InsideTracker: Biometric Testing for High Performance and Health
The universal mission of the performance-driven person is improvement. This single point unites anyone who cares about health and performance, and we know that all-important gains are built on a health platform. If you are healthy at a fundamental level, you will optimize the gains from training and experience, garner improvements in focus and energy, and resist injury and illness. In addition, the more healthy you are, the greater the possibility for improvement and more significant gains in any sporting endeavor.
This simple concept was central to why we at Purple Patch engaged in a relationship with InsideTracker.
Our mission is to inform each athlete how to place their focus across essential performance habits essential to building a health platform.
If you know Purple Patch, it was less about falling in love with data and more to do with focus and return on investment. We hypothesized that when we blended the insights and recommendations from the team at InsideTracker with our Purple Patch program built around endurance training, integrated strength, recovery (including sleep), and nutrition, we would see meaningful changes to physiology. These changes should improve the biometrics that directly enhance health and performance potential. A key consideration in our approach was ensuring that InsideTracker didn’t fall into being positioned as some magical quick fix. The performance space is rife with fads and quackery, but we chased honest and meaningful performance gains. We were confident we could achieve this due to our expertise over many years of guiding athletes toward success and the knowledge and approach at InsideTracker. The InsideTracker team includes a combination of renowned longevity doctors, sports physiologists, and registered dieticians, who base all of their recommendations on peer-reviewed science. The result is an elimination of any guesswork, fake promises, or guidance anchored in hope. Instead, we lean into recommendations and strategies based on proven science and results.
Before diving into the initial results of our relationship, there is one more critical element of InsideTracker to note that separates it from a standard blood assessment provided by your primary care physician. The InsideTracker results are given through a performance lens. The results of the labs are less about whether or not you are medically at risk. Instead, it is about going from good to great health. Therefore, all the blood markers are judged through a high-performance lens. By way of an example, reviewing factors such as Vitamin D and Ferritin (the storage form of IRON) would often see results coming back as normal from a typical blood panel. The issue is that these levels - triggering normal under typical circumstances - leave an athletic or performance-driven person feeling lethargic and low energy.
InsideTracker’s algorithm determines the optimal zones for each marker based on the latest peer-reviewed research. For example, the normal generic range for a woman’s ferritin level is between 12-150 ng/dL. But InsideTracker recommends that an active woman in her 20s have blood levels of ferritin between 40-150 ng/dL for optimum performance. If you're not in this zone, the algorithm recommends foods and supplements to improve ferritin levels, as the goal isn’t to avoid medical sickness. Instead, it is a mission of energy, health, and performance. In addition, InsideTracker integrates a broader look than standard assessments, including chronic stressor signals, review of hormonal health, and more.
This Purple Patch InsideTracker experiment started four months ago in October 2021. The team at InsideTracker agreed to track the objective key results (anonymously) across Purple Patch athletes who leverage the methodology, education, and biometric insights.
The process was:
Day One: Biometric Analysis and recommendations from InsideTracker
3-4 Months: Training with an integrated focus on nutrition, workout programming, supplementation, if needed, and other factors related to individuals
Retesting Plant: Biometrics and results analysis to provide objective insights into the approach's effectiveness
We were so passionate about this because of how we define success in our athletes. While many programs promise PRs and improved racing, I believe this is only a partial value proposition for the hard work and commitment that a performance journey requires. Below is a memorable reminder of how we define success for Purple Patch athletes:
If we can improve the health of our athletes at a foundational level, then, they are well-positioned to enjoy the fruits of their hard work and be successful across these principles that drive us. So, how did we do?
Our initial results have been even more startling and positive than we could have hoped. So before we dive in, let’s highlight some intriguing elements we noticed at the initial baseline assessments.
Here are some of the insights that surprised us:
Elevated blood sugar. While we didn’t have any pre-diabetic candidates, a surprising number of athletes scored much higher glucose/blood sugar levels than one might imagine for training endurance athletes.
Less than favorable LDL Cholesterol. A high number of athletes scored less than optimal ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) levels. While many of these were offset with high scores of positive HDL cholesterol, and none of them were medically concerning, it still was an average higher score than we would have assumed.
Suppressed performance/fatigue factors. Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, ferritin, and other factors were commonly lower than favorable. These can be positively impacted, but many athletes were mildly performance-shackled with these findings.
