Could the Michael Phelps diet (or at least eating bulk) work for me?

Question

I've been swimming for two months, but i'm skinny and i wanna gain some weight, and i read this article in some celebrity mag that he eats around 12000 calories a day, 3000 only in his breakfast, and i've been eating 3000 calories and i have a steady weight (i'm 5'9", 130pounds, 22yo). I mean, i tried weight training for three months, with a 3000 calorie diet, but the only thing i achieved was to lower my body fat and increase muscle mass, but i never gained a pound, so i've been trying to eat bulk for a week. I switched to swimming cuz it's less boring than weight training three times a week.

This is pretty much what he eats

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

A five-egg omelet.

A bowl of grits.

Three slices of French toast with powdered sugar.

Three chocolate pancakes.

Two cups of coffee.

Lunch: A pound of pasta with tomato sauce.

Two large ham, cheese, and mayo sandwiches on white bread.

Energy drinks.

Dinner: A pound of pasta with tomato sauce.

Six to eight pizza slices (basically, a whole pizza!).

Energy drinks.

This is how i've been eating:

Breakfast:

3 egg omelette w/ cheddar cheese

3wheat tortillas w/ refried beans, avocado and tomato

home fries

bananas

lunch:

2-3cups rice

3 hamburger patties(homemade)

1 1/2 cups veggies

1 or 2 BLT sandwiches w/ mayo

1 apple

dinner:

half roasted chicken

1 1/2 cups veggies

2 cups rice or mashed potatoes

some dessert, fruit

and i drink either normal cranberry juice, tea, or gatorade

i've been doing this like for a week, and im swimming 3 times a week, 400m each day, but im kinda concerned how would this affect cholesterol leves...or should i not worry about it yet cuz Im just 22 yo?

and i don't know how many calories i am eating, but i hope i can finally gain some weight.

Answer 1

not everyones body is the same and its going to take time for your body to build muscle, michael phelps is one of the luckiest men on earth to have eating habits like that and look so fit. but also keep in mind that he burns about 4000 calories in his every workout.

Answer 2

He eats that much because he burns that many calories swimming with his recent extreme schedule.  Getting fuel in his system anyway possible to get through a peak performance time, not a long term fitness regimen.

He isn't doing it for weight gain.

Just because he is a swimmer and you are swimming for fitness does not make him a appropriate example for your dieting.  You have different goals, different bodies, and different work out schedules.

Answer 3

That's a terrible diet, especially the energy drink add ons

Anyway: your diet is pretty spot on..except you'd have more success to split meals into six to eight per day

And cholesterol, you are in no danger with this diet.

More in depth? Email me.

Answer 4

He walks all day too! He swims as hard as he can 5 hours a day, every day..thats why he can eat so much, and plus he said he eats that much because its hard to keep on the weight