Photo: Lorenzo Breland, 6-2/310 Offensive Line, Picayune HS (MS)
By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger
Jackson State senior Lorenzo Breland is a mountain of a man, anchoring the center of the Tigers' offensive line.
He stands about 6-foot-2 and weighs more than 310 pounds. That size serves him well when he's crashing into defenders from Grambling, Alcorn State or Mississippi Valley, clearing space for his teammates.
But in about three months that mammoth size won't be needed anymore. Breland's football career will be finished, and he'll graduate with his degree in history.
He hopes to teach high school and coach a little football. For that job, lugging around 310-plus pounds probably won't be a good idea.
"Yeah, I plan to lose a little weight when I get done with football," Breland said. "Right now, I'm big, but I'm in pretty good football shape. I can eat four or five meals each day because I burn it off. I'm sure it will be a little different when I'm done with football."
Jana Milam, a registered and licensed dietitian with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said she constantly deals with former athletes trying to stay healthy after their athletic careers.
"For big football players, it's a lot about changing your routine from eating so much each day," Milam said. "Most of these guys need to cut their calorie intake in half and start watching what they eat a little more."
For former offensive linemen, lugging around all that extra weight for long periods of time can lead to problems such as hypertension, diabetes and heart problems.
Many football players struggle with their weight after college, but others manage nicely.
Former University of Southern Mississippi star Steve Carmody weighed about 245 pounds back in his playing days during the early 1980s.
But after a brief tryout with the NFL, he returned home and went to law school. He now has his own law firm in Jackson.
A steady diet of "jogging and Lean Cuisine" got him down to about 220 pounds after college, where he hovered for the next 20 or so years. Recently, he has seen his weight begin to climb.
"Once you hit about 45 years old, your metabolism just isn't getting it done," Carmody said.
For former jocks trying to get down to a reasonable weight after their playing career, Milam offered these tips:
Don't stop weight training; just change your routine. Instead of building power, do a little lighter weight and more repetitions to build tone and endurance. Also incorporate 30 minutes of cardio work five days each week.
Take your time: A healthy pace to lose weight is usually about one or two pounds per week. But over six months, that could add up to 30 or 40 pounds.
Get some help: A dietitian or a personal trainer can help you decide the best course for finding a weight that's best suited for your body type.
By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger
Jackson State senior Lorenzo Breland is a mountain of a man, anchoring the center of the Tigers' offensive line.
He stands about 6-foot-2 and weighs more than 310 pounds. That size serves him well when he's crashing into defenders from Grambling, Alcorn State or Mississippi Valley, clearing space for his teammates.
But in about three months that mammoth size won't be needed anymore. Breland's football career will be finished, and he'll graduate with his degree in history.
He hopes to teach high school and coach a little football. For that job, lugging around 310-plus pounds probably won't be a good idea.
"Yeah, I plan to lose a little weight when I get done with football," Breland said. "Right now, I'm big, but I'm in pretty good football shape. I can eat four or five meals each day because I burn it off. I'm sure it will be a little different when I'm done with football."
Jana Milam, a registered and licensed dietitian with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said she constantly deals with former athletes trying to stay healthy after their athletic careers.
"For big football players, it's a lot about changing your routine from eating so much each day," Milam said. "Most of these guys need to cut their calorie intake in half and start watching what they eat a little more."
For former offensive linemen, lugging around all that extra weight for long periods of time can lead to problems such as hypertension, diabetes and heart problems.
Many football players struggle with their weight after college, but others manage nicely.
Former University of Southern Mississippi star Steve Carmody weighed about 245 pounds back in his playing days during the early 1980s.
But after a brief tryout with the NFL, he returned home and went to law school. He now has his own law firm in Jackson.
A steady diet of "jogging and Lean Cuisine" got him down to about 220 pounds after college, where he hovered for the next 20 or so years. Recently, he has seen his weight begin to climb.
"Once you hit about 45 years old, your metabolism just isn't getting it done," Carmody said.
For former jocks trying to get down to a reasonable weight after their playing career, Milam offered these tips:
Don't stop weight training; just change your routine. Instead of building power, do a little lighter weight and more repetitions to build tone and endurance. Also incorporate 30 minutes of cardio work five days each week.
Take your time: A healthy pace to lose weight is usually about one or two pounds per week. But over six months, that could add up to 30 or 40 pounds.
Get some help: A dietitian or a personal trainer can help you decide the best course for finding a weight that's best suited for your body type.
No comments:
Post a Comment