Ram Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 Food for fuel: Olympian Phelps' unusual diet As US swimming sensation Michael Phelps sets his sights on more gold medal wins at the Beijing Olympics this weekend, the BBC's Michael Hirst examines the part an extraordinary diet has played in the sportsman's remarkable success. If it is true that you are what you eat, then here is the suggested intake if you want to become history's most successful Olympian: For breakfast: three fried egg sandwiches, with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast and a bowl of grits (a maize-based porridge), washed down with two cups of coffee. For lunch: half a kilogramme (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, washed down by energy drinks. For dinner: Another half-kilogramme of pasta, perhaps with a carbonara sauce, followed by a large pizza and more energy drinks. That combination may not sound very healthy, and at a staggering 10,000 calories, would feed five average men for a day. But the menu is reportedly all in a training day's eating for champion swimmer Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics and is aiming for eight this time round. "Eat, sleep and swim, that's all I can do," said the US swimmer, after winning his 11th Olympic gold. Judging by the amount he eats and swims, that is not altogether surprising. Fruit and veg Even though the 23-year-old spends a solid five hours of each day burning off those calories, the diet still seems excessive. Is he following some sort of dietician guru's programme? Barbara Lewin, a nutritionist who has advised international athletes on their dietary health for almost two decades, thinks not. "Health-wise, if he were eating like this long-term, he'd probably be having to see a cardiologist regularly," Mrs Lewin told the BBC. She recommended cutting out the egg yolks, replacing the white bread with whole-wheat, throwing some fruit and vegetables into the mix, and spreading the food out over the day with regular snacking. But while the quality of the calories consumed by the six-foot four-inch (1.93m) swimmer may not seem healthy, Ms Lewin suggested there are good reasons behind Mr Phelps' diet. "I've worked with more than 1,000 endurance athletes - swimmers and runners - and one of the most common problems they have is glycogen depletion - the result of not getting enough carbohydrates," she said. "Nine out of 10 times the reason an athlete doesn't reach their personal best is because they're not getting enough carbohydrates and that's what your muscles need for food." Carb counting Phelps won his sixth gold medal in Beijing in the 200m medley on Friday, and will be aiming to equal fellow American Mark Spitz's record of winning seven gold medals in a single Olympic games when he takes to the pool for Saturday's 100m fly. He will break Spitz's 36-year record if his team qualify, and go on to win, Sunday's 4x100m relay. The very process of challenging that record entails a hectic schedule of heats, semi-finals and finals. Between winning his 10th gold medal in the 200m butterfly - which made him history's most successful Olympian - and his 11th in the men's 4x200m relay, Phelps had just an hour between races. With that kind of turn-around, topping up his carbohydrate count is key, Ms Lewin suggested. The copious amount of refined carbohydrates consumed in the bread and pasta he eats will digest quickly and give the swimmer instant energy. Phelps, who weighs around 85kg (187lbs), understands this. Asked what was needed to continue his gold-medal winning streak, he said simply: "Get some calories into my system and try to recover the best I can." Keeping his carbohydrates topped up between races, said Ms Lewin, is important for avoiding what athletes call "hitting the wall" - that stage in an endurance competition when the body has used up all its carbohydrate fuel (sometimes known as muscle glycogen) and instead starts the much less efficient process of burning fat for energy. Fat pile-on The Phelps diet is not recommended for everyone. Due to his muscle-intensive physique, the swimmer's metabolism - the process of converting food into energy - far exceeds that of a more average man, said Jeff Kotterman, director of the US National Association of Sports Nutrition. "It's a combination of peak performance coupled with the fact that he has an enormous metabolism - he burns more calories sitting at a desk than a lot of people burn walking," Mr Kotterman told the BBC. He suggested Phelps, with an estimated 8% body fat, probably burns 1,000 calories per hour during his swimming training, compared to the equivalent exercise for an average person - vigorous walking - that would burn between 170 and 240 calories. Consequently, trying to emulate the Phelps diet by consuming up to 12,000 calories a day in order to attain his physique would more than likely come to a wobbly end. One pound of fat has roughly 3,500 calories, so an ordinary man could put on almost three pounds of fat a day. But then again, Michael Phelps - who has now won the 400m medley, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay and the 200m medley in world record times - is clearly no ordinary man. MICHAEL PHELPS' DIET Breakfast: Three fried egg sandwiches; cheese; tomatoes; lettuce; fried onions; mayonnaise; three chocolate-chip pancakes; five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast; bowl of grits; two cups of coffee Lunch: Half-kilogramme (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread; energy drinks Dinner: Half-kilogramme of pasta, with carbonara sauce; large pizza; energy drinks http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7562840.stm ----------------- Damn, thats 3 lbs worth of fat that he eats EVERYDAY!... Thats just insane!
triam Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 The problem with this is, it is fine till he has this rigorous workout schedule, when he retires to control your appetite from 10 thousand calories to a basic 2000 calories is a hard fight, and most of them lose it, takes incredible self discipline to come down.
veer Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 It is crazy but I am sure this diet is not every day thing and just for olympics gruelling schedule..
