Inside the Spike: Why That 'Healthy' Workout Might Be Hurting Your Gains

Your 'Perfect' Workout

A Potential for Improvement

Your client crushed their workout. They sweated through every rep, and their heart rate monitor says they burned 500+ calories.

But then they crash and their energy tanks. Cravings hit hard. Recovery feels slow.

What if the problem isn't the workout, but what's happening inside their body during and after it?

Hidden blood sugar spikes during exercise might silently sabotage their results, and most trainers (and clients) don't even realize it's happening.

What Happens During a Blood Sugar Spike?

When you push hard in training and need energy, your body releases glucose into the bloodstream, but for some clients, the glucose spike is too high.

Why this matters:

• A big spike can lead to a big crash later, leaving clients exhausted and reaching for quick carbs.

• Frequent spikes can increase inflammation and stress hormone levels, slowing recovery.

• Large glucose fluctuations may impair metabolic flexibility and fat-burning capacity over time.

This isn't just about numbers, it's about performance, energy, and long-term progress.

The Hidden Challenge of Workouts

Here's the kicker: workouts, like HIIT, circuit training, or long-distance runs, can trigger significant spikes in some clients.

Without the proper context, you'll never know:

• Are they spiking because they trained fasted?

• Was their pre-workout meal too high in sugar?

• Is their stress or sleep quality impacting blood sugar stability?

This is where CGM workout analysis changes everything.

How Continuous Glucose Monitoring Reveals the Full Picture

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is a small sensor worn on the arm or abdomen that tracks glucose levels 24/7.

For coaches, CGM data can uncover:

• When clients are spiking too high during workouts

• Which types of training cause crashes

• How nutrition, stress, and sleep influence their metabolic response

With this info, you can adjust fueling strategies and workout intensity for better performance, faster recovery, and more consistent progress.

3 Adjustments You Can Make with CGM Data

• Dial in pre-workout nutrition

  • Ensure clients aren't training fasted if they tend to spike and crash.

  • Choose balanced meals with protein, fiber, and low-glycemic carbs.

• Match intensity to glucose phase

  • Ensure clients aren't training fasted if they tend to spike and crash.

  • Choose balanced meals with protein, fiber, and low-glycemic carbs.

• Refine recovery nutrition

  • Replace simple-carb-only post-workout meals with balanced options to avoid another spike-crash cycle.

The Bottom Line

Your client's "perfect" workout may do more harm than good if it triggers repeated blood sugar spikes during exercise.

With CGM workout analysis, you can finally see the hidden metabolic responses impacting performance, energy, and results.

Start Seeing the Full Picture Today

Want to learn how CGM can transform your coaching?

Download the FREE CGM in 5 Minutes Guide

You'll discover how Continuous Glucose Monitoring works, what it reveals about your clients, and how to use it to deliver smarter, safer training.

Because when you can see the inside story, you can coach with confidence.