Pro strongman athletes are notorious for their densely caloric diets. Four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Brian Shaw has maintained a diet of over 12,000 calories daily. 2017 WSM champion Eddie Hall maintained a 6,000-calorie diet while trying to cut weight for his professional boxing debut against 2018 WSM champion Hafthor Björnsson.

On May 12, 2024, Hall published a video on his YouTube channel wherein he, Shaw, and fellow strongman Nick Best attempted a cheat meal of epic proportions: a 22,000-calorie burger known as “The Octuple Bypass,” which comprises the following:

Eight half-pound beef patties

Eight layers of cheese

Eight tomatoes

Eight onions

Eight chillies

40 slices of bacon

As if four pounds of beef per burger weren’t enough, the three strongmen ordered three butter-fat chocolate shakes as their beverage of choice to wash down the grease. What’s special about butter-fat shakes? They also feature a slab of butter on top as a garnish. Check out the gluttony below:

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The Octuple Bypasses stood eight paddies high in a basket — a tower of cholesterol, salt, fat, and future regret whose top bun aligned with Hall’s collarbone whilst he sat in awe.

That’s bigger than I thought.

Before diving face-first into the skyscraper of meat, the trio of strongmen established a 15-minute time cap to consume the approximately 22,000-calorie cheat meal. They all expressed hardship at the six-minute marker as their meals, from an outsider’s point of view, didn’t get any smaller.

With four minutes remaining, Shaw spoke his first words since starting the challenge, “The cheese is real,” regarding its density. Best was the first to technically concede the challenge as a slight laughing fit turned into a nearby vomit session in a trash can.

After the time cap, Hall still had four paddies remaining — half of the entire meal. Best and Shaw had just over three paddies left but did not eat their veggies.

As punishment for failing the challenge, each strongman received three spanks with a leather strap in front of the entire restaurant. Best received five lashings because he threw up. Judging by how the waitress executed each spank, it is safe to assume she trains her rotational strength in the gym.

Featured image: @eddiehallwsm on Instagram

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