"Not 10 almond, not 18 almond, but 14 almond." Rob McLangham, the trainer, said of his most dedicated clients: "Kevin can say as much as he wants. If the plan is to eat every 2 hours, he will wake up to eat and sleep during the day. "

Loew almost completely changed his eating habits, and his teammates often joked about it on social media. Since 20 12, Loew is basically a vegetarian, and the staple food is salmon and roast chicken, eating 5 or 6 meals a day. Loew hired a full-time chef to prepare egg white, beet juice, wheat flakes mixed with almond cow and protein powder after he joined the Cavaliers on 20 14.

At the team breakfast before the second game of the finals, the Cavaliers wolfed down pancakes, waffles and bacon, except Loew.

"Kevin has two wheat bran muffins, a banana and skim milk," Cavaliers forward richard jefferson said. "He eats like an 80-year-old woman who tries to stay healthy."

Loew often brings his own food-cabbage salad and roast chicken-on the plane instead of eating those high-calorie carbohydrates with his teammates after the game. Loew said teammates often joke about it.

"When I come in with a food bag, they will look at me with a strange expression," Loew said. "It's not a good thing to have such a group of teammates who always make fun of you."

But Loew knew he had to eat like this. Especially the Cavaliers will play the season 10 1. Many people misunderstand that NBA players can eat their favorite food without restraint in the long and harsh regular season and playoffs. But all the sweat and training doesn't mean they can satisfy their appetite.

NBA players actually count calories like us. They are eager for dinner, drinks, margaritas or cold beer. When they want to eat delicious food to relieve stress, it doesn't matter whether it's meatballs made at home or Alfredo chicken pasta, Loew's mother's favorite.

"People must think that athletes can eat their favorite foods without restraint, because they all burn calories," said nutritionist Dr. Mike Rossell, who has worked with many professional athletes, including Lakers center roy hibbert. "Even in management, some people have this idea. I was surprised to see many NBA players buy chicken fillet in the arena before the game and go to Subway late at night after the game. They are just like ordinary people. "

But athletes are now beginning to accept that proper nutrition intake is beneficial to their health. For example, in 20 12, Draymond Green fell to the 35th place in the overall ranking, partly because of his lower-than-average body fat content, bounce and physical fitness. But after the rookie season, Green lost 20 pounds. He abandoned those "bad carbohydrates". Including his favorite Sagino Vargas &; Son, tacos. Green said that after losing weight, the old problem of knee pain was relieved, and physical strength and mental concentration were improved.

Even lebron james, whose talent is amazing, changed her diet. 20 14 He posted a slimming photo on social media, which also caused a great surprise. At that time, he said it was the effect of a low-carbohydrate diet.

Warriors center andrew bogut stopped eating sugar after winning the championship last year and lost 22 pounds. He said that a documentary called "Sugar is the New Fat" stimulated him, and then he started to quit sugar and train as usual. Bogut said that he used to make fun of people who read product ingredient labels.

"Now," he said, "I watch it too."

Charles barkley said that there is an iron law in the NBA: "If you are fat or in a bad state, you can't support your family by playing ball."

Buckley may be the only player in history who deliberately gained weight in order not to be selected. Buckley 1984 graduated from Auburn University. His nickname is "rebound ball". When I visited 76 people, I weighed 292 Jin. Harold Katz, the owner of the 76ers who holds the No.5 sign, likes Buckley very much and promises to choose him. But Katz wanted Buckley to be slimmer.

"Harold said,' Let's see how hard you work,'" Buckley recalled. "Two days before the draft, you come and weigh us. I hope it will drop to 284 kg."

Buckley goes to Houston to train hard every day. He doesn't eat sugar or drink, and eats a lot of fruits and vegetables. He reduced it to 280 pounds. But a few days before the draft, Buckley's agent, Lance La Qinnick, informed him that the 76ers had exceeded the salary cap and could only give him an annual salary of $75,000 (there was no unified rookie contract at that time). Buckley panicked. He doesn't want to lose his first NBA contract.

