BalanceJuneIssue2017 - 28

TH E BI G I N TERVI EW

SELF-DISCIPLINE
'When I'm training for a fight, my diet is
strict. I cut out all my cakes and the chicken
and waffles because I've got to keep my
weight down. I pretty much only eat
chicken, steak and vegetables, and I don't
drink any alcohol until after I compete.'
Other than diet and fitness, what's
her best tip for maintaining a healthy

Nicola now has other things on her
mind. 'I want to be a world champion,'
she smiles. 'I think it'll take about a year.'
Her take-no-prisoners training
schedule is priming her for
professional glory. 'I train three times
a day, five days a week,' she says.
'When I wake up, I go for a run - the
longest is three miles. Mid-morning
is strengthening and conditioning, so
resistance weights and press-ups. Then,
in the afternoon, it's all about boxing.

'IT'S AN
HONOUR TO
INSPIRE KIDS TO
GET INVOLVED IN
SPORT. I LIKE
PROMOTING A STRONG,
MUSCULAR BODY.
SKINNY DOESN'T
ALWAYS MEAN
HEALTHY.'

'The running is the hardest bit, because
you're always pushing yourself. There's
never a run where you feel like "I'm getting
good at this now".'

INSPIRING OTHERS
Nicola, who can squat an impressive
90kg, is proud to be one of Britain's most
influential role models. After her 2012 glory,
there was a 50% increase in women taking
part in boxing. 'It's an honour to think that
I can inspire kids to get involved in sport,
and I definitely like promoting a strong,
muscular body. Skinny doesn't always mean
you're healthy,' she says.
When Nicola's not working out, she's
sometimes stretching. 'I do hot room yoga
when I'm in training camp, once a week - and

body? 'Drink lots of water,' she says.
'Keeping hydrated is key.'
Nicola has eaten healthily since
childhood when, along with asthma and
eczema, she developed severe allergies
to foods, including dairy, nuts, fish and
chocolate. 'Mum cooked everything
from fresh,' recalls Nicola.
Nothing produced in a
factory, including sweets,
passed Nicola's lips.
These days, nuts are
her only aversion and
at the end of 2015 she
fell in love with female
boxer Marlen Esparza,
27, after suffering an
allergic reaction to vegan
cheese at a training camp
in Colorado. Marlen rushed her
to hospital and within weeks they were
dating. Last Christmas, Nicola proposed.
'We don't have a date for the wedding
because we've got a lot going on at the
moment with training,' says Nicola.
So, what about children? 'I need to get
the boxing out of the way,' she replies. 'I'm
only going to be in the professional game
for two or three years - then I'll go off and
do commentating, some acting and TV
presenting. So three years, and then it
might be time for children.'
Surely it's only a matter of time before
this prize-fighter creates a new type of
history outside the ring. B
Believe by Nicola Adams is out now,
published by Viking in hardback, ebook
and audio download, priced £14.99.

BALANCE June 2017

NICOLA'S
TIPS FOR A

champion
mindset

DIET
Food affects
your mood
as well as your
weight. If you
eat something
that's full of
sugar, at some
point that
sugar will wear
off and you'll
crash. Eat
nutritious foods
like bananas.
They contain
a protein that
converts into
serotonin,
which makes
you feel happy
and in control.
COURAGE
To be confident
in front of
other people,
you've got to
have inner
self-belief,
which means
backing
yourself 100%.
Remember
why you're
good and if
a negative
thought creeps
into your
mind, visualise
yourself
succeeding.
Picture it in
your head as
if it's really
happening.
DEDICATION
When you
have a goal to
strive for, you
know what
you're working
towards, which
makes it easier
to be wholly
committed.
With focus
comes a desire
to invest time,
which makes
you work
towards being
the best.

HAIR AND MAKE-UP: VICTORIA BOND AT CAREN AGENCY USING AVEDA AND SISLEY. STYLING: ORSOLYA SZABO
NICOLA WEARS: WHITE SLEEVELESS JACKET, TOPSHOP; BLUE TOP, WARD WHILLAS; TROUSERS, ZARA

I'm always in pain because I'm trying to
stretch my body into all these different
positions!' laughs Nicola. 'I'm not that
flexible, so it really tests my body.'
On a day-to-day basis, Nicola has an
everything-in-moderation approach
to eating, but in the period leading up to
a fight - to keep her weight under the
53.6kg limit - she has to cut back.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BalanceJuneIssue2017