Plant-based Cyclist Ian Cramer and I spent a lovely hour geeking out on our journeys, and podcasting, and our gratitude for the trailblazers who introduced us to the plant-based lifestyle.
Ian is a certified athletic trainer at the University of Rochester, a competitive cyclist, a podcaster, and a freelance health and performance coach. We met at PlantStock 2017, and in the space of two hours, recorded episodes for each of our podcasts. As of this writing, Ian's podcast with me isn't out yet, but you can check out his other guests (mostly plant-based medical professionals and researchers) at the Plant-based Cyclist Podcast. (By the way, Ian, I have graphics envy, and marketing envy for your Pinterest-optimized site.)
I can't remember who interviewed whom first, but the energy is strong in this one, so no worries about podcast fatigue :)
We discussed:
- Ian's very athletic childhood and good health
- becoming a competitive cyclist
- how Forks Over Knives blew Ian's mind (in 2011!)
- if Mac Danzig can eat this way for performance, then what can it do for me?
- initial response to the plant-based lifestyle: losing 15 pounds, and recovering quicker after workouts
- the disconnect between his previous background and what he discovered in Forks Over Knives
- discussing nutrition as an athletic trainer
- doors to nutritional intervention with athletic clients with musculo-skeletal disorders
- "eat more colorful fruits and vegetables will help you as an athlete"
- connecting back and knee pain with excess weight
- listening to a trainer vs a doctor talking about nutrition - receptive, but surprised
- have to develop a relationship before bringing up nutrition and weight loss
- common mistake: overemphasizing exercise vs food
- the weight loss pie-chart: 80% diet, 20% exercise
- tools for implementation of lifestyle change
- Ian's top information resources for clients: NutritionFacts.org and How Not to Die
- when it's necessary to push clients off the (metaphorical) diving board
- two keys to progress: simplicity and sharing the big picture
- nutritional science is complex; eating shouldn't be
- the light-switch decision tool for food decisions
- big-picture thinking: look to the Blue Zones and disease reversal evidence
- not making it seem hard, even though it may be hard
- go into change with the expectation that you're going to make mistakes
- two transition styles
- gradual strategy: identify your favorite dishes and slowly remove the offending ingredients
- the role of transition foods
- the benefits of an abrupt transition
- and much more...
Links
The Plant-based Cyclist
Ian's Podcast
Forks Over Knives
How Not to Die
NutritionFacts.org
Blue Zones research