"I decided not to let the 76 ers choose me," he said.

According to Buckley, in the next 48 hours, he and La Qinick started an overeating plan. Super deluxe breakfast: two pancakes, two eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and bread. Besides, Buckley ordered a lot of pancakes. Buckley spent the afternoon drinking soda and milkshakes and enjoying lobster rolls. He wants two T-steaks for dinner.

"We'll do it again the next day," Buckley said.

When he returned to the 76ers training ground, his weight soared to 30 1 kg. "Katz yelled at me," Buckley said. "He was very angry. No one knew about the fattening plan, but I thought,' This is very effective.' "

On the day of the draft, Buckley sat in the back row, waiting to see which unfortunate player was selected by the 76ers. David stern read: "No.5 in the 1984 draft, and 76 people were selected ... charles barkley!"

"I was shocked to sit there," Buckley said. "I can't believe it. I said to my agent,' Well, now I'm fat and poor. "

Fortunately, 76 people removed the salary cap, and they gave Buckley $2 million for four years. Buckley found his lifelong mentor moses malone in Philadelphia, and he told Buckley that obesity and laziness can't stand in the NBA. The distressed Buckley was reduced to 255 Jin in two years and was selected as an All-Star. This is his first consecutive 1 1 year.

Former Suns center oliver miller likes pizza best.

Miller's teammate Danny Angie said that his heaviest weight reached 375 pounds. Miller ate so much that the sun had to take drastic measures to send him to the hospital for infusion.

"But they found out that he ordered Domino's pizza at the hospital," Angie said. "They had to assign security guards to the ward."

Buckley also played with Miller. Buckley said, "When we play outside, we will see pizza boxes piled up outside his room." "I can't figure out why people can't keep their mouths shut when they earn so much money. I feel crazy. "

Angie is now the president of Celtic basketball operation, and has met some players who have Miller problems: "Big Baby" glen davis (his contract with Celtic has a weight clause) and jared Salinger. Former Georgetown insider Mike Sweeney, Angie thinks he has the skills of a 10 NBA veteran.

"First of all, I don't think any fat person wants to be overweight," Angie said. "They also want a good figure, and most people make different efforts. Many big men like Oliver and Big Baby play well even if they are overweight. This is part of the problem. They can be efficient, but they cannot tap their full potential. In the end, it will hurt you. "

But it's not as simple as losing weight. The body becomes lighter, but it is often not at its best.

For example, roy hibbert, former Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, made him lose 30 Jin to adapt to Qifeng's faster pace. O 'Brien thinks thinner hibbert can play better (as it is now). But when Frank Vogel took over, he made hibbert gain weight, because vogel likes confrontational and tough style.

At that time, hibbert often ordered those fatty foods in hotels late at night. Rosell took over and suggested that hibbert increase what nutritionists call "net weight". Rosell's principle revolves around a question: Can you eat the same thing in two hours? If not, Rosell said, that's too much.

"The hardest thing was that I couldn't control my mouth," hibbert said now, "so I gave it to someone else."

Today, Rosell will arrange all the meals for hibbert to be delivered to the team, and let him stay in the hotel during the away game. Occasionally, Rosell would let go of hibbert. For example, he invented a healthy cheese hot dog, which contains chicken, 3 grams of fat and 8 grams of protein, ground beef, low-fat cheese and high-fiber wheat bread. Rosell also designed healthy lobster macaroni and cheese.

No matter how good a nutritionist is, it is impossible to have only health in his eyes.

"There is no low-calorie red velvet cake," Rosell said.

Like ordinary people, NBA veterans also encounter the same problem: the older they get, the more they should pay attention to their diet.

