As we’ve established, Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches of all time and Tom Brady is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The two worked well together in New England and their success propelled them to the status of football royalty. Brady is arguably the greatest QB of all time, maybe even the greatest ever. Belichick is one of the greatest coaches of all time, maybe the greatest ever. The two were a lethal combination and it’s not hard to see why they’re still the most popular and successful coach-player duos in the game today. They’re that good. But, as time went on, things changed. This is not just because of age or health—Brady is still playing at a high level and Belichick is still coaching at a high level.
In 2018, Tom Brady had a league-high 457 attempts. This is the most attempts since his 2007 season when he had 508 attempts. In fact, the Patriots quarterback had the third-most attempts after Drew Brees and Jimmy Garappolo. It would’ve been hard to say no to Brady during this time. But, as we’ve seen in the past with other famous athletes, say no to food and drink you know he’ll want to keep. Especially when the going gets tough, they’ll want to rely on their bodies more than ever. That’s how they got here in the first place. So, it’s not like he was intentionally trying to destroy his body. It’s more like it was a slow, steady decline as he aged. That’s what happened. So, if you’re looking to shed a couple of pounds before July 4th, maybe skip the fireworks and head to New England instead.
The Unhealthy Habits
Looking at Brady’s body fat as an %age of his body weight, he’s at a whopping 9.78% in 2018. This is nearly double his body fat % as a Patriot in 2017 and 2016. There’s no hiding the fact that Tom Brady’s body has changed since the days he was first putting up video game-like numbers as a junior in high school. This is a far cry from the Humble Beginnings narrative he’s tried to tell his fans through social media. But, the numbers don’t lie. Brady’s weight has taken a sharp turn for the worse over the last year or so. So what changed? Let’s take a quick look.
Tom Brady’s love for food and drink isn’t exactly a secret. Over the years, he’s been hailed as an inspiration to those watching football and eating food. It’s well-known that the quarterback enjoys a good meal and plenty of drinks. In fact, during his Hall of Fame induction speech, Brady credited his passion for food with getting him through hard times in the past. He even went as far to say that he would’ve been a “skinny minny” if not for his love for food.
“I love to eat,” Brady said. “I’ve always said this. It’s one of the reasons why I’m not a skinny guy. I love food. And I think that if I didn’t love food, it would be a different story.”
So, it’s no surprise that his body fat % went up. Despite the fact that he was named MVP in the 2018 Super Bowl, it was a bittersweet victory for the QB. He was spectacular, yet bittersweet in equal measure. It’s the nature of the profession. As great as he was, he knows and acknowledges that he’s not at the same level yet. But, this doesn’t mean he has to be satisfied with subpar performances. In fact, this is probably the opposite. This is a guy who’ll always have something to prove. Even at this late stage of his career, he’s still not satisfied with his body and expects to keep getting better.
The Workouts
Brady isn’t just a fat-storing machine. The QB is in incredible shape, which can be seen by his ridiculously toned torso and arms. It seems like he was born with an athletic build and it only got more impressive as his career progressed. Through his work with Mark Dominick of UDR Fitness and the New England Patriots, we know that the quarterback does a lot of upper body work. This includes bench pressing, overhead pressing, and using free weights. It’s also interesting to note that he does a decent amount of core work, too. This is mainly due to the fact that most of his work happens in the weight room. During his press conference after the Super Bowl, Tom Brady credited his trainer, Mark Dominick, with transforming his body.
“Mark has helped me over the last couple years get rid of the extra weight,” Brady said. “He’s helped me stay strong. He’s helped me improve my body. I don’t think I would be where I am without him.”
So, it’s clear that Brady’s love for food wasn’t the only issue. After years of doing some workout stuff, the quarterback decided to take his training program to the next level. He enlisted the help of Dominick and in early 2019, they launched a new workout program called TB12. The program is named after Brady and Dominick, who are known as the “Twelve” for the way they bring up their own numbers in workouts (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 ).
“I wanted to create a workout program that would help me keep getting better as I age,” Brady said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot stronger over the last couple of years and I want to continue to get stronger. I want to keep playing at a high level. So, I’m always looking for ways to improve and this seemed like a really cool opportunity to do that.”
The workout program is based on the premise that the more you put in it, the more you’ll get out of it. So, the more you participate, the better you’ll be at gauging your strengths and weaknesses. Plus, it’ll help you track your results and keep you motivated throughout the process. According to Dominick, the best way to get fit for the 2020 season is by doing a bit of everything. Even though this sounds good in theory, it can be hard to find the time to fit everything in. Especially if you work a full-time job. So, for those looking to get in shape for the upcoming season, the 12-week program offers a great compromise.
The Diet
Now, it’s important to note that Tom Brady isn’t trying to lose weight to punish himself. He wants to improve his play and feel better about himself. So, he’s trying to find a way to eat healthy and get the most out of his body. This entails cutting back on the foods he knows he shouldn’t eat and relying more on foods that are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats. This isn’t exactly a new concept for Brady. Over the years, he’s been open about the fact that he wants to play as long as he can and stay healthy. So, he makes sure to eat the right things to keep his body in good condition.
This is where things get slightly tricky. If you’re looking for a quick fix and want to drop a few pounds in a hurry, then it’s easy to fall into the wrong hands. Luckily for Brady, he’s managed to stay away from these types of pitfalls. Instead of focusing on shortcuts, he’s turned to the experts for help. This includes employing the services of a nutritionist and a personal trainer. These professionals can help him figure out what type of diet and workout routine will be the most beneficial for him. As a result of all this information, Brady has devised a diet and workout plan that’s suited to his needs and goals. It might not be for you, but it’s definitely worth pointing out.
The Results
So, after following the 12-week diet and workout plan, what type of results did Tom Brady achieve? Well, he was able to lose a pound and a half and gain 10 pounds of lean muscle. Not bad for twelve weeks. And it seems that his body fat % went down a bit, too. These results are definitely what Brady’s been looking for. Not only is he thrilled to have lost the weight, but he’s also feeling great, both mentally and physically. It seems that the change has been good for his body, too. According to Dominick, the added muscle and the flush of blood that comes with more activity have helped Brady’s joints feel healthier and more comfortable. This is evidenced by the fact that he’s been able to play through an injury that he previously couldn’t have handled.