WHY FIGHTERS SHOULD HIRE A NUTRITIONIST!

Okay, guys, I recently got asked a question about diet and nutrition, and what you should do, how much weight you should cut, and honestly, a few different questions. Well, I'm not a nutritionist, obviously. I have worked with some amazing nutritionists, like George Lockhart for years. George is the man.

The Value of a Good Nutritionist

George Lockhart is probably the best MMA nutritionist we've had in the last ten years, in my opinion. But a lot of it is about eating clean year-round. Many fighters end up cutting more weight than they should because fighters are hard-headed and tend to blow up in between fights. This practice of gaining weight between fights means they have more to cut when it gets closer to fight time.

Consistency Is Key

Fighters blowing up too big between fights is common. Ideally, you want to eat clean year-round, and I admit, it's easier said than done. I also struggle with maintaining a perfect diet outside of training camps. This isn't just about MMA; different combat sports have their ways of cutting weight. But for MMA, you can't simply run five miles a day on top of all your training. Your routine includes grappling, striking, bag work, sparring, conditioning, and possibly strength training. The workload is intense.

How Other Sports Do It

A lot of boxers keep their weight down by running. They might run five to eight miles a day, on top of their regular boxing training. Especially at the pro level, full-time boxers have the luxury to incorporate such routines. Even after a two-hour training session, they'll go for a five-mile run, essentially doing a three-hour practice.

Challenges in Weight Management

Some fighters crash diet or choose to cut ten pounds in the sauna. I've been in that category as well. When I transitioned from MMA to karate combat, I noticed a big difference. Karate practitioners are often more disciplined with their weight. They tend to eat cleaner year-round and cut less weight overall.

Comparing Backgrounds

I feel that many karate guys come from more disciplined backgrounds, probably growing up with healthier eating habits. In contrast, a lot of MMA fighters and boxers come from less privileged backgrounds where healthy eating wasn't a priority.

The answer is to eat clean year-round.

As far as specific diet plans go, I recommend hiring a nutritionist. In today's world, affordability shouldn't be an issue. For example, George Lockhart offers a meal plan for just $30 a month. If you can't afford that, maybe you need to reconsider some of your extracurricular activities. It's a small investment for a plan that helps you cut weight over the entire training period, not just the week of the fight.

Importance of a Full Training Camp

If you don't eat clean year-round, you definitely need to ensure you have a full training camp. If you walk around significantly heavier than your fighting weight, you’ll need the full two months of preparation. Short notice fights won't be feasible if you're heavy.

Necessity of Weight Cutting

Weight cutting is necessary, but many MMA fighters, me included, eat poorly year-round. They gain 30 pounds between fights and then struggle to cut that weight in two months. Realistically, eating clean throughout the year would make weight cuts much easier.

Eat clean year-round. If you can't, then definitely make sure you get a two-month camp. Don't take any short-notice fights if you think you're not going to make the weight.

Avoiding Excuses

Blaming weight cuts after losing a fight is a weak excuse. A real fighter shouldn't blame the weight cut; they should focus on eating better to make the cut more manageable.

Final Thoughts

If you're new to martial arts and looking for guidance on finding a gym, check out my book, "The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Martial Arts School & Instructor." Comment any questions or video topics you'd like me to cover. Thank you!