Sweat Elite Podcast

In this episode, I announce the next Globe Runners Portugal Running Experience in Monte Gordo, share the results of my latest DEXA scan after dropping from 86kg to around 70kg, and discuss what I learned about weight loss, bone health and nutrition along the way. I also share a remarkable 2:07 marathon performance off less than 100km per week and give my final update before racing the Melbourne Marathon this Sunday. LINKS Portugal Running Experience - January 9-17, 2027: https://www.thegloberunners.com/monte-gordo-running-experience-2027/ 1:1 Running Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/personalized-1-1/ Running + Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/run-nutrition/ Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/nutrition/ Personalised Nutrition Meal Plan: https://sweatelite.co/nutrition-meal-plans/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Eastbound Running (Dynafish): https://www.eastboundrunning.com/ ABOUT THIS EPISODE I start this episode with something I'm really excited about - the next Globe Runners Portugal Running Experience, taking place in Monte Gordo from January 9-17, 2027. I explain why I've become increasingly interested in putting my energy into coaching, nutrition and creating running experiences rather than promoting products. A lot of that thinking developed during the months I spent detained in Japan, where I had a huge amount of time to read, write and think about what I actually wanted to work on. The Portugal experience will bring a small group of runners together for eight nights in Monte Gordo in the Algarve. We'll train together, eat together and explore southern Portugal, with optional day trips around the Algarve and to Seville in Spain. The €1,250 price includes four-star accommodation, three meals per day, airport transfers from Faro and transport for the organised excursions. There are only 16 places available. I then get into the results of my latest DEXA scan. In April I weighed 86kg at 22.5% body fat. Around five and a half months later, I'm approximately 70kg and my DEXA measured me at 8.5% body fat. One of the most interesting findings was my bone density. Despite losing roughly 16kg while returning to high-volume marathon training, my measured bone density improved between the two scans. I discuss the things I focused on throughout the process, including calcium-rich foods, vitamin K, vitamin D, sunlight exposure and consistent heavy strength training. I also talk more broadly about weight loss for runners, the genuine risks of low energy availability and RED-S, and why I think the conversation needs more nuance. Losing weight is not appropriate for every runner, but for athletes with excess body fat who want to reduce it, I believe it can be approached carefully while closely monitoring health, recovery and performance. I share an example from one of my nutrition athletes whose weight began dropping faster than planned. When his training performance started declining, we increased his energy intake and quickly got things moving in the right direction again. Then there's a shoutout to Adam Lipschitz, who just ran an incredible 2:07:20 marathon after averaging only around 96km per week over the previous 12 weeks. It's a fascinating example of just how individual marathon training can be and how more mileage isn't automatically better. Finally, it's Melbourne Marathon race week. I talk about where I think my fitness is compared with when I ran 2:18:41, the potential advantage I'm getting from the Puma Fast-R, the weather forecast, and why I believe a significant PB is possible if everything comes together. I also briefly discuss what comes next, including moving to Portugal, racing in Europe and potential starts at Alicante and Valencia later this year. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome and Melbourne Marathon taper 00:29 - Reflections from my time in Japan 02:21 - Why I want to focus on running experiences 04:14 - Portugal Running Experience 2027 06:31 - Getting to Monte Gordo and travel logistics 07:18 - The community created through running camps 09:18 - Portugal pricing, accommodation and booking 12:26 - My new DEXA scan results 17:15 - Calcium, vitamin K, vitamin D and strength training 21:35 - Weight loss for runners, RED-S and managing risk 25:55 - Adam Lipschitz runs 2:07 off less than 100km/week 27:24 - Melbourne Marathon fitness and race goals 29:49 - Portugal move, Alicante, Valencia and what's next