Red flags. Assessing a healthy population seeking to go from good to great lowers expectations around medical complications. InsideTracker is not a medical tool, and we are not doctors. Despite this, we have had more than a sprinkle of athletes advised to investigate ‘at-risk’ biomarkers with their doctors. (The algorithm triggers a doctor advisory if bio-markers are in the red ‘at-risk’ zone.) This was a fantastic result for the athletes, as they could get in front of any lingering problems and continue striving toward their goals.
Improvements in biometrics are never instantaneous and can be likened more to turning a cargo ship than a speed boat. Nevertheless, we wanted to gain an initial benchmark a few months in, and the positive results excited us. Below are the highlights:
Vitamin D: Average improvement of 50%. Improved energy, focus, and more.
LDL Cholesterol: Average reduction of 12%. Lower risk factors for disease and performance impact.
Ferritin Levels: Average improvement of 4%. Ferritin levels are slow to move, but this result showcases an increase in iron capacity and the start of more oxygen-carrying red blood cells, which means the athlete will have more energy.
Vitamin B12: Average improvement of 70%. A catalyst to increase the rate of red blood cell production. More oxygen-carrying capacity and improved energy.
Blood Sugar: Average of 27% reduction. A catalyst to the enhanced ability for body composition changes, lower cholesterol, and reduced blood pressure.
These are just the highlights, but the positive trends are clear. Our mission is to double down on these habits and continue educating our athletes and integrating the InsideTracker tool into our programming.
How to Implement InsideTracker
Several athletes have asked how best to implement the program into their approach. The good news is you don’t have to be a Purple Patch athlete to benefit, although we do believe the combination of InsideTracker and Purple Patch coaching is the most robust approach.
Our lens:
InsideTracker Analysis: Draw on the insights of your biometrics and the InsideTracker team’s recommendations, then implement them into your program. Head HERE to receive a code for 20% off everything at the store. We share our recommendations for the type of analysis and retest frequency below.
Coaching Consultation: Many athletes benefit from a follow-up consultation and guidance on implementing training and habit changes in their program. Go through the InsideTracker process, then purchase a Purple Patch Coaching Consultation for further advice and guidance.
Get Serious About Your Nutrition: Beyond training and recovery, nutrition plays a significant role in many of the interventions made via the findings at InsideTracker. A confusing and tough nut to crack, professional nutrition insights combined with the results from InsideTracker are gold. First, grab an InsideTracker assessment, then connect with the team at FuelIn or Kyla Channel for a deep dive into changes and improvements around performance.
Change Your Life. Seriously, we mean it. We want you to evolve to become the best version of yourself. So, if you care about longevity and performance, get personalized biomarker analysis from InsideTracker and join the like-minded folks who make up Purple Patch coached athletes. Triathletes, runners, cyclists, fitness enthusiasts. If you want more information, then head to our website, or reach out directly to us at info@purplepatchfitness.com. We are happy to set up a complimentary call to ensure you get on the best path for you.
What do we recommend for InsideTracker plans:
After just a few weeks of habit change or intervention, no one can expect results. Many biometric markers are slow-moving, and improvements result from long-term changes. For this reason, I recommend 2 or 3 InsideTracker blood tests annually, depending on your budget, the amount of time you spend training, and the amount of racing you want to complete in a year.
For athletes that have a full race calendar, I prefer to see:
Baseline: Before the start of heavier training
Mid-Build: An assessment in the middle of the hard work and training
Pre-Event / Peak: A month to six weeks before priority events to course-correct any critical findings
There are many purchase options on the InsideTracker site, but I prefer the complete biomarker profile with Ultimate Plan as a baseline assessment. You have two main choices for subsequent retest plans following the initial evaluation. The first is to continue with the comprehensive Ultimate Plan, and the second option is the more budget-friendly Essentials Plan. Many athletes decide to transition to the Essentials Plan, as you still receive valuable insights into the most crucial biometrics at a more affordable price. But, again, I recommend aligning your choice with your budget.
Additionally, you can add on InnerAge calculations with each Ultimate or Essentials Plan to gain actionable insight and advice specific to how your body is aging from the inside out. And, with one-time DNA analysis, you’ll be able to see the complete picture of your health from a genetic perspective as well.
We care about your goals and performance, but we equally want you to thrive in life. Most importantly, we want you to be set up to do the things you love for as long as you wish. The longevity of high performance is the name of our game. Get your blood tested.
Cheers,
Matt Dixon
For a limited time, Purple Patch fans can get 20% off the entire InsideTracker store!
It’s like having your own personal trainer and nutritionist in your pocket.
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