Buffalo Bills fans have plenty to look forward to this season, not just for the team's on-field performance but also for the lively presence of veteran wide receiver Mack Hollins. Mack Hollins taking over Bills' training camp Despite being initially signed with a focus on special teams, Hollins has proven himself invaluable during training camp. The 30-year-old veteran, who joined the Bills on a one-year contract in May, has earned significant reps with the first team and is making a strong case for a key role in the receiver rotation. This article explores the training regimen and unique dietary habits of NFL wide receiver Mack Hollins, highlighting his approach to peak performance and overall well-being. From his reliance on Manukora honey to his aversion to house cats, Hollins' methods are as unconventional as they are effective.
Hollins' Unorthodox Lifestyle
Hollins' quirky nature has not gone unnoticed. "Every team I've been on, they're gonna be like, 'Who's the weirdest guy?' And they're gonna say, 'Mack,'" Hollins shared with Buffalo Plus. His unconventional practices-such as going barefoot as often as possible, eating without utensils, and avoiding house cats-have become a topic of amusement and admiration among his teammates.
"I think shoes are a tool," Hollins explained. "And people have made them a part of their body. Like, I wouldn't walk around with a hammer just because I might need a hammer sometimes." His aversion to house cats is equally unique: "Never have them around. If it's a house cat, that'll steal your soul." Hollins' eating habits are also a bit out of the ordinary. He finds that eating with his hands keeps him "more cognizant" of washing up before and after meals and helps with digestion. "Yeah, he's crazy," left tackle Dion Dawkins joked. Despite his unorthodox practices, Hollins has become a favorite among teammates and coaches. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who counts Hollins as one of his "favorite people" ever met, was even convinced by the wide receiver to try out barefoot training.
The Manukora Honey Connection
Mack Hollins is a vocal advocate for Manukora honey, citing it as a crucial component of his daily routine for sustained energy. "I have always been impressed by Manukora’s commitment to being 100% raw and natural. Manukora ensures that their product is the best it can be, which is what I feel like truly sets them apart. For me, it’s also Manukora’s commitment to the environment and to creating a sustainable source; that extra level is not something you see across the industry and definitely made me a Manukora user."
He incorporates Manukora honey into his diet to maintain high energy levels throughout the day. "I use Manukora every day. Being a professional athlete, I like to be regimented so I always take Manukora every morning to kick start my day. Game days, I definitely rely on Manukora to keep me energized. I take a serving before the game starts and then another one at half time." Hollins emphasizes the importance of a clean energy source that doesn't lead to a crash, noting, "Here’s the bottom line: It’s a clean energy source that doesn’t lead to a crash. I’ve tried in the past to use energy gels and didn’t have the results that I got from Manukora. I’ve found that when I use Manukora, I get the energy boost I need with a long tail, so I don’t have a huge crash after."
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Dietary Choices and Philosophy
Hollins maintains a strict diet focused on fruit and meat while consciously avoiding vegetables. "I actually don’t take any supplements. I stick to a strict diet of a lot of fruit and meat, no vegetables." He considers himself a "super user" of Manukora honey, integrating it into his daily life from morning to dinner to optimize its benefits. "I talked about this before, but I think I’m a super user because I’ve made Manukora a part of my daily life and daily routine. From the time I get up through dinner, I’ve incorporated Manukora into my diet and lifestyle to get the optimal results from this superfood."
The Importance of Glucose
Mack uses Manukora honey to give him the superpowers of clean, enduring energy. This essential sugar, found abundantly in Manuka Honey 20+ MGO 850, is key to providing our bodies with the clean, sustainable energy they need. Glucose is a simple, but essential sugar that provides our organs, tissues, muscles, and cells with the energy they need to function and thrive.
Prioritizing Clean Eating
Hollins' preference for natural and raw products aligns with his dedication to clean eating. He appreciates Manukora's commitment to environmental sustainability, which reinforces his decision to use their honey.
Early Career Nutrition
The Eagles' entire rookie class is adapting to a demanding nutrition plan for the first time as professionals, and several of the first-year players this month said the biggest challenges don't come from crash diets or detailed regimens. Instead, the key is finding ways to stay disciplined away from the team facility and the watchful eye of the nutrition staff, Gibson said. Eagles coaches ask players to hit specific goals for weight and body fat percentage, according to undrafted rookie running back Corey Clement (Wisconsin). The right nutrition plan is a big part of staying on target, but players have some freedom to make their own choices. And rookies have adopted different methods of sticking to their preferred diet.
Hollins' Early NFL Diet
As a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles, Hollins' diet included a daily cup of M&M's to satisfy his sweet tooth, allowing him to avoid other desserts later in the day. "It's really just like a shot glass of M&M's," Hollins said. "It gives me my little energy boost to start the day." While the Eagles' training staff doesn't take note of every meal a rookie eats, there is a system in place to support the players. Michael Minnis is the team's performance nutrition coordinator, and he works on Chris Peduzzi's sports science team. Rookies said Minnis gave them a list of quick and healthy restaurants in the Philadelphia area when they first arrived for rookie minicamp, complete with ordering suggests.
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Douglas (West Virginia) and Hollins (North Carolina) said the Eagles' diet plans are similar to their regimens from college. The difference, though, is that the Eagles have a football-specific nutritionist in Minnis, so rookies no longer share a specialist with other sports, like they did in school. Plus, the Birds provides players more smoothies and supplements at the facility than a college team could offer. "They give you stuff to take before you work out, after you work out, before practice, after practice," Douglas said. "So it's a lot of stuff your body wants and craves." Added Clement: "The difference [from college] would be everything is more laid out for you, in terms of pre shakes and post shakes after practice. Normally, back at school, we would just have things after we lift, and that was it."
Each day after practice, a counter in the walkway from the field to the Eagles' locker room is dotted with different colored smoothies, each one intended for a specific player. Clement said his post-practice smoothie has raspberry, blueberry and chocolate whey protein. After the smoothie, many players eat lunch at the team facility. The cafeteria is stocked with lean, protein-rich food, but there are other options the rookies often choose to avoid. "It's like a regular cafeteria, so the regular employees go in there as well," Hollins said. "So, there are unhealthy things, but you just have to stay away from it."
Once players leave the team facility for the night, they have more freedom when it comes to their meals. Some order a week's worth of food with the help of the nutrition staff, Douglas said, while other players make use of the list of restaurants. In any case, rookies said they try to eat more carbs and lean protein than most people, while nixing dairy and sweets. And Philly's sports science staff is monitoring the progress if not every bite -- Douglas said the Eagles use a sweat test to determine each player's body fat percentage and other measurables to make sure things are going according to plan.
Continuous Self-Improvement and Betting on Himself
Reflecting on his career journey, Hollins mentioned, "I don't know, I think I value myself. I've always bet on myself throughout my career." He elaborated on his decision to take on less lucrative offers in favor of proving his abilities, saying, "I'll always bet on myself. And I know people are like: 'Oh you're on a one-year deal, like what could go wrong?' Well, what could go right, alright. I bet on myself. Shake the dice, if they roll for a seven then collect my money."Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, Hollins has had a varied NFL career, including stints with the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.
Hollins' Commitment to the Community
After signing with the Bills this offseason, Hollins said he's looking forward to finding more ways throughout the year to continue to spread awareness on food insecurity and making sure everyone in Buffalo has access to healthy and sustainable food sources. "We're going to make sure our city's good first, then spread the word," he said. The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) is an organization that employs youths year round and teaches them job readiness and leadership skills through farming, kitchen and nutrition education. Bills WR Mack Hollins visited the non-profit urban farm on Buffalo's West Side this week to present the check and get a tour of the farm. "I've seen and know personally friends and teammates that have grown up and never seen a farm, never seen a cow, never seen a chicken, other than on TV," Hollins said.
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