Between starting for the Dallas Cowboys and managing the Carr Cares Foundation, Brandon Carr is a busy guy. We caught up with him to see how he stays fit, where he gets his “fire,” and all about his love for a big breakfast.
What’s Your Favorite Healthy Way to Start the Day?
I get up and drink a cup of water to get my day going. If I’m in training mode, I will get a shot of ginger, lemon, cayenne, and honey—it’s better than coffee. I like to do some oatmeal with some type of fruit, maybe some type of meat (like sausage), and toast or pancakes.
What does your workout look like on a normal day?
During the Offseason: I head into the office to workout and take a good 30 minutes to warm up. I do different movements and a lot of stretching and then start into my pre-workout. I pick up weights and things. This season, I tried to drop the weight down and work on technique, and within that, I have been trying to improve my range of motion and improve my explosion. I also mix it up with heel work, getting some speed work, and some stairs.
During the Season: I lift three times a week with moderate weight. I want to get some gains going but not too heavy. I also emphasize lower-body lefts and everything that has to do with my skill set—using single-leg squats, isometric lifts, core and abs, and strengthening my fingers and hands.
What’s your all-time favorite cheat meal?
If it was a good week, late in the week, I like to have a nice, juicy turkey burger. If I’m really trying to cheat, I’ll go with a beef patty, but I try to stick to chicken and turkey. Ooh, and some French fries. Some sweet potato fries.
Who’s on your workout playlist?
My starter would be “The Jungle” by the Ambassadors & Jay-Z, then some Lil Boosie, a little G-Eazy, and some Drake.
What’s your go-to workout secret or tip?
For a lot of novice lifters and beginners, it’s not about the weight you put on. It’s about focusing on the muscle group you want to try to activate. Don’t negate technique. I see a lot of guys trying to put a lot of weight on. Isolate your muscle groups, and be aware of your body, your range of motion.
Where does your biggest motivation come from?
I’ve had a beautiful journey, a beautiful struggle from fourth grade until now as a 30-year-old man. I’ve had the journey of playing this game. I didn’t go to my dream school and went Division II, which was a chip on my shoulder. I’ve had a lot of naysayers, which has been [another] chip on my shoulder. As I continue to play at a high level, I use that noise and bottle up some good fire.
