Leena Watts
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 medals across four editions of the Olympics. He holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals, with 23 in total. The swimmer has dominated the sport for the better part of two decades. Phelps is also known for his enormous diet, consuming between 8,000 and 12,000 calories a day while training for the Beijing Olympics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calories consumed | 10,000-12,000 calories per day |
| Breakfast | Three fried-egg sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, and mayonnaise; three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelet; three slices of French toast with powdered sugar; a bowl of grits; two cups of coffee |
| Lunch | Inconsistent; sometimes has a second breakfast after the gym |
| Dinner | Grilled chicken, Mexican food, hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, and vegetables |
| Training schedule | Six hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Body fat percentage | 8% |
| Calories burned per hour | 1,000 |
| Current diet | Cleaner, with more vegetables |
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What You'll Learn
Michael Phelps' diet while training for the Olympics
His breakfast alone consisted of 3 fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, and mayonnaise, followed by a five-egg omelet, 3 slices of sugar-coated French toast, a bowl of grits, and 3 chocolate-chip pancakes. He would then have two cups of coffee to wash it all down.
Phelps would also eat two pounds of pasta and an entire pizza daily in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics. He needed to consume so many calories to avoid glycogen depletion, which is the result of not getting enough carbohydrates. Athletes need carbohydrates in their muscles to perform at their best, and Phelps' demanding training schedule of up to six hours a day, 365 days a year, meant he needed to consume a huge number of calories.
Phelps has since changed his diet, noting that he now eats "cleaner" and is "more picky" about his food choices. He has cut alcohol from his diet and now enjoys grilled chicken, Mexican food, and vegetables.
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Breakfast foods
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has an intense physical training regimen that requires him to consume 10,000 calories a day. Phelps has described how he starts his day very early, usually between 5:30 and 6:30 am, and always tries to eat as early as possible.
Phelps' breakfast consists of a variety of food items, including fried egg sandwiches filled with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions, and mayonnaise. He would consume three of these sandwiches, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes. That was usually not all, as he would then have a five-egg omelette, three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar, and a bowl of grits. To wash all of this down, he would have two cups of coffee.
Phelps' breakfast alone consists of around 4,000 calories. He has stated that he makes most of the breakfasts for his family and always tries to incorporate as many nutrients as possible. He treats his body like a "high-performance race car." In addition to his breakfast, he also makes a smoothie with spinach, almond milk, cacao nibs, figs, and Silk Ultra.
Phelps' diet has been a subject of great interest, especially after his success in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won eight gold medals and broke several records. His rigorous training routine and specific diet have inspired athletes worldwide, showcasing his disciplined approach to nutrition and intense training.
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His post-retirement diet
Michael Phelps' diet has changed significantly since his retirement. During his training for the Beijing Olympics, Phelps was consuming a legendary 10,000 to 12,000 calories a day, with breakfast alone consisting of 4,000 calories. This included three fried-egg sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes, a five-egg omelette, three slices of French toast, a bowl of grits, and two cups of coffee.
Now, Phelps has a more "normal" and )"cleaner" diet. He still wakes up early, usually between 5:30 and 6:30, and starts eating very early. He makes most of his meals and always tries to incorporate as many nutrients as possible. For breakfast, he makes a smoothie with spinach, almond milk, cacao nibs, figs, and Silk Ultra, and he'll also have a cup of coffee. He also mentions that he enjoys grilled chicken and Mexican food. Phelps has also cut alcohol from his diet completely.
Phelps has also noticed a significant change in how he feels since cleaning up his diet. He mentions that he feels like he's seeing more clearly in all aspects of his life and doesn't feel like a "blob" anymore. He also mentions that he's figuring out what works for him and that he now has the freedom to be "more picky" about his diet.
In addition to the changes in his diet, Phelps has also reduced his training time. He used to train five hours a day, six days a week, but now he's down to training two to four hours per day.
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The importance of food to Phelps
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has had a storied relationship with food. In the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a record-breaking eight gold medals, Phelps was rumoured to be consuming a staggering 12,000 calories a day. This was later debunked in his autobiography, where he stated that he consumed between 8,000 to 10,000 calories daily.
Phelps' diet consisted of high-calorie, energy-dense foods to fuel his rigorous training regimen. His breakfast, totalling 4,000 calories, included three fried-egg sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, and mayonnaise, followed by a five-egg omelette, three slices of French toast, a bowl of grits, and three chocolate-chip pancakes. This was necessary to sustain his training, which could burn up to 1,000 calories per hour.
However, since retiring from competitive swimming, Phelps has significantly reduced his caloric intake and adopted a "'cleaner' diet." He told E! News, "I probably eat cleaner now than I used to... Eating was a full-time job for so long, so now I kind of just eat what I need and what I want to—not just pretty much devouring everything in my sight." Phelps now prioritises nutrient-dense foods and incorporates more vegetables into his meals. He also mentioned that he enjoys grilling and has been trying out new recipes, including Mexican food.
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Phelps' weight and body fat percentage
Michael Phelps' weight and body fat percentage have fluctuated throughout his career, as he has adjusted his diet and training routine to suit his athletic goals and post-retirement lifestyle.
During his training for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Phelps reportedly consumed a staggering 10,000 to 12,000 calories per day. This extreme caloric intake was fuelled by energy-dense foods such as fried-egg sandwiches, cheese, chocolate-chip pancakes, French toast, and large portions of pasta and pizza. To support his rigorous training regimen, Phelps needed an abundance of energy, and his body was able to efficiently convert food into fuel. Despite the high caloric intake, Phelps maintained a lean physique with just 8% body fat. His weight during this time was reported to be 85kg.
Following his retirement from competitive swimming, Phelps has significantly reduced his caloric intake. He told GQ in an interview that he is "not eating as much as he used to" and has transitioned to a cleaner diet. This includes incorporating more vegetables into his meals and cutting down on junk food. Phelps also mentioned that he enjoys grilling and has been eating grilled chicken, Mexican food, and other grilled items.
While the exact details of his current weight and body fat percentage are not publicly available, it is safe to assume that there have been changes to his physique since his competitive swimming days. Phelps' focus on eating healthier and listening to his body's needs, rather than solely focusing on caloric intake, reflects his shift in priorities post-retirement.
It is important to note that Phelps' extreme caloric intake during his athletic career was tailored to his specific needs as an elite athlete and was supported by his rigorous training regimen. For most individuals, such a high caloric intake would be excessive and could lead to health issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Michael Phelps consumed a whopping 12,000 calories per day to fuel his rigorous training schedule. His breakfast included three fried-egg sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, and mayonnaise, followed by a five-egg omelet, three slices of French toast, a bowl of grits, and three chocolate-chip pancakes.
Michael Phelps burned an estimated 1,000 calories per hour during his training, which included swimming for almost six hours a day, 365 days a year.
Michael Phelps has cleaned up his diet and no longer consumes the extreme number of calories he once did. He now focuses on incorporating more vegetables into his meals and starts his day with a smoothie containing spinach, almond milk, cacao nibs, figs, and Silk Ultra. He also enjoys grilled foods like chicken, steak, and Mexican cuisine.
The high-calorie diet was necessary to support his rigorous training regimen and prevent glycogen depletion, ensuring he had enough energy for the demanding schedule of competitions.
No, there are varying estimates of his calorie intake, with some sources claiming it could have been closer to 6,000 or 8,000 calories per day. Phelps himself later stated that the 12,000-calorie figure might have been an exaggeration.
