Skip to main content
​The Ultimate Guide to Christian McCaffrey Workout Routine and Diet

​The Ultimate Guide to Christian McCaffrey Workout Routine and Diet

Posted by Leonard Shemtob on Aug 22, 2024

Christian McCaffrey is known for his incredible performance on the football field. He is known not just for his impressive skills on the field but also for his rigorous workout routine. 

In this guide, we'll take a closer look at how McCaffrey trains, including the exercises he performs and the strategies he uses to stay in top shape. 

We will also explore his diet in this article. Join us as we explore the ultimate workout routine inspired by one of the game's top players!

[Related Article] Romanian Deadlift (RDL) Workout Guide: Benefits, Variations, and More


Short Summary

  • Christian McCaffrey's Workout Routine: Overview of the exercises and training methods he uses.
  • Training Exercises: Breakdown of the specific exercises McCaffrey uses to enhance his performance.
  • We will also discuss his diet, exploring the foods and nutrition strategies that fuel Christian McCaffrey’s performance on and off the field.
  • Speed and Agility Drills: Specific drills designed to improve quickness and agility.
  • Recovery Techniques: Strategies McCaffrey employs for effective recovery and injury prevention.
  • Boost Your Performance: Try our top recommended pre-workout, Wild Thing, to enhance your workout results.


About Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey, born in Colorado, is the son of former NFL star Ed McCaffrey and college soccer standout Lisa McCaffrey. As a high school standout, he excelled in football, track, and basketball. 

He set multiple school records in football, earning the title of Gatorade Football Player of the Year twice (2012 and 2013). He was a US Army All-American and chose to play at Stanford, where he won AP College Football Player of the Year and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. 

McCaffrey was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017. In 2019, he made history as one of only three players to achieve 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. 

Beyond his on-field accomplishments, McCaffrey is a sought-after endorser, philanthropist, and social media influencer. He stands at 5'11" and weighs around 205 pounds.


Christian McCaffrey’s Workout Routine

Christian McCaffrey’s workout routine is designed to keep him at peak performance on the field. His training focuses on building strength, speed, and agility. Due to his training, he is often compared to a sprinter. 

Here’s an insight into his routine:

Strength Training: McCaffrey includes exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses to build overall strength.

Speed and Agility Drills: McCaffrey practices sprinting drills and agility ladder exercises to enhance his quickness. These drills improve his reaction time and ability to change direction swiftly.

Conditioning Workouts: His conditioning sessions involve high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and endurance runs.

Recovery and Flexibility: Recovery is an essential part of McCaffrey’s routine. He uses techniques like chiropractic, soft tissue work, and massage therapy to keep his muscles flexible and prevent injuries. He also begins his exercise with a warm-up and ends it with a cool-down routine to avoid injury and to ensure efficiency of movement.


Christian McCaffrey’s Workout Structure

  • Monday: Focus on agility drills, a 45-minute dynamic warm-up, and Olympic weightlifting.
  • Tuesday: Incorporate running drills and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
  • Wednesday: Recovery day to allow the body to rest and recuperate.
  • Thursday: Agility work with an emphasis on speed.
  • Friday: Engage in various conditioning exercises.
  • Saturday & Sunday: Rest days


Christian McCaffrey’s Diet

Like many top athletes, Christian McCaffrey sticks to a diet that’s all about balance. He focuses on getting the right amounts of lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs to keep his energy levels high and his body performing at its best.

When McCaffrey first entered the NFL, he took his diet seriously enough to hire a personal chef. This chef prepares healthy, well-balanced meals for him and delivers them twice a week. Each meal comes labeled with when it should be eaten and what’s in it, making it easy for McCaffrey to stay on track. 

McCaffrey avoids foods that could cause inflammation in his body, so he skips dairy and desserts. Hydration is also a big part of his routine—he drinks plenty of water, aiming for at least a gallon and a half each day.

Foods He Eats

  • Organic foods
  • Egg yolks
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Oatmeal
  • Fruits
  • Avocados
  • Chili
  • Soup
  • Stew
  • Bison
  • Steak
  • Fish
  • Gluten-free pasta
  • Brown rice

Foods He Avoids

  • Allergens
  • Refined sugar
  • Trans fats
  • Junk food
  • Artificial additives
  • Chemicals

A Typical Day of Eating

Breakfast: Egg yolks (no egg whites due to allergies), sweet potato hash with oats, or a piece of fruit.

Lunch: After his workout, McCaffrey usually enjoys a hearty meal like bison chili with potatoes, peppers, and vegetables. He’s a big fan of soups because they’re easy to eat and packed with nutrients.

Dinner: McCaffrey tries to have dinner around 7 p.m. to allow time for digestion before bed. His evening meal often includes a meat dish, like steak, along with sides such as sweet potatoes or avocado.


