PORT ST. LUCIE,
Fla. - Mo Vaughn eats once every three hours,
inhaling most of his favorite foods. Still, he's in
better shape than he was last spring.
It's all part of
the plan designed by Monica Lynn, the
Westchester-based nutritionist who altered Vaughn's
diet this winter.
"It isn't a
diet," Lynn said by phone from White Plains. "It's a
lifestyle change."
As the
owner/operator of 5 Squares, Lynn is watching
Vaughn's waistline as closely as any Mets official.
Vaughn's loss is her gain.
Vaughn will have
his meals prepared in south Florida and shipped to
him daily by a distributor for 5 Squares, which
serves about 120 clients - mostly in the
Metropolitan area.
Wheat and sugar
have virtually been eliminated from Vaughn's diet.
"They're empty calories," Lynn said.
Instead, Vaughn
is allowed five balanced meals a day. Donuts and
pizza are not on the menu, though Lynn declined to
say what vittles Vaughn favors.
Still, Lynn
consulted Vaughn about what foods he likes, and
incorporated them into the plan. When he arrives in
New York, Vaughn will have meals sent to him from 5
Squares (at $39.97 per day).
Vaughn spent the
winter in Columbus, Ohio, working with personal
trainer Ben Velazquez. Vaughn also has a personal
nutritionist, who prepared meals to 5 Square's
specifications.
Velazquez knew of
Lynn's work with other pro athletes, and got Vaughn
involved last June. However, Vaughn was living out
of hotel much of last year and had trouble sticking
to the plan until this past October.
Now, "we take
care of all his dietary needs," said Lynn, whose
18-month-old company employs 13 people. "He's just
doing phenomenal."
Lynn's plan calls
for Vaughn to eat at three-hour intervals for
stamina.
Lynn would not
divulge how much weight Vaughn has lost, not his
daily caloric consumption. Vaughn, 35, also declined
to give that information to reporters two weeks ago.
But Vaughn feels
he's achieved his goal of being more mobile and
flexible through proper diet and reflex-oriented
exercises.
"Mo works out
like an animal. He's very focused now," Lynn said.
"My money's on him."
Said manager Art
Howe: "He is focused. I think that's probably the
best word. Focused and determined."
Howe said people
have ignored Vaughn's second-half improvement last
year, and the fact he missed 2001 because of a
ruptured biceps tendon.
"We need him,"
Howe said. "I don't think he's even close to being
on the downside."
