Bob and Dina meet with Clint Wattenberg, the Director of Performance Nutrition for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). We discuss the changing tides of weight cutting strategies and nutrition for wrestling and in particular, youth wrestlers. We also discuss key fueling strategies employed to prepare young wrestler for competition. This is a fascinating discussion you don’t want to miss!  

We also discuss:

Clint’s wrestling background
Current perspectives on weight cutting and Clint’s career crusade to change training paradigms in youth and collegiate wrestling
How Metabolic Efficiency Training and nutrition periodization fit into the health and performance scope for his wrestlers
Managing fueling and hydration around weight cutting and match preparation
Considerations for the female wrestler
The important role of dietary supplements as it relates to managing inflammation, injury prevention, anaerobic performance, and brain health


Quotes:
“Fuel with purpose – that drives everything that you’re doing.” -Clint Wattenberg

More about our guest:
Clint Wattenberg MS, RD joined the UFC Performance institute in 2017 as the Director of Performance Nutrition. In this role, Clint oversees UFC PI nutrition activities at the UFC PI in Las Vegas and on-site event support initiatives.  Clint also coordinates integration of nutrition services between Las Vegas and Shanghai locations and within the greater collaborative UFC PI performance team. Prior to his time in Las Vegas, Clint was an All-American wrestler at Cornell University and a USA Wrestling National Team Member and served as an assistant coach at his alma mater. In addition to his combat & weight class sports experience, Clint brings with him extensive nutrition counseling and public health experience.  While at Cornell, Clint served on the university’s multidisciplinary eating disorder treatment team and founded and directed “Body Positive Cornell”, a weight neutral campus-wide wellness initiative.
Clint lives in Las Vegas with his wife Sarah and kids Payton (11) and Landon (8).

Links and Resources:

Follow Clint on Instagram @sportrd_clint
UFC Performance Institute
Performance Nutrition for Wrestlers eBook by Clint Wattenberg
Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association
USOPC Nutrition
Jordan Sullivan, The Fight Dietitian


Thank you to our episode sponsor, UCAN. If you’re looking for sustained energy, enhanced productivity and performance without the sugar spikes and energy crashes, give their products a try. You can save 20% by using the code ISNPODCAST at checkout. 

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Learn about Bob and Dina’s services: Find Bob at www.enrgperformance.com and Dina at www.nutritionmechanic.com