The Insane 10,000-Calorie Diet Michael Phelps Ate In His Prime Is Worth Another Look

Michael Phelps’ staggering 10,000-calorie daily diet during his Olympic reign defied logic, even for an elite athlete. Dive into the enigma behind his unprecedented intake and how it fueled the most decorated Olympic athlete’s success.

The diet Michael Phelps relied on during his historic Olympic run made no sense back in the early 2000s and continues to make no sense.

The following question has been posed a million times before: If you could have one superpower for the rest of your life, what would you pick?

While answers like invisibility or flying are fine, they’re also cliché. I’ve always wanted something more personal; something to help myself. I’m not trying to help any damsels in distress. My answer has been (and continues to be) “I could eat anything without having to worry about the calories.”

Well, Michael Phelps seems to have already embodied that superpower.

A veritable American superhero and 23-time gold medalist, Phelps went on a historic run between 2000 and 2016 (an era spanning five different Summer Olympics) where the juggernaut became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time.

Phelps was dominant to the point that he made the sport of swimming appointment viewing whenever he hopped into a pool at the Games, and he understandably became an international sensation.

Of course, the story behind the athlete is what really hooks a lot of people, the diet of Michael Phelps quickly became one of the defining aspects of his journey (along with one little night that forced him to be sorry for partying).

A standard American diet should consist of about 2,000 calories a day; this is what’s considered healthy to maintain weight and takes into account calories burned.

Michael Phelps, on the other hand, was consistently eating 10,000 calories a day just to maintain his weight. Granted, he was an elite athlete, pushing himself to the limit, training six hours every day, and burning an insane amount of energy.

But still, 10,000 is an absurd number. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t want to be able to eat anything, forcing ice cream and pancakes down your throat, just to hopefully not lose weight. It sounds like the American Dream.

But how did he even manage to hit that mark? I’m glad you asked.

Breakfast: 3 fried egg sandwiches with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce fried onions, and mayonnaise

This diet—which would be enough for five average people—sustained Phelps throughout his Olympic run but hopefully has not continued to this day, or else we’d see some sort of Reverse Retired Lineman Body Transformation.

To start the day? A couple of fried egg sandwiches.

Breakfast: 3 chocolate chip pancakes

Michael Phelps didn’t just swim laps; he swam laps around our breakfasts. Those three chocolate chip pancakes? Pure fuel with a side of indulgence.

Breakfast: 1 five-egg omelet

For Phelps, a five-egg omelet wasn’t overkill, it was just another lap in the culinary pool. Why stop at pancakes when you can add a protein-packed bonus round?

Breakfast: 3 sugar-coated slices of French toast

Three sugar-coated slices of French toast? For Phelps, that’s just sprinkling a little more “win” onto his breakfast plate. Who needs syrup when you’re already dripping in gold?

Breakfast: A bowl of grits

Seeing a theme yet? Carbs, carbs, carbs. A bowl of grits to top it off? Phelps wasn’t just gunning for gold; he was aiming to corner the breakfast Olympics. Every grain was another stroke toward victory.

Breakfast: 2 cups of coffee

And 2 cups of coffee? Phelps didn’t just want to swim fast; he wanted to buzz through the water. Caffeine kick with a splash of Olympic hustle.

Lunch: ½ KG of pasta

You read that right: KG (kilograms, that is). My man was eating so much that we had to switch to the metric system to properly quantify just how much food he is eating.

Lunch: 2 large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread with mayo

Two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayo? Phelps wasn’t just refueling; he was constructing a midday raft of carbs and protein. Floating to the finish line, one bite at a time.

Lunch: Energy drinks

Energy drinks on the side? Phelps wasn’t just sipping; he was turbocharging. Who needs flippers when you’ve got a can of liquid horsepower?

Dinner: 1 lb of Pasta with sauce

If you’ve ever swam laps, you know how hungry it makes you. But a pound of pasta for dinner? Phelps wasn’t just carbing up; he was laying down a noodle runway. Ready for takeoff with every saucy forkful.

Dinner: 1 Large Pizza

A large pizza alone is crazy, but to think about eating that after 1 whole pound of pasta makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it.

Dinner: Energy drinks

I don’t really know what’s up with all of this coffee and energy drinks (especially at night) but I’m not swimming 50 miles a day, so hats off to him.

Snacks: Whatever He Wanted

I can’t fathom how or why he would ever be hungry, let alone find room to eat more, but if he did, I have to imagine it was Subway.