For any professional athlete in the world there is nothing as important as being able to perform at the highest level of competition, strength and physical health. Athletes, coaches and trainers can never stress enough about the importance of a proper training, eating and even sleeping regime to be able to have their bodies and minds locked into a ready to compete mode once the real deal starts. For pro football players the story is basically the same. As we quickly approach the 2021 NFL season, and with NFL predictions experts tossing out day to day lists and analysis of which teams will look best in the upcoming season all teams from around the league are knee deep in their training camps, working on all areas needed to be able to bring their “A” game come game time.
Given that football is one of the most grueling and physical sports out there, with a level of intensity and body punishment that not a lot of other athletes could endure, let’s look at what it takes for NFL players to get ready for the upcoming 2021 pro football season.
There Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked
The life of a professional athlete is not an easy one to live, let alone the life of an NFL player. Given the toll of physical activity and abuse that pro football players go through season in and season out, one would think that a much deserved break is more than deserved at the end of each season. Be it that you’re an NFL athlete whose team did not make it to the postseason or that you’re an NFL athlete whose team went all the way to win a Super Bowl, the life of a pro football player is one that’s almost consistent to the lifestyle of a military soldier.
While times for resting, relaxing and letting a bit lose are always in the books and more than welcome, especially with the effect they have on allowing players to break away mentally and emotionally from the heavy burdens that playing such a demanding sport professionally can bring, there is never really a set time for slowing down. If you’re a professional athlete, in this case a pro football player, you’re a pro football player 24/7, 365 days a year.
Working out to keep the body in the best shape possible, rehab sessions for working on old injury scars, dieting, studying strategy, all of this is non-negotiable if players wish to make it in the NFL. What makes an NFL athlete so great though is the fact that they are able to combine such grueling regimes with everyday lives. They are still regular people, family men, they help out in their communities, they strive to become positive role models.
Eating Insane Amounts of Food, But In The Healthiest Way
I’m pretty sure we’ve all seen at least a couple of videos and read a few articles here and there about how impressive a day of eating for a pro football player can be. It’s not hard to understand that NFL athletes are sort of a special breed of humans. Because of the insane levels of physical strength and work that they put their body through, eating for these kinds of athletes has been taken to higher levels of understanding and enjoyment. While they enjoy food like regular people do, NFL players understand that every single piece of food or anything they drink, usually has a specific reason to be in their diets.
Be it to reconstruct muscle tissue, to help level out body fat percentages, to enhance water levels and most importantly to be able to maintain a healthy heart and healthy mind, an NFL players dietary plan is almost as important as their game day plans and strategies. Food consumption for NFL players depends on two main things. For one, it is understood that given the physical toll of what these athletes put their bodies through, a high caloric diet is always a must. Two, diets usually depend on what position each player has on the field. For example, while players with bigger body masses like offensive linemen and defensive linemen usually can eat up to 8,000 calories per day, quarterbacks can eat between 4 to 6,000 calories and players like wide receivers, running backs and cornerbacks will usually eat around 4,000 calories per day.
Most NFL athletes’ diets consist of high levels of protein consumption, clean proteins as well, like fish, chicken, low fat red meats and protein shakes and powders. Added to that, vegetables and fruits are usually a big part of their diets, with natural fats like nuts and alternative oils like coconut oil being heavily used to produce clean fat for the body to turn into energy once it burns. NFL players usually stay away from dairy and milk products given the results they may have on the body. No matter whether they’re deep into the season, post season or getting ready for an upcoming season, diets are a pivotal part of the preparation each pro football player goes through to be in tip top competing shape.
