Mick Jagger Diet and Exercise Program

Photograph courtesy of Lori Ortega Sammon.

The Mick Jagger Diet and Exercise Program

In Keep Rolling Like The Rolling Stones we made the point that staying active and having a passion for something can offset poor health habits to a degree. And, though band members of The Rolling Stones have lived life in the fast lane it turns out that Mick Jagger has lived a pretty clean lifestyle since the mid 1990’s. And, other members of the band are also more health conscious in their later years.

From a sports medical perspective two things impressed me most about Jagger’s performance at The Rolling Stones’ Zip Code Tour show in Columbus. His stamina is remarkable and his posture is still very good for a 71-year-old. What he does and can do at age 71 should be an inspiration to all of us especially those over the age of 70.

We all know the importance of stamina. But, I have found posture also to be a reliably good indicator of someone’s overall health and fitness after age 55. As we age gravity pulls us down. Women tend to succumb to gravity in their upper backs and men in their lower backs and both in the neck. You have to be in good health and fitness to fight off gravity as it is a rather persistent force. Jagger has very good posture – and there is a good reason he does which we will get into later.

Watching him perform I figured Mick Jagger must have a personal trainer and decided to research it. It turns out he does have a trainer and more. In fact, when on the road the Stones’ employ a staff of 200 including fitness trainers, dietitians, physiotherapists, masseurs, and chefs.

His workouts are reasonably intense and diversified. He is careful about what he eats. He is also very disciplined and is very regimented. He approaches his training and nutrition just like a competitive endurance athlete.

What my research on Mick Jagger’s health habits and family history uncovered may surprise many of you.

Jagger’s Dimensions

He is taller than most people realize at 5’10″and now weighs 161 pounds and has maintained a 28 inch waist throughout his adult life. (I recall a Dallas Cowboy running back having thighs that were 32 inches each). He probably seems shorter as he seems to like tall women. L’Wren Scott, a former girlfriend stood 6’4″.

He has youthful genes. His father died at age 93. His father was a physical education teacher and Jagger has been exercising since age three and has remained fit ever since. His father instilled in him a strong work ethic.

The video below is still the best video in terms of overall quality I have seen showing Mick Jagger up close moving and strutting on the Zip Code Tour. We used in our previous post on The Rolling Stones.

Mick Jagger’s Workouts

What does it take to be a young Mick Jagger even in his 70s? First, his personal trainer is Torje Eike, a Norwegian trainer whose clients include Olympic athletes and professional soccer players. Jagger’s overall exercise program is quite diverse.

He trains five to six days a week and his workouts emphasize stamina and balance. Leading up to a tour Mick Jagger runs eight miles a day including sprints. He also swims, kick boxes, and cycles. This would explain his ability to sing and move continuously during a concert without sounding short of breath.

He does some resistance training. To maintain his balance and POSTURE he takes ballet lessons and performs yoga and Pilates. On stage I did not witness any hesitancy in his movements and he still moves with a certain amount of fluidity, grace, and efficiency.

He’s been known cover 12 miles on stage dancing and strutting during a concert. I find this hard to believe though for a two hour concert as it would mean he is moving at 6 mph which is a running pace and he clearly does not run the entire show. At that pace he would complete a marathon in less than 4 hours (3 hours and 51 minutes if I calculated correctly). The numbers are more believable if the 15 minutes of encore time are included which would mean is he is moving at 5.33 miles per hour which is a jogging pace. I suspect that 12 miles reflects a three-hour concert which I believe The Rolling Stones performed in their youth which would mean moving at the brisk walking pace of 4 miles per hour the entire show.

Regardless, he is usually moving in one fashion or another most of the concert.

Mick Jagger Diet

He eats organic foods after being sold on the idea by Jo Wood, wife of Ronnie Wood band mate of The Rolling Stones. Jagger eats far more than people might think because he expends a lot of energy and I suspect also has a naturally high metabolic rate.

His diet is consistent with that of  high endurance athlete and consists of whole grain breads, potatoes, rice, beans, chicken and fish. While on tour he eats one pasta meal a day four hours before a show. This would ensure that his muscles are glycogen filled for his performance. He also loves avocados – a terrific source of healthy fats.

He consumes superjuiced smoothies for breakfast.

He uses the following nutritional supplements: vitamins A, C, D, and E along with B complex. He also takes cod liver oil (omega-3 fatty acids), and ginseng and ginkgo biloba which help endurance and brain function.

Long before they became fashionable among rock musicians, Mick Jagger has protected his hearing by wearing custom-made earplugs. He drinks minimally nowadays and reports no use of drugs in decades. And, he has found healthier ways to unwind and manage stress. He prepares for a concert two hours before it starts getting his body, mind, and voice ready for the performance.

Fun Facts About the Columbus Concert

I have a patient who had insider knowledge of The Rolling Stones performance in Columbus. He came in to the office to see me four days after the concert.  He shared with me these tidbits.

• The Rolling Stones stage and sound and lighting equipment came loaded on 18 semis. It takes nearly a week to transport, assemble, and take down the stage, three large video screens, and sound towers. Since they are performing two shows a week there are two stage crews that leapfrog each other going from city to city.
• In addition to cans of beers being sold at concession stands, beer kiosks were also used in which individuals could swipe their credit card and receive two cups of beer at a time – but no more than every 11 minutes. Apparently no more than 10 beers every 55 minutes should keep one sober.
• When going through their sound check Mick Jagger was all business and there was no doubt he is in charge and everything was done to his liking.
• Mick Jagger used oxygen when he came off stage during the show. But, so do football players. I think this simply shows how active he is on the stage and also highlights that he prepares himself like an athlete would, wants to perform as well as possible, and leaves nothing to chance.

As a fan and someone who admires those who reach the pinnacle of their profession, I appreciate individuals who are consummate professionals, prepare diligently to display their craft, and take it to the next level. Mick Jagger is one such person and he highlights the benefits of the “anti-aging” model that focuses on exercise and nutrition.

At this stage in life Jagger tries to live in the present. I will end with this quote of his. “I try not to think about when I can’t do this any more. I say, ‘don’t look at the clouds of tomorrow through the sunshine of today.'”

See related articles”

Become More Attractive: Improve Your Posture

Don’t Resist Resistance Training

10 Tips for Starting an Exercise Routine

Related posts:

Raise Your IQ: How Dancing Improves Intelligence Exercise Slows Aging: Discover Why