Leslie J. Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN, FAND, is a registered dietitian, board certified specialist in sports dietetics and is the owner of Active Eating Advice - Be Fit, Fed, Fearless - a nutrition consulting company. She is also the co-founder of Performance365, a sports nutrition consulting company. She had a 31-year tenure in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Her company, Performance 365, provides sports nutrition services for high school, professional, and masters athletes and performance artists. She also works with industry as a spokesperson in an advisory capacity.

Leslie is the author of “Sport Nutrition for Coaches” and the American Dietetic Association’s “Guide to Better Digestion.” She’s the co-author of “Run Your Butt Off,” “Walk Your Butt Off,” the “Active Calorie Diet,” and “Bike Your Butt Off.” She has authored numerous chapters for sports medicine and sports nutrition manuals. Leslie participates in many podcasts and provides nutrition expertise for television, radio, and print outlets.

Leslie is an adjunct instructor at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. She received her undergraduate degree in biopsychology from Vassar College, her master’s in public health from the University of Pittsburgh, and she completed her dietetic internship at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was the director of sports nutrition at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine for 16 years.

Leslie is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker, presenting topics including nutrition misinformation, combating misinformation, the “winning plate” and the “fuels of engagement.” She’s developed a series of educational webinars for health care professionals, and in her patient practice, she focuses on person-centered care with an emphasis on listening, meeting clients and consumers where they are, and with realistic recommendations over idealistic expectations. Leslie is a 2021 recipient of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Medallion Award.   

David Church, PhD, is a physiologist and muscle biologist with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and multiple invited talks at regional, national, and international conferences. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and biochemistry from DePauw University, where he also played varsity football and baseball. Following this, he was an athletic performance intern at Baylor University where he also studied exercise and nutritional biochemistry. He obtained his PhD from the University of Central Florida with a focus on how to enhance human performance through exercise and nutrition.

Dr. Church completed his post-doctoral training in the use of stable isotope tracer methodology to measure human metabolism. His primary research focus is ameliorating catabolic and pathological conditions. He currently is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity.

Dr. Church is passionate about human performance and is involved in research investigating metabolism and the regulation of muscle. He is active in various organizations such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association, International Society of Sports Nutrition, American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Physiological Society. Find him on X @DrMyohead and on Instagram @dr.myohead.  

Disclosures: 

Leslie J. Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN, FAND, has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: she is a spokesperson for the California Prune Board and the National Pork Board. She is an ambassador to the National Dairy Council and a consultant to Manzo Piedmontese, the Mushroom Council, and US Dairy Export Council.

David Church, PhD, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Funding from non-CPE revenue for CPE planning, development, review, and/or presentation has been provided by the Meat Institute. The responsible provider for this activity is the Meat Institute. Commercial support was provided by National Pork Board.