Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 9:15 pm EDT

Michael Phelps eats 12,000 calories per day

 

By Chris Chase

 

After he retires from swimming, Michael Phelps might want to try his hand at competitive eating. The Olympic star recently said he consumes 12,000 calories per day, or 9,500 more than the FDA recommends for an active, young male.

Phelps has to keep his intake up in order to compensate for all the calories he burns during the 30-hours per week he spends in training. He told NBC that an average day might have the following menu:

Breakfast: 3 fried egg sandwiches, 2 cups coffee, 5-egg omlette, bowl of grits, 3 pieces of french toast, 3 chocolate chip pancakes

Lunch: 1 pound pasta, 2 ham and cheese sandwiches, energy drink (1,000 calorie)

Dinner: 1 pound pasta, 1 large pizza, energy drink (1,000 calorie)

 

Three years ago, Phelps told an interviewer:

I eat pretty much whatever I want. I don't have a strict diet. It's all about cramming in as many calories into my system as I possibly can. To be honest with you, I have a tough time keeping weight on.

Michael better be careful there. There's no surer way to turn new female fans into former female fans than by complaining about how hard it is to keep on weight.

Photo via Getty Images

i wish i could eat 12,000 calories per day and look like that.

 

:sneaky:. :P!

I guess I found my dream job seeing as how I love to eat but dont want to gain weight:P

and he like, doesn't gain wait.

 

lucky duck. :P

:shocked2: that's insane! how can you eat that much haha

 

I mean I understand that he need tons and tons of calories but ... it must take a really long time to actually eat every meal!!

:shocked2: that's insane! how can you eat that much haha

 

I mean I understand that he need tons and tons of calories but ... it must take a really long time to actually eat every meal!!

 

I know. A pound of pasta and a whole large pizza? And that's just dinner!!

His friends have to look at him and say: "OMG! That's eat!!! :stunned:"

 

Hard trainnings to eat that!!! (and look fine :D)

i could never eat that much food. He is a beast!!!!! I love watching him swim

Eat, sleep and swim....

 

Although I think It would be more exhausting than the actual swimming to eat that much food. and still leave enough time to train and rest. I bet his coach follows him around to restaurants with a stopwatch screaming "CHEW!CHEW!CHEW! SWALLOW! CHEW! CHEW! AND SWALLOW! FASTER!!!"

:shocked2: that's insane! how can you eat that much haha

 

I mean I understand that he need tons and tons of calories but ... it must take a really long time to actually eat every meal!!

 

 

I know! It'd take an hour or two for me to eat that breakfast..

That's hard to believe...6 times more than the average adult?! I don't think his digestive system could handle that much food...

I can understand how he can eat all of that because he's constantly burning calories working out and competing.

^ Yeah I know, but 12,000 calories so waay to much! I couldn't eat that if I wanted!

Man I wish I could get away with eating 12,000 calories/day and not gain any weight like he does. He burns most of those calories though, I think NBC segment said that he burns at least 4,000 calories in one workout. And he probably does more than one workout a day. So 12,000 cals is pretty normal for him and other swimmers.

12,000! Per day!

 

I thought it said 1,200! God how can one man possibly eat that much? Doesn't he get sick while swimming after being that full?

i MUST start swimming

^ :laugh3:

 

The only reason he needs to eat that much is because he uses so much swimming and training :P

hahaha, 12,000 calories?! jesus...well, that makes sense, given what a beast he is and all, but all that food in ONE DAY?!

 

might i also mention how much i luuuuuurve michael phelps? :blush:

i'm waiting to watch his final race now :cry:. i'm going to miss watching him! 4 years is too long! i was obsessed with watching him last time too :P

The swimmers are quite the attractive ones Chels :wacko:

true, true. even though somehow, i thought he was more attractive in 2004. he's still adorable, don't get me wrong, but now i watch him more because he's a total BEAST, and basically the best athelete that ever lived. but yes, also adorable :wacky:

 

and his final race is starting now! :dance:

I used to eat almost 5,000 a day.

^^ what do you do to burn?

Back then, not much. :shocked2: