Jamie Tanata
Editor’s Note: This is part four of four in a series on the possible dangers of athletics and weight management
Can gaining weight for a sport have just as many unhealthy consequences as improper weight loss?
In the sport of football, the offensive line-man’s job is to block the other team from reaching the ball, which requires him to be large and muscular. Where is the fine line between being large and athletic and too overweight?
For SDSU football players, they are being carefully monitored year round to make sure they are performing adequately and at a good competitive weight.
Lee Munger, SDSU’s Head Strength and Condition Coach said, “We work on the whole team and each and every single athlete that’s here,” he said.
Munger assists the players in weight gain and loss through goal-oriented programs.
“We set up target goals, whether it’s strength or weight,” he said.
Gaining more lean muscle mass and less fat is what Munger advises to his players for optimal health. Along with a balanced diet of carbohydrates and fats and strength training makes for the healthiest type of weight gain.
“We’re trying to put on good weight not fat weight,” he said.
For athlete’s trying to lose weight, he recommends more calorie expenditure than intake, and prescribes them with additional fat burning activities such as biking or jogging. In weight loss, getting rid of body fat and maintaining lean muscle is highly important in keeping a player’s speed agility according to Munger.
The goal weights Munger has set up for his athletes, have assisted him in making sure their bodies can handle the recommendations. He said this is one the reasons they haven’t experienced any types of weight problems in the past.
“We try to alleviate the problem before it goes that way,” Munger said. “We basically just don’t let it get to that point because we’re constantly keeping tabs on it.”
But what happens to former football players who have gained weight for football and handed their jersey in for good?
SDSU’s senior defensive lineman, Blake Seeds once had the misconception that in order to be a good player he needed to gain more weight.
“I thought I would play better so I gained 50 pounds over the summer before my freshman year playing at Black Hills State,” he said.
After playing for two years at Black Hills State, he transferred to SDSU to play football. Seeds was only at 240 pounds his senior year in high school topping out at 315 this past fall. “I had to lose weight,” he said. “Speed and quickness are everything in the trenches.”
“If you’re 330 pounds and athletic you can move fast, but if not, you’re not going to move fast,” Seeds said.
He said the biggest problem is for professionals who weigh 350-375 pounds and retire from the NFL after playing for 10 years. He said they aren’t being as active as they use to, which is when the weight becomes an unhealthy issue.
“Putting on the weight is easy, taking it off is the hard part,” he said.
According to Munger, as long as a larger player is active and exercising, they are not putting a risk to their bodies.
“When the athlete stops working out, that’s where the problem comes in and they’ll have to take some weight off,” he concluded.
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