MIESHA TATE: REDEFINING ATHLETIC SUCCESS THROUGH BIOHACKING

From Wrestling Champion to UFC Pioneer, Embracing Hormonal Health and Personalized Training

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"I don't know if life would have challenged me in the ways that sport has," Miesha Tate, a name synonymous with resilience and triumph in the realm of mixed martial arts, said on the Biohack Yourself Documentary while talking to Anthony Lolli and Tereza Hakobyan-Lolli.

Miesha Tate has not only become an icon for her impressive career but also for her innovative approach to athletic performance. Currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she once held the title of UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, Tate is redefining what it means to be a female athlete in the modern age through the practice of biohacking.

It all started with playful "Barbie fights" with her mom during her toddler years, a precursor to the real battles she would face in the ring. By the age of 15, fate steered her towards wrestling, a sport dominated by males at her high school in Washington. With few female sports options available, Tate joined the boys' wrestling team and through grit and determination, she not only persevered but eventually won the female state championship in her senior year.

“There was a lot of guilt that I wasn't able to always be exactly like the male counterparts because that's what I aspired to be,” she said in the Biohack Yourself Documentary. “When I started wrestling in high school I was one of two females on an all-male team.”

Post-high school, Tate’s path seemed to diverge from combat sports until a friend introduced her to a club sport that combined elements of wrestling with jiu-jitsu. Initially resistant to the idea of fighting, Tate soon found herself captivated by the art of submission wrestling. Her first amateur fight sparked a realization of her true calling, setting her on a path to professional MMA where she would achieve great success, including capturing the coveted UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.

“I like to take risks,” Tate explained in the documentary. “I like to see what I'm made of. I like to know that I can do really tough things and that I can get through things that most people wouldn't even attempt.”

Dayton Stone

A successful interview for Biohack Yourself

After experiencing the highs and lows of her career, including losing her title and contemplating retirement, Tate embarked on a transformative journey of biohacking. This approach was not just about recovery but also about optimizing her body to compete at the highest levels.

Motherhood was also a pivotal factor in Tate's exploration of biohacking. The desire to remain healthy and active for her children and future grandchildren motivated her to find ways to keep her body functioning optimally. She realized that maintaining the physical conditioning of her twenties, while leveraging the experience and wisdom gained over the years, could create a powerful formula for success.

“I started to understand that if I could keep my body functioning as though I'm in my 20s, but I have the hours on the mat that someone in their 20s just can't create, then I have a recipe for success,” she noted in the Biohack Yourself Documentary.

Tate’s journey was marked by following training protocols designed for male athletes, which often led to physical and hormonal imbalances. Through her exploration of biohacking, she discovered the importance of understanding female hormones and tailoring training and nutrition to fit her unique biology. Working with experts like Dr. Mindy Pelz and Dr. Sonya Jensen, Tate learned to manage her hormones naturally through methods such as intermittent fasting and mindfulness, avoiding synthetic interventions.

“Following a male model, male structure, male protocol and male diet, didn't lead me to the best version of myself,” Tate said in the documentary. “It wasn't until I really started to understand the world of biohacking and female hormones. I think women understanding of hormones is essential. And I think performance-wise, for female athletes, it's imperative.”

Tate employs several biohacking techniques to enhance her performance. Intermittent fasting allows her growth hormone levels to peak, aiding recovery and performance by ceasing food intake two to three hours before sleep. Red light therapy helps reduce pain and inflammation, promoting faster healing by stimulating cellular energy production. Regular use of a near-infrared sauna significantly boosts growth hormone levels, enhancing overall athletic performance.

Tate’s experience has positioned her as a vocal advocate for female athletes, emphasizing the need to understand and respect female physiology. She aims to educate women on the importance of hormonal health and personalized training regimens, promoting a shift away from the male-centric models that dominate the sports industry. While Tate’s insights are particularly valuable for women, she acknowledges that biohacking principles can benefit all athletes. The key is understanding individual biological needs and making mindful adjustments to optimize performance and well-being.

“I'd really like to be a voice for women and female athletes,” Tate said in the Biohack Yourself Documentary. “I think there is a big gap here where women are continuing to make the same mistake that I did unknowingly where they are still training according to male model and not totally understanding how much better they could perform as females if they understood their body and biology.”

“There are so many women who become dysregulated in their hormones, really suffer and don't understand that there's something that they could do to create a better atmosphere in their own body,” she added.

David Shutt

Miesha discusses understanding your body

Tate’s holistic approach extends beyond just physical health. She integrates practices like grounding and sunlight exposure with her children, emphasizing the importance of natural and simple lifestyle adjustments. “And when we get out and we get morning light and I have chickens, so when we feed our chickens and we have their bare feet on the ground, they don't know the value of that yet, but it's just becoming a part of our regular day-to-day life,” she shared.

Tate also focuses on maintaining brain health through regular hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions, which have shown significant benefits in her recovery and cognitive function. “I've done brain scans and I've also really monitored the status of that and I'm really a big proponent of hyperbarics and the proof is in the pudding,” she emphasized.

Through her dedication to biohacking and her relentless pursuit of excellence, Miesha Tate continues to inspire athletes and individuals around the world, showcasing that with the right knowledge and tools, optimal health and peak performance are achievable at any stage of life.