In: Nursing
Discussion Topic: Minimum 250 words
Griffin is proud of his accomplishments as a college football player.
“I’ve worked for a long time to make it this far. I did all the hard work. In addition to training hard with my team when I was in high school, spending my summers at football camp, and working out in general in the weight room, I also kept my grades up and look what it got me—a college scholarship! Next step? The NFL!”
However, college football is also taking its toll.
“I’m up at 7 every morning, bacon and eggs and biscuits and gravy and a big glass of orange juice for breakfast, followed by morning classes. Then I lift weights and practice all afternoon, eat two foot-long subs, one for my first lunch, and one for my second lunch, ending with a study hall just for the team.”
When asked if he varies his menu, Griffin tilts his head and wrinkles his nose, looking up at the ceiling. “Well, breakfast varies, depending on whether they’ve got waffles or not. I like a stack of waffles; but lunch is generally the same. Sometimes I add chips or a big cookie. Dinner’s always different. Last night I had spaghetti.”
Griffin faced some challenges last season, including a knee injury.
“But that’s all done with now. My knee is fine. The coach lectured me about something called ‘stress fractures,’” he says, “but nothing has happened. He didn’t have to worry about me.”
The nutritionist’s nurse asks the big question: What brings Griffin here today?
“Playing college football has been a big shock,” Griffin says. “I push myself harder than I have ever done in my life. My body’s just under a lot of stress. I mean, in high school, you’re player number one. You get drafted to a good college team, though, and boy, you find you’re struggling not to be on the bottom. Here, everyone was the best player in his high school. So pressure and competition and training are extra tough.”
“Eating is different too. At home, my mom let me eat what I wanted when I wanted, as long as I took my turn doing the dishes,” he laughs. “But here, some of our senior teammates have been teaching us how to load carbs. Recently some weird stuff has been happening to me, so my coach said I should talk to a dietitian.”