Proctor is Losing Pounds but Gaining an Edge

PUEBLO, Colo. – You may not find Shane Proctor on any Food Network television series just yet, but the 31-year-old is stepping up his nutritional game this season.

Proctor has already lost close to seven pounds since beginning a new dieting and fitness program last month that puts an emphasis on portion control.

This past weekend, Proctor began to find bull riding success from the new lifestyle changes he has implemented.

Proctor went 2-for-3 to win the Frontier Communications Showdown, presented by Ariat, in Anaheim, California.

“I have been staying on my meal plan,” Proctor said. “I am trying to stay dedicated to my job, being smart about my eating decisions.”

The 12-year-pro has always put an emphasis on his fitness, but this year he has decided to up his nutritional game with the help of Daniel Sullivan of Diesel Physique.

Proctor was introduced to Sullivan through World Champion Barrel Racer Fallon Taylor.

The Grand Coulee, Washington, bull rider takes time every week to use a recently purchased food scale to help him prep his meals for the week. He will dice up various vegetables, proteins and potatoes, weigh his ingredients, and cook multiple meals.

Proctor then divides the food into specific portion sizes for at home and on the road.

For example, breakfast may include a half cup of egg whites, a four-ounce chicken breast and five ounces of grapefruit. While a dinner meal may be a seven-ounce chicken breast with half a cup of avocado and two ounces of spinach.

Proctor also will consume a protein shake, vitamins and have various snacks, such as almonds, during the day to help keep his energy levels up.

“Each meal varies just a little bit,” Proctor said. “A lot of protein. I am trying to be business professional in this aspect of the sport. As soon as I get up in the morning, I eat my first meal. From there on it sets my day. When I start getting hungry or if I feel like I need a meal I just stop and go. If I have to, I just snack on some almonds or have a protein shake.”

Proctor says he tries to get five meals a day in, especially when he is home in Mooresville, North Carolina.

However, he only had two meals, one of which was a grilled chicken breast from Chili’s, and a protein shake on Saturday in Anaheim.

“I try to (get five in) because I am always moving around when I am back home on the ranch,” Proctor said “I am always moving. I am averaging anywhere between 22,000 and 32,000 steps on my FItBit a day.

“I am always going. I am burning a lot of calories.”

Proctor purchased a TSA approved 6 Pack Fitness refrigerated backpack before the season that allows him to bring his meals with him on the road.

The backpack can hold up to five meal containers that he is allowed to travel with. It has been extremely helpful as Proctor is often competing at rodeos during the week before hitting the road to wherever the next BFTS event is located.

Most of all, it is helping him control his portion sizes to a t.

“I cook everything for the week and get it all situated in meals,” Proctor said. “I have started using a food scale a lot. Measuring ounces out of everything. It is portion sizes, you don’t understand (until you try).

“It is very controlled everything.”

Proctor heads into this coming weekend’s Kansas City Invitational, presented by Express Employment Professionals, ranked eighth in the world standings.

He has drawn Honey Hush (21-2, BFTS) for the 15/15 Bucking Battle on Saturday night. Fans can watch the 15/15 Bucking Battle exclusively on CBS national television Sunday at noon ET.

Proctor had begun the season only 3-for-14 before winning Anaheim.

“I started off slower this year,” Proctor said. “You just build momentum. Get it done. Whatever it takes. That is all that it comes down to. It doesn’t matter if you are riding good, bad.

“It all starts with one.”

Better yet. It may be starting with one pound.

Proctor has lost at least one pound per week and is down to 161 pounds after beginning the year closer to 170 pounds.

The goal is to drop to 155 pounds this season.

“It doesn’t seem like a whole but, but I have lost seven pounds,” Proctor said. “I wrestled at 152 (pounds) my senior year of high school, and that was cutting weight. I weigh less now than when I was a senior playing high school football.”

Two-time World Champion Justin McBride believes there are three basic things a bull rider needs to have physically.

“You have to be skinny. You have to be strong. And you have to have balance,” McBride said. “Those are the three must-haves. Then after that you start breaking down the mechanics. If you can’t accomplish those three things, you have no business getting on a bull.

“The skinnier he gets, the better he is going to be. You can say that for anybody. You look at Cooper Davis when he won his world title what he went through to get there.”

Proctor called Cooper Davis’ weight loss – Davis lost about 24 pounds in 2015 when he won the World Finals – a motivating factor, as well as the fact that he is getting older.

“I feel good about it,” Proctor said. “I am taking it slow. I am losing one pound a week. I am trying to be smart. This is a professional sport. I am 31 years old. I will be 32 in March. I am trying to take care of business and stay focused.”

This coming Sunday will be the one-year anniversary of Proctor’s 2016 victory in St. Louis. Proctor then won the 2016 Iron Cowboy title two weeks later.

However, Proctor went on to struggle the rest of the season and eventually lost his world No. 1 ranking.

Proctor believes he is in a better place mentally and physically at this point this season compared to last year.

“I feel controlled with everything in my life right now,” Proctor concluded. “As long as I don’t stray off course, and stay focused on the job ahead, I will be OK.

“You can start off cold and just get better.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko