The Nfl Diet

1. Stick to whole foods  Even the heaviest football players don’t sit around eating junk. Most of them are disciplined with what they eat using t…

It’s football season. And you know what, I totally get it if you couldn’t care less; it’s not really my thing either.

BUT, football players are among the fittest people out there. Any idea how they eat and train?

Pro-footballers are reportedly weighed every week and fined if their weight isn’t what it should be. We’re not advocating that, but there are a few tips you can borrow from the pros if you’re an athletic person or someone who works out regularly.

1. Stick to whole foods Natural organic bread made from whole wheat flour with the seeds

Even the heaviest football players don’t sit around eating junk. Most of them are disciplined with what they eat using the 80/20 rule, sticking with complex carbohydrates and fibrous veggies 80% of the time, and allowing themselves the occasional cheeseburger 20% of the time.

2. Go lean 

There have been pretty shocking reports about the sheer volumes of meat consumed by NFL players, but while they do eat a lot, they eat a lot of the good stuff. Think rotisserie chicken, grass-fed beef, turkey, and salmon.

3. Cut back on sugar 

A fun secret about NFL players? They aren’t afraid of sugar. While disciplined with that they eat, they don’t cut it out completely, and neither should you! Reducing the amount of sugar you eat will lead to more stabilised energy and mood, and help you minimise cravings for the wrong foods. Try to stick to one or two sweet things each week, or only indulge at the weekends. Creating healthy boundaries around food will benefit you in the long run.

4. Shake it up Young woman getting having her green smoothie after training

Almost all players have a shake or two a day. Try to start off your day with fruit and veg boost. You can add nuts for extra healthy fat.

5. Work out, often Fit people preparing to deadlift and holding barbells. Horizontal indoors shot

These NFL guys are not afraid of the gym, with some spending up to 5 hours a day in the gym! Once again, we’re not advocating that, but there is a lot to learn from the types of workouts they’re into. Among the most popular are boxing, HIIT, CrossFit, and Weight Lifting. HIIT is great for maximising fat burn, weightlifting is great for creating stability in the body, strengthening your upper and lower body and your core, boxing is a thorough whole body workout, and CrossFit is a great way to get your heart rate up and find new ways to challenge yourself in every workout.

For NFL players, the goal is to be in fighting shape for the on season, for us, the goal is for you to find a realistic and manageable way to stay healthy. That’s why you don’t need to spend hours in the gym every day. An hour or so a few times a week targeting different areas is enough to start seeing results.

All of the content and media on Lifesum is created and published for information purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Users should always consult with a doctor or other health care professional for medical advice. If you have or think you are at risk of developing an eating disorder, do not use the Lifesum app and seek immediate medical help.