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Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox

Fasted Training: What the Evidence Really Says

Fasted training is currently a pretty polarized topic in the fitness world, with some arguing that it can provide meaningful improvements for fat loss, and others claiming it will ruin your performance potential or cause hormonal dysfunction in women. In this article, Coach Chris examines three of the most common claims we’ve seen lately: that training fasted improves fat loss, that it harms training adaptations, and that it doesn’t work for women.

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Reverse Dieting: The Missing Piece for Long-Term Success

In this blog post, we’re breaking down the latest episode of Black Iron Radio all about reverse dieting—what it is, why it matters, and how to do it without losing your mind. Whether you’re coming off a cut, stuck in a cycle of under-eating, or just trying to build a more sustainable approach to nutrition, this episode dives into the science and strategy behind reverse dieting and why it could be the missing piece in your long-term success.

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Maintain to Gain: The Secret Sauce Before Weight Loss

In this blog post, we’re digging into the latest episode of Black Iron Radio, where coaches Morgan, Brooke, and Sabrina tackle one of the most misunderstood phases in nutrition: maintenance. If you’ve ever thought of maintenance as a holding pattern—or skipped it altogether in your rush to cut—you’re not alone. But this conversation breaks down why maintenance is actually where the magic happens. From improving your metabolism and gym performance to building the foundation for sustainable fat loss, they’re sharing the real reasons why maintaining before cutting isn’t a detour—it’s the path forward.

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Fitness, Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Fitness, Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

So You Want to Improve Your Body Composition

In this blog post, we’re breaking down key takeaways from our recent Black Iron Radio episode, where coaches Amanda, Lauren, and Ryann dive into one of the most common—and misunderstood—goals we hear from clients: improving body composition. Whether your goal is fat loss, muscle gain, or something in between, this conversation unpacks what body composition actually means, how to pursue it in a sustainable way, and why it’s about so much more than scale weight. They cover everything from protein targets and progressive training to recovery, stress, and the long game of physique change. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start making real, lasting progress, this one’s for you.

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Let's Talk About GLP-1's

In this blog post, we’re breaking down the key takeaways from our latest Black Iron Radio episode on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. These medications are everywhere right now—on the news, in gym conversations, and even debated in doctor’s offices. But with all the buzz comes a lot of misinformation. Are they just an easy way out? Do they destroy muscle? Are they a lifelong commitment? Our experts, Chris (PhD(c)), Sam (RD), and Lauren (LDN, CNS), cut through the noise, busting common myths and providing science-backed insights. Keep reading for the facts—and be sure to check out the full episode for even more!

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Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox

The Best Way to Measure Body Fat

Manipulation of body composition is a common goal in a variety of pursuits, but how do we accurately and objectively measure and track changes over time? Body composition devices and techniques offer a solution here. However, people often place undue confidence in both the accuracy and precision of body composition values that they get from techniques that are regarded as high-quality.

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

The Power of Committing to Weighing Your Food

Have you ever considered the benefits of committing to weighing your food? Whether you're looking to shed a few pounds, gain muscle, or simply develop healthier eating habits, precision in your nutrition can be a game-changer. While it may seem like a daunting task, weighing your food can yield remarkable advantages, especially when combined with regular exercise.

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Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox

The Low Carb Secret to Maximizing Endurance Performance

Have you ever wondered if training on a low carb diet could be beneficial for overall endurance performance? Enter the "Train Low, Compete High" strategy: an approach where athletes manipulate carb intake during training to push metabolic boundaries and heighten glycogen usage thresholds. By staying low-carb during training and refilling glycogen before events, athletes might delay tapping into these energy stores, theoretically enhancing endurance. But how substantial is the evidence? 

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Freeing Yourself From Food Guilt

In my work, both at the hospital and with my clients here at BIN, it really strikes me how much emotion and guilt surround the foods we eat, making us “good” or “bad” people in any given moment. We've been conditioned into a world that treats food as an "indulgence" to be restrained, instead of something we literally need to survive, live our best life, and yes, achieve the goals we want to achieve, whatever they may be. So, how do you break that cycle of guilt when everyone around you, in the media, on the internet, and maybe even in your own circle, is pushing that on you?

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Sodium 101

Why do we care? How our intake can add up. Where should my levels be? What about supplementation? Can I still salt my food? What should I change?

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Meal Planning: A Guide to Streamline Your Cooking Routine

Meal planning is a powerful tool that can transform your cooking routine and make your life so much easier. By taking a little time to plan ahead, you can save valuable time and energy throughout the week, reduce stress, and ensure that you're nourishing your body with balanced and delicious meals. In this guide, we'll dive into the art of meal planning and provide you with practical tips and strategies to help you become a meal planning pro.

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Should you hire a nutrition coach? Here's how to decide

Navigating through the overwhelming amount of nutrition advice available can be a daunting task. If you have specific goals related to body composition, weight loss, or improving your food choices, it may be time to consider hiring a nutrition coach. Working with a professional who understands the intricacies of nutrition can provide you with the guidance, accountability, and support needed to achieve sustainable success. In this article, we'll explore the reasons why hiring a nutrition coach can benefit you and help you make an informed decision about taking that next step towards a healthier and happier you.

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Calories in vs Calories Out, It’s That Simple (or is it?)

If you have ever struggled to lose or gain weight, I guarantee you have at some point heard the advice: 

You just need to eat more/less than you burn”

The person that typically says this kind of thing most likely also holds the belief that being overweight or having obesity is a result of pure laziness or a lack of morals. At the surface level, this advice is correct. However, it is correct in the same way that going to a football game and telling the head coach of your team “Hey pal, you just gotta score more points than the other team and you’ll win” is correct. Correct, but very unhelpful and lacks any understanding on what contributes to the scoring of points. 

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Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox Nutrition, Fitness Ashley Wilcox

Sleep: The missing piece in your health & fitness puzzle

In the world of health and fitness, there's a lot of emphasis on exercise, nutrition, and supplements. But there's one crucial factor that often gets overlooked: sleep. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more exercise, more supplements, or a new diet plan will be the solution to your health and fitness goals. But the truth is, without enough sleep, all those efforts may be in vain.

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Nutrition Ashley Wilcox Nutrition Ashley Wilcox

Are you eating enough?

Many people are quick to blame nagging health issues on their food habits and often rightfully so. But they’re more likely to pin it on over-eating when often the root of the issue is actually the opposite. Under-eating is VERY common. We’ve conditioned ourselves to believe that eating less  = better life. The truth is that’s not always true. I know, I KNOW, this is the opposite of what you’ve believed your whole life! Eating too little is just as unhealthy as eating too much.

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