Ep#19 : Fasting vs Fueling Performance with Valerie Bercier

Are you underfueling your performance without realizing it? In Part 2 of this conversation, 2019 PWBA Rookie of the Year and registered dietitian Valerie Bercier breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in athlete performance. How you fuel during competition. This episode challenges the rise of fasting and restrictive eating in athletes, and explains why these approaches often fail under real performance demands. If you are bowling long tournament blocks, making decisions under pressure, and trying to stay consistent late into competition, your nutrition strategy matters more than you think. This is not theory. This is how elite athletes actually prepare, fuel, and execute. Valerie also shares how her experience with Team Canada reshaped her understanding of ball motion, decision-making, and preparation at the highest level. If you are serious about improving endurance, focus, and execution, this episode shows what actually sustains performance. Inside This Episode Why fasting can work against competitive athletes The role of blood sugar in focus and consistency Why skipping meals impacts late-game performance How to fuel during long tournament days The difference between practicing and preparing How elite athletes make faster decisions Lessons from Team Canada that changed her game Chapters: 00:00:00 – Why nutrition is still overlooked in bowling 00:04:30 – The fasting debate: simple but not sustainable 00:06:15 – Blood sugar, hunger, and performance breakdowns 00:08:50 – Why fasting affects athletes differently 00:10:45 – The Team Canada shift that changed everything 00:12:30 – The concept that rewired her understanding of ball motion 00:18:00 – Why simple nutrition beats complex plans 00:27:00 – Recovery tools that actually matter 00:29:00 – Should you skip breakfast before competition? 00:33:00 – Practice vs preparation: what separates athletes 00:38:00 – Strength, mobility, and performance limitations 00:44:00 – The reality of food, discipline, and athlete mindset #podcast #nutrition #diet #fasting #athlete #sports #champion #sportsnutrition #conditioning #competitive #bowlersareathletes #conditionedtobowl #bowling #coaching #coach #pwba #pwbatour #competitivebowling #valeriebercier #strengthconditioning #dieting #dietitian #intermittentfasting