Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Standing at a Seahawks practice the other day, I noticed coach Mike Holmgren taking offensive lineman Chris Spencer under his wing, almost literally. Holmgren had ahold of Spencer by the arm, the way a father might secure a teenage son. The coach seemed to be offering some sort of counsel. It was tough not to notice that Holmgren, 6-foot-5 and not underweight, seemed larger than his starting center (the league lists Spencer at 6-3 and 312).
Holmgren is apparently trying to do something about his girth. He reports having dropped 25 pounds on a Jenny Craig diet. The weight-loss heavyweight counts Queen Latifah among its spokespeople. Holmgren is more of a Beach Boys guy, but for now we're guessing the shirt stays on when he takes to the sand. Here's Holmgren on hanging out at a Jenny Craig office: "It's all ladies. I haven't seen a guy in there yet. ... We all chat. It's, 'Do you like the lasagna?' And, 'Which salad dressing are you using?' "
The healthier diet makes sense for Holmgren. His father died before age 50, suffering a massive heart attack. Lincoln Holmgren was 6-3 and about 350 pounds. Mike Holmgren turns 60 next month, and he knows extra weight can threaten longevity. Keeping the weight off becomes more of a challenge during the season, when the work days run longer and the increased travel facilitates poor eating habits.
