Last summer, nine-time NBA All Star and two-time Olympic Gold medalist Chris Paul thought he finally might be slowing down. The 34-year-old point guard (now playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder) was entering his fifteenth season in the league, and he found himself balling next to 19 and 20 year olds. In other words: he was feeling slow.
Earlier that year, Paul had worked on the documentary The Game Changers, a controversial film, which Mens Health fact checked, about the dangers of carnivorous consumption habitsand the boons of plant-based alternatives. As a competitor, Paul wanted whatever advantage a new diet might grant. Plus, he wanted to see if he could do it. So Chris Paul passed on meat.
People on the internet always wanna judge my game, my body, my style, he told Mens Health in a recent video interview. Paul stopped by the Mens Health offices the day after a game in Brooklyn to face his internet opponents and plant-curious fans. The NBA All Star talked about his new, late-career energy, his decision to go plant, and why hed never trade bodies with Kevin Hart. (Dont worry; the two are friends.)
I chose a plant-based life. So far, so good. Not easy. But for me its working. I started plant-based in June. I went cold turkey. I tell you: I was itching. I thought I needed a chicken wing or something. But somehow I made it through. I had the opportunity to executive produce a move/documentary called Game Changers, which talks about plant-based diets and how it helps athletes. For me, being as competitive as I am, I looked at this and I was like: hold up, let me try this out. And I tried it, and the first thing that changes when you go plant basedand it might be too much informationis going to the rest room. It becomes a lot faster. A whole lot faster.
I do feel really good right now. I think the biggest change for me is the aches and pains of the season. I started working out and training and I got to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and I thought, am I not lifting hard enough? Am I not training hard enough? Why am I not achy? I aint trying to say you have to stay with it, but give it a try.
"Last year was Houston. When I was in L.A., I wanted to end it there. Where I want to end my career is somewhere where youre appreciated. It sounds like a weird answer, but thats been the coolest part even right now in Oklahoma. I started my career there. Life happened and I ended up there, and its been great being back and around everyone."
"If you spent a day with me now, youd just be like: man, thats what youre eating? My cheat day meal now: I like cookies. Its so crazy being 34 and having teammates who are 19 and 20. Having to chase these guys around. Im always conscious of how much sugar Im getting. But understand, theres always a method to the madness. Theres a reason why I try to eat the way I do and be as disciplined as possible."
Read the rest here:
NBA Star Chris Paul on His Plant-Based Diet and The Game Changers - menshealth.com