THX_1138 Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 i had heard it was 5000 calories, but 10000 really takes the cake (literally does!) but yeah, there is an important point here, often athletes do not attain peak performance due to starvation of carbohydrates. they often pack on the proteins which are not as readily convertible to fuel... and this low carbohydrate, high protein diet is inspired by a fear of packing on fat which is an athlete's nemesis. i wonder if our cricketers are as careful with their diet. i know our pakistani couterparts are not! you really have to admire the lad's work ethic. he trains between 8-10 hours a day and his day off usually still has an hour or two of gym training...
Lurker Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 I couldnt help but notice that Phelps is strictly off Beef. His protein is mostly coming from eggs and to an extent hams. So that should be some good information for our Red-meat-build-muscles proponents, mostly from across the border. Phelps has a unique body. Actually to an extent his is like most swimmers really. Nothing stands out. He doesnt have large arms or chest, or shoulders or whatever. Very different to say the Frenchman Bernand. However the moment Phelps starts kicking the pool his muscles come alive. Look at the picture above, the lad has huge traps and upper back and thats where his strength is coming from. It is almost that the water transforms him, literally. He would need all the carbs considering his work. I mean everyday he is doing more than a couple of runs right now and I am sure he would have trained for more than couple of runs a day so do your maths. 10,000cals does seem over the top but if the lad can carry off well hey go for it!
Chaos Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 well it aint good for health, he aint gonna last healthy too long.
vadodaravictor Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 10,000 calories a day !! That is crazy:omg: On that note, does he realize there are people starving in Africa..and this guy alone eats meal of 5 people..
Rajiv Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 10,000 calories a day !! That is crazy:omg: On that note, does he realize there are people starving in Africa..and this guy alone eats meal of 5 people.. Oh my god, what comparison...why dont u stop eating and feed them then how do u guys mix 2 things like this is beyond me
Dravid Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 Oh my god, what comparison...why dont u stop eating and feed them then :hahaha:
Lurker Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 Oh my god' date=' what comparison...[b']why dont u stop eating and feed them then how do u guys mix 2 things like this is beyond me :hysterical::hysterical:
Chaos Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 Oh my god, what comparison...why dont u stop eating and feed them then how do u guys mix 2 things like this is beyond me :hysterical::hysterical:
vadodaravictor Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 Oh my god, what comparison...why dont u stop eating and feed them then how do u guys mix 2 things like this is beyond me Rajeev bhai..I only eat what is considered to be a normal diet (not 5 times that of a normal diet). We do give out leftovers to less fortunate people instead of just consuming it. Anyways, apologies if it came out in bad taste..I was just reading about economic & political problems faced by few 3rd world countries the other day. So these issues were fresh in my mind.:hatsoff:
Rajiv Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 2 different issues, cant we have 10K calories a day and still donate? why does it seem bad if we enjoy our fullest and also feed others too Life is not fair, right, I mean no one can disagree on this right so we can do only so much, generally we are selfish and nothing wrong in that but why does someone potray a bad picture if he is eating so much and kids dying somewhere else practically, no connection
ludhianvi Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 It would be interesting to see how much calories he burns off during practice and what remains. I think I take in about 1600 calories a day on average. No wonder Im underweight.
Chaos Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 i take in 2400-2600 and burn off around 1900-2600.
Rajiv Posted August 15, 2008 Posted August 15, 2008 i take in 2400-2600 and burn off around 1900-2600. per day? how do u calculate that?
THX_1138 Posted August 16, 2008 Posted August 16, 2008 10,000 calories a day !! That is crazy:omg: On that note, does he realize there are people starving in Africa..and this guy alone eats meal of 5 people.. peter singer suggests that the 30 bucks you spend on broadband ought to be donated in charity. would you care to take the lead?
vadodaravictor Posted August 16, 2008 Posted August 16, 2008 peter singer suggests that the 30 bucks you spend on broadband ought to be donated in charity. would you care to take the lead? No thanks, we already sponsor (books + school fees) education for less fortunate people in my hometown.
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