IRENA OSSOLA UPDATE – ROLE OF SUPPLEMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL CYCLING

HPDI’s sponsored athlete Irena Ossola has been a bike tour leader in Italy this summer and fall. During that time, she scaled back her nutritional supplement regimen. This is partly because the summer and fall period is one of rest from high-intensity competitive bike training—and because her training for the new racing season has not yet begun. However, she recorded her observations regarding nutritional supplements. She concludes they are important whether or not she is actively training for races. – editor

I have been working like a maniac and nonstop since I arrived in Italy for my bike touring job at the end of August. However, I am feeling good and recovering well and happy to move forward for next year in training. I am starting to really look forward to getting in some hard solid winter training now and especially being in Tucson will be amazing!! I can’t wait to get back into my regular training regime. On another note, I’ve recorded some observations during my time in Italy about my nutrition and vitamins.
Beginning August:
“As I am now at the beginning of my touring/working season, I like to use this time as my sort of “off time” for supplements. Regarding vitamins and other nutritional supplements, I have found in the past that I have trouble staying on schedule and taking them while working. I feel that my nutrition is still adequate as I eat vegetables and meat and other necessary things for the amount of effort and activity I am putting my body through. Yet, I also know I will feel the difference without a constant flow of vitamins and supplements from Health Products Distributors, Inc.”

Beginning September:
“Now that I am in my moment of break and I’ve been working constantly for about a month, I must stay that I have also not been taking vitamins for a couple weeks and I can definitely feel the difference. Especially in my diet when I am not eating as healthy (as I do when training) or being as consistent with consuming vegetables.
I notice a lack of energy when I am working and lack of intensity on the bike when I’m riding. This is fine for now, and a good test for me as during this time I do not need a high-intensity effort while riding and it is a good test of my energy levels to see the contrast while I’m working compared to training.
I will begin taking some supplements again regularly which I think will help and will also demonstrate the necessity to have a regular schedule of nutritional supplements even when my work and travel schedule is so busy.”

Beginning October:
“Boy do I feel the difference! Since I have been regularly taking supplements again I can feel my energy going up and my willingness to push more and have more intensity on the bike. I feel the difference in my regular diet as well as I feel more motivated to eat healthy. This is a big contrast and difference I can see from the period when I was taking supplements to when I stopped and now again to taking them. This shows how big the influence of nutritional supplementation is for my body.
I will continue taking my vitamins and being active while working and also eating a healthy diet to maintain my energy levels and physical ability. I am so busy while working that supplements are often hard to take while changing hotels or setting things up for the day. But if I have my vitamin bag and make sure to keep it somewhere easily accessible, then I am more willing to take them and can easily.
It is great to be working so closely with an amazing company like Health Products Distributors, Inc. where I can do this sort of test to see the differences. It shows a huge difference in their products compared to just food and how they affect my body. I have been taking Mighty Multi-Vite!, Ultimate Protector, Essential Fats Plus E, and Myo-Mag.
The supplements are amazing and I LOVE them and again I cannot wait to return to my competitive training this winter in Tucson.” ~

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Editor’s notes: Irena primarily takes HPDI Foundational Supplements which are the base or core of a nutritional supplement program. Foundational supplements include a high-potency multivitamin (Hank & Brian’s Mighty Multi-Vite!™), vitamin C/antioxidant formulas (Ultimate Protector Nrf2 activator formula), essential fats (Essential Fats Plus E), and Rejuvenate! high-RNA superfoods (Rejuvenate! Original Greens, Rejuvenate! PLUS, and Rejuvenate! Berries & Herbs). She also takes other HPDI formulas like Myo-Mag (magnesium formula), pH Adjust alkalinizing formula, Warrior Mist (topical pain reliever), and other formulas depending on her needs.