MONDAY

EXERCISE SETS REPS

Light warm-up + stretching

Kettlebell Swing (warm-up) 1 15

Power Clean 5-8 1-6

Bench or Incline Press(1) 8 3

Triceps exercise(2) 3-5 8-15

Circuit(3) 2 1 min. Each

Abs(4) 3 2-30

Farmer's Walk 4 Walking the length

(holding 20-kg plates) of the weight room

Neck Lateral Flexion 1-2 2-20

TUESDAY

EXERCISE SETS REPS

Light warm-up + stretching

Kettlebell Swing (warm-up) 1 15

Explosives(5) 3-6 1-3

Barbell Squat(1) 8 2

Speed Deadlift (with bands) 8 1

Back Hyperextension 3 15

Calf Raise 3 20

Abs(4) 3 12-30

Dumbbell Clean(6) 4 6
THURSDAY

EXERCISE SETS REPS

Light warm-up + stretching

Kettlebell Swing (warm-up) 1 15

Power Clean 5-8 1-6

Bench or Incline Press 5-8 8,5,3,1,1,1,1,1(7)

Upper-back exercise 3-4 8-15

Triceps exercise 5 6

Special exercise 2 10-30

Lat Pulldown or Pull-Up 4 8

Abs(4) 3 12-30

Grip exercise 4 8

Neck Lateral Flexion 1-2 12-20

FRIDAY

EXERCISE SETS REPS

Light warm-up + stretching

Kettlebell Swing (warm-up) 1 15

Single-Leg Squat 5-8 3-5

Explosives5 3-6 1-3

Reverse Hyperextension 4 6

Posterior Chain (10) 3-4 8-15

Calf Raise 3 15

Abs(4) 3 12-30

Dumbbell Clean[Clean.sup.9] 4 6

Neck Rotation/Twisting 1-2 12-20

1 This can be any number of exercises, depending on which one Davis chooses to do, but it's some sort of

pressing movement, such as bench on incline presses and squats. Implements such as chains and elastic

bands are always attached to the bar so the resistance becomes greater as the bar is lifted. As the goal

here is to improve power and explosiveness, Davis uses a weight that's 50%-60% of his one-rep max

(1RM) and does each rep as fast as possible.

2 Can be any number of triceps exercises, such as cable pressdowns, lying barbell extensions or overhead

extensions.

3 This consists of three different exercises--for example, a pulling move such as rows, a pushing move

such as a chest or triceps move and a shoulder move such as lateral raises --each performed for one

minute with no rest between sets.

4 One of any number of exercises that target the upper abs, lower abs or obliques.

5 Typically consists of one of the following exercises: Kaiser squat machine, explosive jumps, kneeling

squats, box jumps, box squats.

6 Performed standing on air-filled foot pads or other unstable training tool to enhance balance. Can be

done either one leg or two legs at a time.

7 Unlike on Mondays and Tuesdays, Davis uses as heavy a weight as possible for the desired number of

reps. After doing sets of 8, 5 and 3, the goals is to work up to doing three singles at or above 90% 1RM.

8 Can be any number of back exercises, such as lat pulldowns, bent-over rows or machine rows, standing

high-cable rows (to face), stiff-legged cleans or snatches, seated cleans or shrugs.

9 Can be virtually any pressing exercise of Davis' choice with a barbell, dumbbells, kettlebells, bands,

chains, etc. Reps stay somewhere between 10 and 30, stopping around two reps short of failure, resting

3-5 minutes between sets.

10 Typically consists of one of the following exercises: single-leg deadlifts, stiff-legged cleans or snatches

or glute-ham raises.
RELATED ARTICLE: FEEDING THE FREAK.

So what does a freak of nature like the 49ers' Vernon Davis put in his body? That's what we asked

Amanda Carlson, director of nutrition and research at Athletes' Performance inTempe, Arizona, the

company that claims Davis as one of its many high-profile clients. According to Carlson, here's a typical

day of clean eating and supplementing for No. 85:

Breakfast: 3 scrambled eggs + low-fat cheddar cheese + turkey bacon on a 100% whole-wheat bagel +

20 oz. orange juice

Preworkout: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) + creatine with carbs

During workout: 20 oz. Gatorade

Postworkout: 40 g whey/casein protein powder with 60 g carbs + 1 banana

Lunch: BBQ chicken pizza (8-oz. chicken breast + low-fat cheese + barbecue sauce + black beans on a

flour tortilla) + mixed berries + water

Dinner: 8 oz. lean red meat + 2 cups brown rice + 2 cups steamed veggies + water Snack: Protein/carb

RTD + peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole-wheat bread + water

other supplements: multivitamin, essential fatty acids

Total daily nutrient intake: Approx. 4,500-5,000 calories, 20%--25% from protein, 50% from carbs, 25%-

30% from fat