It's helpful to know what works for a highly functional body. He's 43 and he's minimizing the use of weights and looking to keep his muscles soft. There's a photograph of him in a bathing suit at the link, and compared to male fitness models, he looks out of shape. The phrase "dad bod" occurred to me. But he is in perfect shape. You have to question the use of weights and the pursuit of cut, swollen, hard muscles.
Also, Tom Brady goes to sleep at 8:30 p.m. I'd been trying to stay up until at least 9 so I'm not being ridiculous, but if Tom Brady goes to sleep at 8:30, at the age of 43, then 8:30 is the perfect adult bedtime, and I will cast aside my embarrassment at wanting to sleep before 9.
And here's a video that influenced me even before Tom Brady won his 7th Super Bowl. He shows Men's Health — home of those fitness models who don't look like Tom Brady — what's in his refrigerator:
Now, when you're food shopping, you'll be thinking What would Tom Brady buy?
Note the T-shirt with one word on the front: "Pliability."
Posts
62 comments:
Brady worked himself into becoming the GOAT.
Apparently lots of people hate him, in part, because he backed Trump.
If Giselle was waiting for me, I’d go to bed at 8:30 too.
There's an immense difference between "body-building" [like male models] and functional strength. I started lifting 20 years ago at age 52. The coach ran the gym in his garage -- no music, no mirrors, just an exercise physiologist who got 8 or 9 of his competitive lifters to the *world* championships, and two onto the Olympic team. He was even a referee at the '08 Olympics.
For those of us wanting functional strength he had a totally different regime, and instead of waist belts he concentrated first on core abdominal strength. My waist expanded by about 3 inches, but it was all muscle. No pretty 6-packs, just real strength to handle a heavy workload. And, importantly, to prevent injury. My chest expanded by some 5 inches.
Most important point? That functional strength -- built with free weights, not machines -- included all sorts of minor muscles, not worked by machines, which provides extra stability. I cannot tell you how many farming accidents it prevented for me, but it's a LOT.
Functional strength is a key to healthspan. I encourage people, even in their 70s, to find a weight-trainer using free weights and focused on functional strength.
Remember that these guys might as well be a different species of human, physically.
“I can’t help it, I don’t even work out.”
-XC
Age 62 - usually in bed by 9, up by 4/430
That must all be true and remarkable, the care of his body. But it is the eyes I will remember. I never watched Brady much before. But I saw a couple of the post-season games, plus yesterday, and who wouldn't notice those eyes -- they look like they can see anything happening on the field at any moment. They are a little different from, though reminiscent of, Joe Montana's icy blue eyes, which looked equally indomitable. Brady's eyes remind me most of Bjorn Borg's. They are animalistic, like a bird of prey.
I guess now I know who won. Those “fitness” models drink like a teaspoon of water the day before a photo shoot to get that six pack look women love so much.
“I can’t help it, I don’t even work out.”
That was a great movie. That guy would order four or five entrees and a half a case of wine for himself for dinner, in real life.
With games that reach to midnight, I've wondered how performance is affected by the fact that it's after their bedtimes. If Tom goes to bed at 8:30, then he should have started yawning around halftime. Good thing he scored all those points early!
"For those of us wanting functional strength... That functional strength...."
What function were you looking to perform? Farm work, you say? Just trying to picture the function. It seems to me that a lot of weight lifting is done to improve the function of weight lifting. But you say you avoided farm accidents. You needed to lift heavy things?
"There's an immense difference between "body-building" [like male models] and functional strength.”
In the NFL they call that “country strong.” John Riggins, when he was in high school ,worked in the stock yard among the cattle pushing them around to get them through the gates or whatever he did. His high school coach had a hard time because he kept unintentionally injuring his teammates.
"... find a weight-trainer using free weights and focused on functional strength."
What is the basis for emphasizing weight training? Tom Brady doesn't do it. He — at 43 — is using "planks, lunges and squats" and "pliability exercises, such as doing crunches with a vibrating roller beneath his back" and resistance bands.
I don't understand why you think urging people to go in the other direction is persuasive. I would presume Tom Brady has a more correct answer than you do.
"Tom Brady doesn't do it" = doesn't emphasize weight training.
I think he does some weight training, but not at the expense of pliability!
I wish I had at least 50% of his self-discipline and talent. I am over 50% of his size and that's about it. Also, I thought his wife was extremely appealing last night after the game, she seemed so friendly and natural so I now have more appreciation of her talents and their children too, especially the bouncing, enthusiastic little girl.
It’s hard not to focus on muscle building when women seem to have such a clear preference, but somehow I manage.
Besides, It’s not Tom Brady’s job to move around heavy things, it’s his job not to get hurt when he gets hit. Not a normal situation applicable across the sphere of male physical activity.
Ann Althouse said...What function were you looking to perform?
When I joined a gym a couple years ago, we first had a talk about my goals. I said I wanted functional strength. They said everybody says that and it's not very helpful in designing a program.
What I mean by it is I'm not interested in the classic gym body. I want to have the strength and stamina to do whatever I want to do. I want to be able to help a friend move without worrying about throwing out my back. I want to be able to dig out a new garden without being sore fore a week. I want to be physically able to do whatever I may need to do in the daily life I want to lead and feel good doing it.
As noted above, that means not relying on machines as they strengthen the major muscle groups that make you look good but do little or nothing for the stabilizing muscles that help prevent injury. Bodybuilders may have raw strength, but they also have fragile physiques.
"resistance bands, to make muscles more pliable, soft and resilient."
LOL
There's an immense difference between "body-building" [like male models] and functional strength.
There was a lot of silly misinformation in the post.
usatoday has a nice little article about how Tom Brady - whom I've heard of! - epitomizes bad whiteness or white badness.
"I wish I had at least 50% of his self-discipline and talent”
He’s working out right this minute, no days off for him.
I wonder what NSAID he takes for his arthritis. I'll switch.
A lot of the Pro's workout goals are nibbling at the edges. Conditioning for stamina, building strength is core stuff. Machine vs free weights? doing something three times a week is the most important decision. While one or the other may generate a measurable difference...for a pro...at street level stop obsessing about the details. Just do something...everyday.
---It’s hard not to focus on muscle building when women seem to have such a clear preference,
Gisele said it was extremely kind eyes. That video does make him appear likable. She said he was her third blind date and she was ready to quit that game until she saw his eyes.
But we all know it was his bank account. Nah! His fame! Nah..... it was his extremely kind eyes PLUS his bank account and his fame.
Interesting. "Pliability" is the word I use for perfect pizza.
OT a bit on Brady's regime:
In retirement, I work at a family-owned and operated produce market. One of the workers there, Susan, is a big Brady fan. After the (now-debunked) deflate scandal, she put up a photo of Brady on the wall with a message supporting him. One of Brady's golf buddies and friend, an older man who lives at Seminole Landing in Juno Beach, saw it. Apparently he told Tom and Tom sent her an autographed photo thanking her for her support and said he'd be in to thank her personally. In March of 2019, in walked Brady and his friend to visit with Susan, thank her and pose for photos. She now has those photos on the wall.
That's real class. Thanks for a great win, Mr. Brady.
THEOLDMAN
Another example of white privilege that they let him win
Brady’s single-mindedness is extraordinary. He works on his physical conditioning, his internal health and his mental/brain health constantly. Never deviated except for a strip of bacon now and again. Studies game film, leads the team psych to win. Not sure anyone else would have his discipline anytime soon, or ever.
Ann, farmwork reqires a lot of heavy lifting. Big bags of heavy stuff to move. Bales of hay. Animals that require assistance. Soil that needs to be moved. Picked crops that need to be loaded onto trucks. It's physically intensive work. There are lots of opportunities for physical injury. Farmers need both body strength and agility. It's not work everyone can do.
"Tom Brady doesn't do it" = doesn't emphasize weight training.
Keep in mind body weight exercises are still intense weight training. When Tom still lived in the Back Bay he'd come in to my gym, mostly on his recovery days, and did lots of walking on the treadmill with his hoodie up, but he did also use free weights...
What function were you looking to perform?
Yes, this is key. There are mobile and physical quarterbacks and offensive systems designed around them. In Tom's offense he doesn't need to run fast (mostly because he can't) or hit people. He doesn't have to fire a cannon like his predecessor. It's big mobile linemen that keep Tom vertical and handoffs and juke passes and getting rid of the ball quickly and changing gears and picking apart the opposing defensive secondary. It's a scheme that's improves longevity...
If you missed it the first go round Tom vs Time goes deeper into TB12 and Tom's regimen of avoiding inflammation and pliability. It's always looked like lots of masssages and not eating strawberreis to me...
Healthy but not hot.
President Brady has a certain ring to it.
We go to bed early too, but why not? There is no social activity to do after 7pm. I also happen to do global work, so I have early morning teleconferences. So off to bed early.
Looking at the photo of Brady & Giselle working out, I was struck by her figure. It looks like a board---no waist, no hips. Is that what guys like now? [I'm a woman so I wouldn't know].
Three highlights:
The Liberal twitter freak out at Brady walking into the stadium without a mask.
Brady not wearing a mask on the Trophy stage and asking Jim Nance to step closer because “he couldn’t hear him” (Well played Tom).
Maskless G.O.A.T. Trump supporting Brady, winning again, vs. a horseshit halftime show with masked, faceless marching drones which I’d imagine most saw as a reflection of 2020/2021 America.
I now officially despise Bruce Springsteen and Jeep. Puke.
Bruce Springsteen and Jeep have nothing to do with small town America. “Re-United States of America” my ass.
Small town Christian USA is Kid Rock, Country, the F-150, and the Chevy Pickup Truck.
That commercial was an insult.
There's a big deal made about the athletic regression line at 40. From my own experience turning 40 was easy. Things didn't start going to hell until 42...
"There's a big deal made about the athletic regression line at 40. From my own experience turning 40 was easy. Things didn't start going to hell until 42..."
I could still dunk a basketball at 40. Not bad for a 6'1" white dude with a severely arthritic ankle and two knee scopes for meniscus tears. Then I stepped off a tee box funny and had to have my third...and that was it. And yep, slow decline from there. Both hips replaced at 60, and at some point my knees will have to be done too.
You can fight off a lot of this with workouts like Brady, but much of it is genetic.
Blogger policraticus said...
If Giselle was waiting for me, I’d go to bed at 8:30 too.
2/8/21, 5:54 AM
Amen, brother.
For me, functional strength and conditioning is designed to be able to do yard work all day everyday. To keep up in the pond, pool and hiking trails with my younger workout friends, my adult kids and my preteen grandsons. Being able to kayak like an Eskimo from day one of the spring season is another goal.
After my stroke in November, my wife insisted I stop swimming in the local community center pool. After I got my first Moderna jab, she let me go back. Was able to bang out 2,500-yards two days in a row with minimal recovery soreness. I credit that to regular dip and pull-up bar exercises.
I need to do more regular pliability work using my set of rollers.
Brady doesn’t do it. But you can bet the offensive line that protects him does a lot of power lifting exercises. He plays a position that doesn’t require mass.
Hurray for Tom Brady!
You made being old acceptable again and being a GOAT a good thing for once.
Now go away already.
Regression is more pronounced in former athletes ("gone to seed") than it is in still competing older athletes.
Is that what guys like now?
I always preferred tall and soft, but scent is the real kicker. Please, no perms.
wake up at 4 am. go to bed at 8 pm.
hurt my back at 40. took a couple years of flexibility and core training exercises to really get back into a decent routine again.
there's an acceptance if you did reasonably well at athletics in your youth that you can maintain things pretty good maybe up to mid-30's or even 40, but you're never going to hit a PR again.
I know I'll never run a 21.6 second 200 meters again and the last time I could was 25 years ago.
oh well.
As Gronk said in a pre-game interview:
"Everything Tom does is for football."
"You have to question the use of weights and the pursuit of cut, swollen, hard muscles."
No, you don't. Depends on your goals. The key thing is to have goals.
And do you mean "cut" muscles, as in, visible cuz not covered by fat? If so, more people would feel better striving for cut muscles.
You have to question the use of weights
Squats and deadlifts were mentioned. Those are basic to most weight lifting programs.
I don't see the big difference between resistance bands and weights except that weights are limited in the direction of resistance and bands are not.
On the other hand, TB12 sells resistance bands and vibrating rollers, both of which are mentioned in the article.
DOI
Planks are good. It's something I can do without injuring myself.
A good O-line beats the best conditioning.
"Shipping off to Boston" is also the song I like with working out. It's so life affirming AND badass.
The thing is, most of us are middle-age men need to be able to do heavy jobs around the house or help a friend move. Fortunately we don’t need the flexibility to get sacked once or twice a week.
Gisele has the body that gay men who design clothes want their models to have.
About 10 years ago (I was 62), just before I had my second hip replacement, my daughter persuaded me to go to a trainer at her gym. He was British and had a bachelors degree in fitness that focused on body strength and movement. He got me hooked on functional strength training that focused on core muscles. All it took was 30 minutes twice a week and my core and functional strength improved considerably. During that 30 minutes I would do up to 10 different exercises, 2 sets apiece, using free weights, resistance bands and body resistance. During most workouts I would get my heart rate up to 90% of my maximum level so I would also get aerobic benefit from interval training as my heart rate went up and down. My resting heart rate is now 50bpm and max is 155bpm. Not bad for an old guy of 71. I dont do any really heavy weight training although I do moderate squats and deadlifts. I am now muscular but have no sharply defined muscles. During covid I have created my own mini gym with one 35lb kettle bell, adjustable hand weights that can be dialed from 5lbs to 50lbs and a physio ball. That is all I need to get a good workout. I now work out 3 times a week in my mini gym. After reading this post I am planning to get some resistance bands. I would highly recommend this regime to anyone as they get older. It improves your strength, balance and state of mind. There really is no down side to it.
I thought the streaker was hot.
Brady exemplifies the difficulty of identifying and projecting what skills playing high-level NFL QB requires.
Kurt Warner epitomized it.
NFL executives fare no better now than 20 years ago in assessing it.
Gusty Winds, I completely agree with you on the offensiveness of the Jeep commercial. At the midpoint of that commercial I announced loudly "This is so awful, I will never, ever buy anything from the sponsor of this commercial."
That will be an easy promise to keep, because I am not likely to ever be in the market for a Jeep anyway.
NFL executives fare no better now than 20 years ago in assessing it.
Truth. To say it implies those doing the picking are bad at their jobs, and I'd argue some/many of them are, but there is a difficult challenge to overcome- college defense is bad. NFL defenses are bigger stronger faster and it is difficult to discern which quarterbacks have the potential to adjust to the speed of the NFL. It's why many vaunted college QBs wash out when they make the pros (cough*Kapernick*cough), and why its a bad idea to select a QB in the early rounds...
We didn't have access to our free weights, so my husband switched to bodyweight exercises and resistance bands for a long time. It's doable.
I go to bed at 8:30 p.m. on work nights. That's because I get up at 3:30 a.m. so I can get to work by 5 a.m. It is what it is. If I'm going to stay up later, I usually take a nap beforehand. That's what I did last night so I could stay up to watch the Super Bowl. Of course, if it's not something that I really want to get up for, sometimes I just say "screw it" and sleep until I either wake up on my own or until the 3:30 alarm goes off.
I am all about using weights. I am not huge, but I am cut. Tom Brady is handsome but not hot. I would rather do a guy with a tighter stomach. I did a Harvard law student this weekend who is from Barcelona. He was cut. I told him i love Pedro almodovar movies. That is my way I telling the foreigner I am down with his peeps.
He should make some time to make love to his attractive wife. I'm guessing they left that out of the schedule due to good taste.
@Althouse, FWIW here is a video of the world champion weightlifter in the heavyweight division. You might note that his biceps do not bulge, and he clearly lacks six-pack abs. Back in college (more than a half century ago!) I learned that one can lift for endurance, or lift for raw strength, or lift for a buff physique, but not all three at once. As you surmise in your post, swollen, hard muscles are not necessarily the strongest muscles.
mccullough: "NFL executives fare no better now than 20 years ago in assessing it."
Hell, the Patriots and the Niners couldn't even assess it when he was standing in front of them last year, after winning 6 Superbowls. All they saw was a number: "43".
Anyone here play football in college? You didn't often see quarterbacks or kickers in the weight room did you?
Post a Comment