Nick Hardwick, a former NFL Pro Bowl Center for the San Diego Chargers, has an inspiring story of transformation that extends beyond the football field. After an 11-year career, Hardwick retired in 2015 due to a serious neck injury sustained in the first week of the season, as well as overall health concerns. His subsequent weight loss journey and dedication to health and wellness have made him an inspiration to many.
From 300 Pounds to a New Life
During his NFL career, Nick Hardwick maintained a weight of around 300 pounds, consuming as much as 7,000 calories a day to maintain his size and strength. This included a nightly pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, a habit he humorously reminisced about on Digital Hospitality, listing "Chubby Hubby" and "Chunky Monkey" among his favorites. However, this lifestyle was not sustainable or healthy in the long term.
The Turning Point
Hardwick's decision to retire from the NFL marked a turning point in his life. As his wife, Jayme Hardwick, noted, he was ready to "shed some of that weight and kind-of reinvent himself."
The Transformation
Following his retirement, Nick Hardwick embarked on a weight loss journey, losing 85 pounds in under 5 months. This transformation garnered national media attention, with some falsely accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs. Hardwick used these accusations as motivation to demonstrate how others could achieve rapid weight loss and improve their health.
The Lose Like a Lineman Program
The program he developed for himself, "Lose Like a Lineman," has now evolved into a comprehensive weight loss program, recently expanding to include "Lose Like a Lady" with guidance from his wife, Jayme. Together, they assist hundreds of individuals in losing weight and maintaining active lifestyles. The keys to Nick’s success were short-term goals. When he ticked one short-term goal off his to-do list, he moved to the next, then the next and so on. The truth is, the magic of success is far more ordinary and sequential than people think. What’s the picture? What’s the vision? Where do you want to go? It all comes back to the dream. When you visualize a dream, work towards it and then keep elevating it as you go. When it comes to realizing any dream, whether that’s losing weight, getting healthy or building a solid business, you must have a clear and simple structure for success in place. Having a game plan for your day is vital - you need to know what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it.
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More Than Just Weight Loss
Hardwick's transformation involved more than just physical changes. He also focused on his mental health, which is a common struggle for many former professional football players. Jayme Hardwick noted that Nick was "floundering" after retirement and "longing for the six-pack, so he had that, yet he had no direction."
Finding Purpose
Through self-reflection and hard work, the Hardwicks identified their core values: family, fitness, food, and football. They learned to complement each other, working together as a team.
The Hardwick Life: A Platform for Health and Wellness
Nick Hardwick and his wife, Jayme, have established a strong digital presence, using their platforms to share their stories and inspire others.
The Finding Center Podcast
Nick created "The Finding Center" podcast to help others discover their foundations, mirroring his own "Four Pillars." Guests have included Navy SEALs physician Dr. Kirk Parsley, New York Times bestselling author David Epstein, and former NFL offensive lineman Joe Hawley. Jayme Hardwick has also appeared on the podcast, offering insights into their family life and journey.
The Hardwick Life Podcast
Nick also runs a health and wellness podcast called “The Hardwick Life”. His intention is to try and figure out who his audience is, and determine how he can get useful information to them.
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Digital Hospitality
The Hardwicks are also business owners and media publishers, choosing to control their narrative by telling their own stories online.
The Challenges of Transitioning from the NFL
Hardwick's story highlights the challenges that many NFL players face when transitioning out of the sport. He acknowledges that it's a difficult process for both the players and their families.
Identity and Loss
Upon retiring, Hardwick realized that he had to grieve the loss of his playing career. He missed his teammates, the camaraderie of the locker room, and the urgency of team sports. It reminded him as he was playing that he is not Nick Hardwick the football player, I am Nick Hardwick who plays football. However, to have a lot of success, you have to be fully committed. To be successful, that becomes your identity. It was a rude awakening for me when I got done because I thought that I would be able to disassociate from that, but then I realized I was going have to grieve over the loss of my playing career. It was like my former self has gone through a form of death and I was going to miss all of my teammates. I wasn’t going to be welcomed back into the locker room all of the time. I wasn’t going to have the urgency in my life of the team sport and the great challenges that come with that.
The Importance of Planning
Hardwick emphasizes the importance of having a plan for life after football. He suggests that players take advantage of programs offered by the NFLPA, such as internships and credential programs, to prepare for their post-NFL careers. Join a credential program that you can go to. Get your real estate license, get your strength and conditioning certificate, find programs that you can get into and start working towards post-graduate education. Take a few classes every year. Once you do that, you will be able to identify your “flow” and get back into your “flow state.” Or finding something that gives you the thrill of a chase.
Lessons from Other Linemen
Hardwick's experience is not unique. Many other offensive linemen have undergone similar transformations after retiring from the NFL.
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The Pressure to Gain Weight
Offensive linemen often face immense pressure to gain and maintain weight to perform their jobs effectively. Jordan Gross, a former offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers, noted that fans know him more for losing weight than for anything he did during his career.
Health Consequences
Maintaining a high weight can lead to various health problems, including heart issues, lung problems, kidney issues, and mental health concerns. Dr. Archie Roberts, a former NFL player and cardiac surgeon, warns that massive weight gain can lead to obesity and related complications.
Finding a Healthy Balance
After retiring, many linemen focus on achieving a healthier weight and lifestyle. Joe Staley, a former San Francisco 49ers tackle, lost 50 pounds after retirement and admitted to enjoying his newfound muscle definition.
The Role of Diet
Many linemen describe extreme diets to maintain their playing weight. This included a daily dose of that concoction added 59 pounds to Bartch's 6-foot-6 frame, helping him morph from a third-string Division III tight end at St. John's (Minnesota) to a fourth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars as an offensive lineman. Chris Bober, a former New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs lineman, showed up at the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 225 pounds, which was too small. He ate everything he could get his hands on, which was difficult as a college student "who was pretty broke." It was especially challenging over the summers, when he inherently burned calories at his construction job. If Bober went to Subway, he wouldn't just buy one foot-long sub -- he'd get two. At Taco John's, his order was a 12-pack of tacos and a pound of potato oles, which adds up to a nearly 5,000-calorie lunch.
Hardwick's Current Life
Today, Nick Hardwick is a successful entrepreneur, health advocate, and family man. He enjoys traveling, coaching his sons' sports teams, and staying active in the gym.
Finding Purpose and Passion
Hardwick has found his center in life, focusing on his passions and helping others achieve their health and wellness goals.