Eddie “The Beast” Hall, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), has become an iconic figure in the world of strength athletics. Known for his incredible size and strength, Hall's dietary habits have always been a topic of interest. This article delves into the various diet plans Hall has followed throughout his career, from his intense strongman bulking phases to his more recent exploration of the carnivore diet.
The Strongman Diet: A Caloric Feast
During the peak of his strongman career, Eddie Hall maintained a weight of around 450 pounds while standing at six feet, two inches tall. To sustain this massive physique, Hall consumed a tremendous amount of calories. While Hall claimed his strongman diet was a staggering 16,000 calories, Mitchell Hooper, the 2023 WSM, examined Hall's supposed diet and estimated it to be slightly lower but still remarkably high.
Caloric Needs and Macronutrient Breakdown
Hooper estimated that Hall required roughly 5,312 calories per day to maintain his size. To gain two pounds per week, he would need approximately 6,312 calories. The diet was characterized by large quantities of food consumed throughout the day, often with a focus on high protein and carbohydrate intake.
A Typical Day of Eating
Hall's strongman diet was far from a balanced and healthy diet, and he himself admits that it was not enjoyable. Here's a glimpse into a typical day of eating for Eddie Hall during his strongman training:
- First Breakfast: A full English breakfast, consisting of 4 sausages, 4 rashers of bacon, 2 fried eggs, baked beans, plum tomatoes, 4 slices of fried bread, and 2 slices of black pudding, all cooked in butter. The meal totals an estimate of 1,700 calories, or 2,000 including coffee and orange juice. After polishing that all off in 20 minutes, Hall goes back to bed for an hour, as he would have done during his World's Strongest Man training.
- Second Breakfast: 100 grams of oatmeal with whole milk, Manuka honey and raisins, two kiwis, a banana, a 70-gram bag of beef jerky, and 4 scoops of whey protein. This meal comes to around another 1,400 calories. Hall then takes another nap, which is frankly unsurprising given the sheer amount of food he has already consumed at this point.
- Snack: After physio appointment, he finds time to cram in another snack, comprising 150 grams of cashew nuts and 1 liter of cranberry juice, all of which amounts to another 760 calories.
- Lunch: A 300-gram ribeye steak, half a kilo of pasta, and 200 grams of vegetables, smothered in mayo and washed down with 1.5 liters of water. A hearty, generous, 3,000-calorie lunch, with a 1,400-calorie dessert of half a family-size cheesecake with cream.
- Second Lunch: Prior to his afternoon training session: a plate of tuna sandwiches, a box of butter flapjacks, some fruit, and 2 bottles of energy drink. (2,070 calories).
- Gym Snack: While at the gym, Hall pauses his workout for some extra protein in the form of a few slices of roast beef (114 calories).
- Dinner: Half a kilo of spaghetti, half a kilo of minced beef, and a full serving of garlic bread (2,900 calories), with another huge helping of cheesecake for dessert (1,499 calories).
- Pre-Bed: He then takes a protein bar (200 calories) and another 1.5 liters of water up to bed with him, bringing his day-long total to a staggering 16,164 calories.
Hooper's Critique
Mitchell Hooper offered a critical analysis of Hall's strongman diet, pointing out several potential drawbacks. He questioned the practicality and digestibility of consuming such large quantities of food, particularly the high protein content in a single meal. Hooper suggested that it would be more beneficial to consume smaller servings of protein over more frequent meals for better absorption.
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Hooper also raised concerns about the high fat content, especially in pre-workout meals. He recommended swapping high-fat protein sources like steak for leaner options that are easier to digest before a workout. Hooper emphasized the importance of strategically timing carbohydrate intake around workouts for optimal muscle recovery and growth.
Hooper would’ve taken a different approach to add size. He’d eat eight or nine meals rather than eat so much protein in one sitting and schedule less fat and most of his carbs around workouts for better absorption into the muscles.
Transition to the Carnivore Diet
After retiring from strongman competitions, Eddie Hall embarked on a new dietary journey, adopting a carnivore diet. This drastic shift involved eliminating all plant-based foods and consuming only animal products, primarily meat and eggs.
Reasons for the Change
Hall switched diets because he’d been eating without restraint for months and had gained weight. He now weighs 168 kilograms (370 pounds) and plans to get his body fat percentage back in check by limiting his diet to organic meat and eggs.
Hall's Carnivore Diet Plan
Hall plans to commit to the carnivore diet for three months. During this period, Hall focuses on consuming organic meat and eggs. Hall emphasizes his goal of consuming 10 liters of water daily and general health tablets full of vitamin D, Omega-3s, turmeric, magnesium and different kinds of multivitamins and minerals.
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A Month on Carnivore: Results and Adjustments
After a month on the carnivore diet, Eddie Hall reported positive results, including reduced inflammation, improved sleep, and increased strength. He also made some adjustments to his diet, such as adding more dairy into the first meal of the day and incorporating more solid fats like salmon and ribeye steaks.
The third meal of the day was more of a snack for Eddie Hall consisting of Biltong beef jerky. Meal four was back to steak and eggs with some butter.
Hall stated that he managed to consume close to 10,000 calories on the carnivore diet.
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