When Jefferson was young, he ate steak on the road three nights a week. The good days are gone forever. He said there shouldn't be three-dimensional potato chips (a Pepsi fried food) at home. "I will be 36 years old in a few weeks," Jefferson said. "I can't stand these things."

1988, Brian Shaw was a Celtic rookie. At that time, there were Big Macs, French fries and soda. 20 14, Xiao, then coach of Nuggets, was surprised to see pizza and grilled cheese spicy corn in the locker room before the game. He accused the greasy food of slowing down the team's opening performance. Xiao threw the food into the dustbin and replaced it with chicken and salad.

McLangham said that his client derrick rose also liked fast food at first. "Before the game, Derek liked Burger King best. He didn't even look at the salad two years ago, but now he is old and easy to accept. "

Sean Wing Vendel, the Pacers' chief strength and fitness coach, said that breaking those habits and letting players have a good look at their performance on the court are the by-products of their reckless eating and drinking.

"I often have this conversation with our players:' I ate pizza before the game and I scored 25 points. "Tell me what's the difference between eating salmon and broccoli," Vendel said. "You try to explain to them that the strength and vitality of the competition are different. Or pizza may not affect the statistics tonight, but it may be tomorrow. "

Even before the third game of the finals, LeBron admitted that he had adjusted his eating habits with his age. The latest change is the rejection of junk food.

"But staying at home with three children and they put junk food in front of you is hard to refuse," James said. "I will eat a few bites to please them occasionally, but in fact I am happy."

Mavericks coach rick carlisle said that he learned one thing in 27 years in this league: Don't judge by the size of players. For example, raymond felton's eating habits are much stricter than Russell Westbrook's, but you can't tell from his appearance. Two players eat the same food and have the same training intensity, but their bodies and skills may be completely different, which is determined by genes.

Rosell said that LeBron's "genetic talent" made his so-called "low-carbohydrate diet" take effect so quickly in 20 14, and the effect was amazing.

"They brag that this is a low-carbohydrate diet plan, but it is not at all," Rosell said. James is not his client. "His' low carbohydrate' meal includes mango, chutney, carbohydrates and sugar. But it's normal. In terms of nutrition, even the richest people with resources may eat badly. "

Genes must have an impact on catering and weight gain and loss. The temptation of away games is an undoubted challenge. Nightlife is a terrible health obstacle in this season. Alcohol and nightlife are inseparable. It has calories, and players will inevitably eat junk food late at night, so they don't eat breakfast the next day. The general managers of the two teams interviewed admitted that amateur life is the most difficult bad habit for players to get rid of. "If we can keep the players honest after the game, we can win five more games," said a western general manager.

"He eats like a female bodybuilder in a bikini," Jefferson snickered. Although knights like to make fun of Loew, Loew won their respect for his strict diet discipline.

Loew weighed more than 270 pounds at UCLA, and he was out of breath after running a few steps on the court. When he first came to the NBA, Loew was afraid to go to the low post for fear that he could not get rid of his opponent's shooting.

McLanham said that Loew is more explosive now, and he can create space for himself with backward jumper and dribble. This is the direct benefit of being more focused and losing 30 pounds.

During off-season training, Loew can persist for 60 minutes, which is a far cry from UCLA and Timberwolves. At that time, he had to change into a T-shirt and shorts every hour because he sweated too much.

"When he first came to the NBA, he didn't make it to the last minute of the game," McLenham said. "Now he has physical strength. Kevin made a lot of efforts. He regards this as an investment, and now it pays off (1.1.400 million USD contract). "

Loew counted almonds for five years, and Bogut gave up sugar 1 1 month. But I still want to eat Cadbury chocolate and Australian Mars chocolate bar. Green was very uncomfortable with the low-carbohydrate diet at first, but now it has become a part of his daily life. "Just like I used to eat junk food," he said. "Now I am used to eating healthy food."

As for LeBron, with or without chutney and low carbohydrate, as long as it helps his competition, someone will support the "low carbohydrate" plan.