Patrick Mahomes has quickly risen to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL today thanks to his incredible athleticism, work ethic, and dedication to his craft. While Mahomes is known for his highlight-reel plays and jaw-dropping throws, what often goes unnoticed is the immense effort he puts into his fitness and nutrition to stay at the top of his game year after year.
As an elite athlete performing at the highest level, Mahomes understands that every small decision he makes, both on and off the field, can impact his performance. That’s why he follows a disciplined lifestyle focused on fueling his body with the right foods, getting adequate rest and recovery, and avoiding certain habits that could undermine his health and fitness goals.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at Patrick Mahomes’s “don’t do” list – the things he consciously avoids in order to maintain his peak physical condition as an NFL quarterback. By steering clear of processed foods, alcohol, late-night eating, and more, Mahomes prioritizes his long-term health and continues delivering MVP-caliber performances season after season.
Avoid Processed Foods
Mahomes follows a whole-food, plant-based diet focused on maximizing nutrition and minimizing inflammation. Processed foods, which are high in unhealthy fats, added sugars, sodium, and preservatives, have no place in his eating regimen.
Instead, Mahomes fuels up on an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats from nuts and avocado, and lean proteins like fish, chicken, and plant-based options. He also enjoys complex carbs from brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes and more.
By avoiding the chemical-laden, nutrient-poor processed options found on most grocery store shelves, Mahomes gives his body the high-quality, unadulterated nutrients it needs to recover from intense NFL workouts and thrive under pressure on game days. Processed junk foods simply don’t fit into the nutritional framework of an elite athlete.
Limit Alcohol Intake
While Mahomes may enjoy an occasional celebratory drink with teammates after big wins, alcohol consumption is generally off limits according to his fitness philosophy. There are a few key reasons why:
– Dehydration: Alcohol is diuretic, meaning it increases urine output and can lead to dehydration if fluid intake is not increased to compensate. Dehydration hinders performance for any athlete.
– Impaired Recovery: Consuming alcohol can disrupt sleep quality and interfere with muscle recovery processes like protein synthesis. It also increases inflammation throughout the body.
– Next Day Fogginess: Even moderate alcohol intake can leave one feeling groggy and unfocused the following day. Mahomes needs his mental sharpness at peak levels.
– Empty Calories: Alcohol provides calories but lacks nutrients. Extra empty calories don’t fit into Mahomes’s clean diet designed for optimal health and body composition.
By mostly avoiding alcohol, Mahomes gives his body the best chance to fully recover and perform at his highest level week after week throughout the grueling NFL season and beyond. An occasional celebratory drink is fine, but excess alcohol has no place in an elite athlete’s lifestyle.
Say No to Smoking
It should come as no surprise that Mahomes, like all serious athletes, avoids smoking cigarettes or any other tobacco products. Not only is smoking highly addictive, but the negative health effects of tobacco use are well-documented, especially for athletes.
Some of the biggest concerns smoking poses include:
– Reduced Cardiovascular Performance: Smoking increases risk of heart disease and restricts oxygen delivery to working muscles during exercise.
– Accelerated Aging: Tobacco contains chemicals that accelerate cellular aging processes like telomere shortening over time.
– Impaired Lung Health: Smoking damages lung capacity and gas exchange efficiency over the long run.
– Increased Injury Risk: Smoking elevates risk of soft tissue injuries like Achilles tendinitis that could sideline an athlete.
– Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Smoking erodes dental health, an issue for any public figure.
By avoiding smoking, Mahomes protects his long-term health, recovery ability, and on-field performance as an NFL quarterback. His clean-living lifestyle sets a great example for both kids and fellow athletes alike.
Prioritize Rest and Recovery
While Mahomes is known for his tireless work ethic, he also understands the importance of rest, recovery, and avoiding overtraining. As a high-level athlete competing in a grueling contact sport, Mahomes’ body takes a beating each week.
That’s why he schedules dedicated rest and recovery periods into his training routine. On his designated off-days, Mahomes focuses on low-impact activities like yoga, stretches, foam rolling and massage to aid recovery, rather than continuing strenuous exercise which could lead to burnout over time.
He also prioritizes quality sleep, aiming for 7-9 hours per night to allow physiological repair and rejuvenation to take place. Mahomes recognizes that the fittest athletes periodize their training appropriately and know when to train hard and when to dial it back and recover.
By listening to his body and taking planned breaks, Mahomes avoids overuse injuries and ensures he’s primed to perform at his physical and mental peak on game days. Overtraining can sabotage even the best-laid fitness plans, so recovery is a crucial part of Mahomes’s strategy.
Say No to Junk Food
When it comes to snacking, Mahomes avoids sugary, processed junk foods in favor of nutrient-dense whole foods. You won’t find any candy, chips, cookies or fast food sneaking into his diet plan.
Instead, Mahomes’ snacks of choice include:
– Fresh fruits like apples, oranges, bananas, berries
– Vegetable sticks with hummus or guacamole
– Plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese
– Protein smoothies with nut butter or avocado
By opting for these clean, minimally processed whole foods, Mahomes ensures his snacks provide sustained energy, important vitamins and minerals, healthy fats and protein without added sugars or empty calories. Junk food simply doesn’t support his performance and recovery needs as an elite athlete.
Limit Red and Processed Meats
While Mahomes does occasionally enjoy high-quality cuts of red meat or poultry, he limits his intake for health reasons. Regular red meat consumption has been linked to higher risk of heart disease and certain cancers due to its saturated fat and cholesterol content.
Processed meats like sausage, hot dogs and deli meats carry additional risks, containing chemicals like nitrites that may promote chronic disease when eaten frequently. Moderation is key according to Mahomes’ dietary philosophy.
For optimal nutrition and disease prevention, Mahomes focuses more on plant-based proteins from beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy products. He also enjoys wild-caught fish, which provide inflammation-fighting omega-3s. By limiting red and processed meats, Mahomes supports his long-term cardiovascular health as an athlete.
Avoid Skipping Meals
As an elite athlete expending massive amounts of energy each day, Mahomes understands the importance of fueling his body adequately with regular, balanced meals throughout the day. Skipping meals disrupts blood sugar balance and doesn’t provide the nutrients needed for optimal performance.
Instead, Mahomes’ daily meal plan includes:
– Breakfast within 1-2 hours of waking to kickstart metabolism
– Protein-packed lunch to refuel after a morning workout
– Pre-game meal 4-5 hours before activity to aid digestion
– Post-game recovery meal within 30 mins of finishing
– Dinner earlier in the evening to avoid late night eating
By consistently meeting his macronutrient and calorie needs through well-timed, nutritious meals, Mahomes ensures his energy and recovery abilities stay primed for peak output, both on and off the field. No single meal is skipped.
Say No to Energy Drinks
When Mahomes needs an energy boost, he avoids the sugary, artificially stimulating options like energy drinks in favor of all-natural alternatives. While energy drinks promise a quick jolt, their effects are short-lived and come with health tradeoffs.
Some issues with commercial energy drinks include:
– High Sugar Content: Most contain the equivalent of 2-3 cans of soda worth of sugar per serving.
– Caffeine Crash: The caffeine “high” is often followed by a crash as blood sugar drops back down.
– Dehydration Risk: Caffeine is a mild diuretic that increases urination, potentially leading to dehydration over time.
Instead, Mahomes looks to natural energizing foods like:
– Fresh fruit for a boost of natural sugars and antioxidants
– Coffee or tea for mild caffeine stimulation
– Nut butters for sustained satiety and energy release
– Protein-rich snacks like Greek yogurt or nuts
