The Cleveland Cavaliers small forward and NBA superstar LeBron James is one of the youngest basketball players to have bagged numerous awards which include “Rookie of the Year”, four-time MVP winner, two championships, and two Olympic golds. He did all of these before he reaches the age of 30 and right now, he is even being compared to the league’s greatest player, Michael Jordan.
Truly, LeBron is a great NBA player and while part of it is due to his guts, determination and skills, a bigger and more vital part remains to be his healthy diet and rigorous workout plan.
Eating – the LeBron James Way
Health is wealth in professional athletes as this is where they get their strength, stamina and stardom from. LeBron hires a personal chef to prepare his meals while a personal nutritionist watches over the nutrition content of whatever he eats.
The key features of his diet include complex carbohydrates and lean proteins, to give him enough energy boost, long-lasting power, and the right amount of muscle-building and muscle-repairing nutrients. LeBron does not stay away from rice, baguette and bagels because he knows that these foods are good sources of energy yet remain to have low fats.
Although LeBron uses supplements like protein shakes, he makes sure that he gets his vitamins and minerals from organic sources such as fruits, vegetables and home-made nut butter. For example, he likes to add berries, oranges and bananas to his meals so he can get the much-needed antioxidants and potassium during training.
LeBron James Sample Daily Menu
Typically, LeBron eats six times on a daily basis because he usually starts his day early for his workout. Here is a sample meal plan for LeBron, starting off with breakfast after six in the morning and ending with an hearty yet healthy dinner.
- 6:25 AM Breakfast: whole wheat bagel cut in half and with a spoonful of homemade almond butter, half a cup of berries, half a cup of cottage cheese
- 9:30 AM Morning Snack: 250 mL freshly squeezed orange juice, a banana, a scoop of protein powder mixed with a cup of low-fat milk for his protein shake
- 12:00 PM Lunch: lean roast beef in whole wheat bun topped with lettuce, tomatoes, a couple spoonful of mustard and low-fat cottage cheese, a cup of low-fat milk
- 2:30 PM Afternoon Snack: half a cup of berries, a cup of low-fat yoghurt, half a glass of milk and a bar of granola
- 5:00 PM Pre-Dinner Snack: a cup of berries, a cup of milk, a cup of freshly-squeezed orange juice, a cup of Greek yoghurt with a teaspoon of raw honey
- 8:30 PM Dinner: a cup and a half of steamed broccoli, half a cup of brown rice, a third of a cup of orange juice, 3 ounces of grilled chicken breasts with water chestnuts and a drizzle of olive oil
Secrets of the LeBron James Workout
LeBron makes sure that he works out four times a week, not only focus on building his lean muscles but to also help allocate enough energy that he can use during his intense games on the court. He uses short but intense, high energy workouts which includes low-level repetitions to activate muscle cells; pull-ups and push-ups for body weight maintenance; and cardio routines to boost stamina and improve his performance during basketball games.
One of the most important features of his workout is that it uses familiar routines done with a pair of sets and allowing to rest for 45 seconds before proceeding with the next set. In case he gets too familiar or bored with the routines, LeBron can increase the intensity of his training by adding more repetitions while maintaining the fluidity of the regimen.
LeBron James Weekly Workout Regimen
MONDAY: 3 sets of push-ups, 3 sets of pull-ups for eight to 10 repetitions, 3 sets of dumbbell snatch alternating five repetitions on each arm, 3 sets of cable row using single arm for 10 repetitions on both arms
TUESDAY: 3 sets of squat using half a pound of dumbbells each for 10 to 12 repetitions, 3 sets of Swiss ball with hip raise and leg curl for 10 to 12 repetitions, 3 sets of Swiss ball using hip raise and leg curl for 10 to 12 repetitions, 3 sets of step-ups using dumbbell for 10 repetitions on each leg, 3 sets of single-leg calf raise using dumbbell for 12 repetitions on each leg
THURSDAY: 3 sets of bench press for 10 repetitions, 3 sets of flat pull-downs for 10 repetitions, 3 sets of overhead press using single-arm dumbbell for six to 8 repetitions on each arm, 3 sets single-arm row using dumbbell for 10 repetitions
FRIDAY: 3 sets of leg-squat for five repetitions on each leg, 3 sets of Swiss ball leg curl for 10 repetitions on both legs, 3 sets side lunges for eight to 10 repetitions, 3 sets of jump rope for 45 seconds
No workout on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
How to Successfully Apply the LeBron James Regimen
To achieve the same LeBron’s body muscle, stamina and health status, make sure to practice healthy eating such as choosing lean meat and organic ingredients, staying hydrated, and ensuring that you maintain a workout routine four times a week.