Jason Fowler Of Juice Plus+ On The Workout Routines Of Professional Athletes

Professional athletes have to perform at the highest levels. While not all of us will share Professional athletes’ athletic skills, we can learn insights from their workout routines about how we can improve our own exercise regimens. In this interview series, we are talking to professional athletes from all sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, Soccer, Olympics, Golf, Tennis, etc.) about the workout routines that they use to help them achieve top-level performance. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jason Fowler — 2 x Ironman World Champion, Para-Triathlete, Human Potential Coach and Advocate for Mental + Physical Health — JuicePlus+ Ambassador.

Jason grew up in Kingston, MA and was a nationally ranked amateur motocross racer by age 10. At the age of 17 he became paralyzed from the chest down after colliding with a rock while out practicing on his motorcycle. Since the accident, he has continued his passion for high performance, completing 40 marathons, 43 triathlons, and competing in 6 Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona, HI. His commitment to achieving his best has earned him two Ironman World Championship titles in the handcycle division in 2009 and 2016.

Jason’s passions include giving back by teaching wheelchair racing to kids and adults as well as studying health and wellness. He credits his ability to compete for 40 years to his commitment to a healthy mental and physical lifestyle, including being a 100% plant based athlete.

The Juice Plus+ Company is a highly successful health and wellness company operating in more than 20 countries today with a mission to inspire healthy living around the world. The company’s fruit, vegetable and berry capsules are supported by more than 40 independent clinical studies conducted by researchers at leading hospitals and universities. The study results have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals making Juice Plus+ capsules the most researched brand name nutritional product of its kind in the world. Juice Plus+ provides consumers with a simple and convenient way that helps bridge the gap between what they should eat, and what they actually do eat, with added nutrition from a wide variety of plant-based and wholefood-based ingredients.

Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and the story of how you became a professional athlete?

My journey to semi professional athletics started early, and by 16 years old I had won 8 New England championships and was nationally ranked second place at motocross racing. At 17, I had a life threatening accident that paralyzed me from the chest down. I wasn’t willing to let using a wheelchair slow me down from achieving my best, so I started wheelchair racing 5 months after my accident, and by jumping back into competitive athletics it gave me a purpose. Fast forward ten years, I have completed 30 marathons. I also fell in love with triathlons, and loved the challenge of using just my arms to swim, bike, “run”! I shortly made it my mission to win a world championship in the Ironman Triathlon which is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile marathon. In 2009 (after 6 straight years of dedication) I won my first Ironman Triathlon World Championship.

Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?

At my first Ironman Triathlon World Championship in 2004, I failed to finish as I missed the time cutoff after 9.5 hours on the course. I was never the most talented athlete but what I lacked in physical ability I made up for in work ethic and motivation. That day I vowed to get back to the event and finish. Over the next 3 years I trained harder and harder, and while I improved, I still failed to qualify. I was at my end of the road and ready to quit as everyone around me was doubting my commitment and ability. Finally after hitting a rock bottom I came to the realization it was going to take an extraordinary effort to get to the next level. With that, I got myself to the world championships and not only finished but placed second.

The lessons were endless. It might seem like just another goal, but what it was for me was a gift that gave me the confidence to pursue anything and open up endless possibilities for my life. It was amazing to prove to myself that by putting an almost insurmountable goal in front of me created a chain of events that drove me to succeed. From that moment on, it gave me courage and a map to outline how to accomplish anything. That doesn’t mean it will be easy, or that I am not scared of failing, but rather it has given me the faith that when I deeply commit to a goal I know I can do it.

You are a successful athlete. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?

• Determination — in 2005, 2006, and 2007 when I failed to qualify for the world championships, I refused to give up and in the end it led to me winning 2 world titles and giving me the confidence to believe anything is possible when we are committed with 110% effort.
• Courage — In 1991 I broke my back and became paralyzed from the chest down. The first thing I experienced daily was fear; fear of failing from my chair, fear of people not liking me, fear of failing, fear of dying. It was a constant battle to wake up and get through my days and learn to love without the use of my legs. I found the courage from those around me to get up and be my best and over time I strengthened my courage muscles. It’s been my courage that allows me to thrive today!
• Open minded — Using a wheelchair for my mobility presents the obvious challenges, but competing in triathlon at the highest level using adaptive equipment requires even more complexity and challenge than I can explain. My life post life threatening accident requires me to come up with athletic mobility solutions that allow me to thrive. I build all my own adaptive equipment including racing wheelchairs, handcycles, and swimming gear which all requires an open mind as to how it looks and how I accomplish it.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your sports career? What lesson or takeaway did you learn from that?

