For those that have already experienced some of those metabolism challenges that come with age, I have good news: You can do this with diet and exercise and you DON’T need expensive specialty supplements and “fat burners”.

Let’s go over the basics:

Local Texas fighter Derek Campos

1. You have to eat every 2-3 hours and it has to start with breakfast. 

If you have been sleeping in until 10:30 or later, you are missing the jump-start to your day. You would be doing yourself a big favor by waking up at a more traditional time (7:30?) and having a mini breakfast—-like a slice of toast and a little glass of juice.  You could even go back to bed for a little bit, then have a real meal 2-3 hours later. You won’t gain fat weight, but you will stoke your metabolism enough to wake it up. By the time 2 hours goes by, you will be plenty hungry. This is actually the ultimate goal: To eat just enough that you stay satisfied for 2-3 hours, but then are really hungry at the next meal time. This is your body demonstrating that it is utilizing the calories that are coming in efficiently. When the body has burned them all up, it begins to send hunger signals. This is the body’s request for more fuel, please! When you do this all throughout the day, the metabolism never has the opportunity to stall, or slow down. It is constantly working on digesting and absorbing the incoming calories, which means it is BURNING calories.

2. Maintaining and building muscle mass is essential to increasing metabolism

Up until around the age of 25, the body is primarily anabolic. This means it is in “building mode”. After the age of 25, the body is primarily catabolic. This means it is no longer building stuff, but rather, is tearing things down. We lose muscle mass naturally, about 1% per year. If there is no exercise that maintains existing muscle mass (like lifting weights) or that puts on additional muscle, then the metabolic rate naturally declines. Muscle is metabolically active and burns calories, but as we lose muscle, we require fewer calories. In order to prevent or minimize this, the exercise program must include exercises that promote muscle building. The ideal exercise training program uses a combination of cardio and strength training exercises. The cardio keeps the inside of the body strong and healthy while the strength training improves strength, tone, and increases the metabolic rate. Studies have been able to demonstrate that strength training increases metabolic rate for several hours after an exercise session. Cardio does not.

For those that are over 30, you will have noticed that it is more difficult to cut weight, especially at the last minute. All of those “short cuts” you used to be able to take just don’t cut it anymore. You actually have to put in the long hours of training, get plenty of sleep and eat healthy all of the time. That is all part of aging, but it can be made a little easier by being consistent with your training, your sleep, and your diet. Don’t you wish you had been doing this all those years ago so that now it would be no big deal???? That is the message to the younger guys and girls. Get it right when you are young, so you don’t have to make major changes later.

As for those fat burners and metabolism stimulants, save your money and buy great groceries. Maybe even order some Rudog bars! The pills and powders are gimmicks and generally a waste of your time of money. Be smarter with both. Invest in good workouts and a good diet.

Mary Bell , Fight Dietitian

You lose water weight, yes. BUT, some water that is lost is actually from the inside of the cells. When there is a sudden shift of fluid from the inside to the outside of the cells, you can put yourself at risk for cardiac arrest. That means your heart can stop. Translation: YOU CAN DROP DEAD.Doing this over and over again, fight after fight, takes a toll on you emotionally, hormonally, and physically. It provides the perfect breeding ground for eating disorders, chronic disease (kidney, heart, osteoporosis) as well as chronic injuries that just never seem to completely heal.

Even though there is stress on the body when cutting weight, there is also stress when you carbo load AFTER starving. Then there is the stress of healing and recovery after the fight. When it is all over, the body ends up spending a lot of time in a VERY stressful state. For fighters that take fights close together, the body never really gets a chance to fully recover.
There is a great commentary on this very issue at the following link.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/2/15/1311633/the-negative-health-effects-of

In a world where discipline, pain, and suffering are applauded and aspired to, I can certainly see where “cutting weight” is also a part of getting tough. Unfortunately, it’s dangerous and potentially puts your life at risk. Get smart, guys. Train at your fight weight.

If you like it COLD

Try some KEFIR, a yogurt drink. It comes in several flavors, plus a plain version. Drink it by itself (it’s like a thin milkshake) or use it as the base for your shakes. Add strawberries and a little bit of honey. You will have a tasty protein shake that is full probiotics and vitamin C.

Freeze some fresh blueberries. You can even top them with a little light or fat-free whipped cream. Blueberries are a great source of vitamin C and fiber.

As an alternative to ice cream, how about putting yogurt (or a homemade smoothie) into an ice cube tray and freezing it. The cubes will get “slushy”.

If you like it SALTY

Grab a hard pretzel, twist or stick. These are a better choice then potato chips. Have a few with some peanut butter or some dark chocolate.

Experiment with different crackers. Look for a brand called “Mary’s Gone Crackers”. Their stuff is amazing, and is whole grain, no gluten, no trans fats. Very different flavor and EXTREMELY crunchy. Wasa is another brand to try. Hummus, Laughing Cow, or lowfat cream cheese are great spreads to put on these.

Make a quick quesadilla. Use a corn or flour tortilla (corn is lower in fat) and sprinkle with a shredded cheese blend, like Mexican or cheddar jack. Microwave for about 12 seconds. Roll up and eat. Dip in salsa if you like! These are great for breakfast, too, especially if you add a scrambled egg.

Popcorn!! I think pan popped is the best, but use as little oil as possible. The microwave versions are so dang tricky with their labels it’s exhausting to find one that is actually low fat AND has good taste. Regardless, be creative with what you sprinkle on the popcorn. It doesn’t have to be salt. Try pepper or chili powder. How about cinnamon?

If you like it SWEET

Get some Greek Yogurt, I like Fage. But Dannon, Stonyfield, or Brown Cow are great, also.  Use plain or vanilla and add your own fruit, maybe even a little honey. These tend to be good sources of protein and are good for the evening snack.

There is nothing wrong with DARK chocolate. A little bit goes a long way. Get some that is 70% or higher in cacao. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and lower in sugar than regular chocolate. Also great with a few roasted almonds.

Have you tried figs? Get them fresh or dried. They are sticky and sweet and high in fiber. They go great with cheese, honey, yogurt, and chocolate. Pick your combo!

Do you have some great snack ideas to share? Please post them here or on the Rudog fanpage.

Smoothies are definitely great additions to any diet or meal plan. When done correctly, they are a quick and concentrated way to add protein, carbs, and fat. There are lots of great smoothie shops out there, I am a personal fan of Smoothie Factory and Jamba Juice. The options will vary regionally, of course, and feel free to share your favorites with other Rudog members. The down side to the smoothie shops is that they can be really expensive, and lots of times provide way too many calories (along with a lot of other unnecessary stuff) than is needed. Don’t be afraid to whip up your own at home. If you make a point to keep frozen fruit on hand, as well as fresh fruits that are compatible with smoothies, you will always be ready to make your own. Yogurt or milk is fine as a base.

This recipe is super simple, but may provide some inspiration for you to just make up your own. I would love to see any recipes you come up with posted on the rudog fanpage. http://facebook.com/rudognutrition

1. 1 Large ripe banana, broken into chunks
2. 1/2 cup lowfat milk or yogurt
3. 1 4 oz can crushed pineapple, undrained
4. 1/2 cup pineapple sorbet (or flavor of your choice)
5. 1 tbsp protein powder (5-8 g of protein)

Put in all in a blender and mix! Enjoy!

2g Fat, 38g Carb, 11g Protein

Ingredients:

1 Flank Steak

1 cup lime juice

Beef Thai Salad by Rudog

1/2cup sugar

1/3 cup soy sauce or fish sauce

2 chopped green onions

1 lemon grass, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup chopped fresh mint

1-2 Tbsp sweet chili sauce

Crispy Rice Noodles

Salad Greens, like spinach, arugula, or mixed greens

Instructions:

1. Take the flank steak and sear in a hot, cast iron skillet for about 2-3 minutes on each side. The meat should be medium rare. It will continue to “cook” while soaking in the marinade. Be careful NOT to OVERCOOK.
2. Combine the above ingredients and mix well or until sugar is dissolved. Adjust flavors for your preference.
3. Slice the flank steak into THIN strips, like 1/4 inch, and place into marinade to soak overnight. (or at least 4-6 hours)
4. Serve over salad greens of your choice…I like arugula for this dish.
5. Top with more cilantro and drizzle with left over marinade. Sprinkle with crispy rice noodles.

HOW and WHAT you eat plays a vital role in exercise, training, and performance. Everyone has had that moment where that truth is realized on a personal level. You hit the wall lifting weights and you realize that when you eat bad you train bad. You have a day where you feel like you could run forever on that God forsaken treadmill and you realize that when you eat good, you train better. The problem is, you aren’t absolutely sure why one day was bad and one day was better.

Let’s start with carb intake. It DOES NOT MATTER what sport or exercise you are involved in, good eating involves carbs. Yes, carbohydrate. A lot of it. Most athletes should be eating upwards of 60% of their total calories from carbs. I know what you are thinking. The answer is still CARBS. Here is why:

1. The body is designed to burn carbs for fuel. This is the most efficient energy producing fuel you can eat.
2. Your muscles store carbs for energy. They do NOT store protein. (I know, catch your breath!)
3. If there isn’t enough available carbs in the diet, the body will break down protein (muscle) to compensate

Now based on what I just said above, here is what needs to happen. You need to make sure that you have enough carbs in your diet and in the right amount. If you aren’t sure what a carb is, then get with me and let’s fix that.

Some red flags that could be indicators of not enough carbs in your diet:

1. Poor endurance, cardio is really tough. You “hit the wall” frequently.
2. Poor recovery. It seems to take a while to recover from a workout.
3. Lingering injuries. Something is always out of whack or not completely healed.
4. You consume a high protein diet.

No gas, No go. Eat like a Rudog.

Article by Mary Bell, the Fight Dietitian

Mary Bell, a REAL dietitian.
www.rudog.net

1. 2 pieces of Costco tortilla crusted tilapia
2. 2 cups mixed salad greens
3. ½ avocado, sliced
4. 1 Heirloom tomato (any variety will do)
5. Balsamic vinegar
6. Olive Oil

Cook the fish according to package instructions. Slice tomato and avocado and put on top of salad. Top with cooked fish. Dress with balsamic vinegar and olive oil to taste. This is also good with just plain old ranch dressing if you aren’t into balsamic.

Enjoy!

Mary Bell, the Fight Dietitian

For nutrition information on the tilapia, click here.

Food

Pre-exercise meals should have some carbohydrate, moderate protein, and some fat. The meal needs to be eaten 3-4 hours prior to exercise. Of course, this will be different for early morning workouts. In those instances, the “meal” will be much smaller (like only 100-200 kcals) and consumed 30-45 min prior to workout.  Think in along the lines of part of an energy bar or a small bowl of oatmeal. If you aren’t doing an exhaustive workout, the pre-exercise calories aren’t as critical.

Fluids

At least 2-3 hours before a workout, start hydrating. This can be water, a sport drink, or a fitness water. This will not only keep you hydrated, but allow ample time for emptying from the stomach so that you don’t get cramps. If you are wondering, “Which is better? Water or a sports drink?” Then answer is, “They BOTH hydrate equally well.” Choose the one that works best for YOU. There is a lot of science behind the formulas of the sports drinks, so definitely take some time to educate yourself and to try some of them. They will taste very different when they are consumed during/after exercise, as opposed to just drinking them as a beverage.

The sport drinks, like Powerade and Gatorade, are designed in way that reduces the incidence of cramping, promotes absorption and stimulates the thirst mechanism. They are generally around 6-8% Carbohydrate and use a combination of fructose, sucrose and glucose to promote emptying and speed fluid absorption. Gatorade is 6% and this helps stimulate carbohydrate absorption. Powerade is also 6%. They are both low sodium, with just enough to keep the thirst mechanism going!

Always pay attention to how well hydrated you are. Sweat production can vary depending on intensity, duration, temperature, and humidity. Fluid weight that is lost during exercise is fluid that must be replaced.

The Gatorade website has a tremendous amount of information if you want to check it out.

Mary Bell, the Fight Dietitian

Mary, the Fight Dietitian

972 880 8443