We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
NASM Faculty

When considering body composition goals, modifications to both diet and exercise are inevitable. Most often, an individual’s dietary interventions do not align with their exercise regimen, which may diminish the potential for success.

Read more

When considering body composition goals, modifications to both diet and exercise are inevitable. Most often, an individual’s dietary interventions do not align with their exercise regimen, which may diminish the potential for success.

This course explores the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration, in addition to popular dietary interventions and their alignment with exercise recommendations. After completing this course, students will have a clear understanding of the body’s energy pathways, the effects of various dietary interventions on these pathways, as well as aligned diet and exercise recommendations that will help maximize success. 

With over 30 years as a leader in fitness and wellness education, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) has built its reputation on providing an evidence-based curriculum that is both relevant and applicable for those seeking the skills and knowledge required to promote optimal health.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

NASM's Aligning Diet and Exercise
When considering body composition goals, modifications to both diet and exercise are inevitable. Most often, an individual’s dietary interventions do not align with their exercise regimen, which may diminish the potential for success. This course explores the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration, in addition to popular dietary interventions and their alignment with exercise recommendations. After completing this course, students will have a clear understanding of the body’s energy pathways, the effects of various dietary interventions on these pathways, as well as aligned diet and exercise recommendations that will help maximize success.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Examines how energy pathways and diet modification can impact the effectiveness of exercise
Features National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) faculty as instructors, providing access to research-driven insights
Helps students align their diet and exercise routines, maximizing results
Provides a solid foundation in exercise science, including energy pathways, macronutrient utilization, and popular dietary interventions
Applicable to both fitness professionals and individuals seeking to improve their body composition

Save this course

Save Aligning Diet and Exercise to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Aligning Diet and Exercise with these activities:
Review prior knowledge of nutrition
Understanding the principles of nutrition will help you understand how your diet impacts exercise performance.
Browse courses on Nutrition
Show steps
  • Review lecture notes or textbooks on macronutrients and micronutrients
  • Take practice quizzes on nutrient metabolism and absorption
Explore Dietary Interventions for Exercise
Explore various dietary interventions and their impact on exercise performance and recovery.
Show steps
  • Research and identify reputable sources on dietary interventions.
  • Follow guided tutorials or online courses on the topic.
  • Take notes and summarize key findings.
Practice calculating macronutrient ratios
Mastering macronutrient calculations will help you create balanced meals that support your fitness goals.
Show steps
  • Use online calculators or spreadsheets to determine macronutrient needs
  • Solve practice problems on calculating protein, carbohydrate, and fat ratios
Eight other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 11 activities
Complete practice problems on energy pathways and macronutrient metabolism
This will help you to reinforce the concepts you learn in the course and improve your understanding of how the body uses energy.
Show steps
  • Find practice problems online or in textbooks
  • Work through the problems and check your answers
Guided Tutorials: Energy Pathway Fundamentals
Complete guided tutorials to solidify understanding of energy pathways and their role in exercise
Show steps
  • Watch tutorial videos on energy pathways
  • Read articles and research papers on energy metabolism
  • Practice identifying energy pathways used in different exercise scenarios
Practice Identifying Energy Pathways
Identify different energy pathways involved in exercise and how these pathways are utilized during varying exercise durations and intensities.
Browse courses on Energy Metabolism
Show steps
  • Review course materials on energy pathways.
  • Complete practice problems or quizzes on energy pathway identification.
Create a diet and exercise plan
Creating a personalized diet and exercise plan will help you apply the course concepts to your own life.
Show steps
  • Set fitness and dietary goals based on your individual needs and preferences
  • Research different diets and exercise programs
  • Design a plan that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods and physical activities
  • Consult with a registered dietitian or certified personal trainer for guidance
Create and track a diet and exercise plan
This will allow you to put into practice the knowledge you gain from this course and apply it to your own life.
Show steps
  • Set realistic goals for your diet and exercise plan
  • Track your progress regularly and make adjustments as needed
Follow online tutorials on exercise physiology
Tutorials will provide additional insights into how exercise affects the body and how to optimize your workouts.
Browse courses on Exercise Physiology
Show steps
  • Search for reputable sources and experts in the field
  • Watch videos and read articles on topics like energy systems, muscle function, and recovery
Write a Summary of Macronutrient Fueling
Reinforce understanding of how macronutrients fuel exercise by writing a summary of the topic.
Browse courses on Macronutrients
Show steps
  • Review course materials on macronutrient metabolism.
  • Write a summary outlining the role of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in fueling exercise.
Create an Exercise and Diet Plan
Develop a personalized exercise and diet plan to align with specific body composition goals, taking into account individual needs and preferences.
Show steps
  • Set specific body composition goals.
  • Research and identify appropriate exercise and dietary interventions.
  • Create a personalized exercise plan that aligns with goals and fitness level.
  • Create a personalized diet plan that meets nutritional needs and supports exercise goals.
  • Monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Aligning Diet and Exercise will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Fitness Manager
Fitness Managers oversee the operation of fitness facilities. They develop and implement fitness programs, manage staff, and ensure the safety of members. This course can help Fitness Managers better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective fitness programs for their members.
Health Promotion Specialist
Health Promotion Specialists help people improve their health and well-being through education and outreach programs. They develop and implement health promotion programs, and monitor the effectiveness of these programs. This course can help Health Promotion Specialists better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective health promotion programs.
Wellness Coach
Wellness Coaches help people improve their overall health and well-being. They assess clients' health and fitness levels, develop and implement wellness plans, and monitor clients' progress. This course can help Wellness Coaches better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective wellness plans for their clients.
Athletic Trainer
Athletic Trainers provide medical care to athletes and help them prevent and recover from injuries. They assess athletes' injuries, develop and implement rehabilitation programs, and monitor athletes' progress. This course can help Athletic Trainers better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective rehabilitation programs for their athletes.
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Strength and Conditioning Coaches help athletes improve their strength, power, and endurance. They assess athletes' fitness levels, develop and implement strength and conditioning programs, and monitor athletes' progress. This course can help Strength and Conditioning Coaches better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective strength and conditioning programs for their athletes.
Personal Trainer
Personal Trainers help people achieve their fitness goals by providing them with personalized training programs. They assess clients' fitness levels, develop and implement training programs, and monitor clients' progress. This course can help Personal Trainers better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective training programs for their clients.
Exercise Physiologist
Exercise Physiologists help people improve their health and fitness through exercise. They assess patients' fitness levels, develop and implement exercise programs, and monitor patients' progress. This course can help Exercise Physiologists better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective exercise programs for their patients.
Nutrition Consultant
Nutrition Consultants provide nutrition counseling to individuals and groups. They assess clients' nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition plans, and monitor clients' progress. This course can help Nutrition Consultants better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective nutrition plans for their clients.
Sports Nutritionist
Sports Nutritionists help athletes improve their performance by providing them with personalized nutrition plans. They assess athletes' nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition programs, and monitor athletes' progress. This course can help Sports Nutritionists better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective nutrition plans for their athletes.
Registered Dietitian
Registered Dietitians are responsible for creating meal plans and providing nutrition counseling to individuals and groups. They assess patients' nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition programs, and monitor patients' progress. This course can help Registered Dietitians better understand the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective meal plans and nutrition programs for their patients.
Food Scientist
Food Scientists develop and improve food products. They research and develop new foods, improve the quality of existing foods, and ensure the safety of the food supply. This course may be useful for Food Scientists who want to learn more about the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective food products for athletes and other active individuals.
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Engineers design and develop medical devices and technologies. They research and develop new medical devices, improve the quality of existing medical devices, and ensure the safety of medical devices. This course may be useful for Biomedical Engineers who want to learn more about the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective medical devices for athletes and other active individuals.
Biochemist
Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. They research and develop new drugs, improve the quality of existing drugs, and ensure the safety of drugs. This course may be useful for Biochemists who want to learn more about the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective drugs for athletes and other active individuals.
Microbiologist
Microbiologists study microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They research and develop new antibiotics, improve the quality of existing antibiotics, and ensure the safety of antibiotics. This course may be useful for Microbiologists who want to learn more about the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective antibiotics for athletes and other active individuals.
Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists study the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations. They research and develop new public health programs, improve the quality of existing public health programs, and ensure the safety of public health programs. This course may be useful for Epidemiologists who want to learn more about the energy pathways and how macronutrients fuel exercise across intensity and duration. This knowledge can help them develop more effective public health programs for athletes and other active individuals.

