Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking about our personal takes on approaching everyday nutrition with a performance mindset. If you're interested in using the Hexis nutrition platform, use code "igniteyourpotential" for 25% off at https://hexis.live As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form. Alight let’s get into it! For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/ The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies Nutrition for endurance athletes: carbs, protein, race-week fueling, and better day-to-day decisions Adam and Dizzle answer a listener question about what a typical nutrition day looks like for endurance athletes across training weeks, recovery days, and race prep. The conversation focuses on practical fueling choices for cyclists, how to adjust carbs around training load, and how to avoid the common trap of overeating on easy days. In this episode, Adam and Dizzle also dig into the value of tracking food for short periods, how to build better habits without obsessing over every bite, and why planning ahead beats making food decisions when you are already hungry. Key topics Dizzle recommends Matt Fitzgerald’s Racing Weight as a practical, science-backed guide for endurance nutrition, especially because it focuses on performance rather than dieting for weight loss. Carbohydrate intake is the main variable that changes from day to day, while protein and fat tend to stay more consistent across the week. Hard training days call for high-carb, easy-to-digest meals, especially breakfast before a big ride, with foods like oatmeal, pancakes, syrup, and rice. Recovery days should usually mean fewer carbs and fewer total calories, rather than continuing to carbo load after the workout is already over. Post-ride fueling can be simple and effective with a smoothie built from fruit, protein powder, and antioxidant-rich ingredients like blueberries, strawberries, and cherries. Protein comes mostly from whole foods, with lean animal sources such as chicken, turkey, fish, and salmon doing most of the work. Race-week fueling is intentionally different from normal health eating, with very low fiber, white rice, white bread, cereal, pancakes, and chicken used to maximize carbs and minimize digestive stress. Tracking food for a short period can reveal big blind spots, especially around calorie-dense foods like peanut butter and large portions that are easy to underestimate. Planning ahead prevents bad impulse decisions, like grabbing junk food at a gas station when you are hungry and underprepared. Gamifying nutrition can make it easier to stick with, whether that is using a diet quality score system or simply setting an intention for a specific meal before you are hungry. Timestamps 00:00 - Listener question on endurance nutrition across training, recovery, and race weeks 01:30 - Why Racing Weight is Dizzle’s go-to nutrition book for cyclists 02:27 - Six nutrition principles for endurance athletes 03:25 - Carbs as the main lever that changes across the week 04:48 - Nutrition for performance, not dieting for its own sake 05:39 - What a hard training day looks like in practice 06:41 - Why recovery days need less food, not continued carb loading 08:08 - Pre-ride breakfasts that actually digest well 09:07 - Pancakes, syrup, and bicarb before big workouts 10:34 - Post-ride smoothie strategy with fruit and protein 11:38 - Protein targets, fat intake, and food choices in a cut 13:40 - Protein sources and why whole foods still matter most 17:54 - Overshooting protein with salmon and other natural foods 19:31 - Why natural food usually beats protein shakes 21:05 - Race-week fueling: low fiber, white carbs, and simple meals 23:18 - Why vegetables and whole grains matter outside race prep 24:39 - Using Hexus to connect training load with nutrition targets 26:47 - Fuelin, Hexus, and shared coaching tools for athletes 28:03 - What two weeks of food tracking teaches you fast 29:29 - Why weighing food helps calibration, not lifelong obsession 31:14 - Peanut butter as a hidden calorie trap 32:39 - Fitzgerald’s diet quality score and gamifying nutrition 34:21 - The gas station Twix problem and why planning ahead matters 36:48 - Implementation intention as a nutrition habit tool 39:26 - Choosing healthier road-food options like a deli stop 41:47 - Keeping a staple-food list and easy meal ideas on hand
