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Stay fit and motivated with Christian McCaffrey’s secret weapons

See how the elite running back stays on top

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49ers playing a game
Fredrick Lee / Unsplash

The NFL season is in full swing, and we’re all enjoying watching our favorite players on the field. One of our favorite players has been missing since going down with a pre-season injury, Christian McCaffrey. While it is a huge hit to the 49ers and fans to have that hole on the field, he’s primed to return based on who he is and how he recovers.

Before the season, we got a chance to sit down with the elite running back to talk through his fitness and conditioning and his partnership with the . He gave us a sneak peek into how he became and how he stays at the top of his game with the help of Dymatize’s exercise scientists and a personal chef who keeps him away from vices.

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His fitness routine

Christian McCaffery
Dymatize

As you can imagine, being the best running back in the NFL costs a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to remain at the top of his game. So while every player in the league has a routine that they stick to, McCaffrey has a few secret weapons that he uses to remain at the top.

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“I could write a book on it (changing the routine between college and the NFL). It changes because football has so many variables. I have had seasons with injuries, and you spend the majority of the off-season addressing those while making sure everything else was ready for the season. I have had seasons where I am completely healthy, but every off-season has its new challenges. Since football is such a tough sport, you are getting hit from every different angle. You learn how to compensate really well during the season. During the off-season, you address those compensations.”

“Get the body back to 100% as soon as possible and then get the lungs back. That first part of the off-season is like a 200-400 meter sprinter-type training. Throughout the whole of season, I will do pool, gymnastics, anything to engage the full body. Results are what they are, but how you feel is the most important.” On the subject of gymnastics, “I don’t know anyone else that does it. It is all about full-body coordination, awareness in space, and 360 degrees. It isn’t linear, you are moving all over. Those are all amazing for me because that is what running back is. You are moving in different planes in seconds.”

His nutrition

Cooked steak with vegetables and sauce
Malidate Van / Pexels

Any athlete and any coach will tell you that most of your fitness doesn’t happen in the gym, but instead, it happens in the kitchen. For McCaffrey, it’s about more than sticking to chicken and rice and lifting heavy. For him, there’s a science with it. Here is what he has to say about his relationship with food.

“I just eat healthy. Three times a year, I do my bloodwork. Tells me what I am low in, what I am high in, what are my sensitivities, what are my allergies. I have an unbelievable chef who ensures everything I eat is on the list. I am constantly eating because food is important. I eat what I can. I have a lot of vices like fast food and coffee that I could eat constantly if I didn’t have an ounce of willpower.”

His supplements

Dymatize on a step
Dymatize

Of course, when you are training your body to be in peak physical condition, there is nothing more helpful than getting a leg up on supplements and recovery. For Christian McCaffrey, Dymatize was an easy partnership based on more than one factor. And not the least of which is the Fruity Pebbles flavor that you get as a reward for leaving everything at the gym.

“Anytime you are in a hard workout and you know that (Fruity Pebbles flavor) is at the end it is like a treat. They stand for everything that I believe in in training which is database, science-backed nutrition. I test all the products and I like the way I feel. There is scientific-formulated protein and hydrolyzed whey, which absorbs fast. You drink it right after your workout, and it is already working. Confidence in your nutrition, knowing it is helping you become a better athlete, plays a big role in your recovery.”

Staying motivated

Football on the beach
Max Böhme / Unsplash

When we look at someone like Christian McCaffrey, it’s easy to say that this is his job. We could do it as well as him if we were paid to right? But the truth is, once something is your job, it is easy to lose motivation, to get lost in the grind and lose sight of your passion that got you there. So how does the running back stay motivated? The easy answer? For the love of the game.

“I have never had a problem with motivation. I have always been pretty hungry. I love football. I love training. I love feeling fast and strong. I love feeling like I can play. When you are part of something bigger than yourself, it is easy to feel motivated and inspired to be the best at it because one, your teammates and your coaches and fans rely on your to be your best. And two, you know when you love something and want to do something as long as you can, you’ll do anything for it. That is how I have approached football my whole life.”

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Mark McKee
Mark McKee
Contributor
Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…
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