Fueling Tactics^® Fast Facts

(Updated June 21, 2006)

Who:         Dave Ellis is a registered dietitian (RD) and certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS). He began developing his Fueling Tactics sports nutrition system while attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln as a freshman in 1982, and continued to hone the system while working with Nebraska athletes as a nutrition student through 1987.

What:        Fueling Tactics is an easily-applied 3-step sports nutrition system originally designed to simplify food science for college athletes who typically have little regard for the concept of viewing food as fuel; or for leveraging natural foods and fluids to improve athletic performance and speed recovery after strenuous workouts.

When:        Fueling Tactics was formally launched in 1990 when Ellis created and published his carefully constructed Fueling Tactics "food-first" poster, which divided healthy foods into three categories (fresh produce, carbohydrate and protein), and prioritized the best of those foods within each category.  The first U.S. government-approved "food pyramid" wasn't unveiled until two years after Ellis' Fueling Tactics food-first poster appeared at Nebraska and at the University of Wisconsin.

Where:        Fueling Tactics became the standard sports nutrition system at the University of Nebraska under the supervision of Ellis while he was a student (1982-87), and for the next three years.  After spending four years at the University of Wisconsin in Madison (1990-94), Ellis retuned to Nebraska in 1994 as Director of Performance Nutrition, and earned three NCAA championship rings working under head football coach Tom Osborne, who led the Huskers to three unbeaten seasons (1994, 95, 97).

Why:        Ellis took Fueling Tactics national in 2001 when burgeoning demand for his specialized food-first system prompted him to form Sports Alliance Inc., a sports nutrition consulting company.  Sports Alliance liberated Ellis to customize his time-tested system for dozens of teams; and for individual athletes with special needs, such as weight management; or to help athletes overcome dependencies on alcohol or performance enhancement substances.

Growing:        As acceptance of Fueling Tactics grew throughout this decade, along with demand for Ellis' specialized nutrition system, he decided in 2006 to produce one-hour and two-hour video overviews of his Fueling Tactics sports nutrition system on DVD.  He packages two food-first posters with his 63-minute Fundamental Fueling Tactics DVD ($20), which is intended primarily for athletes and parents of younger athletes.  He packages 25 food posters with his two-hour and six minute Advanced Fueling Tactics DVD ($99), which is intended primarily for those who teach athletes, including coaches, athletic trainers and strength coaches.

What's Next?   For the remainder of 2006 Dave Ellis will be making media appearances to promote his Fueling Tactics DVDs for athletes and teachers; he'll continue to conduct his Fueling Tactics seminars for teams and athletic departments; and he'll remain as a sports nutrition consultant to approximately 24 teams and a like number of individual athletes throughout the United States. Dave also serves as a nutrition specialist to the National Strength and Conditioning Association; to USA Hockey; and serves as an advisor to the Taylor Hooton Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of anabolic steroid use.