Andreas Laudrup had to end his football career because of rheumatoid arthritis. With an individual plan from Cue, he found his energy and his belief in his own goals again.
For Andreas Laudrup, football has always been about one thing: joy.
That is why it hit hard when, as a professional footballer, he had to end his active career. The reason was rheumatoid arthritis, which made it impossible to continue.
"When I couldn't play football, it actually felt like being in a kind of prison."
Andreas is 35 today. He thought the hardest part of his condition would be saying goodbye to football. That turned out not to be the whole story.
When illness moves into everyday life
The condition didn't only affect his career. It also affected life at home.
At one point, Andreas was given advice by a doctor that stayed with him. When his children were sick, he should try to avoid hugging them, kissing them and tucking them in.
"That's tough to hear as a human being, especially as a parent. Not being able to be there for your children, which is the most important job you have in life."
Everyday life became defined by a lack of energy. The sofa often won over a bike ride or a game of football in the garden with the kids.
The footballer's mindset returns
But the experience also sparked something.
As a footballer, Andreas had always been focused on optimising. Finding the small percentages. Finding new paths to take. He decided to apply that same approach to his own health.
"It lit a fire in me to figure out how I could feel as good as possible again."
That was when he reached out to Cue.
A plan built around his body
At Cue, Andreas was presented with what he had been looking for: a concrete plan.
The plan was based on his data and his daily life, and covered four areas:
Sleep. Structure and routines that support recovery.
Nutrition. Adapted to his body's needs.
Exercise. Less high intensity and more training in zone 2, where the body works at a steady, sustainable pace.
Supplements. Targeted to what his body was lacking, rather than standard products from the supermarket.
"I felt it was quite unique that I was seen as an individual, and that my body was looked at in terms of what I was actually missing."
Why individual makes the difference
Two people with the same diagnosis don't necessarily have the same needs. Sleep patterns, nutritional status, training load and life circumstances all play a part.
That is why Cue works from each person's own data. The goal isn't a generic recommendation, but a plan that fits your body and your life, and that can be adjusted along the way.
For Andreas, it meant that for the first time in a long while, he had a clear picture of what he could do himself.
From getting by to setting goals
The change shows up in everyday life. The desire to move is back, and so is the feeling of being on the right track.
But the biggest difference lies elsewhere.
"That dedication, where you go all in on a dream, on a goal, I hadn't allowed myself to have because of my illness. But I've actually got that feeling back."
Today, Andreas can set goals again. And they feel realistic.
Sometimes health isn't about returning to who you were. It's about finding the courage to aim for something new.
About this case
Andreas Laudrup, 35, is a former professional footballer. He is currently on a programme at Cue focused on sleep, nutrition, exercise and targeted supplements.
Cases on Cue Learn share members' own experiences. A Cue programme is tailored to the individual and complements, rather than replaces, the treatment you receive from your regular healthcare provider.