The first question that comes to everyone’s mind is, what percentage of body fat does Cristiano Ronaldo actually have? This world-class footballer has a very high level of fitness and has maintained it for years. The Portuguese international famously put aside his Coca-Cola bottle during a press conference. The answer: only 7 percent. That’s quite a low amount for a world-class athlete. Typically, male footballers are around 10 to 11 percent body fat. Cristiano Ronaldo is the exception to this rule as he has a diet plan that focuses on keeping muscle mass. The average male human body is around twenty to twenty-five percent body fat.
7%
Despite being 33 years old, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo is still in incredible shape. The Juventus team doctor claims that Ronaldo has not aged since the last decade. According to a medical report released after the $110 million switch from Real Madrid, the Portuguese star’s physical capacity matches that of a 20-year-old. In addition, his 7% body fat — three percent less than the average professional footballer — enables him to perform at his peak.
This figure is a big reason to admire Cristiano Ronaldo. According to the Juventus medical team, he has 7% body fat and 50% muscle mass, which is considerably lower than the average professional footballer. Ronaldo has also beaten the average speed of other players at the World Cup, with a top sprint speed of 21.1 mph. He is so fit that he has been compared to a 20-year-old after passing the Juve medical, and he will turn 34 in February.
He eats six times a day
It’s not hard to understand why Cristiano Ronaldo eats six times per day. This footballer is known for his high protein diet and believes that eating frequently is a good way to maintain an energy level. He prefers to eat several small meals throughout the day, which he can fit in between workouts. He also eats salads and chicken, which have high protein and low fat contents.
Despite his intense diet, Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t skimp on sleep. He has revealed that he eats six meals a day, spaced out by at least three to four hours, to support his high metabolism. In fact, he also eats up to five naps daily. He says that having a strong mind is as important as a strong body.
The star of Juventus is known for eating and sleeping frequently. He strives to eat at least six times a day and takes up to five naps each day. He begins the day with ham and cheese on low fat yogurt and ends it with avocado toast. For lunch, he eats chicken or tuna with salad and sometimes even avocado toast. Besides that, he drinks water and juice. He does not drink alcohol.
While it might be difficult for a footballer to get the necessary sleep, he does have a healthy lifestyle. He tries to get eight hours of sleep each night. He also takes five 90-minute naps during the day. Littlehales says that this method is beneficial for athletes. A good amount of sleep is essential for the brain. A full night’s sleep is necessary for recovery from the strenuous demands of playing a day.
He sleeps less than the average athlete in his sport
Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is notorious for taking multiple naps throughout the day. While the average athlete in his sport sleeps eight hours, the Portuguese superstar is said to sleep less than seven hours a day. He’s even known to take as many as five 90-minute naps. According to Nick Littlehales, a leading sports sleep expert, Ronaldo’s sleep regime involves taking five 90-minute ‘naps’ a day, equaling about 7.5 hours.
The football star begins his day with calisthenics at 5 a.m. and then sleeps until nine or ten a.m. Then, he eats six small, high-protein meals. Afterwards, he performs cardio-heavy drills to increase his agility, speed, and mobility. This routine is part of a rigorous training regimen that focuses on sleep, eating well, and resting well.
He uses a cryotherapy chamber
It’s no secret that the Real Madrid star uses cryotherapy chambers to burn off body fat. The process of freezing off excess body fat was first developed by the Japanese in the 1970s. These days, it’s more common in wellness spas and is promoted by celebrities and A-listers. The following are just a few of the benefits of cryotherapy. Here are some reasons why this method of body fat reduction is beneficial for athletes and celebrities.
The Premier League’s star has a strong commitment to fitness. His latest investment is a PS50,000 cryotherapy chamber, which plunges body temperatures as low as 200 degrees Celsius. In addition to the cryotherapy chamber, the Portugal star regularly takes a 20-minute hot bath every day. Despite his impressive physique and impressive fitness level, Ronaldo is teetotal since 2005, which explains his keen interest in healthy living and a diet-rich diet.
While the benefits of cryotherapy are well-documented, they can be largely elusive. Aside from the risk of developing serious health issues, there are a few contraindications to cryotherapy. For example, people with circulatory problems, pregnant women, and those with circulatory problems should avoid the treatment. However, people who are otherwise healthy, or who enjoy spending time in the outdoors may benefit from it.
