Weight gain challenges for AFL ruckman Simon Taylor

If you are trying to put on weight, you will no doubt understand how challenging and frustrating it can be to achieve the size you are striving for. You know you are doing the right training and you are spending plenty of time in the gym, but if you are not eating the right balance of nutrients then it is unlikely you will be able to achieve optimal results. 

Full-time athletes can find it particularly difficult to put on muscle mass. For AFL footballers training everyday it can be hard to eat enough kilojoules to match those burnt during exercise. Weight gain requires kilojoule intake to exceed expenditure, and with the demands on AFL players these days, it is hard to find enough time in the day to eat enough. Players with extra energy needs for growth, and those with a naturally high metabolism, can find it extremely difficult to gain muscle mass.

Hawthorn Football Club have been using Aussie Bodies products for several years with significant benefits for players trying to increase muscle mass and keep body fat levels low. Simon Taylor is a young ruckman who has used Aussie Bodies drinks, bars and protein powder supplements to help meet his weight gain goals and keep his immune system working efficiently.

Simon joined the club at the end of 2004, moving across from the Box Hill Hawks. At the start of pre-season, Simon's weight was 99kg. Simon was keen to drop a little bit of body fat but at the same time wanted to increase his muscle mass to improve his strength in the ruck. Simon is 201cm so his goal of 105kg was totally reasonable and achievable. Dietary assessment indicated that some changes were needed for Simon to reach his body composition goals, and he started to increase his intake of higher protein foods, such as low-fat milk, yoghurt, meat, chicken and fish. 

Meanwhile, weights sessions combined with an increased protein intake helped Simon to increase his weight to 102kg throughout the 5 month pre-season period. Simon used a range of Aussie Bodies products to help him increase daily protein and kilojoules.  Aussie Bodies Protein Revival drinks and Protein FX bars were a favourite after training sessions and he was also using a combination of Mega Weight Gainer and Perfect Protein as a supplement 2-3 times per day. The liquid forms of protein and kilojoules are easy to digest and are often easier than eating the same amount in foods. Protein shakes are also great pre and post training sessions as they are not heavy in the stomach. Other meal placement options are with breakfast or as a between meal snack.

Early in 2005, a few challenges arose with Simon experiencing iron depletion. Low iron levels led to fatigue and lowered immune function. Simon was being very careful with his fat intake, but with his high metabolic rate this meant he was not getting enough kilojoules and this led to a drop in body fat to below recommended levels. The combination of low iron and extremely low body fat contributed to recurrent fatigue and colds/infections in the first half of the year, which is not ideal for someone in high-level training.

Simon began to increase the volumes of food and fluids consumed and introduced some healthy fats in his diet, such as nuts, fish, avocado and olive oil. This helped Simon increase his kilojoule intake and also his muscle mass, without an increase in body fat as he had originally feared.
Simon has continued to supplement his diet with Aussie Bodies Xtreme Muscle Gainer which is particularly beneficial as it contains extra vitamins/minerals that are important for immune function, energy levels and general health. Xtreme Muscle Gainer also contains L-glutamine, an amino acid believed to have a positive effect on immune function.

With some changes to his diet, Simon was able to increase his weight to 105kg and has maintained 104-105kg throughout 2006.  "For a long time I thought I was doing all the right things to put on weight, but I did not realize just how much food I needed to consume to get results. When l really started to increase the volume of food, with plenty of high-quality protein, my muscle mass gradually increased. I was also able to get rid of the niggly colds and felt fit and healthy for the start of the season".   

Simon continues to use Aussie Bodies Protein Revival, Protein FX bars, Xtreme Muscle Gainer and Perfect Protein daily to provide essential protein and energy to help maintain muscle mass.

To keep up to date with Simon's HFC achievements please visit www.hawthornfc.com.au

Top of page