Too heavy to play?

Question
QUESTION: Hi!
My husband did not play organised soccer as a kid but he can kick a ball and dribble,etc.
He has started indoor playing once a week with a group of guys in his office.
I think he is having a male menopause second childhood thing but he is happy and pumped up about it so as long as he is carefull I am cool with it.
BTW he will soon turn the big five oh.
He has started running to get his 'wind' but he is still at least 30 pounds overweight so I am a bit worried.
His heart is OK as he has regular checkups.
He wants to start practicing to get better but I think he should concentrate on losing some weight.
Would he play better if he lost some of his excess weight?
He thinks he just needs to work on his dribbling and speed. Maybe he does but I bet losing the belly and about 20 pounds would help too?
Several of his buddies are chubby too but they played a lot longer than he has.
If he hears it from an expert maybe he will listen.
Thanks!
Thanks!


ANSWER: Hi Vanessa
You are 100 percent correct and with that extra weight and the stress on ligaments,tendons,connective tissues surrounding the knee in a sport that requires very quick volatile directional moves is disaster waiting to happen.Soccer is totally different than easy running with a steady heart rate unlike soccer where the heart rhythm has many quick up and down surges and is far more dangerous at his age cardio wise.I hope i have helped shed sub light for consideration.Any other questions just get in touch Vanessa.

All the best

John

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks John
I have been monitoring his food intake. He is 5'8" and 225 pounds so considerably heavy, BUT, his total calorie intake is about the same as mine!
However, he has a 'fat tooth'- soaks his healthy multigrain toast in butter, has steak or pork chops or some other meat entree every night and insists I dont trim the fat.He does eat his veggies though;-)
His excuse was he was 'low carbing it'.
I have talked him into trying an experiment-low fat high carb.
Lots of rice, bread, past but no margerine, oils or fats only a little lean meat.He is desperate enough to get in game shape that to his credit he is doing it.
And, miracle of miracles, after only three days he has lost a pound, has more energy, and no gas or heartburn.
I seem to remember anarticle I red about professioonal atheletes-at least the ones that need to be slim like soccer players, eating lots of carbs.
This goes againt the new thinking that carbs are bad.
He says that when he was a kid his coaches recomended lots of meat. To base your diet on rice or pasta was unAmerican. His childhood was in Montana.
your thoughts?

Answer
Hi Vanessa
First i would say i think he needs to lose about 601bs.Next his diet of all that meat fat etc,i like to see his cholesteterol.The best diet is just a well balance meal of carbs quality source of protein and vegies with olive oil.He should get rid of all that meat.It is that simple.He does not need to eat a lot of carbs and should not.He really needs to get real serious about his diet and lose that weight asap.His weight his past diet and now getting into some real stressful cardio at 50 years old is scary.You have to really be careful and go slow.I would recommend a complete blood work up and possibly a stress test.If you would like to talk to me by phone i could dig deeper with more clariy on all your questions.I'm in albuquerque NM at 505 271 5909 from 6am on.Anything else just get in touch.I don't me to alarm you,but as a coach i have to tell and individual as i see it and come forth with my recommendation.

All the best

John