Editor’s note: This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering leadership, personal development and performance through the lens of sports. Follow Peak here.
Sebastian Vollmer had the opposite problem of other offensive linemen he knew. It was harder for him to gain weight than it was to lose it.
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As an offensive tackle for the New England Patriots, Vollmer had to consume outrageous amounts of breakfast sandwiches, shakes, olive oil and anything else he could stomach. Every offseason, he received a letter from the Patriots informing him of his target weight. During his seven-year playing career, Vollmer became obsessed with reaching that target, anywhere between 320 and 340 pounds, believing it gave him the best chance to succeed.
However, as his career ended, he started to feel the effects o
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