Tom Brady just won his 7th Super Bowl. That means he has won more titles than any single team in the NFL. Not only that, but he is the oldest quarterback to ever win the game. This should put to rest any debate of his GOAT status.
As a 41 year old man, I am in awe of his ability to perform as an elite athlete at the age of 43.
Tony Robbins once said "Success leaves clues." So let's all take a deeper dive to identify the habits and disciplines that lead to greatness, from Tom Brady.
Sure, Tom is a great athlete, but he is also super strict with is diet, exercise and sleep. Those are the three arenas I'd like to focus on. And I don't want this to come off preachy at all. Truth be told, I'm writing this as much for myself as I am for you.
DIET
Brady follows a mostly plant-based diet, but he also includes some lean meat or wild-caught fish. In fact, he intentionally seeks out "alkalising" foods that are meant to decrease inflammation in the body. He also consumes a large amount of water, roughly one-half of your body weight in ounces of water daily.
For most, this is a very tough diet to follow. I share this info not to make you feel guilty for what you consume, but to point out that Tom eats with intention and purpose.
If we think about what we put into our bodies, we can make better choices. I think about all the junk I passively consumed during the game and realize I am guilty of often times eating my feelings. This is good info to help us make more conscious choices for food. That's not to say he doesn't have a cheat meal from time to time, but he practices moderation and doesn't over-indulge.
EXERCISE
Brady has a less traditional approach to workouts. He spends half of his time on liability, something most athletes spend little or no time on. Then he spends time with resistance bands, which minimize inflammation and various other drills. Lots of squats, lunges and planks.
He is also consistent. We've all had those days where we don't want to do our workouts. Push through those days, you'll thank yourself on the other side.
SLEEP
The most important thing we can all do for our health is get a full night's sleep. Take the tech out of the bedroom and be strict about your bedtime, so that you can get your full 8 hours. The body needs it to recuperate and perform at it's best.
Not to oversimplify this, but it truly is important. I struggle with winding down after a long day and I find that taking a bath or meditating often helps me prepare for rest.
We all have goals we want to achieve. Being our best self will maximize our opportunities in life. I'm already thinking about adjusting my routines to align better with Tom Brady's methods. Hopefully this will inspire you to do the same.
Here's to being the best us possible in 2021!