Doc and Jock Podcast

Doc and Jock Podcast


Nick Fowler of Massif Athletics: Coaching, Lifestyle and CrossFit

December 29, 2015

Nicks Bio
 
Nick was raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina before moving with his family to Miami, Florida. An interest in photography drew him to San Francisco where he attended art school. In California he discovered an interest in climbing and ultimately split time between the bay area and Yosemite in order become a professional climbing guide and work for Yosemite Search and Rescue. Nick set world records for speed ascents and completed many first ascents on alpine routes. An alpinist at heart, he has traveled across the globe to places like Baffin Island, the Himalayas and the Alps to pursue his passion.
 
Nick is driven by an evidence based approach to the sport of fitness. He is interested in designing sport-specific coaching and training programs using data collection and testing assessments. What makes Nick an effective coach is his passion for knowledge in this rapidly evolving field and his ability to synthesize the latest information to create an individual program design that works. 
During his employment as a Wildland Fire Captain, he was able to restructure physical fitness programs for multiple agencies. He has closely worked with Smokejumpers and Hotshots to create off season training programs and is currently the State of Utah Fire Operation Specialist responsible for the Strength and Conditioning program for all Physical Training. 
 
As owner of  Massif Athletics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nick has been implementing individual program designs for multiple Crossfit clients and has successfully implemented this model to improve group training programs for other Crossfit affiliates. Nick’s clientele include specific training programs for Special Forces members, skiers, elite climbers, endurance athletes, and competitive CrossFitters
 
Show Notes:
Dr. Danny take this episode off as Joe and Nick have back and forth about implementing a new program with a new athlete.  The conversations covers a lot of ground so be sure to cruise the show notes of you are looking to dig on a specific topic.  The major points covered are sleep, nutrition basics, mental and resiliency.
Nick has successfully brought a personal touch to group and remote training at Massif.  The key for him is paying attention to the subjective data and open communication.
 
 
 
Nick discusses his induction to group fitness and development as a coach.
 
[6:45]
 
The other 23 hours of the day.  Nick discusses his short list of life style habits to get in gear to live and athletic life.  For Nick the introduction of children into his life really highlighted the proper life style habits for an athlete.
 
[11:53]
Joe lays out the 5 steps he likes to use to begin a nutrition program with athletes.  Nick then lays out his system that they use at Massif.  In the beginning Nick places an emphasis on gathering information and uses an app from Fat Secret called calorie counter to help.
https://www.fatsecret.com/
[17:16]
After the assessment phase Nick then asks his athletes to measure their protein and begins to look at total caloric intake.
[19:01]
Why and how Nick uses skin fold testing and what pinching your cheek and chin can tell you about your nutrition.
[22:03]
Nick’s caloric intake prescription.
[24:28]
Low carb and CrossFit and finding a balance between getting folks to realize the difference between not eating on rest days and eating whatever the hell they want when training is up.
[27:10]
Carbs aren’t the problem, people are the problem.
[28:16]
Using fat as your primary fuel source.
[30:58]
Establishing competitive mental resiliency.