THE Christmas period is fast approaching and coming with it, is the excessive amount of food and drink we are often expected to eat. It is easy to get caught up in all the celebrations and indulge on the excessive amounts of cake, sugary snacks and alcohol. But, there are a few tips that can aid you in keeping on top of your festive nutrition habits and I outline these over the next few pages.
1. Earn your treat
Muscle-mass is the most vital component in a boxer’s body composition. To make sure that you do not lose any muscle mass over the festive period, it is important to continue training. However, post-training you can indulge in your favorite ‘cheat’ snack as a treat in the knowledge that you have thoroughly earned it!
2. Get the basics right
SIMPLY put, make sure you stick to good food. Try to source your meat and vegetables from local butchers and markets, as, generally speaking, these will be the freshest and better sources of nutrients.
3. Taste the rainbow
CONSUME a rainbow each day of fresh fruit and vegetables. As a general rule, different colours of fruit and veg contain different vitamins and minerals, all of which are vitally important to help maintain your health. Therefore, consuming a variety of coloured fruit and veg is one of the best ways of looking after your body.
4. Be consistent
EAT regularly! With all of the big festive feeds that occur during the Christmas period, it is easy to try and skip a meal and then over-feed at the next occasion. However, we have previously highlighted the importance of eating protein every three hours. By skipping a meal you miss the opportunity to gain vital nutrients that can aid in muscle repair, maintenance and growth.
5. Enjoy your food
ALLOW yourself to let a go – a little bit! Enjoy yourself over the festive period, as this is what Christmas is all about. As a rule, try to limit yourself to one ‘treat’ or ‘cheat’ snack a day, and make sure that you earn it!
