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How does Ricky Hatton lose 40lbs? How does Ricky Hatton lose 40lbs?
(10 minutes later)
WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers...WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers...
Hatton makes light of his weightBoxer Ricky Hatton has shed 40lb in 14 weeks for Saturday's world title bout with Floyd Mayweather. How did he do it?Hatton makes light of his weightBoxer Ricky Hatton has shed 40lb in 14 weeks for Saturday's world title bout with Floyd Mayweather. How did he do it?
"They've nicknamed me Ricky Fatton. Mind you, I have had a lot on me plate lately.""They've nicknamed me Ricky Fatton. Mind you, I have had a lot on me plate lately."
Hatton makes a joke out of the way he famously balloons in weight between fights. Guinness, fry-ups and fast food are not usually wolfed down by world-class sportsmen. Hatton makes a joke out of the way he famously balloons in weight between fights. A photograph of him lying on a settee with Bernard Manning in his underpants hangs in his Manchester gym.
Guinness, fry-ups and fast food are not usually wolfed down by world-class sportsmen.
"It couldn't be more horrific what he eats," says Hatton's nutritionist Kerry Kayes, speaking from Las Vegas."It couldn't be more horrific what he eats," says Hatton's nutritionist Kerry Kayes, speaking from Las Vegas.
THE ANSWER Four or five meal replacement supplements a dayThree or four small meals: chicken, pasta, rice, fruitCapsules boost fruit and veg intake and provide Omega oilsPre and post-workout energy drinksIntense fitness and strength work "Anything that's bad, greasy, take-away or pies, he washes down with 12 to 15 pints of Guinness and Bailey chasers. He couldn't do it any worse.THE ANSWER Four or five meal replacement supplements a dayThree or four small meals: chicken, pasta, rice, fruitCapsules boost fruit and veg intake and provide Omega oilsPre and post-workout energy drinksIntense fitness and strength work "Anything that's bad, greasy, take-away or pies, he washes down with 12 to 15 pints of Guinness and Bailey chasers. He couldn't do it any worse.
"His mum and dad can't talk him out of it and his girlfriend Jennifer can't, so what chance have I?""His mum and dad can't talk him out of it and his girlfriend Jennifer can't, so what chance have I?"
Former bodybuilder Kayes does not know the size of his task until Hatton walks into the gym on the first day of training ahead of each big bout.Former bodybuilder Kayes does not know the size of his task until Hatton walks into the gym on the first day of training ahead of each big bout.
"He's usually about 40lbs overweight and it's quite a hard scenario to get his weight down and increase his nutrition to cope with the workload we put on his body, because every time he trains we need to overload his body and send a signal to it that it needs to be fitter and stronger."He's usually about 40lbs overweight and it's quite a hard scenario to get his weight down and increase his nutrition to cope with the workload we put on his body, because every time he trains we need to overload his body and send a signal to it that it needs to be fitter and stronger.
"To do that it needs to repair itself from the trauma, so we need a lot of nutrients but we can't afford calories.""To do that it needs to repair itself from the trauma, so we need a lot of nutrients but we can't afford calories."
Clean carbsClean carbs
Two-thirds of Hatton's intake comes from meal replacement supplements and one-third from food.Two-thirds of Hatton's intake comes from meal replacement supplements and one-third from food.
The powder supplements, of which he has four or five a day, are mixed with water or skimmed milk. They provide 42g of protein and 270 calories. A normal meal providing that amount of protein would usually contain about 800 calories, says Kayes.The powder supplements, of which he has four or five a day, are mixed with water or skimmed milk. They provide 42g of protein and 270 calories. A normal meal providing that amount of protein would usually contain about 800 calories, says Kayes.
