Weepu tells critics to 'get a life' over weight
By Vaimoana Tapaleao
5:30 AM Friday Apr 13, 2012
Piri Weepu. Photo / Daisycutter Sports Images
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
A rotund Piri Weepu has told critics to "get a life" after coming
under fire on Twitter for his weight gain.
One person told Weepu yesterday: "Maybe you should hit the gym and get
into shape to help out your struggling team!"
Weepu replied: "Sorry, I didn't know one person makes a huge
difference ... I'm doing me, mate!! Making sure I'm good for them!
Worry bout u, mate."
Another tweet - which has since been removed - had Weepu responding:
"Get a life, mate."
The 28-year-old's waistline has noticeably expanded since playing in
the Rugby World Cup, when he weighed 94kg, according to the All
Blacks' official website. This year's official statistics still have
him at 94kg.
This week Weepu fronted media about the issue, saying he was
disappointed with himself.
"I just enjoyed my break. Eight years to achieve something like that -
I guess all the disappointment's only from myself and I guess I'm
working harder in the background.
"When I first got here [to the Blues], obviously I was a bit out of
shape but I've made gains on that and I'm continually doing that and
moving forward."
Yesterday, a Blues team spokeswoman said neither Weepu nor the team's
staff would be speaking about the issue until at least after tonight's
game against the Sharks.
"Piri fronted on it and that was it - it was difficult - and he did a
good job. He stepped up."
Sports dietician Dane Baker, who works with the Chiefs rugby team,
said he understood exactly what the player was going through as many
athletes he dealt with also struggled with their weight.
"I've worked with lots of players that would always come back post-
season who would be quite over-weight. With all athletes, especially
those that take off-season or are injured, just the lack of activity
and training plays a big role.
"If they're over-eating slightly, it's going to make a big jolt on
body weight."
Mr Baker said a number of players with Maori or Pacific backgrounds
sometimes struggled to maintain their weight during off-season because
of foods they ate with their families.
"If they really like food, it's always a bit of a struggle. Maori or
Pacific Island foods can be high in fat and high in carbohydrate. So
for those guys, if they eat a lot of those foods and then they become
injured or not do much activity, they can really struggle."
Weepu has tweeted pictures of his food creations and also about his
cravings. One picture shows a platter piled with crayfish, tiger
prawns and fish. Another shows off chicken and corn soup, as well as
spaghetti carbonara.
He famously got a kilo of fresh kina delivered to him by a group of
teenage girls during the World Cup, after he tweeted that he was
craving the delicacy.
By Vaimoana Tapaleao | Email Vaimoana
By Vaimoana Tapaleao
5:30 AM Friday Apr 13, 2012
Piri Weepu. Photo / Daisycutter Sports Images
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
A rotund Piri Weepu has told critics to "get a life" after coming
under fire on Twitter for his weight gain.
One person told Weepu yesterday: "Maybe you should hit the gym and get
into shape to help out your struggling team!"
Weepu replied: "Sorry, I didn't know one person makes a huge
difference ... I'm doing me, mate!! Making sure I'm good for them!
Worry bout u, mate."
Another tweet - which has since been removed - had Weepu responding:
"Get a life, mate."
The 28-year-old's waistline has noticeably expanded since playing in
the Rugby World Cup, when he weighed 94kg, according to the All
Blacks' official website. This year's official statistics still have
him at 94kg.
This week Weepu fronted media about the issue, saying he was
disappointed with himself.
"I just enjoyed my break. Eight years to achieve something like that -
I guess all the disappointment's only from myself and I guess I'm
working harder in the background.
"When I first got here [to the Blues], obviously I was a bit out of
shape but I've made gains on that and I'm continually doing that and
moving forward."
Yesterday, a Blues team spokeswoman said neither Weepu nor the team's
staff would be speaking about the issue until at least after tonight's
game against the Sharks.
"Piri fronted on it and that was it - it was difficult - and he did a
good job. He stepped up."
Sports dietician Dane Baker, who works with the Chiefs rugby team,
said he understood exactly what the player was going through as many
athletes he dealt with also struggled with their weight.
"I've worked with lots of players that would always come back post-
season who would be quite over-weight. With all athletes, especially
those that take off-season or are injured, just the lack of activity
and training plays a big role.
"If they're over-eating slightly, it's going to make a big jolt on
body weight."
Mr Baker said a number of players with Maori or Pacific backgrounds
sometimes struggled to maintain their weight during off-season because
of foods they ate with their families.
"If they really like food, it's always a bit of a struggle. Maori or
Pacific Island foods can be high in fat and high in carbohydrate. So
for those guys, if they eat a lot of those foods and then they become
injured or not do much activity, they can really struggle."
Weepu has tweeted pictures of his food creations and also about his
cravings. One picture shows a platter piled with crayfish, tiger
prawns and fish. Another shows off chicken and corn soup, as well as
spaghetti carbonara.
He famously got a kilo of fresh kina delivered to him by a group of
teenage girls during the World Cup, after he tweeted that he was
craving the delicacy.
By Vaimoana Tapaleao | Email Vaimoana
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