If you want to get good at MMA, you need a proper diet plan. But a good diet usually costs a lot of money. We’ve all been there, and we learned that you don’t need as much money as you think to get a proper diet plan, just read our article to find out more.
Why a proper diet is essential for mixed martial arts fighters
MMA requires a much higher level of intensity than other sports. So providing your body with the right nutrients is very important to increase your performance. It is known that the most famous MMA fighters in the world understand the value of proper nutrition and pay heavily for the best nutritionists to prepare a plan for them.
However, providing a high-quality diet can sometimes be difficult, since the best products and nutritionists are very expensive. With the right research and creativity, you can make meals that are just as good as the expensive ones.
Keep in mind, not every plan is suitable for every athlete because body types vary.
How to eat like an MMA fighter on a budget
It is important to know that any food can help you regain energy, but eating the right foods can provide you with more benefits in terms of performance.
Many professionals insist on eating clean. This means avoiding processed foods and focusing on fresh meals. Since we’re on a budget, let’s look at some decent options when creating a diet plan.
Every professional athlete should eat at least five meals a day, considering they have training sessions every day with one recovery day.
When it comes to MMA, the diet can vary depending on whether you are in or preparing for fight season. But there are some foods that should not be left out anyway.
vegetables
Vegetables are essential In every well-organized diet plan. These high-fiber foods will keep you full of energy for a long period of time.
During the season, vegetables provide you with a quick recovery and improve your immunity. During the off-season, they maintain health and body composition.
Vegetables to consider are spinach, celery, cucumber, broccoli, artichokes, baked potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
These are just some of the many things you can consider since most vegetables are quite affordable.
Investing in a smoothie blender is a good idea, as it will pay off in the long run.
It will allow you to prepare fast and healthy meals by mixing different ingredients such as honey, oats, chia, nuts, bananas, various fruits and vegetables and even protein powder.
Some great and cheap recipes include banana oatmeal smoothie, green vegetable smoothie, berries and cream, etc. Combining the right ingredients can create a tasty and healthy meal that will keep you energized.
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats
MMA fighters consider sparing to be a simulation of fighting, so providing your body with essential carbohydrates is essential to provide enough energy for the session.
Eating during gentle sessions is not recommended, as it will make bowel shots much worse.
this is the reason Pre-workout meals are essential. Consider a light, easy-to-digest food made up of complete proteins and carbohydrates for energy.
Some of the most popular options include oatmeal, eggs, bananas, protein bars, etc.
Eggs are one of the best sources of protein, so feel free to add them to your daily plan, as they are cheap and provide you with the right nutrients.
Post-workout meals are important for replenishing lost energy and helping to avoid dehydration and hunger. Celebrity MMA nutritionist and former boxer Chris Algieri recommends taking something within thirty minutes after completing your session. An interesting option is whey protein mixed with tart cherry.
According to researchers, MMA fighters should eat about 30 percent fat, 20 percent protein, and 50 to 60 percent carbohydrates.
Instead of eating expensive salmon, beef, mushrooms, cheese, and fruits like avocado, try grilled chicken with grilled vegetables, a tuna sandwich, and oatmeal with whey protein and cottage cheese.
It is also important to eat lean red meat. Budget options include lamb shoulder chops, chuck roast, chuck roast, and a whole chicken, among others. When buying red meat, be sure to ask your butcher to cut out unnecessary fat.
Be careful with salads, as eating too many of them can lead to oil buildup and weight gain.
Salads you might consider are cold bean salad, potato and egg salad, tuna salad, and more.
Fruit is a great source of vitamins and minerals but is high in sugar, so eat it as a pre- and post-workout snack.
It is a pure thing to prepare your body for recovery. Many nutritionists recommend varying your protein intake, so feel free to experiment with different types of fish and seafood as interesting dinner options, combine them with rice and green leafy vegetables for a winning combo.
Beans, quinoa, tofu, peanut butter, and rice cakes are all interesting ingredient choices for your daily diet, because they are cheap and provide you with enough energy.
water
It is essential to stay hydrated, so don’t forget to drink enough water throughout the day. Avoiding this can make you feel tired and sluggish, which can lead to a loss of sharpness.
Drinking water also allows your body to absorb nutrients.
Make sure you always mix up your diet, as repeating the same plan can put you at risk of not getting all the nutrients you need.
The Best Supplements for the MMA Diet on a Budget
Nutritional supplements are an important part of any athlete’s diet.
However, doing research about which one to use can lead you to pricey options.
In this next segment, we will provide you with some of the best budget supplements that you can consider.
Keep in mind that supplements do not magically work, and in order to keep your performance sharp, you need to have the foundation of the right diet, and using supplements can help you support your diet.
pre workout
Pre-workout supplements are an excellent way for athletes to provide themselves with the right performance boost. Since we are on a budget, this is the pre-workout supplement we would like to recommend MuscleTech Neurocor Pre-Workout on Amazon.
This supplement will provide you with proper muscle endurance and long-term workouts.
MuscleTech Vapor X5 – Pre-Workout Nutrition
- Pre-Workout Powder – MuscleTech Vapor X5 is an explosive pre-workout powder that will redefine the results of your training. Vapor X5 is the all-in-one source formula for more lean muscle, strength, energy, focus, and insane muscle pumps
- MUSCLE BUILDER – The Most Complete Pre-Workout Product, Vapor X5 includes powerful muscle-building ingredients to help you pack on the bulk, including creatine monohydrate – the most researched form of creatine – along with betaine.
protein
When it comes to protein powders, this is the best option to consider Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Powder on Amazon. The powder was highly rated Rated five stars on Amazon by over 26,000 satisfied users. Aside from that, many experienced MMA fighters recommend it as a great budget option, and we use it in our gym, too.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Cookies & Cream
- Packaging May Vary – New Look, Same Trusted Quality
- Gold Standard 100% Whey – 24g of protein per serving to help build and maintain muscle when taken over time with regular resistance training
- 5.5 grams of naturally occurring Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) and 11 grams of naturally occurring Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) per serving to support muscle recovery
Fat burner
Fat burners are a popular way to lose body fat without affecting your muscle growth. Athletes who compete in combat sports sometimes tend to use fat burners in order to set weight limits in their fight. Cellucor Super HD Which you can find on Amazon is the best affordable fat burner. It is known to be one of the most effective types of fat burners, and you can expect to see results in no time.
Cellucor Super HD Ultimate Thermogenic Fat Burner and Weight Loss Supplement
- ULTIMATE THERMOGENIC FORMULA – Cellucor Super HD Ultimate is a powerful thermogenic fat burner designed to help you lose weight and achieve your ultimate fitness goals.
- Boost Natural Metabolism – This supplement contains natural metabolism boosters that help your body burn fat and calories more efficiently, including Green Tea Extract and Capsimax Cayenne.
- INCREASED ENERGY AND FOCUS – Super HD Ultimate contains caffeine to boost energy and focus during your workout or daily routine, helping you stay motivated and productive.
- IMPROVE WEIGHT LOSS – This supplement is specifically designed to support weight loss efforts by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, and promoting fat burning.
- Premium Ingredients – Super HD Ultimate contains premium ingredients that have been clinically studied to support weight loss, including Synetrim CQ, a patented ingredient that helps support healthy weight management.
Conclusion
As you can see, if you want to become a good MMA fighter, you need to follow the right diet, and even sports diets are usually very expensive, we showed you that it doesn’t always have to be.
If you follow our MMA diet on a budget plan, and supplement on a budget, you can easily save some money and still look great in MMA. We know, we’ve tried it many times in our gym with our students.