WOODBURY — LeBron James is slowly drifting away from the league; however, he says he still has more to do. 

LeBron, you could say, is more invested than ever. According to CBS Sports, LeBron spends $1.5 million on his body every year. He still works out six days a week while balancing his team’s needs, and finds enough time to get quality sleep for recovery. But how? How does an athlete keep up as a professional for so long, while staying so dominant?

LeBron’s Fuel

LeBron as an athlete needs a good amount of everything to keep him running, according to an article by Osborn, J., James eats carbohydrates, fruits, whole grains, proteins, vegetables, cereal, eggs, french toast, steak, smoothies, fish, pasta, chicken, rice, oatmeal, and every blue moon he enjoys a glass of wine.

LeBron, being an athlete, is always inflamed, so he tries to stay away from inflammatory foods like sugar, dairy, gluten, while also not overconsuming carbs. This is a common strategy among athletes, according to Nonnewaug wellness teacher Dave Green.

“Reducing foods that are accelerants to the body deteriorating is one way to extend the career,” Green said. “Many athletes at a high level pay close attention to the nutrition game as it can really help them to perform at their best for a longer period of time.”

A big focus for this generation of athletes is what they put into their bodies, allowing them to perform at never before seen peaks.

Winning with the Knowledge of the Game

LeBron’s body might not be where it used to be, but his IQ for the game has only increased. According to SI’s Melissa Rohlin, his eidetic memory is what he uses to really beat these young athletic defenders. He says his ability to read the floor was always with him, from the standpoint of remembering plays, the locations of where the players are, and seeing open spots. 

LeBron can still move, but beating a younger guy with the IQ of the game is definitely something that makes his game easier at his age. 

How does LeBron Handle all the Pressure? 

LeBron handles pressure very well, with him being in the league for so long overtime he has learned from his previous mistakes. He claims he uses sleep as one of the biggest medicines to reset his nervous system. Sleep is important for everyone, but especially elite athletes, according to Green. 

“Sleep is critical for us all, but especially the elite athletes,” Green said. “Sleep is when we allow our bodies to repair themselves, furthermore it is the time when our mind gets a chance to rest which in turn allows our body to perform better.”

According to Keaton Robbins of Voices, LeBron also uses the Calm App, which is an all-around relaxation app that has many categories such as sleep stories, relaxing sounds, and meditations.

“The mind is like a muscle, the more you train it, the stronger it becomes. While the greats master the body, the greatest master the mind,” James told Forbes. Lebron over time has learned how to block out the outside noise, according to NHS Junior Samuel Casbarro.

“It wasn’t a smooth path, he has had good games and bad games, Casbarro said, He just learned over time how to handle and block out the outside noise,” said NHS junior Samuel Casbarro.

LeBron is known as a winner, but he says failing is one of the best things that can happen to someone because it allows them to regroup and learn from their mistakes. Failing has helped James to stay motivated to always chase more, and strive to always be better. 

Workout Routine

According to Pinkvilla, James’ workouts are designed for the longevity of the human body, especially an aging one. He works out six times a week, three of those days are weight room sessions to keep up his bone density, muscle mass, strengthen joints, and reduce injury. 

The other three days are plyometrics which help with increasing neuromuscular coordination, tendon health, and making his movement patterns on the court as efficient as possible. He throws in some cardio for heart health, increased stamina, and staying in shape throughout the season.