Michael Phelps’ 12,000 Calorie Monster Diet

The media is all over this one like powdered sugar smothering french toast — which so happens to be one of the “snacks” Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps inhales on a typical competition day.

He recently dished (pun intended) what fuels him through his races to make him a record-breaking gold medal winner: 12,000 calories worth of food daily! If I’m not mistaken, the average man eats between 2,000 and 2,500 calories a day! And even more amazing is that it’s not all oatmeal and egg whites. Not a chance. His menu consists of foods you probably haven’t touched since you were a teenager, for fear of packing on the pounds. This is a typical day of Mr. Phelps:

Breakfast

• 3 Fried Egg Sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mayo
• 2 Cups of Coffee
• 5 egg omelette
• Bowl of Grits
• Bowl of Corn Porridge
• 3 slices of French toast with powdered sugar
• 3 chocolate chip pancakes

Lunch

• Package of Enriched Pasta
• 2 Ham Sandwiches
• 1,000 Calorie Energy Drinks

Dinner

• Package of Enriched Pasta
• 1 entire pizza
• 1,000 Calorie Energy Drinks

As a fitness professional, I am both happy and skeptical that this information is drawing so much attention. First, I’m glad that it was made public because it shows people that food can be used to work with you and not always against you. Phelps needs carbohydrates for endurance, fat for satiety, and protein for his muscles. Because of his intense training and races, he burns the calories faster than he can replenish, so that’s why he’s not a huge tub of lard.

However, I’m skeptical because now watch how many people are going to go eat a large pizza and 36 oz. coke after their workout at the gym, just because “Michael Phelps can, and he looks good.” We can’t forget that there are professional dietitians, nutritionists, and coaches guiding him 24/7 on everything he puts in his body and every lap he swims. As he said on NBC during his interview where he revealed his diet, “All I do is eat, sleep and swim”

You have to wonder, though, what will he have to go back to eating after the Olympics? Carrots, anyone?

Photo by Getty Images