In this episode of the OFM Podcast, Peter sits down with two VESPA/OFM athletes who are redefining what peak performance looks like well into midlife and beyond: Bree Lambert-Sanders and Joe Sanders. Both seasoned competitors with decades of racing behind them, Bree and Joe embody how the metabolic shift to fat as the primary aerobic energy source offers not only longevity in life and sport but age-defying performance.
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Their story spans skepticism, discovery, breakthroughs, longevity, and the reality of thriving—yes, thriving—into their 50s through the OFM protocol and Vespa. From international ultra races to daily life in the high-stress Bay Area, their perspective offers athletes a grounded and refreshingly human roadmap to unlock the potential within each and every one of us.
Highlights
Like most people, Bree was highly skeptical when first learning about Vespa and OFM through early adopter Rob Evans—and why her academic nutrition background initially made it hard to accept.
Bree observed other athletes she knew and even competed against, thrive and perform.
Bree’s shift from the carb-dependent traditions of the ’80s and ’90s to truly understanding fat as the body’s primary aerobic fuel.
Joe’s lifelong competitive history, his father’s pioneering use of fats in racing pigeons, and how nature itself makes the case for fat-based energy metabolism.
The pitfalls of modern “instant energy” thinking and why many athletes confuse stimulation with true performance.
A deep discussion on chronic stress, recovery, and how OFM supports both metabolic stability and mental resilience.
Bree’s stellar 2025 season, including UTMB-CCC (1st in AG, 3rd woman over 50) and Kodiak 100K (2nd woman over 40) at age 57.
How Vespa and OFM minimize GI distress, reduce cellular damage, and allow rapid post-race recovery — even enabling sightseeing runs through Switzerland and Bavaria after CCC.
Why OFM is not low-carb, not keto, and not “high-carb 2.0”—but a return to the foundational physiology humans evolved to have.
The problem with high-carb fueling trends, bicarb hacks, constant stimulation, and overly complicated sports nutrition messaging.
The increasing number of elite, masters, and everyday athletes who are proving the power of fat adaptation through consistent real-world results.
A refreshing look at stress, nature, technology, metabolic load, and why agency—not dogma—is the athlete’s greatest weapon.
Conclusion
Bree and Joe’s journey is more than a story about training, competing or nutrition—it’s a reflection of what happens when athletes step back, trust their biology, and commit to living and performing in alignment with how the human body is built to thrive.
Their success isn’t accidental; it’s a testament to metabolic efficiency, consistency, curiosity, and the OFM lifestyle. Whether you’re chasing performance, longevity, or simply a saner, healthier way to live and train, their experience shows what’s possible when you get fat-adapted, minimize the noise, and allow your body to operate from its evolutionary sweet spot.
