NFLRUSH

Hi! I am Sue A. James, MS, RD, LDN, and I am the Baltimore Ravens team nutritionist. NFL Rush is adding nutrition information and my blog this year so you are able to get an inside view on professional football players and their nutrition program.

The Ravens started their off season conditioning program in the middle of March. We have a new head coach, John Harbaugh, and our new strength and conditioning coaches are Bob Rogucki and John Dunn. The new strength and conditioning program has the players using more free weights and kettlebells to improve their power and strength. The players are running sprints and gassers to get in football shape. Some of the guys have gained weight in the off season so they are eating healthier and working out everyday to lose the extra weight and decrease their body fat. We have about 40 players working out at the Ravens facility each week. The strength and conditioning program lasts 14 weeks.

One of our new free agents, Brendan Ayanbadejo, from the Chicago Bears, has already had me analyze his food intake so he can see if he is meeting his nutrition goals. Brendan wants to keep his body fat low so he is focusing on eating low fat foods. He tries to stay away from fried foods and limits the amount of red meat he eats each week. One of his favorite foods is rice, he would eat brown or white rice everyday if we served it. His body fat is about 4% which is excellent! Brendan’s low body fat helps his speed when he is playing.

I’ll give you updates each month on the Ravens players and their nutrition program. Eat healthy and Play 60!