About - Shannon Fizer

Background:

Originally from Canada, my academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the University of Wales. After completing my MBA, I started my own sports supplement company, importing and selling a full range of sports nutrition products from Switzerland. We sponsored several elite athletes, mainly cyclists and triathletes, and I found myself advising them not just on which products to use but how to manage their whole diet to get the best results. I was fascinated by the science of nutrition and found helping athletes achieve their goals far more satisfying than selling product. I left the company to retrain as a sports nutritionist and in 2016 was awarded a Master of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition from Loughborough University.

Since graduating I have worked with a wide range of private clients, including:

A busy nurse looking to continue weight loss after coming off a ketogenic diet.
A 27 year old vegan needing help to balance his diet and gym training.
A recreational triathlete wanting to lose the belly fat that crept on when she hit 40.
A 59 year old male runner hoping to go under 3 hours for the marathon.
An elite Timbersports athlete looking to gain muscle mass and win the World Championships.

Through my work as a sprints coach for the Loughborough University Student Athletics club, I have come to know many of the athletes and coaches at the British Athletics National Performance Institute. This has given me the chance to work with high level javelin throwers, hurdlers and sprinters (including a talented para athlete with cerebral palsy). I also have the experience of working with high level women’s football teams for the past 3 seasons. As such, I do presentations to the team and staff on general healthy eating as well as sports nutrition strategies for maximising football performance. I also provide diet analysis and recommendations to individual players, based on the player’s training needs, current diet, and goals.

Unwell for many years, I was finally medically diagnosed as a Coeliac in 2008, and felt so much better on the gluten free diet that I took up distance running and later, javelin throwing. My experience allows me to specialise in diet plans for athletes with special nutrition needs such as vegan, lactose intolerant, and of course, gluten free.

Philosophy:

I became a nutritionist because I am passionate about food. My goal is to educate my clients on the basics of healthy eating and the right nutrition strategies to support their training – without guilt or judgement. I know I have succeeded when you no longer need me! I use an evidence based approach to sports nutrition, only recommending strategies that have been scientifically tested and proven.