LATROBE, Pa. -- When Alejandro Villanueva isn't in his blocking stance, he might be holding a tray full of food or standing on a weight scale.
The magic number is 335, and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Pro Bowl tackle is five pounds away. Getting there by Week 1 will leave him in a constant state of discomfort.
"It’s terrible," the 6-foot-9 Villanueva said about his weight-gain process. "I would say it’s harder than losing weight because you feel gross."
But here's the problem: He simply doesn't feel right if he's not at 335, and the stresses of the season suppress his eating.