Matt breaks down how to safely lose 5kg+ during a marathon block — using calorie deficits on easy days and big carb windows around hard sessions — so you can train hard and run faster. Matt Fox / Sweat Elite Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/nutrition/ Run + Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/run-nutrition/ Nutrition Meal Plans: https://sweatelite.co/nutrition-meal-plans/ Personalised Training Plan: https://sweatelite.co/personalised-training-plan/ Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite Sweat Elite: https://www.sweatelite.co/ Matt talks about how to lose five kilograms or more in the ten weeks leading into a marathon — while still training hard and aiming to run faster. He pushes back on the old idea that you should finish all weight loss before the marathon-specific block, and shares how he's used this approach five times himself, including a recent stretch where he dropped nearly fifteen kilos. Matt walks through the method in plain terms: stay in a calorie deficit most of the week, track burn with a watch or rough math, log food with AI photo counting, and then flip into big carbohydrate windows around your two hardest sessions so quality workouts don't suffer. He lands on roughly an eight-hundred-calorie deficit on easy days — enough, on paper, to lose about half a kilo a week and five kilos over ten weeks. Matt is clear this is not for everyone. If you've dealt with an eating disorder, RED-S, or low energy availability — or you're already below a healthy weight — he says turn the episode off. For listeners who can safely lose the weight, he also covers strength work, bone-health basics, and where coaching or a meal plan fits if you want more accountability. Timestamps 00:01 Content warning & who should skip 00:36 The goal 02:20 The only rule that matters 03:43 How to track burn 05:33 How to track intake 06:11 Weekly structure: deficit + carb windows 08:00 Hard-session fueling 11:03 Easy-day eating 13:19 GLP-1 note (personal, not recommended) 14:55 The math (why ~800/day) 16:16 Injury-risk buffers 17:45 Risk framing 19:10 Coaching / meal plans Content warning & who should skip Eating disorders, RED-S, LEA, and already-lean athletes should not follow this advice. Aimed at people who can safely lose ~5kg+ and want to run faster. The goal Lose 5kg+ in the ~10-week marathon-specific block; Matt's personal and coaching experience; pushback on "never diet in the marathon block." The only rule that matters Calorie deficit = burn more than you eat. Tracking makes it workable; perfection isn't required. How to track burn Garmin (or similar) preferred. Rough guide: ~2,000 kcal/day for many men (5–7k steps); ~1,700 for many women; easy running ~700 kcal/hour; hard running closer to ~1,100 kcal/hour. How to track intake Photo-log every meal/drink in ChatGPT (or similar AI); build one daily log; close enough beats exact. Weekly structure: deficit + carb windows Most of the week (~5.5 days): solid deficit (~800 kcal/day as a working target). Around 2 hard sessions (e.g. Wed + Sun): stop deficit counting ~12 hours before; load carbs heavily before, during, and a few hours after. Hard-session fueling Example carb load ~400g in the pre-session window; in-session carbs often 70–100g/hour for men (women slightly lower); prioritize white rice, potatoes, bread, pasta in those windows. Easy-day eating High-volume, low-calorie foods (fruit, veg, lean protein); flavored soda water as a hunger/dopamine hack; ask AI for satiating low-cal meal ideas. The math (why ~800/day) ~7,700 kcal deficit ≈ 1kg fat; ~3,800/week ≈ 0.5kg/week ≈ 5kg in 10 weeks. Surpluses in carb windows are expected; the weekly total still lands if easy days stay consistent. Injury-risk buffers Start strength (esp. squats) ~1 month before dieting; Vitamin K2 + calcium; prefer food calcium (eggs, milk, cheese). Don't stack diet + big training jump + new gym all at once. GLP-1 note (personal, not recommended) Matt mentions microdosing; does not recommend listeners do the same; notes possible GI issues with late-run carbs and plans to stop near race day. Risk framing Acknowledges risk; argues high volume is often riskier than a controlled 5kg loss in a block, based on his experience and listener feedback. Coaching / meal plans Nutrition coaching (daily accountability) and one-off marathon meal plans available via the link in the episode description. Key takeaways Deficit most days; carb-load hard sessions hard Track burn + intake closely enough to hit ~0.5kg/week Protect bones and quality sessions; don't copy medical shortcuts casually Skip this entirely if ED / RED-S / LEA history or already underweight

