While hitting the gym each day and diversifying your exercise routine with conditioning, Muay Thai, boxing and Jiu-Jitsu to make you a more well-rounded fighter, there are other steps you can take to improve your physical condition. A proper diet will make your body stronger and you will be able to work harder and suffer fewer injuries.
It is important to avoid skipping meals, as this leaves you hungry and when you are hungry, you make poor food choices. Begin each day with a good breakfast that includes a mix of lean protein and complex carbohydrates. This could be a quick plate of scrambled eggs with hot sauce and a bowl of oatmeal or another healthy cereal. If you are rushed in the morning, consider mixing up a giant smoothie that includes protein powder, peanut butter and fresh fruit.
Because MMA fighters expend so much energy, it is imperative that they fill their diet with plenty of healthy carbohydrates. These are known as complex carbohydrates and these foods are converted into glycogen by the body. This glycogen can help your if you need a quick burst of energy, and the leftover glycogen is stored in your muscles for later energy output. Poor carbohydrates, also known as simple carbs, provide a quick sugar spike but not energy is stored for later usage.
The less a food is processed, the healthier it is, so try to eat grains in their natural form. For instance, oatmeal or brown rice or quinoa are better choices than whole grain bread, but whole grain bread is a better choice than most white breads, which contain poorer quality wheat and more sugar.
You don't have to down raw eggs like Rocky Balboa to be a great fighter, but you do need to eat a good amount of protein. Protein helps your body heal and promotes muscle repair, so obviously this nutritional element is important for those in MMA. Eggs are a great source of protein, as is fish and low-fat types of dairy. Lean meat is another protein option, but opt for smaller portions and buy grass-fed beef or perhaps even buffalo meat, as this is far better for your body.
Figuring out your daily calorie needs includes many factors, including your height and current weight, your weight goals and how many hours you work out. Your needs change coming up to a fight and then shift after the fight. Working with a trained dietician can help you make the best possible food choices.
Of course, it is only natural to want to cheat now and then, but keep those cheeseburgers and cookies few and far between. They will add nothing to your body, and the more frequently you eat healthy foods, the easier it will become to avoid the junk.
It is important to avoid skipping meals, as this leaves you hungry and when you are hungry, you make poor food choices. Begin each day with a good breakfast that includes a mix of lean protein and complex carbohydrates. This could be a quick plate of scrambled eggs with hot sauce and a bowl of oatmeal or another healthy cereal. If you are rushed in the morning, consider mixing up a giant smoothie that includes protein powder, peanut butter and fresh fruit.
Because MMA fighters expend so much energy, it is imperative that they fill their diet with plenty of healthy carbohydrates. These are known as complex carbohydrates and these foods are converted into glycogen by the body. This glycogen can help your if you need a quick burst of energy, and the leftover glycogen is stored in your muscles for later energy output. Poor carbohydrates, also known as simple carbs, provide a quick sugar spike but not energy is stored for later usage.
The less a food is processed, the healthier it is, so try to eat grains in their natural form. For instance, oatmeal or brown rice or quinoa are better choices than whole grain bread, but whole grain bread is a better choice than most white breads, which contain poorer quality wheat and more sugar.
You don't have to down raw eggs like Rocky Balboa to be a great fighter, but you do need to eat a good amount of protein. Protein helps your body heal and promotes muscle repair, so obviously this nutritional element is important for those in MMA. Eggs are a great source of protein, as is fish and low-fat types of dairy. Lean meat is another protein option, but opt for smaller portions and buy grass-fed beef or perhaps even buffalo meat, as this is far better for your body.
Figuring out your daily calorie needs includes many factors, including your height and current weight, your weight goals and how many hours you work out. Your needs change coming up to a fight and then shift after the fight. Working with a trained dietician can help you make the best possible food choices.
Of course, it is only natural to want to cheat now and then, but keep those cheeseburgers and cookies few and far between. They will add nothing to your body, and the more frequently you eat healthy foods, the easier it will become to avoid the junk.
About the Author:
Nolan Barias likes blogging about mixed martial arts benefits. For additional information about jiu jitsu lessons in San Diego or to find a San Diego mixed martial arts gym, visit The Arena MMA, site today.
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