Weight management for combat sports athletes is about more than just food and exercise. It calls for a holistic approach that includes managing stress levels, ensuring quality sleep and maintaining metabolic health. Fighters can support their bodies during weight cuts while minimizing the risks associated with extreme dieting or dehydration.

 

A sustainable, balanced approach that considers not only diet and exercise but also lifestyle factors and incorporates holistic methods can ensure a safe and effective weight cut, while also promoting long-term health and performance. Cutting weight can have serious negative consequences, as Professional Fighters League Marlon Moraes discovered before moving up from bantamweight to featherweight after experiencing slow reflexes and brain fog as a result of having to cut too much weight prior to his bantamweight bouts.

 

Stress is a major factor in weight gain and retention. Cortisol released when under stress can increase fat storage, especially in the abdominal area. Stress eating – with the tendency to make unhealthy food choices –  has always been a hard habit to shake.

 

Regular meditation or mindfulness practices can help manage stress, lower cortisol levels, and promote awareness of eating habits to prevent emotional or binge eating. Breathing exercises such as box breathing can trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and supporting a calm mental state, while yoga and Tai Chi can help balance both body and mind. Yoga promotes flexibility and relaxation while also contributing to weight loss.

 

CBD that blends green coffee bean extract, leaf extract, and caffeine can intensify weight management efforts. These all-natural ingredients can help burn fat and maintain a healthy weight. 

 

Quality sleep is vital for muscle recovery, and poor or not enough sleep can disrupt appetite-regulating hormones like ghrelin, which increases the desire to eat, and leptin, a hormone that regulates the body’s fat storage and decreases the desire to eat. Poor sleep can lead to increased hunger and cravings, which may interfere with weight management.

 

By establishing a regular sleep schedule and exercising good sleep hygiene, combat sports athletes can regulate their bodies’ circadian rhythms and improve the quality of their sleep. A dark, cool, and screen-free bedroom will produce better quality sleep. Both chamomile and  valerian root tea can promote relaxation, as can adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and CBD capsules that reduce muscle tension and aches, promote relaxation and enhance recovery. 

 

A sluggish metabolism makes it harder to burn fat. Green tea extract, cayenne pepper, ginger, and caffeine can all increase the body’s metabolic rate and improve digestion and performance, although they should all be used in moderation. Proper hydration also helps burn fat and promote muscle recovery, especially during weight cuts. Broad spectrum CBD oil can help regulate metabolic levels and promote weight loss. 

 

Always consult a healthcare professional before adding CBD to your training regimen to avoid potential interactions with other medications or underlying conditions, and choose from organic hemp extracts like the ones available from Fusion CBD Products.