Last updated on September 15th, 2022 at 10:10 am

Men’s Health Month, observed in June, is focused on bringing awareness to a variety of men’s health issues, including the importance of health screenings and mental health checks, as well as physical fitness. As a former Major League Soccer player, Sébastien Le Toux, knows what it takes to be physically and mentally fit both on and off the field. With 59 goals and 57 assists during his notable MLS career, he was considered one of the hardest workers in the league. Sébastien recently shared with us what motivates and keeps him physically active in this next phase of his career. 

It’s been a little over a year since your retirement from Major League Soccer. What is your fitness routine like these days?

I am not working out or running as much as compared to when I was playing. I may have lost a little muscle mass since then. However, I’ve been blessed with good genetics and I know my body well. I know when I need to run or do push-ups to keep in shape. I keep on the move, so it doesn’t take me long to get back into shape if need be or to be sports-level fit again. A big change for me has been the way I eat. Now that I am not as physically active, I am not as hungry and eat much less.

When you don’t feel like working out, how do you motivate yourself?

Usually when the weather is nice, I want to be more active outside. In the winter it is harder to be motivated or go for a run. But you must take a good look at yourself in the mirror and see that you want to stay in that shape. As I get older, I realize just how important it is to keep in good physical shape.

Has fitness always been a priority for you, or did it come after you discovered your love of soccer?

I experienced good health from birth, and I excelled at physical activity. However, I knew at an early age that I was not the best as far as my skills as a soccer player, and I knew that I had to work harder at it than the others.

You have been able to train and inspire many young men and boys through your soccer development camps.  What is that experience like? What kind of advice do you have for aspiring players?

I love that I can teach what I learned on and off the field that helped me reach my dreams. Most of the young players have the same dreams. I even see a bit of myself in them. It’s nice to watch their progress and see that they really want to get better so they too can become a professional player. I try to teach them what I learned myself and what worked best for me.

It does take more than soccer skills to make it to the pros. You don’t have to be the biggest or strongest, but you need to learn how to improve your skills and keep working at it. I had a good coach when I was growing up in France who later became my personal coach. He taught me a lot about soccer and myself. It is important to have someone that can tell you the truth, and you must be willing to hear it so you can progress.

How has Arnicare has helped you stay active over the years, and how does it support your active lifestyle today?

I have been using Arnicare Gel and Cream since I was a child. It helped me a lot as I was always playing on turf and hard fields and often sprained my ankle. My coaches would use Arnicare on my injury so it would feel better and get the swelling down. It would really help me get back to playing with the team as soon as possible. My mom already had it at home, so I was quite familiar with it. Now I use Arnicare when I am sore, especially in my back or legs, after a strenuous workout or when I haven’t been physically active in a while. I am also a fan of Calendula. I am using it right now for sunburn.

Sébastien Le Toux is an ambassador for Boiron’s Arnicare brand of pain relief products. You can follow him on Twitter @SebastienLeToux and Instagram @touxi84. For more information on Sébastien’s soccer camps for children and teens, visit LeTouxSoccerDevelopment.com.