VALDOSTA — Summer is a nemesis for football players trying to add or maintain weight during the offseason.

The heat and humidity add a variable to players trying to add or maintain weight during the summer. But there are ways to fend off summer’s attempts to steal what athletes work hard to gain.

Lowndes utilizes morning workouts and a smart nutrition program to help players combat summer’s thieving ways.

“We get going on the front part of the day before the humidity really sets in,” said Kevin Wisham, the Vikings’ strength and conditioning coach. “We’re not doing anything after 11:30 in the morning. A lot of the time is spent inside, in the weight room. We split the groups up. We don’t have them all out there at one time.”

Wisham said the purpose of Lowndes’ hydration and feeding program is to mitigate calorie loss, finding an energy balance. If athletes are eating more calories than they are burning through exercise, they are more likely to see success in reaching their desired weight gains.

Knowing players are going to lose some weight during the summer months, Wisham’s goal for players looking to pack on pounds is to do so in spring and the early stages of summer.

So what should players be eating during the summer?

Wisham encourages quality proteins and readily accessible sources of carbohydrates. The kitchen at Martin Stadium allows for players to have a hot breakfast five days a week. Players are expected to be on time and eat breakfast, provided free by the government’s summer school feeding program.

The Vikings do what they can to supplement the breakfast with pre- and post-workout nutrition.

“We cook eggs, put fruit on the table along with what’s being provided,” Wisham said.

When he’s away from football, tight end Christian Stephens said he makes sure to include meats, fruits and vegetables, along with eggs and pasta in his offseason diet. He likes to add full meals between each breakfast, lunch and dinner. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a go-to snack for him.

“…Even when I’m not hungry I’m trying to push some type of protein for recovery,” Stephens said.

Stephens entered high school weighing in around 155 pounds. The senior has bulked up to 215, seeing results from Wisham’s strength and conditioning program.

“It’s a challenge for sure. My parents say I’m gonna eat them out of house and home,” he said.

Cornerback Josh Brown is eating just about whatever food is in front of him in an effort to gain weight.

“It’s actually a lot more difficult than most think and sometimes it can be a bit frustrating at times, because some of us don’t gain weight as fast as others and you feel like your doing all the right workouts and eating the right food but the weight isn’t coming as fast as you want,” he said.

Wide receiver Cornelius Wright eats steak, eggs and protein shakes, snacking on various foods around the house. Quarterback Andrew Koenemann has a focus on hydration, in addition to eating meals rich in protein and carbs. Linebacker Jamari Hill eats peanut butter when he’s not hungry or relaxing to double his caloric intake, supplementing it with Muscle Milk. Fellow linebacker Tiberius Drocea consumes a lot of eggs, potatoes and meats, in addition to protein bars for snacking.