Bo Jackson Workout and Diet
Professional Athlete (retired)
Vincent ‘Bo’ Jackson is from Alabama. An all-around athlete, he was a running back for his high school football team and hit 20 home runs his senior year on the baseball team. Jackson also won the state championship decathlon twice. Drafted by the NY Yankees in 1982, he instead opted to attend Auburn on a football scholarship. Jackson played both baseball and football in college, won the Heisman trophy in 1985, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He went pro in both sports, playing for the LA Raiders in the NFL and multiple teams in the MLB including Kansas City, Chicago and the California Angels. Arguably the single greatest athlete of the 20th century, Jackson was the only one to be named All-Star in both the NFL and MLB. In 1989-’90, Jackson had a famous advertising campaign with Nike called ‘Bo Knows.’ A hip injury in 1991 ended his football career and Jackson stopped playing baseball in 1994. After retirement from sports, Jackson went on to complete his college degree, act on TV, invest in various businesses including Gotcha plant-based foods, and a CBD brand. He also founded the charity ‘Bo Bikes Bama’ after tornadoes devastated the state in 2011. He is married and has 3 children. Jackson has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. He is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 270 lbs.
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Bo Jackson’s Diet
Diet Summary
Jackson’s diet has varied over the years. He grew up poor and ate whatever was available. In college at Auburn, the team had a personal chef that served up fine cuisine. As a pro ball player, he ate healthy, focusing on lean animal protein, fresh produces and whole grains. He loves jerky so he invested in a brand (that has since gone out of business). His most recent investment is in a plant-based brand called Gotcha.
Estimated Macros
Medium Fat
Medium Protein
Medium Carb
Diet Details
Nice Eats
When Jackson was at Auburn, the football team had not only their own dorm, but their own chef who made them food that was not typically on a college menu, including lobster and steak.
Balanced Eating
Throughout Jackson’s professional career, he made a point of eating good, solid food to fuel his huge body and keep him performing at peak level.
Good to Be Vegan
Jackson decided to explore the plant-based food space thanks to his daughter-in-law who has Celiac disease and can’t eat gluten. He is very proud that she loves his line of products.
Smart Snacking
If Jackson is feeling the need for a snack, he goes for something with protein in it, such as jerky. He partnered with the now-defunct Pork & Mindy’s to make Pig Candy that is high in protein and low in sugar.
What to Eat
- Whole, natural foods
- Lean animal protein
- Fish
- Fresh vegetables
- Healthy fats
- Whole grains
- Fresh fruit
- Yogurt
- Jerky
- Plant-based foods
- Water
What to Avoid
- Overeating
- Processed food
- Empty-calorie foods
- Junk food
- Fast food
- Artificial additives
- Chemical ingredients
Jackson on Pig Candy jerky
‘It’s a great source of protein, with just a little bit of sugar, that’ll get you through to your next meal.’
Jackson on why he’s getting into vegan foods
‘My daughter-in-law. She’s gluten-free, she’s Celiac, there are a lot of foods that she can’t eat.’
Jackson on vegan foods
‘When it comes to plant-based, she loses her mind because, wow! This is good!…To have her say that about my products is great.’
Bo Jackson’s Workout Routine
Workout Routine
Always Active
Jackson was a bit of a troublemaker as a kid, and was always running away from getting a beating for misbehaving.
Incredible Athlete
Both times Jackson competed in the decathlon, he built up so many points, he didn’t even have to run the 1500 m. to win the overall. In 1986, he ran the fastest 40-yds in the NFL at 4.13 seconds.
Reach for the Stars
Jackson says that getting involved with sports helped him achieve more than he ever imagined.
Genetic Jackpot
Jackson never did much in the way of weight training. He was just lucky to be born strong and fast, and credits his mother and grandfather for those genes.
Daily Dose
After his hip replacement, Jackson gave up any form of running. Instead, he bikes to stay in shape. He loves biking, but hates hills. He also plays golf.