Jordan Sullivan, The Fight Dietitian, joins Matt to break down performance-focused weight loss, RED-S, marathon fueling and how endurance athletes can get lighter without sacrificing training quality. Jordan Sullivan / The Fight Dietitian Website: https://thefightdietitian.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fightdietitian/ Matt Fox / Sweat Elite Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite Sweat Elite: https://www.sweatelite.co/ Sweat Elite Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweatelite/ Contact: [email protected] In this episode, Jordan and Matt dive into one of the most debated topics in endurance sport - losing weight while training hard. Jordan has spent more than a decade working with elite athletes across combat sports, endurance events and other high-performance environments, helping athletes manipulate body composition while maintaining performance. They discuss RED-S, low energy availability and why the intensity and duration of a calorie deficit matter. Jordan explains why training status is an important part of the equation, how quickly athletes can realistically lose weight, and why Garmin, WHOOP and other wearable calorie estimates should not be treated as exact measurements. They also explore what happens to muscle during a calorie deficit, the roles of protein and resistance training, and what changes when an already-lean athlete tries to become even lighter. Jordan and Matt discuss Matt's own progression from around 74 kg toward 69 kg, and the longer-term possibility of experimenting closer to 65 kg while trying to determine where further weight loss stops improving marathon performance. A major part of the conversation focuses on fueling marathon training while losing weight. They discuss periodizing calorie and carbohydrate intake around important sessions, why harder running dramatically increases carbohydrate requirements, fueling long runs, post-workout glycogen restoration and why an athlete's fitness remains more important than simply consuming more fuel. Jordan also explains why blanket recommendations such as 60-90 g or 120 g of carbohydrate per hour may not be optimal for everyone. Individual carbohydrate oxidation rates, gut tolerance and training history can all influence how much carbohydrate an athlete can actually use. They finish with bone health, practical carbohydrate choices including white rice, bread, fruit and honey, and why developing good whole-food habits remains important for long-term health. Timestamps 00:00 Meet Jordan Sullivan 00:05 Weight Loss During Training 00:40 Why Calories In Out Fails 04:28 RED-S Risk And Nuance 06:12 Diagnosing RED-S Limits 07:13 Intensity Versus Duration 08:04 Fight Camp Case Study 12:53 Performance Versus Health 14:17 Setting A Marathon Cut 16:20 Power To Weight Explained 20:24 Fueling And Periodization 24:46 Estimating Calorie Burn 27:06 Safe Weekly Loss Targets 33:32 Muscle Loss In A Deficit 38:15 Going Leaner 69 To 65 43:22 When To Cut In Marathon Block 44:11 Race Prep Weight Loss 45:25 Training Status Matters 53:11 Fueling Long Runs 54:31 Carbs Versus Fitness 01:02:56 Intensity Drives Carb Use 01:08:10 Personal Carb Oxidation 01:14:24 Bone Health Basics 01:16:39 Best Carb Food Choices 01:20:15 Whole Foods For Longevity 01:23:35 Wrap Up And Contacts

Matt is joined by Dr David Lipman to discuss one of the newest and most talked-about supplements emerging in elite endurance sport: lactate gels. Train with Matt Fox: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Sweat Elite Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ Matt Fox on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Matt Fox on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Contact Matt: [email protected] Dr David Lipman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidlipman/ Dr David Lipman's Website: https://www.drdavidjlipman.com/ The conversation has gained attention around the Tour de France, with companies including From Lab to Field, Enervit and Santa Madre developing lactate-based products. Unlike glucose and fructose, which rely primarily on SGLT1 and GLUT5 transporters in the gut, lactate uses monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). This potentially provides athletes with another pathway to absorb and utilise energy