Another Nutrition/Diet Question

**RozzySean** · 01-16-2008 04:28 AM

Ok, here's my problem. I'm a 35 yo semi-novice boxer and fulltime school teacher. I'm a member of a real boxing and Muay Thai gym. A few years back, I spend some time training at different gym, but I ended up having work schedule change (started working nights) and all the gyms in my area only had night hours. Fast forward to now. I'm back working days, and since mid-november, I've back at the gym 2-3 a week. I am planning on competing in some "gym wars', probably spring or summer. My coach has a great relationship with some Philly (I'm in boston) gyms, he promised that if I'm willing to travel, he have make me some fights down there against other older, rookie fighters looking to get a taste of real competition, guys like me.

That brings me to diet and nutrition, and my work and gym schedule. I work until between 3:30 and 5. My gym opens at 6. On days I train, I usually get to the gym about 6:15 and finish up about 8:15. By the time I get home, it's at least 8:30. I go to bed between 10 and 11.

I think I know what to eat, but I'm not sure when I should be eating it. After work, I have a healthy snack between work and the gym, but by the time I'm done working out, I need dinner. When the hell am I supposed to get one big, good meal when I'm teaching school allday (very little time for lunch) and then going right to the gym. I eat healthy snacks during the day, but after a workingout and not eating a decent meal since 12, salad just doesn't cut it, even if I've had a fairly substantial lunch. I don't need a three course meal, but I gotta eat something that fills me up. I've heard from several sources that eating late is a bad thing when you are trying to cut weight, and I need drop from my current 193 to 178 at least. I should really be at 165, but given my modest goals, 178 might make more sense. I would really rather fight at MW.

Anyway, any help structuring my eating program would be greatly helpful. I'm not in a huge rush to cut the weight, and I know I can make 178 by just ramping the roadwork, but I'll never make 165 with a good plan of attack for my eating. I with I could go to gym at 4, right after work, but it is what it is.

**iceman** · 01-16-2008 08:23 AM

i'm 40 dude and my advice while far from coming from a liscnsed pro is this...eat small meals all day, try a couple protein shakes like muscle milk or something you can grab fast. also consider this the lower the weight the faster the hands(roughly) and the older the fighter(sometimes) the slower...be careful if you end up with some young middle weight, he may shred you...on the other hand the current trend for heavyweights seems to tend towards fat and slow(comparitively)and even a fast heavy may still not be as fast as a smaller guy...just a thought.i know there are many arguments, but just a thought. i work nights currently the only bonus, family is asleep, and i have no one in the weight gym with me...i can run a treadmill, bike or step for an hour non-stop and still lift as i want...downside it is hard to get up for a morning BJJ class and the boxing gym is closed....weight will/should come off slowly so focus on eating good, and trying to fill up earlier in the day and top off with maybe a shake at night but watch the carbs etc...hope this helps

**RozzySean** · 01-17-2008 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by iceman

i'm 40 dude and my advice while far from coming from a liscnsed pro is this...eat small meals all day, try a couple protein shakes like muscle milk or something you can grab fast. also consider this the lower the weight the faster the hands(roughly) and the older the fighter(sometimes) the slower...be careful if you end up with some young middle weight, he may shred you...on the other hand the current trend for heavyweights seems to tend towards fat and slow(comparitively)and even a fast heavy may still not be as fast as a smaller guy...just a thought.i know there are many arguments, but just a thought. i work nights currently the only bonus, family is asleep, and i have no one in the weight gym with me...i can run a treadmill, bike or step for an hour non-stop and still lift as i want...downside it is hard to get up for a morning BJJ class and the boxing gym is closed....weight will/should come off slowly so focus on eating good, and trying to fill up earlier in the day and top off with maybe a shake at night but watch the carbs etc...hope this helps

Thanks. That same thing happened to me. I had to leave my old gym and work out on my own for a while, then I just fell off it when I moved and the local gym only had a heavy bag. I'm glad I'm finally back.

My new coach tells me that he can match me with a guy closer to my age with similar goals...no way in hell I'm getting in the ring for anything more than controlled sparring with a young MW. Way, way to fast.

The small meal thing is probably the way to go, but it's hard with my teaching schedule. I can eat nutrition bars and fruit, I guess, and never really have a really dinner on those two or three days per week.

**iceman** · 01-17-2008 08:12 AM

don't forget shakes and try a whole wheat and peanut butter sandwich...thta may fill you up or just cook ahead and rehaet as you can get time .

**donnydarkoIRL** · 01-17-2008 10:06 AM

Well I'm very young to talk as my metabolism is still in incinerator mode, but for me small meals are the best.

After that all I can advise is banana. It's a fantastic form of energy and indeed great for repairs also when eaten ten or so minutes after training! Although I hate the taste I eat about 5 ripe bannanas a day.