Cryotherapy works by tricking the body into hypothermic «fight or flight» mode. It triggers the release of endorphins, epinephrine, and anti-inflammatory proteins. The process also boosts the body’s immune system and blood circulation. In Scandinavia, cryotherapy is widely considered healthy. It’s possible to experience some pain or numbness from the cold exposure, but it’s not painful.
He eats fish
The star player is a big advocate of seafood and prefers eating sea bass for dinner. Consuming seafood is linked to a reduced risk of fatal heart disease. It contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids that protect the heart and stave off chronic disease. So, he’s obviously eating the right kinds of fish. But why does Ronaldo eat fish? Let’s look at some of his other favorite meals and learn more about them!
Despite the fact that he eats six meals a day, Ronaldo consumes just one meal that contains more than 3000 calories. He follows a ‘little and often’ diet plan, top-up his stores every three to four hours. This helps him boost his metabolism and support muscle growth. Apart from fish, he also eats whole grains, salad, lean protein sources like sea bass and swordfish, and fresh fruits.
While his current physique is incredible, he did not always look like this. While most people see him as a naturally fit and lean player, the truth is that his body was not always so well shaped! In fact, Ronaldo’s proportion of body fat is closer to 10% than that of other players. He regularly runs for thirty minutes and trains every day. He still finds time to indulge in sweets and alcohol occasionally.
In addition to eating fish, Cristiano Ronaldo also works out vigorously. He exercises for three to five hours a day and he intersperses those workouts with 20 to thirty-minute cardio sessions. Even though he is always in the middle of intense training, he still manages to stay lean and healthy. The key is to keep an active lifestyle! Cristiano Ronaldo eats fish to reduce his percentage of body fat
Usually, footballers train three times a day. They have a morning and afternoon training session and they warm up for about 15-20 minutes before the sessions. During the morning session, players go for specialized training and they may go to the gym before lunch. Afternoon sessions involve team training or extra training. They are expected to train for several hours and include a variety of different exercises.
Strength training
Many sports require a certain level of strength, and football is no exception. Different positions require different levels of strength, so structured strength programs can improve performance and progress. Strength training for footballers is essential for young children, especially those on talent pathways. A 10-week leg-strength training programme significantly improved players’ performance on a 10m sprint, 30-meter sprint and vertical jump. Apor (1998) suggests that players must develop the musculature of a sprinter as well as the leg strength of a football player.
In addition to improving overall strength and endurance, strength training helps players to avoid injury. A study conducted by Reilly in 1990 showed that players who engaged in strength training during their football careers outlasted their weaker counterparts and experienced fewer muscle injuries. As leg strength is crucial for stabilising the knee joint, building leg strength is especially important. In football, the knee joint is the most frequently injured joint. Strength training for footballers is a great way to improve your speed and agility.
The most effective strength training for footballers focuses on building up stabilizer muscles, agility and balance, as well as enhancing speed and acceleration. It is important to note, however, that maximum strength training should only be done during the off-season. During the season, heavy weight training can lead to muscle soreness and fatigue, making recovery time more difficult. Therefore, it is recommended to undertake two or three heavy strength training sessions per week during the off-season, and one session per week during the competitive season.
A good strength-training program for football players should also focus on conditioning specific body parts. While it is important to strengthen all body parts, football players must also be able to sprint when tired. While this is an essential skill for the game, strength training should not cause soreness. Instead, it should improve overall physical conditioning. Moreover, the goal of strength training for footballers is to help players recover after a game. And because football requires a high level of agility, anatomical adaptation training will help every player improve.
Plyometrics
Plyometrics, a type of high-speed exercise, should be a part of a footballers’ training routine. The goal is to increase explosive power while maintaining high-quality movements. For optimal results, plyometrics should be done on a softer surface to reduce stress on the knees and joints. Plyometrics improve agility, lateral speed, change of direction, rhythm and balance.
In this type of exercise, players mimic the action of a slingshot by pulling back a tight band. As the band tightens, the force of the pull is increased. The muscles use this thrust to kick a ball, defend a goal, or perform a bicycle kick. Plyometric training allows the body to act like a slingshot ready to spring and release force.
Many aspects of football require explosive movement. Players need to make fast decisions, change direction quickly, and maintain body position. Plyometric exercises improve these aspects of soccer players. Soccer players perform a great deal of quick sprints and kicks. These rapid movements and intense stretching of muscles will increase their agility. When performed properly, plyometrics can significantly increase the speed and power of their kicking and tackling.
