Phelps Eats Like A Horse And Swims Like A Fish - Consumes From 8,000 To 10,000 Calories A Day

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Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 16 Aug 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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Most of us would end up being seriously obese if we ate 10,000 calories per day, but not Michael Phelps. In an interview with ESPN he said his calorie consumption per day ranges around the 8,000-10,000 mark, including large quantities of pasta and pizza. Apparently, he is partial to fried egg sandwiches.

Some dietitians have written in to Medical News Today telling us that 10,000 calories per day is most unlikely for a 6 foot 4 inch Olympic swimmer. They say he is more likely consuming about 6,000 calories per day.

Breakfast

-- three fried-egg sandwiches
-- cheese
-- lettuce
-- fried onions
-- mayonnaise
-- tomato
-- one omelet
-- bowl of grits
-- French toast with powdered sugar (three slices)
-- three chocolate-chip pancakes

Such a meal would consist of 15% protein, 50% carbs and about 35% fats. It would probably total approximately 3,000 calories. Obviously, portion sizes could alter this guesstimate. Some dietitians are surprised he does not include some fruit with his breakfast.

Lunch

-- one pound of enriched pasta
-- two large ham and cheese white bread sandwiches with mayonnaise
-- energy drinks

Supper

-- one pound of pasta with carbonara sauce
-- one large pizza
-- energy drinks

If indeed he were to be consuming 10,000 calories per day it would be enough to provide all the energy needs for five grown men.

All Phelps has time for is to "eat, sleep and swim," he told ESPN.

Phelps, who weighs 187 pounds (85 kilos), says it is crucial for him to "get some calories into my system and try to recover the best I can (between races)."

It is estimated that Phelps trains for six hours per day and burns about 1,000 calories per hour during training.

Whatever he is doing, it is obviously working. Michael Phelps will go down in history as one of the best athletes ever. So far he has won 13 Olympic Gold Medals.

2008 Beijing Olympics

400 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record - Time 4:03.84
4 x 100 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, World Record - Time 3:08.24
200 m freestyle Gold Medal, World Record - Time 1:42.96
200 m butterfly Gold Medal, World Record - Time 1:52.03
4 x 200 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, World Record - Time 6:58.56
200 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record - Time 1:54.23
100 m butterfly Gold Medal, Olympic Record - Time 50.58

2004 Athens Olympics

400 m individual medley Gold Medal, World Record - Time 4:08.26
100 m butterfly Gold Medal, Olympic Record - Time 51.25
200 m freestyle Bronze Medal, American Record - Time 1:45.32
200 m butterfly Gold Medal, Olympic Record - Time 1:54.04
200 m individual medley Gold Medal, Olympic Record - Time 1:57.14
4 x 100 m freestyle relay Bronze Medal - Time 3:14.62
4 x 200 m freestyle relay Gold Medal, American Record - Time 7:07.33
4 x 100 m medley relay Gold Medal, World Record - Time 3:30.68

Click here to go to the Michael Phelps website

Written by - Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
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