{"id":48326,"date":"2016-03-11T07:15:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-11T12:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=48326"},"modified":"2021-09-22T05:37:52","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T09:37:52","slug":"365-laila-ali-boxing-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/db\/365-laila-ali-boxing-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Locker Room with Laila Ali"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/b7qh65V4878?rel=0\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>For most, the number zero implies emptiness, loss and maybe even heartache. But for <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/guest\/lailaali\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Laila Ali<\/a>, it\u2019s the most glorious number in the world. With twenty-four wins and <em>zero<\/em> losses,\u00a0the number signifies Ali\u2019s perfect record untarnished by a single defeat, solidifying her mark as a boxing legend.<\/p>\n<p>Equally important to Ali, though, is her legacy as a <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/fit-mom-exercise-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mom<\/a>, a motivator and an advocate for <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/another-mother-runner-book-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">women in sports<\/a>. The daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali is also paying it forward by getting kids interested in sports through initiatives like the USTA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspta.com\/USPTA\/About_USPTA\/Programs\/Net_Generation.aspx?hkey=b71617e7-d345-4d34-9068-f1df23ae056f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Youth Tennis<\/a>. (That\u2019s right, if she didn\u2019t end up boxing, Ali says she would have given Serena and Venus a run for their money!)<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/db\/dailyburn-365-workout-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Burn 365: New Workouts, 7 Days a Week<\/a><\/p>\n<p>En route to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldtennisday.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Tennis Day<\/a>, the four-time World Champion boxer\u00a0stopped by <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/guest\/lailaali\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Burn 365<\/a> to talk confidence, HIIT workouts and her number one motivator\u2026cake. Plus get her favorite <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/recipes\/protein-smoothie-recipes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">smoothie recipe<\/a>, and find out how many <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/how-to-do-a-push-up-variations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">push-ups<\/a> she can do in a single workout. Spoiler alert: It is <em>impressive. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What inspired you to first get into boxing? Did you feel pressure \u2014 or reluctance to \u2014 get into boxing because of the legacy of your father? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to describe the feeling when you see something and you automatically just want to do it. I\u2019ve always been the fighting type. I\u2019ve always been competitive. All that and the fact that it\u2019s in my genes; it\u2019s in my blood. When I saw women\u2019s boxing for the first time I was just automatically excited by it and wanted to do it. So I just went in there and started training.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>You mention genetics \u2014\u00a0is it fair for people to credit so much of your athletic success to that? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Definitely. The speed at which I was able to learn and the way things came to me naturally definitely had something to do with that. It\u2019s in you. The confidence that it takes, the mindset that it takes, the way that I\u2019m physically built, my instinctual movement in the ring. There are certain things that can\u2019t be taught, that you just have naturally, so that made it a lot easier. Obviously, it wasn\u2019t just the genetics alone, though. It takes a lot of hard work, repetition, discipline and focus, all of those things.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/workout-motivation-beyond-perfect-body\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">19 Reasons to Work Out (Beyond the Perfect Body)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Would you ever get nervous before a fight<\/em><\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>No, that\u2019s one thing thankfully that never happened to me. I usually get calm and abnormally relaxed. That said, anyone who\u2019s going to be around you has to know there\u2019s a certain way to act around a fighter. There are certain things you don\u2019t talk about because you can get a little on edge.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Where would your mind go before you got in the ring?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To be honest, cake [laughs]. After a fight I\u2019d always have a whole cake waiting for me in my dressing room. I\u2019d have to make lots of sacrifices training for a fight, including eating food and sweets that I like in order to make weight. So I would look at my cake before I left the room and I\u2019d be like \u2018I\u2019ll be <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/no-equipment-back-exercises\/\"   title=\"back\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"657\">back<\/a> in 20 minutes or less. I\u2019m about to go knock this girl out so I can come back and get that cake.\u2019 And that was my inspiration. I would just envision myself winning and eating that cake\u2026rum cake, red velvet cake, you name it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_48331\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-48331\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-48331 size-full\" title=\"Laila Ali\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Laila-Ali_2.jpg\" alt=\"Laila Ali\" width=\"620\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-48331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Courtesy of Laila Ali<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em>And it worked: 24 wins, 21 knockouts. Confidence is something that\u2019s clearly worked to your advantage. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I used to always say before I fought that I\u2019ve already won the fight. I would visualize myself in the ring and visualize myself winning. I really did feel like there was absolutely no way I could lose. In life, I\u2019m not an <em>overly <\/em>confident person, but with boxing, it was different. I truly believed \u2018this is <em>my<\/em> ring, it\u2019s the one thing I own\u2019 and I knew that for sure with every cell in my body. That\u2019s a hard thing for people to compete against, that type of belief in yourself. Not to mention my bloodline and the fact that I had [so many resources] available to me an elite athlete. I had the best trainers, I had the best of everything. I was pretty intimidating, I\u2019m not gonna lie. [laughs]<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>You\u2019re a big fan of <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/high-intensity-hiit-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">high-intensity interval training<\/a>. What\u2019s a typical workout like for you? