There is nothing more frustrating than showing up to the gym, ready to work, only to have your body quit on you twenty minutes in. You know the feeling: your brain is sharp, you know exactly what move to make, but your muscles just won't fire. You feel heavy, sluggish, and frankly, a little bit pathetic. Most people blame their "cardio," so they try to run more miles or do more sprints. But usually, the problem isn't your lungs. It’s the fact that you’re trying to run a high-performance engine on trash.
We put a lot of emphasis on what happens on the mats, but the reality is that your training doesn't start when you walk through the gym doors. It starts at the grocery store. You can’t spend all day eating processed junk or skipping meals and then expect your body to handle the intensity of rolling or a heavy sparring session. It’s a matter of respect for the work you’re putting in and respect for your training partners. If you aren't fueling yourself, you’re wasting your own time and theirs because you can’t give 100%.
This doesn't mean you need to become a professional bodybuilder who weighs every leaf of spinach. It just means you have to stop pretending that what you eat doesn't affect how you fight. If you’re constantly gassing out, look at your plate. Are you getting enough to actually sustain an hour of explosive movement? Are you drinking enough water to keep your brain from fogging over? If the answer is no, then all the extra treadmill work in the world won't save you.
The mats are honest. They reveal exactly how you’ve been treating yourself outside the gym. If you want to see what you’re actually capable of, you have to give your body a fighting chance. Eat like you have a purpose, and your training will finally start reflecting the effort you’re putting in.