In football, the most important focus is on achieving explosive power and agility. The explosive power and agility gained through plyometric movements are essential for tackling and pushing opponents. Plyometrics help improve proprioceptive abilities, which will improve the rate of force production and reduce injury risks. Plyometrics are best added to a footballer’s training routine once a week. To get the most out of plyometric exercises, try performing just one exercise for three sets a week. Increase this amount only 5% each week, as your body will have time to adapt to the changes.
Interval training
In an exercise program, interval training for footballers involves running short distances at high intensity, followed by rest. In the study, 42 male footballers were randomly assigned to either interval training or repeated-sprint ability training. The interval training group ran at ninety to ninety-five percent of their HRmax. The repeated-sprint ability training group performed 3 x six maximal shuttle sprints of forty metres. The players’ maximum oxygen uptake, respiratory compensation point, and 10-m sprint time were measured at baseline and seven weeks after training. Jump height and power were also measured.
High-intensity interval training is a valuable tool for footballers, both in the off-season and when recovering from an injury. This type of workout trains both the aerobic and anaerobic systems, and mimics the demands of a football match. Interval training also allows the athlete to increase volume while reducing recovery time. By varying work intensity between intervals, footballers can improve their cardiovascular fitness, strength, and endurance.
Football players can also use high-intensity interval training to increase endurance, improve agility, and maximize speed. This type of exercise allows footballers to reach and maintain high-intensity training sessions, which simulate game conditions. By alternating high-intensity workouts with recovery periods, the players can mimic the stress and pressure of an actual match. Moreover, the drills can simulate the full length of the pitch, which helps them run faster and avoid injury.
For soccer players, the training schedule should mimic the demands of a game. In the game, footballers sprint for up to 1 km, with high-to-low ratios of three to five seconds and thirty to ninety seconds. Therefore, interval training for football players should include two sets of twenty-five-meter maximal sprints with one minute rest between them. This would mimic the demands of a tough match, but short-duration sprints are better for the ATP-PC system.
Recovery
In order to increase performance, players must recover fully from rigorous training. Football training reduces a player’s exercise capacity, which makes recovery during and after matches essential. For optimal football performance, players must recover from physical activity by increasing their muscle glycogen stores. Studies have shown that the intermittent nature of football matches causes muscle glycogen to be depleted almost immediately. Hence, recovery during and after training sessions should include specific nutrients that promote muscle glycogen synthesis.
After a tough game, most amateur football players will skip the post-match recovery routine. They might consider a couple of pints or a few stretches to complete the job. But recovery during football training is just as vital as the build-up to a match. Many players run up to 12km per game, enduring countless turns, sprints, sudden stops and hard tackles. A well-designed recovery program will ensure that you end the game injury-free.
A well-designed recovery routine will ensure a complete recovery from a football training session. During this time, athletes should monitor their resting heart rate, muscle aches and pains, lethargy, and mood. In addition, consuming high-quality protein during football training will help to rebuild damaged muscle fibres. The protein in SiS Whey Protein and SiS Advanced Isolate+ is absorbed rapidly by the body.
The study also examined the relationship between fluid intake and performance measures. While the effects of mild dehydration on football performance are not entirely clear, a dehydration state may significantly affect football performance, especially in intermittent sports. Therefore, fluid intake should remain within 2% of body weight. In a cooler climate, the level of fluid loss may be higher. During 90 min of football practice, an average player will lose about 2L of water. However, individual sweat rates can vary anywhere between 1.1L and 3.1L. To assess the effect of this effect on performance, players should pay attention to their sweat rate and drink according to their sweat rate.
Diet
A diet that meets your athlete’s specific needs is essential for his performance. Football players must consume a lot of fluids to remain healthy and prevent dehydration. Aim for 16 to 20 ounces of water per hour and drink every fifteen to twenty minutes during the game. If the game will last for several hours, consider consuming electrolytes and other electrolyte-rich foods. These can be found in sports drinks, fruits, or even in foods such as berries and pretzels.
A football player’s diet should consist of at least ten thousand calories a day. Good fats include nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. Avoid sugary cereals, which will lower the energy your body needs to perform at its best. Protein is also important for football players. You should consume a minimum of four ounces of protein daily, and if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, choose products with more protein.
For example, an adult football player should eat three servings of calcium per day, while a child’s calcium needs increase during growth. Diet and football training routine go hand-in-hand, and professional players understand that timing your food and nutrition can give you an edge in your game. Your body needs a steady supply of muscle glycogen during a match. Low muscle glycogen levels will affect your performance and cause you to fatigue during the match.