Christian McCaffrey’s Supplements

Pre-Workout

McCaffrey regularly uses a pre-workout supplement to boost his energy and focus. He takes a scoop before starting his first workout of the day, then eats, and later has another scoop before diving into his second workout.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are another staple in McCaffrey’s routine. These supplements support muscle recovery and help him stay strong through intense training sessions.


Best Pre-Workout Supplements to Boost Your Workout Performance

1- Wild Thing by Assault Labs

Wild Thing by Assault Labs

Wild Thing is formulated to enhance your workout performance. It contains a combination of creatine, creatine, and other nutrients aimed at supporting muscle function during exercise. 

This supplement includes several nootropics that help improve focus and increase workout energy. It also features ingredients to promote vascularity and muscle pumps. 

Wild Thing's caffeine blend combines ZumXR® and Infinergy® with additional forms of caffeine, providing both an initial energy boost and sustained release throughout your training. Wild Thing offers an advanced formula that aims to support both the physical and mental aspects of training.

Key Benefits

  • It increases your energy levels.
  • It helps enhance your focus.
  • It boosts your strength.
  • It improves your muscle pumps.
  • It improves your mood and overall cognitive function.
  • It reduces muscle fatigue.
  • It accelerates your muscle recovery.

Key Ingredients

  • DiCitrulline Malate/Infinergy®
  • Beta-Alanine
  • Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline
  • Agmatine Sulfate
  • Creatine Anhydrous
  • L­-Glutamine
  • Choline Bitartrate
  • Caffeine Anhydrous
  • L­-Tyrosine
  • L-Norvaline
  • ZumXR®
  • Huperzine A
  • Infinergy®
  • Cocoabuterol®
  • Thinkamine®

Customer Reviews

 Best preworkout I have ever had

“I have tried almost every pre workout out there and this is seriously the best one. I don't generally write reviews but I had to for this one. Buy this stuff and try it!!”

-Perry


 Wild thing

“Best pre-workout I've ever had. My pumps are greater. Can lift heavier up to you 15 pounds heavier. This product is well worth every cent.”

-Ernesto


 Great boost of energy

“This product gives me incredible focus and energy without the jitters.”

-Lostboy4028


2- Seismic Surge by Hard Rock Supplements

Seismic Surge by Hard Rock Supplements

Seismic Surge is formulated to support strength, stamina, and energy during workouts. It includes ingredients aimed at providing a boost of energy and helping you push through your exercise routine. Seismic Surge focuses on advanced formulation to potentially improve performance and help you overcome workout plateaus.

Key Benefits

  • It boosts your energy levels.
  • It enhances your muscle pumps.
  • It improves your muscle endurance.
  • It improves your mood.
  • It enhances your focus and overall concentration.
  • It increases your metabolism.
  • It helps improve your strength.
  • It speeds up your muscle recovery.

Key Ingredients

  • Beta-Alanine
  • Caffeine Anhydrous
  • Alpha Yohimbine Hydrochloride
  • 1,3,7 Trimethylxanthine (Delayed Caffeine)
  • Theobromine
  • Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • L-Citrulline Malate 2:1

Customer Reviews

 HARD ROCK FOR THE NUMBER ONE IN ALL CATEGORIES!!!

“The best I've tried em all.mesomorph is good and wild thing to. But in comparison to this focus and pump...nothing cleaner... nothing has given me this much stamina.HARD ROCK SUPPS will continue to dominate the industry if they keep coming out with products like they have been. The only company that comes close in terms of potency and amount of product at a fair price is Olympus labs from the UK. Everybody else better step there game up or HARD ROCK SUPPS will crush you..”

-jordan


 Works great!

“Great pumps and sustained energy for tough workouts, just make sure to eat a little something 1 or 2 hours before or it might be a little too much. I take 1/2 scoop for fasted morning workouts.”

-Zack


 One of the best

“Energy is extremely high focus is great, I workout before work and the energy last well into my work day”

-Rednek


3- Oracle by Olympus Labs

Oracle by Olympus Labs

Oracle is a pre-workout supplement designed to enhance focus, endurance, muscle pump, and energy during workouts. It contains ingredients like genistein and ligustrazine phosphate, which are intended to support these benefits. 

The supplement features PR3 Tech, which provides a balanced blend of ingredients to improve both anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance. Oracle also includes a stimulant blend aimed at delivering sustained energy without the usual post-workout crash.

Key Benefits

  • It enhances your Tabata performance.
  • It enhances your endurance.
  • It reduces your fatigue.
  • It boosts your strength.
  • It improves your cognitive functions.
  • It increases your energy levels.
  • It helps improve your mood and focus.

Key Ingredients

Customer Reviews

 Absolutely love

“This pre workout is absolutely amazing. It doesn’t give any jitters but gives you a boost to make you want to workout and enough energy to sustain a good workout. I love that I don’t get nauseated taking it. I have notice more endurance while doing CrossFit workouts as well.”

-Stephanie S.


 oh yea!

“very good, lots of energy, was able to do more reps on all my sets and felt great doing it too. recovery was quicker too and taste was light and nice. Im an oracle guy now lol”

-Richie M.


 amazing focus

“its a great product and focus is good during workout, just one thing keep yourself hydrated as it dries your throat a lot, but great endurance and focus good pump as well.”

-Abhishek


4- Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout by Gorilla Mind

Gorilla Mode Pre Workout by Gorilla Mind

Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout is designed to improve your workout sessions with a scientifically formulated blend of ingredients. This formula aims to improve your performance, helping you reach your peak physical potential with each training session.

Gorilla Mode contains a solid formulation that includes high doses of effective ingredients designed to increase endurance, muscle pumps, and energy levels, allowing you to maximize your workout experience.

Key Benefits

  • It enhances your energy levels.
  • It increases your pumps and vascularity.
  • It boosts your strength and power.
  • It improves your focus.
  • It helps improve your endurance.

Key Ingredients

  • L-Citrulline
  • Creatine Monohydrate (micronized)
  • GlycerPump™ (65% Glycerol Powder)
  • Malic Acid
  • Betaine Anhydrous
  • L-Tyrosine
  • Agmatine Sulfate
  • Kanna (whole herb, Sceletium Tortuosum)
  • Caffeine Anhydrous
  • N-Phenethyl Dimethylamine Citrate
  • Bioperine® (black pepper fruit extract)
  • Huperzine A (Huperzia serrata leaf standardized extract)

Customer Reviews

 Amazing pumps

“On my 2nd jar of Gorilla Mode now and I've been loving the pumps and energy I get from it. I started with one scoop for the first few days then increased to 2 scoops. The difference from 1 to 2 scoops is very noticeable. Way more energy, way better pumps, and I felt a lot stronger during my training sessions. Love that it doesn't have any beta alanine because I personally hate the tingly sensation it causes.”

-Jason


5- Mesomorph Pre-Workout by APS Nutrition

Mesomorph Pre Workout by APS Nutrition

Mesomorph by APS Nutrition is a pre-workout supplement designed to enhance workout quality and athletic performance. It features a blend of ingredients aimed at providing increased energy, focus, and endurance. Mesomorph is formulated to help you tackle intense workout routines effectively. It has been a notable pre-workout option for over eight years.

Key Benefits

  • It improves your energy levels.
  • It enhances your focus.
  • It boosts your endurance.
  • It reduces fatigue.
  • It helps improve your muscle pumps.
  • It helps boost blood flow.
  • It supports increased strength and power.

Key Ingredients

  • Beta-Alanine
  • Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG)
  • Creatine Nitrate
  • Creatinol-O-Phosphate
  • Agmatine Sulfate
  • Caffeine Anhydrous
  • Theobromine

Customer Reviews

 Mesomorph

“Love this stuff. Can’t find anything else that touches it. Definitely works everytime.”

-Ben


 Great

“This was probably the best pre workout I've ever taken, only downside was that I always had hard crashes and loss of appetite but was worth it lol. so sad to see that they've discontinued the one with ****”

-Umar


 Mesomorph

“Top 3 pre workouts I've ever taken. First time I took it I felt it kick in with in 15 minutes. I went to the gym that day to do back, I ended up doing back legs shoulders and arms and still had energy.”

-andrse


FAQs: Christian Mccaffrey Workout

Q: What does Christian McCaffrey’s workout routine include?

A: Christian McCaffrey’s workout routine includes strength training, speed and agility drills, conditioning exercises, and recovery activities.

Q: What kind of diet does Christian McCaffrey follow?

A: McCaffrey’s diet is balanced with lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. He eats foods like egg yolks, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, fruits, and avocados while avoiding dairy, refined sugars, and processed foods.

Q: What supplements does McCaffrey use?

A: McCaffrey incorporates pre-workout supplements and amino acids to enhance his performance and recovery.


Wrapping Up

Christian McCaffrey’s workout and diet are essential to his success as an elite athlete. His rigorous training routine and a balanced diet help him stay in top shape and perform at his best. 

By focusing on strength, speed, and recovery, along with a carefully planned diet and the right supplements, McCaffrey maintains his high level of performance on the field.


Sources:

https://totalshape.com/fitness/christian-mccaffrey-workout-diet/

https://fitnessclone.com/christian-mccaffrey-workout-diet/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM6gQMCPKeY

Image Credits:

https://www.instagram.com/christianmccaffrey

Written and Sponsored by Leonard Shemtob

Leonard Shemtob is President of Strong Supplements and a published author. Leonard has been in the supplement space for over 20 years, specializing in fitness supplements and nutrition. Leonard appears on many podcasts, written over 100 articles about supplements and has studied nutrition, supplementation and bodybuilding. 

Leonard's articles have been published in many top publications around the web. Leonard enjoys weight training, playing basketball and yoga, and also enjoys hiking. In his free time he studies and works on improving himself. For more detailed information, visit his official blog.