Zach Zenner: From NFL Star to Nutrition Advocate
Zach Zenner, a former NFL running back, is known for his time with the Detroit Lions, where he earned a reputation as a hardworking and dedicated athlete.
His journey from undrafted rookie to key player is a testament to his determination and resilience.
After retiring from the NFL, Zach transitioned his passion for peak performance into a career in nutritional coaching.
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Early Life and Career
Zach was born and raised in Eagan, Minnesota. Reflecting on his early years, Zach shares,
My athletic career started out as a high school football and baseball player in the Twin Cities area. I wanted to be the best athlete and teammate I could be.
I worked hard in all my sports activities including the weight room, practice, and especially games. However, this hard work didn’t transfer to my diet.
My after-school snack was consistently the ever-popular snack cakes. I had no clue what an athlete needed to properly fuel for my activity level.
Further, my food choices were contributing to my acne and occasional heartburn.
Early Achievements
College
Zach attended South Dakota State University, where he continued to excel athletically. He recalls,
I received a football scholarship at South Dakota State University where my dedication to being my best continued. I did extra work in the weight room, extra conditioning, at-home yoga and stretch routines, and made sure I got enough sleep.
Unfortunately, my diet had only gotten a small upgrade. My plate had some protein on it, but otherwise, I ate whatever I wanted, including those snack cakes. With good body composition and on-field performance, I figured why change anything with my diet?
Preparing for the NFL
When I started preparing for the NFL I finally recognize the difference nutrition could make on my performance. During prep for the NFL combine I learned more about a proper diet and finally used supplements under the guidance of a nutritionist. I made significant strength gains, lost body fat, had less acne, had more energy – and most importantly – tested well at the NFL combine!
NFL Achievements
After earning a spot on the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent, Zach looked deeper into health and performance.
I researched recovery protocols and tried different elimination diets to improve performance. These were big steps in my health journey, but following a lower back fracture, I looked for extra help. I visited Michigan Elite Conditioning for Athletes (MECA). There I found a trainer and nutritionist who together completely changed the way I look at nutrition and supplementation.
I reached physical peaks I never thought were possible. It wasn’t just better bench press and functional strength, I had one of my best football seasons ever.
Transition to Nutrition Advocacy
After retiring from the NFL, Zach’s passion for health and performance led him to create Zion Performance. Drawing from his experience as a professional athlete, he now focuses on helping others achieve peak performance through personalized nutrition and hydration strategies.
Bringing Expertise to the Twin Cities
Now I’m living in the Twin Cities, Minnesota area running this company. This career combines personal experience as a professional athlete with formal training as a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® health coach and Certified Nutrition Specialist. The purpose is to pass my knowledge and wisdom on to you, so you can earn more minutes on varsity, that starting spot, or just crush it in sports and life!