I believe there are no mistakes in life, only lessons. That being said, my greatest struggles have taught me the most. For three straight years I was challenged with a health issue that the doctors could not help me cure. I hit rock bottom so hard I was in bed for 3 months, went through endless doctors appointments with specialists all over the world and went through 3 surgeries. This struggle forced me to examine what’s important in life and began helping youth via coaching. I also revived my athletic career and in January 2022 I began my quest for another world title. It has been nothing but pure struggle getting my body back and I wanted to give up over and over again, but I never gave up and in 3 weeks I will have the honor of competing with 5 others from around the world at the Ironman Triathlon World Championships. Doing hard things leads to growth and when you dig deep and focus, purpose is revealed. My purpose is to show the world that life is worth living regardless of how it looks. For me that is competing with only my arms!

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?

In the last 2 years I have started mindset coaching youth athletes on how to do their best in sports, and in life. I give you the mindset tools so that they can successfully deal with the adversity and challenges life throws at us all. It has begun to help youth by giving them the confidence to tackle big goals and grow. Regardless of the sport it gives them a road map to tackle hard things and enjoy the process.

Can you share with our readers a few of the workout routines and any JP+ products that you use to help you perform at peak levels?

My favorite workouts are my long handcycling rides that are anywhere from 3–5 hours in length. What I love about them is that they are both physically challenging but also mentally challenging. If we are not challenging ourselves mentally we are not growing. I can’t push my body and mind without being properly fueled. For me that starts with my nutritional foundation. I have been eating Juice Plus+’s fruit, vegetable, and berry capsules daily for 13 years, which fill in any nutritional deficiencies I may have from not eating enough fruits and veggies. On workout days I consume Juice Plus+’s Perform a couple hours before and directly after my long rides. What I love about Juice Plus+’s Perform is that it’s packed with 25 grams of protein so I feel satisfied, and it is also of the highest quality ingredients.

What do you do to prevent injuries during your workouts or during your competitions?

One of the most important goals of mine as an athlete is getting to compete in a strong and healthy way. The two things that come to mind as the most important with regards to injury prevention is nutrition and pliability. I have only had only one injury over the past 18 years of competing in triathlons and one of my secrets is eating Juice Plus+ fruits, veggies, and berry capsules daily. My pliability goal is to stay as strong and flexible as possible. My solution for pliability is a ratio of strength training and active recovery stretching that keeps me at my best.

What type of workout regime has helped you to rehabilitate from injury?

I have found that only resting from injury isn’t the most efficacious. By stressing the body out, it signals the body to heal itself. The best way to heal from injury is to listen to your body so that you know when to push and when to rest. The cornerstone of my rehab has been sleeping 10–12 hours per day while injured.

Do you practice mindfulness or meditation as part of your overall training routine? Can you explain what you do?

I use non-traditional meditation on my long endurance rides. I purposely do not use any music and or video. The quiet time where I have to be with my thoughts only for hours on end results in a calm mind. At first you are going to want to escape and quit, but over time you build the stillness and calm that helps you better focus on sport and life.

Can you please share your “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Career As A Professional Athlete?”

Know your purpose — When your purpose drives your actions they become supercharged with intention and when things get tough you will be less likely to quit.

Build the self awareness muscle — To be good at sport you must recognize your deficiencies so you can improve. Early in my athletic career I made the mistake of believing I knew what I was doing. Now I know I need to be open minded and self aware enough to know that I may not have the right solution yet.

Build the ownership muscle — No matter the challenge, it is up to the athlete to fix their shortcomings. When you realize it isn’t just going to happen on its own and that you need to take 110% control of the ownership for change to happen. When I didn’t qualify for the world championships 3 years in a row I blamed it on my equipment, my competitors being more naturally talented and that distracted me from the truth, which was I wasn’t on the right path.

Optimize your time — As a professional athlete everyone is going to want your time. You need to make sure you are managing the must do’s in your life so that you get the best from yourself. I have found now preparing for my 7th world championships that you only get one chance to be your best and you must design your life so that the people around you know that things are going to be out of balance. You train 40 hours per week which means social and other commitments come second. For you to be your best, the training comes first and that means you have to design your weeks so that you aren’t required to do much outside of training, as it will take away from your mission. We only thrive at what we work most at! If we want to win world titles it requires a super extraordinary effort. I always say living an athlete’s life is like living a monk’s life in that it’s one of discipline and routine!

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

You never know what your idea can trigger. I would love for more people to set goals and dreams that are bigger and more grandiose. I believe we all grow and are fulfilled when we are challenged. I have learned via living and competing with no use of my lower body and subsequently overcoming all those challenges. Now I know I can do anything I set my mind to. There is no greater feeling than accomplishing what you think you can’t, and when large groups of people are empowered to be their best it creates waves of good on our planet!

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.

About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at [email protected]. To schedule a free consultation, click here.

Source : https://medium.com/authority-magazine/jason-fowler-of-juice-plus-on-the-workout-routines-of-professional-athletes-85003fba9879