Fighters Only

Issue 136

December 2015

UFC strawweight Joanne Calderwood has a hard time stalling her sweet tooth

Q. Do you find it easy to eat clean when you’re training for a fight?

A. It’s hard because when you’re in camp you can’t eat the stuff you enjoy. I try and keep it healthy as much as possible but I maybe have more desserts than I should.

Q. Do you cut all treats out when you’re in camp?

A. I cut it out maybe two weeks before a fight. I usually have a cheat day, you need to – especially when you’ve got six days of eating healthy, you’re doing your best not to eat and you’ve got a sweet tooth. There’s so much temptation around you in Scotland. It’s really hard. You have to have good willpower and determination to get you through.

Q. What’s your favorite dish while you’re in camp?

A. My favorite cheat meal is probably pizza. Any will do but I like a nice garlic and herb. My favorite clean meal is grilled chicken.

Q. Which desserts do you enjoy?

A. I’ve gotten addicted to Haagen-Dazs ice cream.

Q. Do you have a nutritionist to prepare your meals?

A. No, I do my own cooking. I’ve got support if I need it – a few of the guys at the gym know a lot about it.

Q. Do you have a favorite nationality of food?

A. I like anything spicy, so I prefer Thai. I love anything with chicken and cashew nuts in it.

Q. Are you strict with your diet when you’re training in Thailand?

A. It’s hard because you’re training in the heat and sweating a lot. I don’t usually start dieting until closer to the fight. When I’m in camp (in Scotland) I can’t keep having pizza every night, but it’s pretty easy because it’s mainly rice and chicken in Thailand.

Q. What are your five essential foods for a fight camp?

A. Chicken, spinach, rice, Oreos and some kind of fruit – maybe a banana.