48. Healthy Aging and Performance Gains discussion with Tony Konvalin

OFM - Why Metabolic Health Matters

In this episode of the OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism) podcast, host Peter Defty welcomes Tony Konvalin, an OFM ambassador and a lifelong athlete, who has excelled in different sports such as football, running, cycling and soccer.

Tony shares his journey to higher health and peak performance beginning with his experience of running in high school and college and how he was a late bloomer. Eventually he became the number two man on his team during his senior year. He also talks about running with famous athletes, such as Henry Rono, and getting lapped by the world record holder in the 10-K.

In the podcast Peter and Tony discuss the challenges and execution of staying healthy and fit as one grows older, and how OFM can help people start their journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Some of the topics discussed:

• The benefits of being fat-adapted, including:
  • Improved endurance
  • Weight maintenance/ loss
  • Better overall health
• Biggest tips for staying motivated to exercise; getting out the door and starting the workout is the hardest part.
• How Tony rides 100 miles fasted regularly and why this is possible.
• Skepticism around optimizing your fat metabolism (OFM) and what part carbohydrates play in high-intensity exercise.
• The body's dependence on carbohydrates is largely due to dietary habits and that it is possible to train the body to use fat as its primary fuel source.
• That most people are running their bodies below the fat-burning threshold and that training the body to use fat as fuel can have numerous health benefits.
• When the body is burning fat instead of carbohydrates, it is not only burning fat but also metabolizing it, which is critical for cell walls and mitochondria.
• High-carbohydrate diets can lead to insulin resistance and a host of other health challenges.
• The numerous health benefits to using fat as the primary fuel source.