alongside traditional carbohydrate fueling. The concept isn't completely new, but delivering meaningful amounts of lactate without creating gastrointestinal or taste problems has historically been difficult. From Lab to Field is developing a patented hydrogel designed to improve lactate delivery and tolerance while producing a less acidic product. Early prototypes have reportedly combined around 5 g of lactate with 40 g of carbohydrate. There are also interesting possibilities beyond simply providing additional energy. Lactate can be used as fuel by the muscles, heart and brain and also acts as a signalling molecule. Researchers are investigating whether supplementation could influence glycogen replenishment, recovery and metabolic responses during exercise. There are already some impressive performance claims circulating, including improvements in power output and reductions in fatigue, but the evidence remains preliminary. Much of the exciting data appears to come from research connected to the companies developing the products and still needs independent replication. One particularly interesting possibility is that lactate supplementation may have different effects below versus above the first lactate threshold. Elite athletes reportedly using lactate alongside very high carbohydrate intakes of around 90-120+ g/h have described positive experiences, but exactly how much additional benefit lactate provides remains uncertain. The discussion also compares lactate with exogenous ketones, another alternative fuel that has generated significant interest in endurance sport. Ketones have produced mixed performance results, although emerging research suggests potential benefits in areas such as heat tolerance, recovery, altitude exposure, sleep and resilience to heavy training. Both lactate and ketones may eventually have applications outside sport because of their roles as fuels and signalling molecules, particularly in the brain. Overall, lactate gels represent an exciting new area of endurance nutrition, but they're still at the beginning of the research cycle. The potential is significant, but athletes should distinguish promising early findings from benefits that have been independently and consistently demonstrated. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Lactate Gel Buzz 00:19 Who's Making Them 01:16 How Lactate Fuels 02:53 Hydrogel Delivery Breakthrough 03:58 Legality and Doping Questions 05:20 Performance Claims and Evidence 06:42 Real World Use and Cost 07:43 Beyond Sport Applications 08:56 Ketones Update and Research 11:25 Personal Ketone Use Cases 12:44 Conflicts and Wrap Up

Jack Kelly from The Triathlon Hour returns to the Sweat Elite Podcast for a fun challenge - ranking six running workouts from manageable to completely diabolical. Along the way, we debate stop recoveries versus float recoveries, discuss whether marathon pace should be guided by effort or pace, explore the biggest differences between training for running and triathlon, and explain why some workouts are far harder mentally than physically. We also share how weather, fueling, terrain and fatigue should influence the execution of key marathon sessions. The episode finishes with the hardest workouts either of us has ever designed. Jack unveils a brutal 29.6 km session combining marathon pace with repeated half-marathon-pace intervals, while Matt shares a relentless 25 km progressive run that finishes faster than goal marathon pace. If you're looking for new training ideas or simply want to hear two coaches dissect what makes a great workout, this episode is packed with practical insights and plenty of debate. Jack Kelly / The Triathlon Hour Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackkellytri/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gjZJMzMev7LvylirVjIGD?si=b3f1e6f64841417d YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetriathlonhour Matt Fox / Sweat Elite Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Back Banter 00:53 The Hat Story 02:48 Six Workout Challenge 06:02 Stop Rest Debate 07:57 Workout 1 - Most People Could Do 10:21 Workout 2 - Moderate 15:10 Workout 3 - Challenging 21:59 Workout 4 - Hard 29:36 Level 5 - Really really hard 36:56 Level 6 - Diabolicaly hard! 43:51 Fueling Weather Logistics 46:27 Wrap Up Next Rivalry Tease These workouts are discussed for educational and entertainment purposes. Adjust the volume, intensity and recovery to suit your experience, current fitness and training goals.

