Drew Brees Workout and Diet
Comedian, Martial Artist, and Commentator
Born: 1967
Andrew Brees grew up in Dallas, Texas. Although he didn’t start playing tackle football until he got to high school, he wound up lettering in 3 sports: football, basketball and baseball. As a junior, he blew out his knee, scaring off college scouts, but he recovered and was given an honorable mention for the state high school all-star football team and also appeared in USA Today’s All-USA team. Brees only got 2 football scholarship offers from colleges. He picked Purdue University where he went on to set 2 records for the NCAA, 13 for the Big 10 and 19 records for the university. In 2001, Brees was selected as a 2nd quarterback for the San Diego Chargers. He was traded to the Saints in 2006. Brees holds many NFL records, including career pass completions and career passing touchdown passes and he is considered to be one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Brees has been to the Pro Bowl 13 times so far, and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV. In 2010, President Obama appointed him co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Brees wrote a book about his recovery followed his shoulder injury called Coming Back Stronger. He endorses a line of nutrition supplements and he also owns several franchises including Dunkin’ and Jimmy John’s. In 2003, he created the Brees Dream Foundation which supports cancer patients and other vulnerable populations. Brees is married and has 4 children. He has millions of followers on social media. Brees is 6 feet tall and weighs about 210 lbs.
Known For:
Drew Brees’s Diet
Summary
At 40+ years old, Brees clearly has to take especial care with his diet, and he does. Back in the early 2000s, he wasn’t feeling in top form and had food allergy testing done. The results came back that he was allergic to many common things, including dairy, gluten and nuts. His trainer Todd Durkin prefers Brees follow a Paleo-style diet anyway, which is based on foods humans ate before the Agricultural Revolution. Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables and fruit are all part of it, but processed sugar and carbs are out. Complex carbs, such as sweet potatoes, are acceptable.
Estimated Macros
- Low-Medium Carb 25%
- Medium Fat 30%
- Medium-High Protein 60%
Diet Details
Clean Eating
In season, Brees sticks to whole, natural foods like chicken, fish, vegetables, and fruit. Off-season, he’ll cut himself a little more slack and indulge in the occasional soda pop or steak.
Soy Delicious
Brees cut out dairy years ago, and eats a lot of soy as a replacement, including soy milk and soy yogurt. He has appeared in several ads for dairy-free So Delicious soy products.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Brees was eating dairy, gluten and certain nuts most days until he discovered he was allergic to them. He cut them out and immediately felt the difference.
What to Eat
Lean Protein
Beef Jerky
Turkey Jerky
Leafy Greens
Vegetables
Eggs
Avocados
Soy Products
Coconut Milk
Berries
Fruit
Root Beer (cheat)
Chicken-fried Steak (cheat)
What to Avoid
Dairy
Gluten
Nuts
Refined Sugar
Junk Food
Fast Food
Processed Foods
Trans Fats
Brees on his Motivation to Stay Healthy
‘It’s my job, but even if it wasn’t, I want to stay fit so that I can be as healthy as I possibly can.’
Brees on Aging
‘I’m pretty aware of what you lose with the aging process..So far, I feel like I’m beating it.’
Brees on Baby Steps
‘Each and every year, I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit better, and that’s always been my goal, was just to get a little bit better.’
Brees on his Cheats
‘I love root beer, and chicken fried steak. I know it’s not healthy!’
Drew Brees’s Workout Routine
Weekly Routine
Rehab Plan
After Brees injured his shoulder in 2012, he worked with strength trainer Todd Durkin for help.
No Easy Way
Brees’ trainer is known for being tough. He doesn’t believe anything should be easy, not even warm-ups.
Hurricane Training
Brees off-season workout is no joke. He does circuits that hit every component: speed, agility, core, etc.
Zero Days Off
Brees doesn’t take a down day, typically Saturday for NFLers. Instead, he is in the gym lifting, and working on new plays.
Mind-Body Connection
Brees considers his mental prep to be as important as the physical.
Add It Up
Brees’ routines border on superstitious. He gets a number in his head, such as the number of the next Super Bowl, and makes himself do that many reps.
Exercise Style
A Drew Brees Off-Season Routine
Dynamic warm-up: 15-25 min total
5-10 min of either
Treadmill: light jog/shuffling each direction/backpedal
Or
Jump rope: various foot patterns
Do 15-20 yds x 2 sets of the following
A-Skips
Lateral skips
High knees
Butt kicks
Lunges
Straight-leg march
Do 10-15 reps of the following:
Jumping jacks
Gate swings
Pogo hops
Seal Jacks
Flings
Speed ladder: 5-10 drills down & back, football in hand
Joint stretching: balance exercises/body weight lifts/foam rollers/ropes
Lateral band walk: 10-20/each direction x 2 sets
Band splitters: 15 reps x 2 sets
Bosu foot taps: 15-20 sec x 2 sets
Bosu lateral switches: 15-20 sec x 2 sets
Bosu Bulgarian lunge hop: 10-15/side x 2 sets
Metabolic Conditioning Circuits (aka Hurricanes)
Hurricane 1
Do 50 yds of each of the following:
Forward TRX sled drag
Overhead TRX sleg drag
Reverse TRX sled drag
Hurricane 1
Sledgehammer hits
Hit tire with 8-10 lb. hammer: 10/side x 3 sets
Med Ball Clean & Press: 10 x 3 sets
Ropes: 60 sec x 3 sets
Jump rope: 60 sec x 3 sets
Hurricane 3
Sled pushes: 50 yds x 3 sets
Hurricane 4: Core circuit
Hover plank to standing plank: 60 sec
Bicycle & rotate: 45 sec
Side plank 45 sec/side
Brees on Recovering After his Shoulder Injury
‘I’ve wised up to the things that I need to do…to benefit me as a quarterback.’
Brees’ Advice on Staying Motivated
‘Train with a purpose. If you have a goal in mind that you’re working toward, you’ll look forward to working out…If you’re working out just to work out, you’ll start to dread it.’
Brees on his Off-season Workout
‘It depends on what stage in the off-season…At some point, you have to relax and enjoy yourself…but by the end of February, I’ll probably be getting back in the weight room.’
Brees on his Preferred Off-season Training
‘I also do a lot of cross-training and paddle-boarding. I like to hike and bike a lot, and I run around after my kids.’
Brees on TRX
‘It’s so versatile. You just use the straps and your own body weight as resistance to tone and strengthen your entire body. And you can use it anywhere, even your hotel.’
Drew Brees’s Supplements
Protein Shakes
Amino Acids
Another item in the AdvoCare line is an amino acid supplement that helps build and maintain muscle mass, and speed recovery.
Energy Drink
The AdvoCare line also makes a sugar-free energy drink called Spark. It contains 21 vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that boost energy and mental focus.
Vitamins & Herbs
Get it here
Herbal Detox
AdvoCare offers an herbal cleanse and fiber supplement that combines herbs, probiotics and fiber to detoxify and help the body shed excess weight.
Get it here
Multivitamin
Get it here
Drew Brees’s Lifestyle
Early Riser
Brees is up around 4 each day in the off-season so he can get things done before his kids wake up. In season, he gets up around 5.
Never Quit
Brees plans to continue to play until he is at least 45 years old. He wants to win one more Super Bowl.
It Runs in the Family
Brees’ comes from athletic stock: his father played basketball for Texas A&M and his mother was a former all-state champ in 3 sports. His brother played college baseball and made it to the 2005 College World Series, his uncle was an All-American starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns college team and his grandfather was a high school football coach for 3+ decades.
On a Mission
Brees has the goal of reversing childhood obesity in the United States. He encourages kids to exercise at least an hour a day, and he is a spokesperson for the Xbox 360 Kinect, which can be used to work out indoors.
Advocating Pyramids?
Brees is a spokesperson for a nutritional supplement line called AdvoCare. In the fall of 2019, AdvoCare was ordered to pay $150 million to settle charges that it operates like a pyramid scheme.
Giving Back
The Brees Dream Foundation contributes to cancer care, disadvantaged children and families, and recently committed $5 million to the COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana. He has donated a lot to the state, including for Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill.
Brees on the Mind-body Connection
‘My body can only go as far as my mind can take it.’
Brees on Focus
‘I know where I’m going to be at a specific time. I know what I’m going to be doing. I know what needs to be accomplished for me to feel confident and go out there and play at the highest level.’
Brees on Winning vs. Losing
‘The truth is, you don’t learn much from winning, but losing can make you a lot stronger.’
Brees on Confidence
‘I’m a very modest person. But I’m also extremely confident.’
Brees’ Advice to Women About Men
‘We try hard! Give us the benefit of the doubt once in a while.’
Recommended Products
AdvoCare supplements
XBOX 360 Kinect
Coming Back Stronger
References
https://www.popworkouts.com/drew-brees-workout/
https://www.shape.com/celebrities/interviews/close-new-orleans-saints-qb-drew-brees
https://www.popworkouts.com/drew-brees-workout/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ftc-advocare-settlement-idUSKBN1WH1UL
