Featured Writers

By Sheri Colberg, PhD
In the past, most elite athletes attempted to improve performance through strategies to achieve "high CHO availability," meaning building up adequate pre-exercise glycogen levels and carbohydrate intake during the competition to meet fuel needs, but more recently many have aimed instead for a strategy called "low CHO availability."

By Sheri Colberg, PhD
With the new year upon us and resolutions made, weight loss may be on your mind, and with it, low-carb eating is one possible way to cut back on calories. Before you decide how to go about losing weight, though, you may want to consider how cutting back on your carbohydrate intake may affect your ability to be physically active.

by Sheri Colberg, PhD
How well you perform (physically) when you exercise is impacted in a number of ways by the intake of macronutrients—that is, carbohydrate, fat, and protein—whether you have diabetes or not. Performance is directly affected by your calorie intake both during an activity and when you are recovering from it.

By Sheri Colberg, PhD
In these challenging times, if we only could get a medication that would boost our immune system and response to viruses, lower all stress associated with being in a pandemic, and treat most of the pre-existing health conditions that are associated with a higher risk of dying from COVID-19, we would all be lined up for it! Guess what? We already have something that does all these things already.

By Sheri Colberg, PhD
Protein is never a key exercise fuel, but it’s critical for other reasons. During most exercise, protein contributes less than 5 percent of the total energy, although it may rise to 10 to 15 percent during a prolonged event like a marathon or Ironman triathlon. Taking in enough dietary protein is important because dietary protein allows your muscles to be repaired after exercise and promotes the synthesis of hormones, enzymes, and other body tissues formed from amino acids, the building blocks of protein.

By Sheri Colberg, PhD
Yes, I know we're still dealing with a life-changing pandemic around the world and especially in most areas of the United States, but it is still worth thinking ahead to what comes next. Despite our discussion last month on non-gym fitness trends, it is more than likely that many of us have experienced a change (most often a decrease) in our daily physical activities and, subsequently, in our aerobic and muscular fitness levels.

By Sheri Colberg, PhD
The current pandemic has hit most traditional gyms and fitness centers hard, especially once more has been learned about the likely spread of the virus through respiratory droplets. How are people coping with transitioning to home-based workout routines?

by Sheri Colberg, Ph.D., FACSM
Addressing how to balance blood glucose levels during (and after) exercise with type 1 diabetes is not new. In fact, it is likely the KEY topic to address to be successful at being physically active if you take exogenous insulin and want to prevent hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia during exercise. Strategies include changing in insulin doses and/or supplementing with food, either of which can be done in myriad ways depending on the activity, timing and more.

By Sheri R. Colberg, PhD
It pays to get your core muscles — the muscles around your trunk and pelvis — in better shape, if only to keep your balance.  Having a strong body core means you’ll be better able to manage any physical undertaking, even just grocery shopping or a round of golf.  What’s more, core exercises are an important part of a well-rounded fitness program including aerobic and resistance workouts, and they’re easy to do at home on your own.  

By Sheri Colberg, PhD
Keeping your balance is essential for staying on your feet and preventing falls as you age, even if you can't leave the house much currently. In truth, many falls happen at home, so there's no time like the present to start improving your balance with these easy balance exercises.