Former Browns’ Tackle Joe Thomas Shed 50 Pounds And His Weight Loss Secret Makes Total Sense

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Former Cleveland Browns tackle and shoe-in Hall of Famer Joe Thomas retired this offseason after 11 stellar seasons in the NFL. The 33-year-old currently holds the NFL record for most consecutive snaps played (10,363) and didn’t miss a single play in his career until his final season in 2017 when he tore his triceps in week 7. His reliability and longevity is especially impressive considering he played those 10,000+ snaps standing 6’6” and weighing 310+ pounds.

Keeping the weight on has been a lifelong mission to date for Thomas. In high school, Thomas said he would take an entire loaf of bread, make it all into PBJ sandwiches, then eat 1/2 a sandwich every hour and wash it down with a glass of whole milk. During practice days in the NFL, he used to drink two big glasses of whole milk and a sleeve of thin mint Girl Scout cookies before bed to maintain weight. On inactive days, he used to eat a modest 4,200 calories.

But those days are over. The 10-time Pro Bowler appeared on NFL Network’s Inside Training Camp Live noticeably slimmer. Thomas has shed 50 pounds and now looks like a used car salesman in Boise, Idaho. Don’t tell him I said that.

“I was more eager to lose weight than almost anything in retirement,” Thomas said.

As for his weight lifting methods: a vegan, gluten fr–just kidding…

“You just don’t eat until you feel like you’re gonna throw up at every meal and all of a sudden the weight falls right off,” Thomas laughed.

If anyone has any tips on not eating until your pants button pops off, DM me.

[h/t Sports Illustrated]

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Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.