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I like to mix it up. I have a home gym, which I love. I don\u2019t need to brush my teeth or do my hair if I don\u2019t want to. I\u2019ll put my music on, and zone out. First, I\u2019ll hit my heavy bag for about 15 minutes just to warm up \u2014 intensely though. Then I\u2019ll get on my StairMaster for 15 to 30 minutes, taking it from level six all the way up to level 15 \u2014 I\u2019ll just go up and down to keep shocking my body. I don\u2019t stay at 15 long \u2014 20 seconds max because you\u2019re running up the stairs at that point.<\/p>\n<p>Then I\u2019ll get on my treadmill and do some sprinting or I\u2019ll do some free weights, depending on what I\u2019m working on. One thing I always incorporate are push-ups, modified push-ups, sit-ups, squats. If I don\u2019t do weights then I\u2019ll make sure to go hard with push-ups. I might do a burn out \u2014 250 push-ups total. But not all at once, I might do sets of 20 and keep counting up. It just keeps my arms nice. At this point in my life, I don\u2019t want to start something that I\u2019m not going to keep up. When I was fighting I had to. But now I try to find ways that I can work out that are fun for me and that I enjoy. Some days that\u2019s running, so I\u2019ll get out and do five miles \u2014 sometimes you just don\u2019t want to have to think.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/db\/hiit-workouts-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">3 Quick HIIT Workouts for Beginners<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What does your diet look like?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I eat clean. I try to eat an alkaline diet, 70 to 80 percent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindbodygreen.com\/0-5165\/Alkaline-Acidic-Foods-Chart-The-pH-Spectrum.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alkaline foods<\/a> just to keep my body\u2019s pH balance right. I try to always have something raw and something <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/health\/foods-with-probiotics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fermented<\/a> on my plate. And I try to reduce the amount of protein that I eat. From time to time I\u2019ll do a vegetarian meal. A typical lunch might be a salad, with lots of colors in there: some red cabbage, asparagus, avocado, maybe salmon. I make my own salad dressing, too, so I know exactly what\u2019s in there. When I do eat carbs I try to stick to sweet potato, brown rice, soba noodles \u2014 complex carbs like that.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What\u2019s your go-to post-workout snack?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/recipes\/healthy-green-smoothie-recipes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Smoothies<\/a> are great \u2014 that\u2019s what I have for breakfast, actually. After I work out that\u2019s the first time I really eat during the day. I like to train on an empty stomach, to help burn more fat, and I personally just prefer not to have anything in my stomach [before a workout].<\/p>\n<h3>Laila Ali\u2019s Post-Workout Super Green Smoothie Recipe<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_48353\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-48353\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-48353 size-full\" title=\"Laila Ali's Super Green Smoothie Recipe\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Laila-Ali-Super-Green-Smoothie-Recipe.jpg\" alt=\"Laila Ali's Super Green Smoothie Recipe\" width=\"620\" height=\"930\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-48353\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Perry Santanachote<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">2 cups frozen organic kale or spinach<br \/>\n2 scoops protein powder (Laila likes <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.extremehealthradio.com\/product\/one-world-whey-protein-powder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">One World Whey<\/a>)<br \/>\n1 tablespoon coconut oil or almond butter<br \/>\n1 tablespoon <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/health\/maca-benefits-side-effects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">maca powder<br \/>\n<\/a>1 tablespoon cacao<br \/>\n1 tablespoon super\u00a0green mix (optional)<br \/>\n1 cup water<br \/>\n4-5 ice cubes<\/p>\n<p><strong>Instructions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Blend in a Vitamix until smooth and creamy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong><em>What do you say to someone who has trouble getting out the door and to the gym on busy days? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In my mind, I\u2019m always thinking: \u2018You\u2019ve got to pay the cost to be the boss.\u2019 I tell my friends who are like, \u2018You look so good!\u2019\u2026if you want to look good, you have to work. Anybody fit is putting in work. They\u2019re making the sacrifice. If you want to sit around and slather butter on your bread and complain about your muffin top \u2014\u00a0I say there\u2019s got to be balance. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to eat. On Fridays if I\u2019m ordering pizza for my kids, I\u2019m eating pizza, too! And that\u2019s OK because I know I eat clean the majority of the time, and I work out. I was on the plane on my way here eating the sourdough bread. I\u2019m not going to beat myself up about it because I don\u2019t do it on a regular basis. You\u2019ve got to have a cheat day here and there, or find a way you can enjoy food in your life. You don\u2019t have to eat food that tastes like cardboard.<\/p>\n<p>I try to encourage people to pay attention to <em>why <\/em>they should be eating healthy as opposed to just trying to be thin. When you understand how important it is to eat whole foods and the nutrition that you get from it, then you\u2019ll be more likely to think about the good things you can add into your diet to crowd out the things you don\u2019t need to be eating.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/recipes\/clean-eating-meal-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Days of Clean Eating, Made Simple<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What\u2019s the biggest lesson your father taught you? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I think about my dad, the one thing I\u2019m most proud of is that he stands up for what he believes in, no matter what it is, and no matter who agrees or disagrees with him. He didn\u2019t need an army of people or an entourage behind him. He did what he knew was right and he had faith to know that no matter what he was going to be OK. That took a tremendous amount of courage back then, to always be able to look yourself in the mirror. And now he\u2019s one of the most loved, respected men in the world\u2026 For me, the biggest lesson he taught me was to stand up for what you believe in and do what you know is right.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>To watch Laila Ali\u2019s complete appearance on Daily Burn 365 (and try the workout!), <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/guest\/lailaali\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here<\/a>. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Steal boxing champ Laila Ali\u2019s favorite smoothie recipe, workout routine and more, in this exclusive interview with Daily Burn. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[300,298],"tags":[209,264,313,62,341,343],"class_list":["post-48326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-db365","category-db","tag-athlete","tag-boxing","tag-daily-burn-365","tag-interview","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2exercise"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48326\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}