BOXERS AND FOOD George Foreman ballooned to 270lbs in 1987 but got down to 217lb to take the world title in 91 and 94He's made more money from his grill machine than boxingBritish boxer Amir Khan fasts during Ramadan Hatton's battle with the bulge Hatton's food intake comes from what Kayes describes as "clean" sources of carbohydrate such as rice and pasta, and protein-rich foods like chicken. BOXERS AND FOOD George Foreman ballooned to 270lbs in 1987 but got down to 217lb to take the world title in 91 and 94He's made more money from his grill machine than boxingBritish boxer Amir Khan fasts during RamadanJames Toney weighed 233lb fighting earlier this year, 76lb more than when he won the IBF middleweight title in 1991 Hatton's battle with the bulge Hatton's food intake comes from what Kayes describes as "clean" sources of carbohydrate such as rice and pasta, and protein-rich foods like chicken.
The government recommends five fruit and vegetable portions a day, but Hatton has the equivalent of 15, provided by capsules and the real thing. In total, he consumes 3,500-4,000 calories a day.The government recommends five fruit and vegetable portions a day, but Hatton has the equivalent of 15, provided by capsules and the real thing. In total, he consumes 3,500-4,000 calories a day.
On the morning of a fight Hatton used to have the Mega Fry-up at the Butty Box in Manchester but there will be no repeat in Las Vegas.On the morning of a fight Hatton used to have the Mega Fry-up at the Butty Box in Manchester but there will be no repeat in Las Vegas.
Kayes says the yo-yo weight loss and gain is damaging Hatton physically but thinks his lifestyle probably helps him relax between fights.Kayes says the yo-yo weight loss and gain is damaging Hatton physically but thinks his lifestyle probably helps him relax between fights.
"It's bad for his body but good for his mind. The kid's under enormous pressure and Billy Graham [his coach] doesn't want him to box much above 30 anyway.""It's bad for his body but good for his mind. The kid's under enormous pressure and Billy Graham [his coach] doesn't want him to box much above 30 anyway."
Up and downUp and down
In the short-term it's not clear what the risks are, says Simon Langley-Evans, a professor of human nutrition, but there are problems long-term.In the short-term it's not clear what the risks are, says Simon Langley-Evans, a professor of human nutrition, but there are problems long-term.
"Ricky Hatton is a very fit individual and he's reasonably healthy. But when people gain and lose weight, or 'yo-yo diet', they gain weight more easily as they get older. Every time he goes through the cycle, he will probably gain more weight."Ricky Hatton is a very fit individual and he's reasonably healthy. But when people gain and lose weight, or 'yo-yo diet', they gain weight more easily as they get older. Every time he goes through the cycle, he will probably gain more weight.
WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines "This kind of yo-yo dieting produces the worst outcome in cardiovascular risk in middle age. It's almost better to be someone heavier and not trying to lose weight, rather than losing weight and putting it back on again."WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines "This kind of yo-yo dieting produces the worst outcome in cardiovascular risk in middle age. It's almost better to be someone heavier and not trying to lose weight, rather than losing weight and putting it back on again."
It's unclear why but going up and down in weight increases fat deposits in the abdomen area, which increases the risk of heart disease.It's unclear why but going up and down in weight increases fat deposits in the abdomen area, which increases the risk of heart disease.
Many people do this all the time but it's a futile activity, says the professor, because the weight goes back on again unless they permanently change their lifestyle.Many people do this all the time but it's a futile activity, says the professor, because the weight goes back on again unless they permanently change their lifestyle.
Meal replacements can be useful, says Richard Chessov, performance nutritionist at the English Institute of Sport, but the overall diet must remain nutritionally balanced.Meal replacements can be useful, says Richard Chessov, performance nutritionist at the English Institute of Sport, but the overall diet must remain nutritionally balanced.
And unless people have a "negative energy deficit" like Hatton - burning more calories than they consume - then forgoing a 100-calorie bag of crisp for a 200-calorie shake is not going to help them lose weight.And unless people have a "negative energy deficit" like Hatton - burning more calories than they consume - then forgoing a 100-calorie bag of crisp for a 200-calorie shake is not going to help them lose weight.