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Aligning Diet and Exercise.
Provides a comprehensive overview of nutrient timing, including the latest research on how the timing of nutrient intake can affect body composition, performance, and recovery. It valuable resource for anyone looking to optimize their diet for athletic performance.
Provides a detailed overview of the China Study, one of the largest epidemiological studies ever conducted on the relationship between nutrition and chronic diseases. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the role that diet plays in health and disease.
Provides a detailed overview of the Paleo diet, a popular diet that is based on the foods that our ancestors ate during the Paleolithic era. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the Paleo diet and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of mindful eating, an approach to eating that is based on paying attention to your food and eating experience. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about mindful eating and how to use it to improve their relationship with food.
Provides a detailed overview of the Body Ecology Diet, a diet that is based on the idea that the health of our gut microbiome is essential for overall health. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the Body Ecology Diet and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of the Wahls Protocol, a diet that is designed to help people with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the Wahls Protocol and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of the GAPS Diet, a diet that is designed to help people with digestive problems. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the GAPS Diet and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of the circadian rhythm, the body's natural sleep-wake cycle. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the circadian rhythm and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of the Blue Zones, areas of the world where people live the longest and healthiest lives. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the lifestyle factors that contribute to longevity and health.
Provides a detailed overview of the Longevity Diet, a diet that is designed to help people live longer and healthier lives. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the Longevity Diet and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of the Mediterranean Diet, a diet that is based on the traditional foods of the Mediterranean region. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the Mediterranean Diet and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of the DASH Diet, a diet that is designed to help people lower their blood pressure. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the DASH Diet and how to use it to improve their health.
Provides a detailed overview of intuitive eating, an approach to eating that is based on listening to your body's hunger and fullness cues. It valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about intuitive eating and how to use it to improve their relationship with food.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser