MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This guide is for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended as medical or professional advice. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet. The use of diet and nutrition to control metabolic disorders and disease is a very complicated science, and is not the purpose of this guide. The purpose of this guide is to help healthy people gain strength and lose weight by educating them in proper exercises, weight training and nutrition while using the Funk-Flex Elite Strength and Conditioning for MMA and Combat Athletes. No health claims are made for this guide. The nutrition and exercise guide will not help cure, heal, or correct any illness, metabolic disorder, or medical condition. The author is not a medical doctor, registered dietician, or clinical nutritionist; the author is a tness and nutrition consultant. If you have diabetes, chronic hypertension, high blood cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, or any other medical conditionor metabolic disorder requiring special nutritional considerations, we suggest you consult a health care professional with a clinical nutrition background (MD, RD) for your special nutrition program. If you have been sedentary and are unaccustomed to vigorous exercise, you should NOT do this program and obtain your physicians clearance before beginning any exercise program. The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any of the information contained in this manual. The user assumes all risk for any injury, loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by using any information described herein.

FUNKMMA ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT FIGHTERS

TRAIN HARD, EAT HEALTHY, FIGHT EASY!
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. FUNK MMA NUTRITION FOR COMBAT FIGHTERS OVERVIEW IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION TO THE MMA ATHLETE NURTITION BASICS WHAT TO EAT 5 STAPLES PROTEIN CARBS FAT WATER VITAMINS MINERALS PREPARE AND PLAN MEALS MMA PRE AND POST WORKOUT FUNK POWER 30 1 2 3 7 8 10 16 20 22 22 24 25 29 30 30 31 32 33 34 35

7. WHAT NOT TO EAT CHEAT MEALS 8. FUNK NUTRITION RULES

9. FUNK MMA ELITE NUTRITION MEAL-BY-MEAL BREAKDOWN 10. DIY & DFY NUTRITION PLAN OVERVIEW 11. FINAL THOUGHTS FOR YOU TO REMEMBER 12. GROCERY LIST

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INTRODUCTION

ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT ATHLETES

One of the main barriers most ghters face is nutrition. Just like workouts, theyre not sure what to have, how much and when. The biggest issue is that ghters will fuel themselves with food that will not only decrease their performance but will actually make them feel sluggish, increase inammation and add unwanted weight. In MMA and Combat sports, there are many different nutritional areas that a ghter must focus on: A) Daily nutritional intake. B) Pre and Post Workout Nutrition c) Water Intake

Over the years I have spent a tremendous amount of time researching proper sport nutrition, working with nutritionists, bodybuilders, trainers and sport coaches and through trial and error have. I myself have tried, tested and proven that the material in this guide for Elite Nutrition is exactly what you should follow if you want to improve as a Combat Fighter. I have had professional and amateur ghters from all disciplines use this diet to help prepare them for ghts. With this they have found they were able to stay strong and lean without any major muscle or overall strength loss. The Funk MMA Elite Nutrition Plan is comprehensive support designed to assist you with your performance and to stay lean, muscular, and strong throughout the year. Get excited about your nutrition. Its your body and you should understand everything you are putting into it. Using this in combination with your weekly workouts and combat training, your body will have no choice but to respond accordingly. Following these guides will move you from a possible dream to a virtual certainty. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. ~Henry David Thoreau~

This is your time for a conscious endeavouryour endeavour to become an Elite MMA Athlete.LETS GET IT DONE! 1

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IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION TO THE MMA ATHLETE

Whether in the gym, the ring or the cage, you need MAXIMUM ENERGY and conditioning to be successful. MMA Athletes are some of the best conditioned in the world. Training without a good nutrition program will not get very far in your quest to becoming the best ghter or to achieve a ripped body. You must be willing to put as much planning into your nutrition as they do with your training. Plan the work, work the plan. This can be the dening factor that separates champions from those athletes who have a short lifespan in the sport. Fighters that focus on optimal diet and nutrition will always have the winning edge in competition. Those ghters that put as much time and effort into their nutrition as they do their skills training and strength/conditioning training will have the most success in their quest to become an elite MMA athlete. Not everyone has aspirations to become a champion, but dont you want to the leg up on any of your competition? Do you want to train at peak performance? Do you want to recovery faster or stay off the injury shelf? If your answer is yes to one or all of these questions, then optimal diet and nutrition needs to be a main focus in your daily life. I cannot emphasize enough how important proper nutrition is. In order to train and ght at your optimal level you need to be healthy and proper nutrition will keep you from getting sick. Its cyclical really. Good nutrition improves your performance level. If you have the right fuel, you can keep from getting sick, train more intensely and therefore ght harder. Dont eat properly, get sick, wont train properly and wont be able to ght.

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Good nutrition also plays an important part in recovery. When you train hard your body breaks down and needs to rebuild. The only way to minimize injury and recover and rebuild is to eat the right foods. A good diet helps you manage your weight as well. This is a sport with weight classes, so you may need to do some weight cutting to get into the right class for you. Perhaps you want to pack on some pounds and go up one weight class. The right mixed martial arts diet will let you do it and this Elite Nutrition Guide will is the key. To summarize, it is essential that the right nutrients are delivered to the cells for the body to effectively repair, nourish and rebuild. With the right nutrients ghters will lose fat, enhance performance and reduce injuries.

NUTRITION BASICS
WHAT TO EAT
The term nutrition is the overall process of ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolism of food. All of these processes allow the nutrients from food to be assimilated and utilized by the body. The nutrition needs of Combat athletes and physically active individuals differ from sedentary individuals in that physical activity boosts caloric needs. However, certain guidelines and recommendations that sedentary populations employ may apply to athletic populations (i.e., timing of nutrient intake, increase carbohydrate consumption, etc). Therefore, it is important to understand the basic, underlying principles of nutrition and nutrients so this information can be understood and applied in practice. As mentioned above, I have worked closely with nutritionists including Laura Disceplo, Certied Nutritionist and my wife, a Muay Thai Fighter and former bodybuilder, trainer and nutrition specialist for the bodybuilding community. She has also helped a few individuals reach Champion status. Using their expertise and my experience this Nutrition eBook was developed.

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ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT ATHLETES

WHAT IS NUTRITION?

BY FUNK ROBERTS & LAURA DISCEPOLA (FIT TO EAT)

The great debate...is nutrition (aka diet) or exercise more important for your health? The answer, both! Exercise (cardiovascular, exibility and strength training) is essential for heart health, building strong muscles, joint mobility, for healthy bones and burning off those extra calories however, nutrition will greatly affect how you feel, your energy levels and your overall health from the inside-out! Once you start eating well and your nutrition is optimal, you will not only shed those unwanted pounds but you will surely feel great too! Healthy nutrition is about providing your body with all the essential micronutrients (minerals and vitamins), macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), water and overall nutrients that it requires to function properly and at the best possible level every day. Proper nutrition will help to keep you healthy, happy and disease free, all while providing you with the energy and fuel your body needs to live and perform daily functions! Not all foods are created equal and not all foods provide nutrients to your body. In fact, some actually harm your body and cause illness, disease and an overall unhealthy you! If you want to train at peak performance, lose weight and feel great, you have to eat the right foods, the right amount and in proper combination its quite simple in fact! It is important to have balance, variety and eat in moderation to maintain proper health and nutrition. Consuming a variety of food from each of the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) will ensure you are getting all the essential nutrients you require through the fruits, vegetable, whole grains, healthy fats (nuts, seeds, avocado, healthy oils such as olive oil and ax oil), and lean proteins (meats, sh, dairy, soy, beans and legumes) you consume on a daily basis. Each macronutrient supplies a different amount of calories (carbohydrate 4, protein = 4, fats = 9); gram for gram and theses calories are used to fuel the body (energy) or they will be

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sent into fat storage if it they are not needed so over consumption, even from healthy food, is still something to beware of when eating on a daily basis. We will show you how to eat in order to keep your metabolism in full gear and energy levels high using all the calories you are feeding it. The Elite Nutrition Plan for MMA and Combat athletes is quite simple: consume the micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and water) and macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) that your body is requires for optimal performance, energy, health and body weight. In simpler terms, the meals you will be eating are well-balanced and as a result, you will get the necessary amount of proteins, carbohydrates, healthy (omega-rich) fats, vitamins, minerals and water your body needs. You will be focusing on eating the foods you can have, not the ones you cant. There is nothing more discouraging than a long list of things you cant do or cant have. Instead, you will have the foods you can and should have that re right for your body and will help your goals of achieving your optimal health and weight! You will be consuming lean proteins such as chicken and turkey breast, sh, seafood, lean dairy, soy, and natural whey protein powder for those delicious smoothies you will grow to love. For all you red meat lovers, dont worry, you will have the opportunity to indulge now and then and incorporate a higher fat protein a couple of times a week. You will also be consuming healthy and nutrient-dense carbohydrates like whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, barley, buckwheat, oatmeal, rye, etc...), fruits, vegetables (all types). Lets not forget the fats. Yes, you get to indulge in fats as well but the healthy ones for the most part. Some of your fat nds will be foods such as assorted nuts and their oils (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc...all unsalted however). Lets not forget nut butters (almond, organic peanut, cashew, etc), plus foods like avocado, extra-virgin olive oil, omega-3 eggs, salmon, seeds and their oils (ax, sesame, sunower, poppy, pumpkin, etc.). Hungry yet?

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So whats the catch you ask?

There is no real catch to be honest as long as you eat the right foods in proper combination and follow the Elite Nutrition for Combat Athletes guidelines. What does that mean you ask? Each macronutrient (protein, carbohydrate and fat) are to be eaten in certain combinations and at certain times of the day and its simple to do, you just have to follow the Meal Plan Guidelines. And the best part is that you get to eat all day long. You will quickly learn and live by the saying you are what you eat because once you feel the benets of optimal nutrition, you wont want to go back to your old eating patterns and like me, you may even nd yourself craving vegetables.... yes vegetables! Nutrition is a key component to your success as a combat athletes whether your vying for a UFC contract, or you are using martials arts to stay in shape and feed your passion for the sport.

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STAPLES OF NUTRITION
FOR FIGHTERS
Here are the key components to a ghters diet that will help propel you to compete at the highest level in mixed martial arts.

PROTEIN

- Building Blocks of the body that Help build and repair muscles and tissues - Provide energy for the body - Necessary part of every cell, help protect internal organs, and provide fat-soluble vitamins. - Comprises about 60 percent of the body, is the most important nutrient, and is crucial for various chemical reactions in the body. - Regulate various body processes, but do not provide energy.

CARBS FAT

WATER

VITAMINS

MINERALS - Minerals play an important role in weight loss

and maintenance.

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PROTEIN
FUNK PROTEIN RULE
YOU MUST EAT A SOURCE OF PROTEIN WITH EVERY MEAL AND SNACK.
Protein needs to be an essential part of a ghters diet. The amino acids in protein are involved in building muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons. Did you know that the word protein in Greek is Proteios which means of rst importance Thats right, you will soon understand the importance that protein plays in a Combat Fighters Diet but before we get into those details, let us rst look at the main functions of protein. Protein is responsible for assisting with growth and repair of muscles and tissues. It is also necessary for the formation of different enzymes, hormones, antibodies, cell repair, vision, uid balance, and blood clotting thus an obvious necessity in our diet. Protein provides 4 calories per gram however tness and nutrition professionals are forever discussing the amount of energy required to break down the amino acid chains found in protein through the digestion process which occurs in the stomach. What this means is that although protein has 4 calories per gram, if you subtract the 30% of energy needed (4-30%), you are left with 2.8 calories per gram, which would make it the macronutrient with the least amount of calories! To recap, mathematically speaking, this means that 30g of protein x 4 calories per gram = 120 calories in total (or 30 x 2.8 = 84 calories) The above-mentioned nding combined with the fact that protein releases a fat-burning hormone called glucagon is a sure winning combination for any MMA and Combat Athlete! For this reason, you will notice that the FunkMMA Elite Nutrition Plan and Diet incorporates protein at every single meal of the day.

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AMINO ACIDS

ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT ATHLETES

Proteins are chain-like molecules made up of individual links called amino acids and are the basic chemical building blocks of life. There are over 22 different amino acids and the human body can produce 13 of these non-essential amino acids (known as non-essential because the body can manufacture them), and 8-10 amino acids, known as essential amino acids which the human body cannot produce and hence need to be consumed through food. The essential ones are: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine and Arginine and histidine (the last two are semi-essential as they are needed until adolescence).

PROTEIN AND TRAINING

Having protein following your workout is very important for muscle recovery and repair. Protein also releases a hormone called glucagon, which is a fat-burning hormone so very important to consume. Proteins (and fat) are slower to digest and as a results it in your stomach for longer periods of time than do carbohydrates. A light meal made with a quick release protein like a smoothie made of fruit and natural whey protein is a great preworkout meal. Ironically, it is also a great post workout meal, which should be consumed immediately after your workout, and approximately 1 hour later you should consume a healthy solid meal of protein (i.e.: chicken, turkey, tuna, egg whites) and complex carbohydrates (i.e.: sweet potatoes, spinach, rice, etc) for glycogen stores and muscle repair. Although quick and convenient, my suggestion it to try to eat actual solid foods and not drink your food more than once or twice a day.

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CARBS
FUNK CARB RULE EAT STARCHY CARBS WITH IN AN HOUR AFTER YOUR TRANING OR WORKOUT SESSION.
When it comes to food choices that can boost your energy, stamina and overall performance, one macronutrient stands head and shoulders above the rest...Carbs. Carbohydrates are a Fighters best friend and your bodys number one source of fuel. When your body is in an anaerobic state (wrestling, striking, sprinting, MMA training) your bodys primary source of fuel is carbs Carbohydrates play a number of roles in the body. Two of the primary functions of carbohydrates are to provide glucose for the brain and energy for working muscles. Carbohydrates are stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen. Glycogen allows ghters to train for a sustained period of time, spar for 10 rounds or ght in the cage. Carbohydrates are the bodys rst and preferred energy source not only for daily activity but also for your brain and red blood cells, so yes, they are very important so make sure you consume enough of the right kind which you will learn to do throughout this section Sources of carbohydrates come from fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes. No matter the type of carbohydrate, they are all converted to glucose (a unit of energy) used by the body. This is done through digestion of the carbohydrate which occurs in the mouth with the help of saliva (and amylase, an enzyme found in the saliva) to breakdown the carbohydrate into glucose before it leaves your mouth and enters your stomach. This glucose circulates in the blood (quickly in the case of simple carbohydrates) and slowly (in the case of complex carbohydrates). The glucose that is not needed by the tissues is stored in the liver and in muscles in the form of glycogen however the body can only store so much glycogen. Lets compare your body to your cars gas tank. Your car has a gas tank that can only hold so much gas before

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it overows and your glycogen stores are no different. Excess glucose will be stored in your body as body fat when the liver and muscles are at capacity so beware of loading up on those carbohydrates in one sitting, especially the simple carbohydrates! The trick to carbs is eating the right ones and staying away from the bad carbs.

SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES
(Disaccharides)
Simple carbohydrates as a whole increase blood sugar levels and are known as high glycemic index (GI) foods. Although they are a quick energy source and are great for a quick boost, they also come with a quick crash and your body then craves more to get its boost back. When they are consumed, the hormone insulin is released from the pancreas to decrease your blood sugar levels but as a result, an over secretion of insulin often occurs causing the body to hold on to body fat a vicious cycle when simple carbohydrates are responsible for the majority of your diet. Simple carbohydrates are 2 sugar molecules linked together that are easily absorbed into the bloodstream which as a result quickly raise blood sugar levels. So what is the issue then? Diets high in simple carbohydrates have been linked to diabetes, obesity and even death! The rened sugars (found in most simple carbohydrates except fruit) have very little, if any, nutritional value other than the calories they contain. Yes, I am aware that they taste sweet and delicious but not without serious repercussion on your waist line, your health, body and your life so why consume them? Consuming excess sugar throws the entire bodys chemistry off balance and can cause fatigue, headaches, irritability, cravings, adrenal fatigue, Candida and dependence to name a few. In addition, it dramatically weakens the immune system allowing for your body to shut down and be prone to more colds, more ues and illness in general. Sugars decrease the absorbability of the vitamins and minerals you consume causing you to burn fewer calories.

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There are 2 categories of simple carbohydrates:

1. Monosaccharides (mono = one)

Glucose (from fruit, honey, corn syrup, starches, etc) Fructose (from fruits and vegetables) Galactose (from milk products)

2. Disaccharides (Di = combination of two monosaccharides)

Sucrose = glucose + fructose (can be found in common table sugar, molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, etc.) Lactose = glucose + galactose (can be found in milk sugar) Maltose = glucose + glucose (one of the sweetest forms of sugar and can be found in malt sugar and products) Simple Carbohydrates can be found in:

White sugar Brown sugar Confectioners Sugar Rice Syrup Caramel Maple syrup Corn syrup Honey Molasses Cakes Pastries Candies Doughnuts Chocolate Juices High sugar cereals Breads Pastries Cookies

COMPLEX
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CARBOHYDRATES
(Polysaccharides)

ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT ATHLETES

This is the type of carbohydrate that you should be consuming as a combat athlete because like protein and healthy fats, they are considered low glycemic index (GI) foods. They do not raise blood sugar levels signicantly; rather they release glucose into the bloodstream slowly (opposite from what we discovered earlier on with simple carbohydrates). By consuming low GI complex carbohydrates (and combining them with a protein or fat), insulin levels remain stable and your will body respond in benecial ways but the important factors are that it will metabolize and burn fat more efciently, and it will also reduce cravings and hunger. Complex Carbohydrates are also known as Polysaccharides and they contain many glucose units (up to 3000) and the majority are either starch or complex carbohydrates as they are known in nutrition science. Complex carbohydrates can be found in starchy foods such as: Sweet potatoes Brown Rice and grains Whole grain breads, cereals and brown pasta Legumes, beans and lentils Corn and peas Fruits Vegetables And anything that comes from a plant source

THE IMPORTANCE OF FIBER

(a COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATE)
Fibre is best known as the indigestible part of the plant which cannot be broken down by enzymes or digestive juices. It is what many people know as roughage or bulk and is what gives your stools (feces) part of its consistency. Fiber can be divided into two main categories: soluble (dissolves in water) and insoluble (does not dissolve in water) ber. Soluble bers consist of pectins, gums and mucilages and insoluble bers consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignins. But for simplicity sake, and as seen on nutrition labels, we will focus on soluble and insoluble ber.

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Since soluble ber dissolves in water, it forms a gel and adds bulk and softens your stools. As a result, it expands in your stomach and it helps to delay the emptying time of the stomach after a meal keeping you full longer. It is important however to ensure you are consuming water with ber for it to do its job efciently. Insoluble ber on the other hand is exactly as it states, insoluble, and for this reason it does not dissolve in water however it does make up the bulk of your stool helping it along its trajectory through the intestinal track to then be excreted. Some common food sources of soluble ber are: oatmeal and oat bran, barley, bean, legumes, peas, ax seeds (ground is best), apples and oranges, carrots, psyllium (often found in over the counter anti-constipation powders and mixes) and even some nuts and seeds. Some common food sources of insoluble ber are whole-wheat products (cereals, pastas, breads), corn bran, some nuts and seeds, fruit and vegetables skins (yes the skins have benecial bers), dark leafy vegetables, etc. The health benets of ber as a whole are numerous and necessary for your digestion, detoxication and colon health. Fiber (both soluble and insoluble) will help: Decrease constipation Promotes regular bowel movements Decrease the occurrence of intestinal disorders Lowers blood fats Boots ones energy levels Improve ones immunity Control diabetes Control cravings Helps to reduce the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream Decrease the risk of cancer of the colon Decrease the risk of heart disease Decrease cholesterol in the blood Decrease the occurrence of gallstones Helps control obesity It is amazing that even with all of the above mentioned health conditions, the majority of North Americans are still not getting even half of their daily recommended dosage of ber in a day (25-30 grams)!

CARBOHYDRATES AND TRAINING

Whether you are at a martial arts session practicing your skill training or you are about to do embark on a strength and conditioning workout, your food requirements are not much different in terms of which macronutrients (protein, fat or carbohydrate) should dominate your plate and your meals for the day but timing is also important.

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The lesson to learn is that pre and post workout nutrition, especially carbohydrates, is equally as important!
First thing is rst, if your goal is to have a productive workout, you must eat and not starve yourself. Muscle doesnt build itself so if you are looking to get stronger (and leaner) and have a lean muscle instead of abby fat, be sure to feed your body what it needs and when it needs it for optimal performance! As you read earlier on, Carbohydrates are the bodys main and preferred fuel source so ensuring that you have a meal before a workout will enable you to have your best workout as your energy levels will be high, you will have better concentration, endurance and burn more calories as a result! If your training session is going to go over an hour, slower burning carbs like brown pasta, oatmeal, yams or brown rice whole grains are great choices because they provide a more sustained energy over a longer period of time. It is safe to start with about 1 gram of carbs per 3 pounds of your bodyweight. (So if you weight 180lbs you would consume 60 grams of carbs). As you gauge your levels of energy during training, you may need to add 10-15 grams of carbs, especially if you nd yourself lethargic well before your session is over

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The most important meal for a ghter is the POST TRAINING meal.
You will need to increase your carbs after your training sessions. You should have at least 3-1 Carbs to Protein after your nished, By replenishing the carbs that you burned in the hour or so after the session you actually put the body in a better position to perform at a high level again, sooner. Something to consider is that when there are not enough carbohydrates in your body and you are performing a high intensity activity, the secondary fuel source in this case is protein. Not only is protein not a clean fuel source (due to nitrogen) but it is talking away from your muscles and hence will have a mor e difcult time repairing and restoring those muscles after your workout. The only time your body will use fat as a secondary fuel source is at a low-intensity level of exercise. Thus, if you eat too few carbohydrates when performing high intensity exercises, protein is used instead of fat so in order to use fat as your energy source; you must reduce the intensity of your activity.

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FATS
FUNK HEALTHY FAT RULE EAT A SOURCE OF HEALTHY FATS WITH EACH MEAL EXCEPT BEFORE TRAINING.
For a ghter healthy sources of fat will help nourish your body and athletic performance. Fats that contain Omega- 3 fatty acids are important in helping reduce cardiovascular disease while at the same time improving your mood! The main functions of (healthy) fats are numerous: they provide insulation for the bodys organs, they are a secondary fuel source when carbohydrates are not available, they help transport the fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E, and K), regulate body temperature, help maintain healthy nails, skin and hair and lubricate your joints for exibility and mobility. Fat provide 9 calories per gram so they are in fact the highest macronutrient in terms of calories so they should be eaten in moderation so as to not gain weight. It is however important to understand that not all fats are equal, some wreck havoc on your body and others improve your health. Healthy fats provide numerous functions and are necessary to the body for optimal health. Fats can be divided into 2 main groups: saturated and unsaturated.

SATURATED FATS
Are solid at body temperature and have been linked to increased cholesterol, heart disease and stroke. A diet high in saturated fats is considered the least healthy. Saturated fats tend to come from animal sources (with the exception of tropical oils such as coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil which are all high in saturated fats). Saturated fats are found in meats, butter, lard and dairy products. Picture that steak in the butcher counter full of white marbling looks delicious doesnt it? Well, that marbling is saturated fat and as it sits then solid throughout the steak, it is doing the same thing in your arteries, not so healthy now is it? Instead, when selecting a steak from the butcher, choose one with no or very little marbling such as beef tenderloin. Any fat that is solid in any way is saturated.

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The downside to saturated fat (in relation to body fat and weight) is that your body does not know what to do with saturated fat. It knows that it negatively affects your cardiovascular health however it cannot nd a positive twist to its properties and as a result it directly deposits the fat into your fats cells of your body and is there to stay only stretching out your already existing fat cells to add inches to your hips, thighs and butts! Do you still want to consume saturated fats? Of course I realize that you cannot omit them from your diet 100% because even very lean protein sources do have a small amount of saturated fat but they will be monitored and limited throughout the program.

UNSATURATED FATS
Further broken down into monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and altered polyunsaturated also known as Trans-fats. monounsaturated fats (mUFAs): These have been identied as very health fats (Oleic Acid Omega-9 fats). They are associated with lowering the risk of certain diseases such as heart disease and stroke. MUFAs can be found in olive, canola, and safower oils as well as some nuts (pecans, peanuts, cashews, lberts and almonds) and avocados. Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs): Polyunsaturated fats can be further broken down into Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. These are also known as Essential Fatty Acids (those which cannot be made by the body and therefore need to be consumed through our diet). Omega-6 (an essential linoleic acid - LA) can be found in safower, sunower, hemp, soybeans, walnuts, sesame seeds and oils, pumpkin seeds and oil, ax seeds and oil, etc. Overconsumption however will cause inammation and thus needs to be balanced out with Omega-3s. Omega-3 consists of LNA (alpha-linoleic acid) which can be foundin ax seeds and oil, hemp and pumpkin seeds and oil. EPA, andDHA can be found in cold-water sh such as salmon, sardines, tuna, swordsh, trout, smelts, herring, mackerel and Omega-3 eggs. Theyalso lower blood triglycerides and help thin the blood, which as a result helps to protect against blood clots. They are also responsible for reducing inammation.

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Trans-Fats

ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT ATHLETES

An unnatural polyunsaturated fat known as trans-fats goes through a process of hydrogenation. This type of fat is formed when oils are heated to high temperatures and hydrogen gas is added to a liquid. This causes the liquid oil to be converted to a more solid and more saturated fat. not to mention a longer shelf life. Margarine is a perfect example of trans-fats. It was once a liquid olive oil and through the process of hydrogenation, it is now a solid tub of olive oil margarine. In addition to margarines, other foods that contain transfats are shortenings, salad dressings, ice cream, cookies, chocolate bars, chips and many baked goods. Trans-fats are linked to coronary artery disease, raise LDLs (the bad cholesterol), decrease HDL (the good cholesterol), disrupt the metabolism of our essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6), are related to cancer and heart disease, decrease our immunity, affect the quality of sperm and interfere with pregnancy. The conclusion is that trans-fats should be cut out of your diet altogether and I am not the only one who believes that. In 2006, all food labels were required to state if there were trans-fats in the food product and had to be included on the nutrition panel.

HEALTHY FATS AND WEIGHT LOSS:

The essential fatty acid Omega-3s required for healthy cell membranes and this is extremely important in weight and fat loss because your cell membranes are made up of Omega-3s andif they are weak, free radicals and toxins get into your cells and cause your mitochondria (your energy power house) to be compromised which means it cannot do its job properly and burn fuel (calories). Essentially, these fats will increase oxidation which will help burn off excess body fat. Yes, you need fat to burn fat but not any kind, only the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6.

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WATER
FUNK WATER RULE DRINK AT LEAST 2 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY
The most important nutrient in your body is water. You can survive indenitely without carbohydrates, you can live for days without proteins and fats, but without water on a daily basis and you will die. Everything in your body contains water: the muscles that drive your performance are 75% water your brain is 76% water your blood is 82% water your lungs are 90% water

Whenever your body is short of water your performance decreases. Athletes also underestimate the importance of muscle hydration, especially in the attempts for gains. Your water requirements increase dramatically during training. Athletes in heavy training use over two gallons a day.
Replacing water lost during training is vital to both performance and health. Staying hydrated is key. How do you know when you have enough water in your system? An athlete who is properly hydrated will have urine that is light in color, large in volume, and has minimum odor. With the exception of those taking vitamins, poorly hydrated athletes have dark yellow urine with a strong odor. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise.

An MMA ghter should be drinking a minimum of 2 gallons a day.

We all know that water is important in preventing dehydration. We are 70% water by weight. However maintaining adequate water intake is equally important when trying to lose weight. Water helps ush out toxins in the body (through urination and perspiration) and also aids most of our bodily functions, including the digestive process. Adequate water intake will keep constipation at bay, especially when dietary ber has been increased. Its important to drink water in between meals however, and not during meals, to avoid diluting our digestive juices which would otherwise slow down the digestion of food.

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Water also promotes blood circulation by raising blood volumes, thereby maintaining the ow of oxygen to our muscles. This helps keep our energy levels up.

Not all water is eQual

When selecting water think about its level of purity, and opt for the best you can afford. Tap water these days has been proven to contain various levels of harmful substances such as chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides and micro-organisms. Distilled water on the other hand is the purest form of water in that it is void of any chemicals but also stripped of any naturally occurring minerals. Just ensure you are not relying on water for minerals if you choose distilled water. Reverse osmosis has been touted for its high quality of purication, however it can be complicated to set up, costly and some argue uses too much energy to prove sustainable.

Water bottles: which one is best?

Plastic, stainless steel, glass, aluminum, how do you choose? You should invest in a good quality portable water bottle to carry with you to work, on errands and anywhere else you go. Plastic bottles are to be avoided as much as possible, as they have been shown to release chemicals (especially BPA) from the plastic in to the water. In the instances that you do buy bottled water, avoid reusing these bottles at all cost! The chemical leakage continues and accelerates when reused. This in turn increases the carbon footprint on our precious Earth, making plastic bottled water an unsustainable water source. Microorganism growth is also probable with reuse. Stainless steel or aluminum bottles are a better alternative, however some previous aluminum bottles have had BPA liners that raised concern with this bottle type. Stainless steel is the best investment as these do not leach chemicals, are durable, and dont degrade as easily as aluminum.

SOME EXTRA BENEFITS OF WATER AND STAYING HYDRATED:

It helps to keep your metabolism in full gear allowing you to burn more calories at rest It is used for carrying oxygen through your blood stream It is responsible for body temperature regulation It removes waste and toxins from your body though excretion (urine, sweat, feces, skin) Assists with keeping your hair, skin and joints healthy and lubricated It assists in weight loss It helps keep you regular and therefore at a reduced risk of colon cancer
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VITAMINS & MINERALS

FUNK MULTIVITAMIN RULE TAKE A MULTIVITAMIN SUPPEMENT TO ENSURE YOU GET ENOUGH VITAMINS AND MINERALS YOU MAY BE MISSING FROM YOUR TRAINING.
The use of Vitamins and Minerals will help you to recover quicker and more efciently from high intensity training. Whether you use one or two highquality multivitamins or a variety of different individual vitamins and minerals, the ones you take should include sufcient levels of nutrients that are crucial for peak performance. We often solely associate losing weight with our macronutrient intake, i.e. consumption of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Yet an adequate vitamin intake is equally as important for healthy, sustainable weight loss as the healthier we are, i.e. when our bodily systems function optimally, the easier it becomes to loose and maintain a healthy weight. The B vitamins play an vital role in weight loss, specically Vitamins B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pyridoxine), B6 (Pantothentic Acid ) and B12 which support everything from thyroid function, to metabolism for energy. Choline and Chromium also promote metabolism and maintaining balanced blood sugar levels to curb cravings. Recent studies also suggest that Vitamin C can affect the rate at which fat is burned, i.e. the more citrus fruits and other foods high in Vitamin C that are consumed, the more fat is burned. Vitamins must be consumed as the body cannot make them. They: Are necessary for the metabolism of the macronutrients Ensure good health and protect against certain diseases Are required for metabolism and to protect health Assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, and nervous-system

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Are responsible for keeping cells strong, binding tissues, ghting infections, etc. Help regulate metabolism Help convert fat and carbohydrates into energy Assist in forming bone and tissue

The 13 vitamins can be categorized as either fat-soluble or water-soluble: Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in appreciable amounts in the body: Include Vit D, Vit E, Vit A, Vit K. Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body: Include folate (folic acid), vitamin B12, biotin, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, riboavin, pantothenic acid, and Vit C.

MINERALS
Minerals also play an important role in weight loss and maintenance. They are natural elements found in the soil, and when ingested, support numerous functions in the body thereby maximizing energy levels for exercise! Sodium (also known as salt) regulates water distribution in our cells. Although it is required to prevent dehydration, we are more likely to have an excess rather than deciency, so intake should be limited to a natural source of sodium e.g. sea salt as much as possible. Potassium controls the transmission of nerve impulses, and also prevents muscles from overheating when exerted, supporting our ability to exercise efciently. Magnesium controls muscle contraction and regulates the conversion of carbohydrates to energy. Magnesium deciency can cause fatigue and muscle cramps. Calcium helps control muscle contraction and regulates most of the chemical reactions in our body. It is the most abundant mineral in our bodies.

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PREPARE AND PLAN MEALS

FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL!
This is one of the most important aspects of elite performance nutrition and being successful at it. As a combat athlete you must treat planning your nutrition on the same level as planning your training. Your nutrition will help you lose fat, enhance your performance and reduce injuries. Nothing in life gets done properly without planning and preparation. Imagine knowing you were to have a child and did no preparation for the birth or after. It just wouldnt work. The same type of thought must apply to your everyday life. When you go to the gym, you should already know exactly what workout you are doing so it can be an intense effective workout. Prepare your meals beforehand so you do not nd yourself slipping into eating the junk food that may readily be available. Being prepared keeps you focused and on the right track to success.

Make Sundays your planning day. I nd that Sunday gives you most of the day to plan out your meals for the week.
The risk of stopping for fast food, or eating something crapping will be reduced when you have your meals planned. Even if you have to carry around your meals in coolers with your shakes, snacks and meals it is worth staying on course with your nutrition. Invest in a cooler. Ensure that your pre-training meals are planned with slow digesting carbohydrates and faster digesting carbs for after training. Prepare your food and meals in bulk and refrigerate them for ease of use. This will help you create meals quickly and without effort, preventing you from reaching for the wrong things. Cooking in bulk is great so that you dont have to cook one or two chicken breasts from scratch. It can become quite the hassle if you have to get out the pots and pans every minute to cook something. Use Sundays as your planning and preparing day. When you are prepared you can handle emergencies much better, like when you are stuck without having any healthy snacks and resort to eating foods that will only hinder your training or make you lethargic Plan your grocery list too. You will see that I have included a grocery list of literally what I get each time I do a big shop. Use the Funk Power 30 Foods List ad shopping checklist to help you.

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MMA PRE AND POST WORKOUT

I receive this question once every other week. Funk, what should I eat before and after I workout? In this article I will give you the information that you need to ensure you nourish your body correctly pre and post workout. Proper nutrition is the key to getting a consistent and effective workout. Now depending on what your goals are will determine some of your food choices. If you are trying to bulk up or add crazy muscle, you will eat a bit different from someone that is trying to lose weight, slim down or get ripped. A bodybuilder wants to eat more egg whites and tuna whereas someone trying to lose weight would opt for whole-wheat pastas and salads. Remember to gain weight you must take in more calories than you burn. To lose weight, you must burn more than you take in.

WHEN YOU NEED TO EAT

When I was training in Thailand my Pre and Post meals were extremely important, especially if I was to get through the 3 hour training sessions. If my training started at 7:00AM, that meant that I was up and eating at 6:00AM. Before you workout your body needs ample time to digest what youve put in it. A good rule of thumb is always to wait 1 hour prior to exercise. You want to make sure that you have enough time to digest the food before you embark on your crazy workout. Post workout nutrition should be eaten NO LONGER than 1 hour after exercise. If you delay eating longer than an hour after your workout then your body begins to take those muscles you just worked so hard to get and deplete them by using them as energy for the rest of the day or night. I bolded that line because I know so many people that do not follow the rule of eating no longer than 1 hour after working out. If you are not doing it now, then start today.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO EAT

Prior to starting your workout, the best foods are in the form of carbohydrates. Yes I said carbs. Carbs are not bad for you when choosing the right ones. A pre-exercise meal should include foods that are low in carbohydrates and easy to digest. Foods low in carbs will release glucose gradually into the blood stream, which is what you want prior to your session to help prolong physical endurance. Dont forget that its just as important to eat smart after your workout has subsided and youve come down. After a workout, your body is like a sponge, ready to soak up the nutrients in food to restore energy and replenish your muscles. A mixed meal high in carbohydrates with moderate portion of protein and fat soon after completing the workout is best to help re-fuel carbohydrate stores after exercise.The right foods alone wont get you through a workout - youll have to get the right hydration with water while you exercise. You should drink at least at least 16 ounces of water two hours before a workout, and about 6 to 12 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise. (An ounce is about a mouthful.)

WHAT YOU SHOULD EAT

PRE WORKOUT Some food suggestions prior to a workout include: Vegetables like celery, cucumber, tomatoes Low-fat yogurt Peanuts Fresh fruit such as cherries, plum, peach Apple Oatmeal Healthy Cereal Oat bran bread POST WORKOUT Post workout you can increase the carbs and protein to restore those muscles. Some suggestions are: Post Workout Drink with 3-1 Carbs to Protein Bagel with jelly Baked potato Stir-fried chicken and vegetables over brown rice Eggs

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Fish Beans Watermelon, banana Sports Drink throw some protein in it

FOODS TO AVOID BEFORE EXERCISE

Any foods with a lot of fat can be very difcult and slow to digest and remain in the stomach a long time. They also will pull blood into the stomach to aid in digestion, which can cause cramping and discomfort. Meats, doughnuts, fries, potato chips, and candy bars should be avoided. I suggest not have any sugar prior to your workout, as some people do not perform well after a blood glucose spike. If youre squeezing a workout into a busy schedule, you may be tempted to grab a protein bar on the way out the door, but DONT DO IT.

Most bars are gloried candy bars, often providing even more calories and are likely to be loaded with sugar.
Caffeine had been thought to boost endurance by stimulating a greater use of fat for energy, and thereby reserving glycogen in the muscles. Research, however, doesnt seem to support that theory. When caffeine improves endurance, it does so by acting as a stimulant. Caffeine can have serious side effects for some people. Those who are very sensitive to its effects may experience nausea, muscle tremors, and headaches. Too much caffeine is a diuretic, and can result in dehydration, which decreases performance. In conclusion, if youre going to invest the time to put yourself through a productive workout, then its imperative to nourish your body correctly pre and post workout.

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Why is Your Post Workout Nutrition The Most Important of the day?
There are a couple reasons why post workout nutrition is so important.

1. Recovery
During training or your workout session because of the high intensity youve totally depleted your muscle glycogen, your blood sugars dropped, and your muscles have been broken down. You need the proper nutrients after your training session so that you can body can recover and repair, continue to burn fat and feed your muscles so they can grow.

2. Metabolic Rate
The focus behind this Nutrition Plan is to help you burn fat and keep your metabolism high so that we are constantly burning calories. If you are not eating the right foods after your workout session your blood sugar levels will not normalize, which in turn causes your body to go into a catabolic effect. Catabolism will cause you lose your muscle and slow down your metabolism. These are roughly 60-minute window post workout that your body needs nutrients. It is so important that you eat during this time. For the Combat Athlete who is training to keep your muscle mass and burn fat, if you miss this window you WILL slow down you metabolism and feel sluggish for the rest of the day. Which isnt helping you accomplish your goal either. So what should you eat during your Post Workout Recovery? About 15 minutes after your nished training you want to ingest a post workout drink. The body digests it much quicker and nutrients get your body almost immediately.

The Post Workout Recovery Shake

After your workout your body needs two things:

1. Protein
To repair or build muscle mass.

2. Fast Digesting Carbs

To help stabilize blood sugar levels, replenish your muscles glycogen stores, and to spike your insulin levels so that the protein gets transported from the blood stream into your muscles. You can use protein powder like whey because its the fastest digesting protein. And your fast digesting carbs (simple sugar) can come in the form of fruit, juice, a sports drink like Gatorade (this is the ONLY TIME you should drink Gatorade), or even skim milk. I use Prograde Post Workout Drink because it already comes mixed with two to one carbs to protein.

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WHAT TO EAT

ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT ATHLETES

FUNK POWER 30 FOODS

If you look into my fridge, freezer and pantry at any time, you will always nd these foods. Through competing as a professional athlete, training top level MMA and sports athletes, studying, research and working with nutritionist and professional trainers, I found that all top performing athletes eat the same foods. My Power 30 food list is paramount when it comes to health and nutrition. These are the foods that will help you build more muscle, increase strength, reduce inammation (thus help to prevent injury) improve power, overall endurance and best of all burn off unwanted fat to help you look lean, muscular and ripped. Its no wonder at 44 years old I feel like Im 20. These are the foods that should be in your kitchen at all times. PROTEIN Tuna Egg Whites Greek Yogourt Chicken Breast Fish - Salmon Turkey Burgers Beef Pork Turkey Slices - Deli Cottage Cheese CARBS Oranges Broccoli Cauliower Bananas Brown Rice Mixed Veggies Assorted Fruit Greens - Spinach and Kale Sweet Potato Frozen Fruit Tomatoes Oats Quinoa Beans Berries Apples ESSENTIAL FATS Avocado Extra Virgin Olive Oil Almonds Almond Nut Butter DRINKS Water

REFER TO THE FUNK POWER 30 FOOD EBOOK AND GROCERY LIST

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WHAT NOT TO EAT

DO NOT pollute your body with the following foods. These are the foods that will quickly take you out of your Elite athlete status. Stay away from the foods on this list if you are training for a ght or your goal is to burn fat while building lean muscle and improving your performance Processed foods Packaged foods, Deep fried foods Take out like McDonalds Junk food, candies Soda/pop Alcohol Frozen microwave meals White Sugar Brown Sugar Doughnuts Mufns Cookies

Real foods dont have as many calories, and they dont have near the amount of terrible side effects

CHEAT MEALS
I get asked quite a bit if having cheat days are okay. A cheat Day for those of you that are not up to speed is usually a dedicated day most people have to eat whatever they want. I AM NOT a fan of cheat days, as most people just end up people overindulging and all the hard work performed during the previous week goes to waste because of the excess calories they consume. I AM a fan of a cheat meal once a week. I encourage a cheat meal because it can throw your metabolism into hyper drive. You see when you are eating healthy and clean your body gets used to processing the same types of foods over and over again and then when you eat something your body isnt used to, your body has to work much harder to metabolize it, hence speeding up your metabolism and burning more calories. They key is one cheat meal a week, NOT cheat day. If you can, try to eat your cheat meal earlier in the day to give yourself a better chance at burning it off during training. When having a cheat meal, make sure you consume protein with your meal as it slows down the digestive process and you are still getting some nutritional value out of your meal. If you do make it a plan to cheat then having one cheat meal a week will not hinder your progress at all. It will also keep you from going crazy and help motivate you to stay on track with your elite nutrition.

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NUTRITION RULES

ELITE NUTRITION FOR COMBAT ATHLETES

FUNK NUTRITION RULES

1. Every meal must have a source of PROTEIN
(try and vary your sources of protein as well)

2. You must eat REAL FOOD meal within an hour after your training.
(This does not include post workout drink right after. You still need to eat real food)

3. Try to ingest a Protein Shake/smoothie containing at least 3-1 Carbs to

protein immediately after your training or workout session.

4. Plan and Prepare your Meals Plan out your meals on a weekly or daily basis.
This will help you to make sure that you are getting the proper nutrition. You have to have food ready to eat at all times. Leave room to be exible.

5. Drink at least 2 gallons of water a day.

(Drink water with all meals and in between, before, during and after training sessions)

6. Eat Clean Your nutrition plan should have complex carbs, lean proteins, and
unsaturated fats. Add lean meats, fruits, vegetables, Greek yogurts, nuts, sh, poultry, legumes, and whole grains.

7. Taking multivitamins will allow for proper absorption and usage of

carbohydrates and proteins

8. Eat Smaller Meals more Often Eat 6 small meals per day. Eating more
frequent will give you more energy throughout the day, keep your body burning fat, help keep the blood sugar levels stable and help you to avoid binging. Add another meal if you feel like you have no energy or if you have a LONG DAY

9. Eat veggies with every meal and snack (Vegetables are like having free food.
They have little calories yet the body expends more energy to metabolize them

10. Use the grocery list I supplied of the Funk Power 30 Foods to ensure you
are purchasing the right foods to keep you at optimal level of training and health

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ELITE NUTRITION MEAL BY MEAL BREAKDOWN

TRAIN IN THE MORNING PRE-BREAKFAST BREAKFAST/PRE WORKOUT MEAL TRAINING/WORKOUT SESSION (START 8:309:00AM) POST WORKOUT DRINK POST WORKOUT MEAL/ LUNCH TRAIN IN MIDDLE OF DAY PRE-BREAKFAST BREAKFAST TRAIN IN THE EVENING PRE-BREAKFAST BREAKFAST

AM SNACK

MID-MORNING SNACK

LUNCH/PRE WORKOUT MEAL PRE-WORKOUT DRINK TRAINING/WORKOUT SESSION (START 1:302:30PM)

LUNCH

MIDDAY SNACK

AFTERNOON SNACK

PRE-WORKOUT MEALDRINK TRAINING/WORKOUT SESSION (START 6:307:00PM)

DINNER

POST WORKOUT DRINK

EVENING SNACK

POST WORKOUT MEALDINNER PM SNACK

POST WORKOUT DRINK DINNER/POST WORKOUT MEAL PROTEIN DRINK

BEDTIME PROTEIN

BEDTIME PROTEIN

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DONE FOR YOU (DFY) & DO IT YOURSELF PLAN (DIY) MMA NUTRITION PLAN
Accompanying this nutrition package is the Done For You and Do It Yourself 8 Week Nutrition Plan that you can use throughout the year or even during your ght camp if you are preparing for one. The goal of my plan is that you NOT have to cut so much weight days before the ght. This meal plan keeps you cutting throughout the camp, while sustaining your muscle mass and keeping your strength. If you are preparing for a ght and need to cut, being 8 to 12 lbs. above your targeted weight class will make the cut go much more smoothly. What you weigh in at the completion of your diet depends upon body fat and how much muscle mass you have. The FunkMMA Nutrition Plan isnt about building huge muscle mass and packing on weight. The diet is designed to maintain current muscle mass or possibly build a little, increase strength and decrease body fat so you can have the leanest and meanest physique possible.

Its SAFE and CLEAN!

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Final ThouGhts
For You to Remember EAT PROTEIN WITH EVERY MEAL AND SNACK
Proteins should be eaten at every meal and snack 1.5-2 g/kg bodyweight per day for athletes. Protein will help with muscle repair, fat loss and build muscle. When you train like you do, especially during times of fatigue, intense training and overtraining, your body may start to use its own muscle as energy source (YOU DO NOT WANT THIS) eating protein will help with ensuring this does not happen.

CARBS FOR ENERGY

Carbs generally should come from Complex Carbohydrate in natural food sources such as vegetables, legumes, salad, oatmeal and fruit are idealYou can eat Simple carbs rice, pasta, potato, yams only early in the AM and after a workout/training sessions

HEALTHY FATS
Make sure you do not shy away from healthy fats, which are essential and derive from omega oil, sh, walnuts, olive oils, seeds and avocados. Eat healthy fats with all meals except before you train.

WATER
Drink at least 2 gallons of water per day and make sure to drink water throughout your training session.

MULTIVITAMIN
Take a multivitamin every morning with your breakfast.

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FUNK POWER 30
GROCery SHOPPING lISt
PROTEIN Tuna Egg Whites Greek Yogourt Chicken Breast Fish - Salmon Turkey Burgers Beef Pork Turkey Slices Deli Cottage Cheese CARBS Oranges Broccoli Cauliower Bananas Brown Rice Mixed Veggies Assorted Fruit Greens - Spinach and Kale Sweet Potato Frozen Fruit Tomatoes DRINKS Water Oats Quinoa Beans Berries Apples ESSENTIAL FATS Avocado Extra Virgin Olive Oil Almonds Almond Nut Butter

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