Extraordinary Health Magazine Extraordinary Health Vol 21 | Page 10

Red Sox Catcher David Ross Revs Up with RAW Meal by Rhonda Price As a backup player, I can’t put into words how much starting in all four wins of the World Series meant to me,” said Ross. “It was a wild ride, but a great one. At the end of a disappointing 2012 season when the Red Sox finished in the cellar, veteran catcher David Ross was the first free agent the team called for immediate help. Quickly acquired from the Atlanta Braves, Ross signed a two-year contract and settled in to help the team rebuild. Little did he know that 2013 would be a roller coaster ride that saw him sidelined for 65 games with a concussion and culminated in him playing in four of the six World Series games, including the series championship clincher. Winning the World Series was the highlight of the journeyman catcher’s career after playing for six different Major League Baseball teams in 19 years. As the Red Sox enter the 2014 season, 37-year-old Ross is determined to be in the best playing shape of his life. When he was first acquired by the team, he told one of the Red Sox trainers that he needed to drop a few extra pounds he’d gained during the offseason. The trainer gave him Garden of Life®’s #1 selling meal replacement, and it was love at first shake. That is, he was rarely ever spotted without a shaker cup full of RAW Meal after batting practice and before every game. “I’m a big smoothie and shake guy, but I couldn’t find one that didn’t make me gain a ton of weight,” Ross said. “I was stoked when I learned the entire team was using it, so I started blending up a shake with coconut water every day. I discovered that whenever I had RAW Meal, I was never hungry for the rest of the day.” Ross noticed last season that, while using RAW Meal, he stayed a lot leaner and the plant protein seemed to absorb better than others he had tried in the past. Many times, he used it as a recovery drink after working out, but he also liked the fact that he could drink it before a game and not feel too sluggish or full. “It’s my go-to drink,” said Ross, who admits to having a sweet tooth and adding a banana or peanut butter when he wants extra flavor. “I’m going to try some of the RAW Fit™ protein next because I need to get rid of my love handles! I’m at 235 pounds, but I need to be closer to 230 to be at my ideal playing weight.” Photos Courtesy of Boston Red Sox.