Naturally Active
Jackson also loves to hunt and fish. He says landing a 600+-lb. fish wore him out so much, he needed a 3-hour nap afterward. But he was happy to get his nephews outside and away from video games.
Mental Prep
Jackson considered mental preparation and focus to be an essential part of his training regimen. He would visualize his moves ahead of time, and used techniques like deep breathing to stay calm in high-pressure situations.
Exercise Style
A Bo Jackson Routine
- Cycling
- Golf
- Fishing
- Hunting
Jackson on sports
‘Bo Jackson was good for sports, but sports were great for Bo Jackson. They allowed me to expand my horizons, to do things that I would have never gotten the opportunity to do.’
Jackson on running
‘Distance is the only thing I hate about track.’
Jackson on weightlifting
‘I’ve never really lifted weights, but I was blessed to get good genes from my mother and my grandfather.’
Jackson on his strength
‘I’m not bragging, but the coaches made me stop bench-pressing at 435 or 440 because they didn’t want me to pull anything.’
Jackson on fitness at 60
‘I’ve become a cyclist. That’s the way I keep my legs and my lungs in shape.’
Bo Jackson’s Supplements
Electrolytes
Jackson has a hydration drink brand called Bo 3.0 with vitamin C, potassium, the Ayurvedic fruit Terminalia chebula and antioxidant Amla, but no sugar. It is meant to support cardio and joint health and overall wellness.
Non-THC CBD
Jackson also invests in the brand Promise Nutraceuticals and non-THC CBD drops, gummies, and gel caps to help with sleep and pain relief.
Bo Jackson’s Lifestyle
CBD for Sleep
Jackson has a CBD brand called Promise that is meant to help relieve pain, anxiety and insomnia. His product does not contain THC, meaning it does not cause a high.
Tough Start
Jackson was the 8th of 10 kids, raised by a single mother. He says that growing up he never knew he was poor.
A Promise Kept
Jackson turned down an offer to go pro right out of high school and play for the NY Yankees because he made a promise to his mother to be the first one in the family to get a college degree. It took a little while, but he finally completed his in 1995 in Family and Child Development.
Third Person Referral
Because Jackson has a stutter and finds it difficult to say the word ‘I,’ he often refers to himself as ‘Bo.’ Bullied as a child, he took a public speaking course to overcome his fear. Two of his sisters also stutter.
Drafting Scandal
Jackson was taken via private jet by Hugh Culverhouse, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get a physical during his college senior baseball season. He was told the trip had been cleared, but it had not and the SEC declared him a ‘pro’, and thus ineligible to play for the end of the season. Jackson was so angry, he turned down the Buccaneers’ 5-year, $7.6 million contract and took Kansas City’s 3-year, $1.07 million offer instead.
Tragedy Strikes
Jackson’s football career ended abruptly in 1991 with a dislocated hip that required replacement surgery. His baseball career continued until 1994, with a year off in ’92 for the surgery.
Bo Bikes Bama
Jackson decided to create the charity after 400 people died in tornado strikes in 2011. Everyone from pros like Lance Armstrong down to little kids ride. He has raised over $1 million to put into tornado warning systems and shelters.
Jackson on sports today
‘I’m still a fan, but I don’t watch baseball, football, or basketball.’
Jackson on his businesses
‘If I put my name behind something, you can bet the farm that it’s all about quality. It’s all about integrity, and it’s priced right.’
Jackson on the Buccaneers
‘Draft me if you want. You’re going to waste a draft pick, I can promise you that.’
Jackson on his speech impediment
‘I knew that if I didn’t conquer my fear of standing in front of people…that I couldn’t get to where I wanted to go.’
Jackson on fatherhood
‘I became a father during my sports career 3 times, and that has to be the most exciting thing that ever happened to me.’
Recommended Products
Bo 3.0 Hydration Drink
Promise CBD
Gotcha! Plant-Based Foods
Nike
