Crissy Zachanowich is a bikini model and massage therapist, who has devoted her life to fitness. The knowledge she has gained by pushing her physical limits, and now as one of Cellucors ambassadors is exactly what keeps fighters pushing in the last two weeks. In a Ten week training period for a fight, or in any length of camp for athletes, the second last week is the most important. Diet needs to be perfect, intensity needs to be its highest, and the goal is to "peak" at the right time to ensure health, and no injuries. As a strength coach who has been there for some of the best athletes in the world, 10 days out is probably the most stressful time in my life. The focus is on sleep, hydration, nutrition, and the intensity of the workouts. You are asking so much out of your body, this is where the supplements come in. To keep my weight down, my calories are low. Fortunately science can make up for it with supplements that give me vitamins, branch chain amino acids, and other forms of minerals that get used up in training. Athletes normally can get what they need from whole nutritious foods. They just ensure perfection with supplements. Athletes at this high training volume and intensity need the assistance. This time in training is also where athletes who want to win need a big push. Im no athlete, but I do love experiencing the exhaustion of training. The team at Elite Performance in Winnipeg is making sure the intensity goes up. Thats what any great strength coach and team will do. Its no wonder most of the top athletes come from the same teams in MMA. You need that support, you need that push. Look at Jackson MMA, Tri-Star, American Top Team, and the Blackzillians. They ensure each other have success. Jeff Fisher is the owner of Elite Performance and coach everyone wants, he has me dialed right in for the big week. Im learning to love the Jacobs Ladder, Bike Sprints, and plyometric training. I look forward to the moments when we do injury prevention work, its a rest and I know I get to have time to myself. Right now, I may not be getting in a cage in a few days, but Im doing the conditioning. Every fight fan should feel this amount of exhaustion. Then youd think twice before booing. Sleep is probably the most underrated weapon in an athletes arsenal at this point, especially as the weeks wear on. This is where the crossovers start to happen. Training intensity goes up, the body has higher demands on nutrients for recovery. Those vitamins and minerals are also the basis of the sleep cycle. So as training goes up(using more nutrients), and food intake goes down to make weight(no resupply of nutrients, sleep suffers. Sleep is heavily regulated by vitamins and minerals. Zinc being one of the prime nutrients. The hormones you need to have released are also made up of essential fats and proteins. You need the vitamins and minerals combined with the macro nutrients to ensure your recovery, and restful sleep. Can you see where the stress of a coach comes in? We dont usually talk about all the science with an athlete. When we see them miss their supplements, or skip meals we panic. Those missed fueling times can result quickly in reduced immune system function, lower energy, and muscle breakdown. Those missed opportunities cannot be had back. When your body is ready to recover, it needs fuel. Again, thats why the best supplements need to be there, along with food, sleep, and water. So when you see athletes on fight day, know what goes into the 14 days leading up to that fight. Its a very strategic plan. If you are trying to get in your best shape ever, up the intensity, but make sure you take care of yourself. Find someone like Crissy. Take a look at her Instagram @Crissyzach, shes a bikini model whos been featured in "Inside Fitness Magazines Hot and Fit 100" and got a perfect physique score at MABA Novice Show March 29th. She knows her product inside and out, and knows how to aid recovery and add that winning edge to any diet. Step it up, find that next level, and protect your body with Sleep, Nutrition, and Hydration. Its a lot of fun, and your body will thank you with a six pack. Roy Halladay Jersey . Both of Padakins goals came in the second period while Zane Jones added a single in the first period for Calgary (13-6-4). Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger finished with 30 saves for the shutout. 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In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists.AVONDALE, La. - IndyCar racing officials expressed confidence on Monday that the NOLA Motorsports Park will be able to complete more $4.5 million in improvements needed to host the proposed Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana in suburban New Orleans next year. "IndyCar is on the rise and we are determined to be in great markets in this country and eventually throughout the world," IndyCar chief Mark Miles said in an announcement at the track on Monday. "We have no doubt this will be one of the great venues for Indy Car racing in very little time." Gov. Bobby Jindal, joined by officials from the track and Andretti Sports Marketing, said the race is expected to be locked into the IndyCar schedule for "at least three years, though the goal is to make this a permanent event." Ongoing negotiations include scheduling a weekend for the event, which would also affect the timeline for track improvements that Miles said are needed for "safety, fan enjoyment and quality of racing." Jindal will need state Legislative approval for $4.5 million, which will be combined with private money to make improvements, including pit area, straight away and perimeter fencing enhancements. Organizers estimated as many as 80,000 spectators attending over the three-day event, which is slated to include a "racing festival" including live music and other entertainment. "This is great news for Jefferson Parish and our entire state," Jindal said. "This three-day event would allow us to show off the excitement of an IndyCar race right here in Louisiana, as well as our states culture, entertainment and food. This event will be a great economic driver." The NOLA Motorsports Park, a private, $60 million facility about 14 miles southwest of downtown Neww Orleans, features a 2.dddddddddddd75-mile road course that has already hosted AMA motorcycle racing and developmental levels of open-wheel auto racing including the Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and USF2000 series. The track is owned by Dr. Laney Chouest, whose family founded and operates Edison Chouest Offshore, reputedly one of the worlds leading builders and operators of sea vessels specially designed to service the offshore oil and gas industries. "We wouldnt be here without the vision of Dr. Laney Chouest," Jindal said. "Hes built this beautiful facility as a labour of love and today were seeing one of the benefits to the state." Chouest thanked Jindal for supporting a "public-private partnership that will leverage the significant private investment we made into this facility." Organizers were confident enough in the events success that they launched an Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana website, indynola.com, which referred to the event as, "Inevitable." "Im really pleased to see IndyCar preparing to bring a race to NOLA," said former racer Michael Andretti, CEO of Andretti Sports Marketing. "New Orleans is a great market to grow the sport and Im excited to have Andretti Sports Marketing involved with the operations and promotion of the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana." IndyCar, which includes the Indianapolis 500 as its marquee event, is the premier American-based open-wheel racing series. Currently, the series drivers include Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon, who are former Indy 500 winners, as well as Marco Andretti, the grandson of former racing great Mario Andretti, and Graham Rahal, son of 1986 Indy winner Bobby Rahal. AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report ' ' '