to more than 4,000 Soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division. His work integrates evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and applied research to optimize tactical performance and enhance Soldier lethality and recovery. Brandon’s background spans clinical nutrition, long-term care, collegiate teaching, sports performance, and human nutrition research. He has contributed to high-performance environments, including Minor League Baseball and the Obesity and Metabolism Unit at UC Davis, where he coordinated research on dietary patterns and metabolic health. An active scholar and speaker, Brandon has published peer-reviewed and professional articles on low energy availability, overtraining, and tactical nutrition, and he presents regularly at national and state conferences. He also serves on advisory boards and has held multiple leadership and service roles within professional organizations. Brandon earned his Doctor of Health Science from PennWest University and is recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In this episode Stevie chats with Brandon about: * What is encompassed in the growing field of tactical nutrition * Collaboration being key to be a better practitioner and to better support the individual athlete * The three pillars of evidence-based practice * Hot takeaways from the new dietary guidelines * And so much more! Stay connected: * Check out Brandon's professional profile here [https://lee03390.wixsite.com/drbrandonlee] * Follow along with Brandon's work on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brandon-lee-0b855561/] * Follow Stevie on Instagram: @stevielynlyn [https://www.instagram.com/stevielynlyn/] * Join Stevie’s newsletter: Stevie Lyn Nutrition newsletter [https://stevie-lyn-nutrition.kit.com/newsletter]

Mental Performance, Self-Compassion, and Sports Science Research with Dr. Sasha Gollish

Dr. Sasha Gollish is a Team Canada middle- and long-distance runner, engineer, coach, and advocate for gender equity in sport. With a PhD in civil engineering and decades of experience in athletics and research, she leads community-engagement efforts at the University of Toronto’s Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre.  Passionate about movement and belonging, Sasha co-founded Yellow Running Shoes and works to help young athletes thrive on and off the field. She is also the author of Unstoppable [https://stronggirlpublishing.com/authors/sasha-gollish/], a mental-performance journal published by Strong Girl Publishing, designed to help athletes show up with confidence, focus, and resilience for every big goal that matters to them. Stevie chats with Sasha about: * Her background as high performance athlete and coach * Her work as a researcher on mental health and girls in sport * How to be unstoppable through injury and adversity * Adapting to the changes in performance technology  * Sensationalizing the basics when it comes to training and nutrition * Food as connection * New trends in sports nutrition * And so much more! You can find Sasha on Instagram at @SGollishRuns [https://www.instagram.com/sgollishruns/] and @Yellow_Running_Shoes [https://www.instagram.com/yellow_running_shoes/]

How to Make the Most of Winter Running: Run Coach Jaci Wilson Shares Her Tips from Her Sub Zero Training

Do you have big spring race goals but struggle to get outside in the winter? If you want to keep hitting the pavement during the cold, snowy, and windy months, this episode will give you the tools to do just that. Jaci Wilson is a marathon & ultramarathon run coach, winter running enthusiast, and podcaster who helps runners, with many active hobbies, train sustainably through all seasons. She helps athletes excel in running without sacrificing their hobbies by managing their training load and stress bucket. Whether it’s skiing, hunting, dog training, gardening, or scuba diving, Jaci believes avoiding burnout requires more than just running miles. More miles usually is not the answer for her athletes. Her coaching emphasizes rest, nutrition, strength training, mindset, and flexible, non-traditional scheduling that supports real life. Stevie chats with Jaci about: * Top 3 tips to keep training through the winter months * Her experience training in all winter in Minnesota has to offer * How mindset plays a role in winter running * Finding ways to make winter more enjoyable as an athlete * Balancing play and training for a well-rounded athlete * Gear recommendations for outdoor winter running * And so much more! You can find Jaci at jaciwilsonruns.com [http://jaciwilsonruns.com/] and on social media @jaci.wilson.runs [https://www.instagram.com/jaci.wilson.runs/]. She also hosts The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Events, and the Ultrarunning Mindset of “One More,” available on all platforms, YouTube, and Instagram @theonemorehourpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/theonemorehourpodcast/]. Grab winter running tips, gear, and advice at jaciwilsonruns.com/winter-running [http://jaciwilsonruns.com/winter-running]

EP 53: Applying Sports Nutrition Research to the Individual Athlete

Jessica is an Assistant Professor in the nutrition department at Syracuse University, where she previously earned her PhD in Exercise Science. She also serves as the consulting sports dietitian for LeMoyne College Athletics and sees clients through her private practice, Major League Wellness. Jessica is a women's health researcher, currently studying the effects of REDs on athletic performance in female athletes. She is a mom to 4 kids and stays active with weight training, hiking, yoga, and Pilates. In this episode we chat about: * Her work as a professor and as a dietitian * Ways to make research more fun for her students * Making research a creative process * Supplements and how to use them appropriately * Freedom to pick what she studies * Female athlete research * How to apply nutrition as an art and a science in sports nutrition  * Recent research in REDs with RMR ratio * Upcoming research in adolescent female athletes * Carbs and V02max * Sports nutrition work with college athletes * And so much more! Stay connected: * Jessica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlgaray/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlgaray/] * Jessica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cusesportsrd/ [https://www.instagram.com/cusesportsrd/] * Major League Wellness website: https://majorleaguewellness.com/ [https://majorleaguewellness.com/] * Stevie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevielynlyn/ [https://www.instagram.com/stevielynlyn/] * Stevie Lyn Nutrition website: https://stevielynrd.com/ [https://stevielynrd.com/]