Ex-NFL star David Carter looks unrecognizable after ‘changing life’ going vegan and losing 30lbs in body transformation
A former NFL star defender looks unrecognizable after undergoing an intense post-retirement body transformation.
EX-NFL defensive lineman David Carter, 36, went from tackling some of the game's best athletes, weighing 300 pounds, to a new slender physique after retiring from football and adopting a vegan lifestyle.
The six-foot-five defensive end entered the league in 2011 and was drafted in the sixth round by the Arizona Cardinals.
Carter spent three seasons in the NFL, suiting up for two teams and signing up for multiple practice squads.
The Califonia-born athlete was a standout high school athlete on the football and track team.
After Carter earned a scholarship to attend UCLA, he decided to stay in his home state.
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Carter became a starter and finished his career as a captain, winning Most Improved after recording 41 tackles along with 3.5 sacks his senior season.
"I realized I was making everything worse. I was feeding the tendinitis, the muscle fatigue, everything. So the next day, I went vegan," Carter said.
David Carter
The Cardinals selected Carter in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.
A stout tackler, Carter struggled to nail down a starting role during his time in Arizona.
He started four games in two seasons before moving on for stints on the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears.
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Carter only appeared in games with Arizona and Dallas, with the rest of the tenures being tryouts on practice squads.
In 2014, while still in the league, he boldly embraced a plant-based vegan diet.
Carter decided to stop eating meat and dairy after watching the documentary Fork Over Knives.
He is now a proud vegan and has undergone a radical body transformation since his NFL days, losing over 30 pounds.
Carter told GQ in a conversation that the decision was life-changing since he was battling tendonitis and how it surprises people when they find out.
"I realized I was making everything worse. I was feeding the tendinitis, the muscle fatigue, everything. So the next day, I went vegan," Carter said.
"People ask me if I want to get a steak and I tell them I actually don't eat that, or any meat or dairy. They're usually thinking, 'Wait, you're supposed to be small and weak.'"
"But of course, they can't say that when they're looking at me."
"I try to eat 1.2 grams of protein per pound per day, otherwise it's really hard to gain weight."
Since he quit football, Carter got involved in activism, motivational speaking, and modeling.
Carter works with the Wilhelmina Agency, including appearing in ads for Dockers and Levis.
He explained to Cleveland.com that he wants to promote his diet and exercise regime to athletes struggling with the effect sports can have on their bodies.
"Vegans like to scare people, put fear in their hearts. That's good if you want to pull heartstrings, but I like to pull people from where it really resonates.," Carter said.
"I like to ask people, 'How many people in your family have died for dietary reasons?' I want to be an example by doing, not talking."
He continued: "The NFL gives you only five years of health coverage after you retire. I want to live as long as I can."
"[After going vegan] my bench press went up to 465 pounds, a huge jump from 315. My legs got stronger."
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"My blood pressure went down, and I no longer needed medicine for that. And it was a lot easier to do things mentally, the brain being part of your body."
Carter has a semi-active Instagram page where fans can see his transformation, as his account has several videos of him in the gym.
