To the editor:

I go to Mt. Ararat High School. I am a member of the Boy Scouts, and for one of my merit badges I have to write to the editor of a newspaper about a subject I like.

My subject is nutrition. Being an athlete, nutrition is a big factor — a really big factor. I didn’t realize this until the summer going into my senior year.

I weighed 297.5 pounds going into wrestling camp, and my friend Felipe started to talk to me about what I ate. The whole camp he told me what to eat, and I ate it.

By the end of camp, not only were we the only people eating healthy, but I felt a lot better. So I kept it up and was down to 285 pounds for football. I played all the season staying around that weight.

Then wrestling season came, and with that a lot more conditioning. I got down to about 270 pounds, and thought I was pretty tough.

When wrestling ended, I felt good but not as good as I did during camp, so I started eating even more healthy — meaning lower carbs, higher protein, a gallon of water a day and staying a way from sugar.

I got down and still am at 265 pounds, but I feel tons better and my strength has gone way up!

During camp, I could bench press 225 pounds 14 times. Now, I can do it 10 times (inside grip) and I weigh 30 pounds less.

I always trained hard before, but I can tell with nutrition, it really helps you step up your game. I encourage all people to watch what they are eating because it does make a difference.

Thank you and “Go Eagles!”

Max Mondonedo,
Topsham

letters@timesrecord.com