14 Aug 2008 10:48 AM

Michael Phelps' Olympic Size Diet

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

     

I don't envy Michael Phelps' exercise regime, but who wouldn't love to adopt his diet?

The 23-year-old swimming sensation recently revealed what fuels his intense daily workouts in the pool... and to say that the Olympic athlete puts away a ton of food is an Olympic sized understatement.

Phelps says his recipe for swimming success involves eating a jaw-dropping 12,000 calories a day. That's more than most pregnant women eat in a week. Okay, maybe not, but it is darn near close.

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According to nutritionists, the average man of the same age and height (Phelps is 6'4") should be ingesting about 2,000 calories a day. By comparison, Phelps consumes a staggering (doctor-approved) 4,000 calories every time he sits down for a meal.

Forget about downing six-dozen bowls of Wheaties; Phelps' "Breakfast of Champions" consists of three fried-egg sandwiches topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise. And that's just to get his stomach warmed up for the main portion of his breakfast, which includes two cups of coffee, a five-egg omelet, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar and three chocolate-chip pancakes.

Lunch consists of a pound of enriched pasta and two large ham and cheese sandwiches slathered with mayo on white bread. The most decorated Olympic athlete in the history of the Games then caps off the meal by chugging about 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks.

Once the sun goes down Phelps really loads up on the carbs. Dinner features two more pounds of pasta and an entire pizza, which he washes down with another 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks.

Apparently, fruits and vegetables are not needed to win gold medals.

So, that's what 12,000 calories looks like. Amazingly, Phelps' trainers say the elite athlete could probably stand to eat even more given his five-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week swimming regimen.

P.S. Phelps says he hates to cook so the majority of his meals are eaten at restaurants he has been frequenting for years.

Forget about the calories; I wonder what his monthly food bill looks like?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

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Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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2 comments so far

Heidi Online! (4105) 14 Aug 2008 11:31 AM

When I saw the NBC story following him around to all his favorite restaurants I had the same thought---those bills must be insane!! :)

I remember in 1988 when Janet Evans ruled the pool everyone commenting about her caloric intake, too! :)

Michele Cheplic Online! (32111) 16 Aug 2008 08:54 AM

I wonder if his corporate sponsors pick up the tab I heard that if he gets gold medal No. 8 he gets a $1 million bonus from one of his sponsors.

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