Weight Loss

The Knockout Diet

Don’t feel like a butterball when you can sting like a bee with boxer Oscar de la Hoya’s nutrition secrets

By: Christian Debenedetti
[ Updated: Jul 14, 2008 - 5:09:31 PM ]

As part of his training regimen for his final bout next year, 33-year-old Oscar de la Hoya asked nutritionist Sari Mellman to design a program to keep his weight down, boost his energy, and help his muscles and joints recover faster.

After a 28-day evaluation, Mellman determined that the fighter's diet was undermining his training. Soybeans, pinto beans, and lemon caused bloating and zapped endurance; she replaced them with easily digested black beans and lime. Another energy killer was potassium benzoate, a common preservative in store-bought salad dressings.

The chemical shortened the athlete's breath, so Mellman replaced it with organic flaxseed, avocado, and olive oils with organic apple-cider vinegar and lime juice -- all of which help rejuvenate muscle tissue and prevent joint inflammation. Thanks to his new regimen, the fighter lost 7 percent of his body fat while increasing his stamina.

"I feel better now than I did 10 years ago," he says. "My recovery is much faster: Before, I'd spar 10, 12 rounds, and I would need days to recover. Now, 10 hours after training, I'm running 5 miles and working out in the gym."
 

Preworkout, 5:30 a.m.
• 3 ounces organic grapefruit juice (freshly squeezed)
 

Breakfast, 8 a.m.
• Omelet made with four egg whites, spinach, turkey, organic pepper jack cheese, mushrooms, habanero peppers, and crushed garlic; cooked on low heat in organic flaxseed, avocado, and olive oils

• 1 cup coffee with rice milk and 1 tablespoon all-natural brown sugar