This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Is Your Son Next?

With today being National Signing Day, with hundreds of high school football players choosing a college to continue their playing careers, have you ever stopped and truly thought about football players who weigh in at more than 250 and 300 pounds and what happens to them after they suit up for the last time?

I have! Bad knees, bad back, diabetes, heart disease, depression, self-esteem issues (shall I continue?) all relating back to weight issues.

I was one of those players. And the above-mentioned weight-related issues were with me for most of my 20s and 30s.

Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Now its time to step up and give you some firsthand insight before it’s too late. This isn’t just happening in the NFL or other professional football leagues — its in our high school programs too.

I’m a co-owner of two training facilities and offseason workouts are about to begin (for the programs who haven’t already started) and in the first week, three overweight and out of shape players come in and said to me, “My coach wants me to gain 20 pounds.”

Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I looked at each of these boys and said, “Great. I want your coaches’ names and telephone numbers. I’ll write up a contract that says when your playing days are over, it’ll be his responsibility to take the weight off of you, deal?” Let’s see how many sign that!

More and more I see kids wanting to get “bigger” with no understanding or concern of what happens when the stadium lights go down. (Their mindset is to live-to-eat to gain the weight) Enter the parent or guardian — it’s up to them to take responsibility in getting your son’s mind past that last game, and help him to realize and understand what’s going to happen when the playing days are over and the serious health risks involved.

It’s time we wake up and stop listening to coaches dictate the health and wellbeing of our young men that play under the guidance of these “teachers” and “mentors.”

I’m only one person and I do my best to bring awareness to this problem of overweight students, players and former players. Each time I speak to a group, no matter if its 5 people or 500, I start the clinic the same way: “If you don’t take away anything I say in the next hour, pray that these words are never said to you — CHANGE! OR YOU’LL DIE.”

I thank God that the fear of death scared me enough that I changed my path from living-to-eat to eating-to-live.

I hope, in the very least, that I have given you something to think about, whether you be a parent, coach or player. Next time you’re looking at your relatively fit 250 to 300 pound football player, ask yourself what happens when his playing days are over? Don’t delay that thought, because if you wait to ask yourself that question until after the final snap, take it from some whose been there that it’s already too late.

I’m Michael Knight and I’m here to help.

Michael Knight is a certified personal trainer. He is also the co-owner of Mike Knight’s Art of Strength, with locations in West Bloomfield and Birmingham. He has trained professional athletes and housewives, CEOs and college students. Find out more about him and how he can help you at AoSKettlebells.com

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from West Bloomfield