Athletes usually prioritize bulking up in the off-season to gain muscle mass and improve performance. However, focusing on consuming nutrient-dense calories is essential for optimal results.
In a video published on June 28, 2024, fitness content creator Will Tennyson partnered with the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champ Mitchell Hooper for an epic five-hour, 10,000-calorie challenge. With Hooper taking on 60 percent of the calories, the duo delved into their food choices and discussed healthy eating strategies for bulking via a nutritious, balanced diet.
The goal is to eat reasonably healthy.
Check out the video below, courtesy of Hooper’s YouTube channel:
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First Meal
Omelet — 10 eggs
Light feta cheese
Fruit salad
Toast
Butter
Primo bacon
Total calories — 1,370
Hooper and Tennyson have a 10-egg omelet with feta cheese, fruit salad, toast, and primo bacon for breakfast. While not perfectly healthy, Hooper’s approach demonstrates how to consume a substantial amount of calories from relatively nutritious sources.
Since Tennyson is unaccustomed to eating 4,000 calories daily, he planned to offset the increased intake by spiking his metabolism through increased physical activity between meals. Hooper makes smart food choices to maximize calorie intake while bulking.
It’s not that hard to bulk and eat good food, but it’s really easy to overeat.
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Second Meal
Chicken burrito — One large and one regular (Hooper)
Chicken burrito — One regular (Tennyson)
Hooper’s total calories — 1,785
Tennyson’s total calories — 750
Hooper opted for a large and a regular chicken burrito, while Tennyson chose a single regular-sized chicken burrito. Hooper admitted the food volume might seem overwhelming for a five-hour period but predicted he’d feel starved four hours after the challenge ended.
“This is also the answer to how strongman athletes eat so much,” Hooper said. “Half of them lie about how much they eat. It’s not as hard as you think.”
Snack
Puree — One bottle
Total calories — 560
After lunch, the duo sought snacks at a local supermarket to avoid a calorie overload in their final meal. Hooper warned of hidden sugars in seemingly healthy products, emphasizing their potential harm even on a high-calorie bulking diet.
Third Meal
Lamb shank (Hooper)
Salmon (Tennyson)
Hooper’s total calories — 925
Tennyson’s total calories — 600
The duo struggled to finish their final meal — Tennyson persevered, but Hooper conceded defeat halfway through.
After the final meal, Hooper and Tennyson fell short of their 10,000-calorie goal, consuming 4,640 and 3,270 calories, respectively (7,910 total). Their 10,000-calorie challenge highlights how strategic food choices can optimize calorie intake during a bulk.
More Strongman Content
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2024 Strongman World Cup Results — Dmitrii Skosyrskii Victorious
Featured image: @willtenny on Instagram
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