I recently asked a close friend of mine who is an active NFL player, how do they stay in such great shape? He surprisingly laughed and said, “It’s really not easy!” I mean sure, I know football players have to put in work to stay in peak physical and mental condition, but it was fascinating hearing him speak so intimately about his day to day work regimen.
He said, that he starts off his morning every day with some stretching to escaleate his blood flow and get the body moving. After that, he does a full body workout for anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half – depending on the intensity and diversity of his workout. He said he rotates between calisthenics, weight lifting, HIIT exercises, and sprints in order to maintain a well toned physique and reach peak physical condition.
On the other hand, he also enjoys yoga and meditating to harnass a peaceful mindset. He joked that if your mind’s by not at peace, then your body won’t be either. He said, yoga allows him to reiceve the peace he needs to be at his best onstage, otherwise he doesn’t pay it much attention.
The most important thing he said, is that you have to stay committed to your workout routine every day, no matter what. He remarked about how most professional athletes respect and admire the difference between commitment and dedication. If you’re committed, he said, then you can make it an obligation to work on your fitness goals whatever it is that you need to do, but if you’re dedicated, then you favor what you petform and work on your and enjoy it as much as you can.
He added that it’s just as important to stay hydrated and eat healthy too. We all know about the importance of drinking water, but he said that for athletes like him, drinking protein shakes and smoothies, as well as taking supplements, is just as important. He said that when he has a heavy duty workout scheduled for the day, he’ll make sure to drink fewer calories and more water; but if it’s a lighter workout, he’ll drink more a protein drink to bolster up his muscles.
Eating a healthy diet is also essential for any athlete, and while he’s not a strict vegan or vegetarian, he said he tries to eat as many organic fresh fruits and vegetables as he can to keep himself energized. Additionally, he also incorporates fish and meat into his diet, but avoids processed sugar or greasy fast food as much as possible.
Finally, he said he loves using supplements to help boost his energy levels and recovery time. He takes protein supplements, multivitamins, omega-3s, and other supplements regularly, so his body has all the necessary nutrients for a well-rounded approach to health and fitness. He said he also listens to his body. If he’s not feeling the supplements and they’re causing any unpleasant side-effects, then he’ll take a break and try something else or simply focus on a more natural approach.
I was totally taken aback by his detailed response. I never realized how much effort an NFL athlete has to put in to maintain themselves at the highest level of athleticism. It’s incredible how focused and disciplined these players are in order to remain at the peak of their game on and off the field. I guess that’s why they’re considered professionals.