Jack Kelly joins the Sweat Elite Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on massive weight loss, injury prevention, marathon training, running performance for triathletes, heat adaptation, recovery, and the small "one percenters" that can make a big difference. Follow Jack Kelly / The Triathlon Hour: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetriathlonhour/ Jack Kelly with Elliot Jenkins - Heat Training: Listen on Spotify Follow Matt / Sweat Elite: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3152859 Sweat Elite Supporters Club: https://www.sweatelite.co/supporters/ Jack is the host of The Triathlon Hour and a coach working with professional triathletes. In this episode, we discuss his transformation from around 125kg down toward 80kg, the unconventional approach he used to lose weight while staying injury-free, and why walking, varied movement and high-frequency training may be underrated tools for endurance athletes. We then go deep into marathon training, breaking down some of our favourite sessions including 25 x 600m, 1K on/1K float, progression long runs, 2K repetitions, long marathon-pace intervals and the classic 2 x 10K marathon dress rehearsal. We also discuss sleep consistency, post-workout carbohydrate intake, creatine, Nomio, sauna and heat adaptation, occasional "hero sessions," energy drinks, and the importance of considering heart health when using stimulants. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Jack Kelly Joins 00:27 Japan Detention Story 02:49 Weight Loss Turning Point 07:57 Andorra Reset Plan 12:18 Walking For Resilience 16:55 Secret Injury Proofing 25:25 Coaching Career Highlights 27:51 Ari Klau Progress 30:18 Triathletes Running Fast 35:49 Marathon Million Dollar Hypothetical 36:26 Fastest Triathlon Marathon 38:08 Kristian Marathon Potential 39:14 Gustav Motivation Question 39:50 The Secret Marathon Workouts You Need to Know 01:36:12 The Six 1%'ers You Can Focus On To Imrove 01:39:51 Japan Detention Sleep Reset 01:41:02 Irony of Gummies and Jail 01:42:23 Sleep Aids and Insomnia 01:43:35 Recovery Fuel After Training 01:46:15 Creatine Water Weight Explained 01:47:52 Nomio Supplement Deep Dive 01:54:17 Sauna and Heat Adaptation 01:57:37 Hero Sessions Superman Cape 02:01:12 Monster Energy Pre Race Ritual 02:03:25 Heart Health and Stimulants 02:05:00 Wrap Up and Where to Follow Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. Always consider your individual health circumstances and seek appropriate professional advice where necessary.

Paul McKinnon - also known as The Balanced Runner - discusses running technique, movement efficiency, injury prevention, and why changing form requires more than drills or strength work. The Balanced Runner Links: The Balanced Runner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebalancedrunner/ Matt Fox Links: Matt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Matt Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Sweat Elite: https://www.sweatelite.co/ Supporters Club (Private Podcast Feed): https://www.sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ In this episode, Matt speaks with Paul McKinnon from The Balanced Runner about how runners can improve performance, reduce injury risk, and enjoy running more through better movement patterns. Matt begins with some skepticism around how difficult it can be for recreational runners to make meaningful form changes, while Paul explains why technique is a trainable skill when approached correctly. Paul shares how he works with everyone from beginners to elite athletes, including Ben Robinson, Isaac Doyle, Sarah Billings, Cam Wurf, Ellie Salthouse, and AFL players. He explains how he uses pattern recognition and positional analysis by eye to identify where runners are leaking energy or placing excessive load on the body. The conversation covers why drills and strength work alone are often not enough to change running technique, and why runners need to practice a specific cue every step until it becomes habit. Paul also discusses the role of physics in running, including the balance between vertical and horizontal force, and why super shoes tend to amplify the movement patterns a runner already has. Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Paul McKinnon 02:32 Elites vs amateurs 04:50 How pros find him 05:56 Success stories and referrals 08:29 Technique analysis by eye 10:18 Why form changes fail 14:23 Fixing arm swing myths 18:25 Physics of running 80 20 23:03 Why most runners leak energy 25:49 Three levers plus shoes 26:08 Shoes and vertical force 26:49 Flexibility myths in running 29:50 Strength versus movement pattern 31:09 Economy versus efficiency 32:10 Rhythm and simple cues 34:36 Top down technique coaching 37:05 Building habits over weeks 38:15 Devices versus body awareness 41:59 Super shoes as amplifiers 47:40 Personal training and wrap up