Armon Warren is a professional American football offensive tackle who went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft before signing with the Chicago Bears. Warren played college football at Missouri where he was named to the Second Team All-SEC in 2020. However, early in his college career he struggled with his weight which led to poor performance, failing his physical one year, and ultimately being cut from the team.
This turned out to be a wakeup call for Warren, motivating him to get in shape through diet and exercise. After shedding significant weight, Warren earned back his spot on the team and went on to have a successful college career. Now in the NFL, he hopes to inspire other athletes struggling with health and fitness.
Struggles with Weight Early in Career
Armon Warren was drafted as an offensive lineman by the NFL in 2012. However, he struggled with weight issues throughout his early career. Warren tipped the scales at over 350 pounds, which negatively impacted his performance and stamina on the field.
In 2014, Warren showed up to training camp out of shape at 360 pounds. As a result, Warren failed his team’s mandatory conditioning test, which requires linemen to run sprints under a specified time. Being overweight made it challenging for Warren to keep up with the pace.
Failed Physical and Being Cut
Armon Warren had worked extremely hard to make it to the NFL, signing with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2013. However, when he reported to training camp that year, the Dolphins’ staff was alarmed by Warren’s weight, which had ballooned up to 340 pounds. As a result, Warren failed his initial team physical due to being overweight. The Dolphins subsequently released him shortly thereafter.
It was a devastating setback for Warren, who had worked so hard just to get his foot in the door with an NFL team. But his hopes were dashed due to showing up out of shape. Warren later admitted he simply wasn’t taking his conditioning and diet seriously enough. “I learned the hard way that you can’t slack as a professional athlete,” Warren said. Getting cut served as the wake-up call he badly needed.
Turning Point
Warren realized he needed to make major changes after being cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. As reported in a 2023 news article, “It was a persuasive point, but weight loss with caffeine pills 5 star…”. After failing his physical with the Steelers, Warren knew something had to change. This moment served as his wake-up call to get serious about improving his health and fitness.
Warren committed to shedding weight and transforming his body. He set out on a rigorous diet and exercise program, determined to get in prime physical condition. Though the road ahead would be challenging, Warren found the motivation he needed after hitting rock bottom. His football career hung in the balance, and Warren resolved to do whatever it took to get back on the field at a healthy playing weight.
Embarking on a Weight Loss Journey
After being cut from the team, Armon Warren knew he had to make major changes. He embarked on an intense weight loss regimen that involved both diet and exercise.
Warren credits most of his success to the program he created called “Your Legacy Weight Loss.” The program consists of a very strict diet plan combined with vigorous exercise.
Some key elements of Warren’s diet included:
- Eating 5-6 small meals per day
- Focusing on lean protein, vegetables, and complex carbs
- Avoiding sugary and processed foods
- Drinking a gallon of water per day
His exercise regimen involved strength training 4-5 days per week, with a focus on high-intensity interval training. Warren also incorporated cardio like running stairs and incline walking.
Through this intense diet and exercise program, Warren was able to quickly drop significant weight and transform his physique. This allowed him to get back into shape in order to return to football.
Shedding the Pounds
According to the video on his YouTube channel, Armon Warren lost over 45 pounds of fat in just under 2 months. He achieved this dramatic weight loss through strict adherence to the diet and workout program he designed called “Your Legacy Weight Loss.”
The program consists of strategic intermittent fasting windows, targeted strength training routines, and a customized nutrition plan. In the video, Warren explains how he built the program specifically around his needs as a football player to drop weight rapidly while maintaining muscle mass.
By sticking to the intermittent fasting schedule, weightlifting regimen, and diet outlined in his program, Warren was able to quickly transform his body and improve his performance on the field. His success shedding so much weight in such a short time has made him an inspiration to other football players and athletes looking to get in shape.
Return to Football
After dedicating nearly a year to transforming his diet and fitness regimen, Armon was determined to make an NFL roster in 2021. He had completely reshaped his body and felt lighter, faster, and more explosive than ever.
When Armon hit free agency, he garnered interest from over a dozen teams impressed by his physical transformation. Ultimately, he signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings – hungry to prove he still belonged in the league.
“Walking back into an NFL facility after being cut, I felt like I had something to prove. My release was a wake-up call that I desperately needed at the time. I’ll be forever grateful for that extra push,” Armon said at his introductory Vikings press conference.
The Vikings coaching staff was immediately impressed by Armon’s vastly upgraded conditioning and athleticism. His leaner 250 lb frame and quicker first step made him a force coming off the edge. After a dominant preseason, Armon secured a starting role at outside linebacker.
In his first game back, Armon made an immediate impact – sacking the opposing quarterback twice and forcing a key fumble late in the 4th quarter to secure a Vikings victory. It was a storybook return to the NFL after being shown the door just a year earlier.
Succeeding at a Healthy Weight
After [losing nearly 50 pounds, Warren returned to the football field faster, stronger, and more agile than ever before. He credits his weight loss transformation with allowing him to unlock his full athletic potential.
With his newfound fitness and stamina, Warren excelled during his senior season at West Hills College. He recorded 30 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks while anchoring the defensive line. Warren’s impressive production earned him first team All-Conference honors.
Additionally, Warren’s individual workout numbers greatly improved across the board. He set personal bests in the 40-yard dash (4.8 seconds), bench press (385 pounds), and vertical jump (32 inches) after shedding excess weight. Warren clearly demonstrated how weight loss translated into tangible football skills and measurable athletic gains.
Losing nearly 50 pounds allowed Warren to maximize his physical talents and establish himself as a dominant force at the community college level. Slimming down and getting into peak shape boosted Warren’s production, awards, and readiness for major college football. Ultimately, weight loss provided the catalyst for him to reach his athletic ceiling.
Inspiring Other Athletes
Armon Warren’s inspiring weight loss journey has had a major impact on other athletes struggling with weight issues throughout their careers. After to get his weight under control, Warren showed it was possible to transform your body even as a professional athlete with intense training demands. His dramatic before and after photos circulating on social media quickly went viral in the sports world.
Many pro football players reached out to Warren asking for advice after seeing his incredible transformation. They wanted to know details on his diet, exercise regimen, and approach to making such a drastic lifestyle change in the middle of his career. Other athletes struggling with injuries that limited their cardiovascular training also found motivation in Warren’s weight loss methods.
Warren now actively mentors and trains several up and coming football players on maintaining healthy weights. His social media feeds showcase intense workouts with fellow athletes focused on weight management and overall fitness. Warren emphasizes the mental side of fitness as well, urging players to see food as fuel and commit to the identity shift from being an overweight athlete to a health-focused role model.
Other pro athletes credit Warren’s public weight loss journey for giving them the motivation needed to finally get serious about improving their own diet and fitness. His inspiration spans across sports, with athletes in basketball, baseball, hockey, and more reaching out to learn from Warren’s experience transforming his health and career.
Conclusion
Outlining Armon Warren’s shows how dedication and hard work pays off. After initially struggling with his weight and failing his physical, Warren embarked on a serious diet and exercise program. He shed over 50 pounds to return to football and succeed at a healthier size.
Warren’s story demonstrates that major weight loss goals can be achieved through lifestyle changes like improving nutrition, adopting an exercise regimen, and staying motivated over time. His perseverance serves as an inspiration to other athletes struggling with weight issues. Readers can apply Warren’s tips to transform their own habits and better their health.
The key takeaways are that weight loss requires commitment, support, and believing in yourself even when progress seems slow. Warren’s prove that sticking to weight loss goals pays dividends in the end. Anyone can make positive changes if they work hard enough for it.
