The Insatiable Appetite of "The Beast"
To understand how many calories Eddie Hall needs a day, one must first recognize that this number is not a static figure. Throughout his career, his dietary needs have changed dramatically to accommodate his evolving athletic pursuits, from strongman competition to boxing and MMA. His body has been a finely tuned machine, with its fuel requirements varying enormously based on the demands of his training and weight class.
The Strongman Era: 12,000 to 16,000+ Calories
During his time as a strongman, culminating in his World's Strongest Man victory in 2017, Eddie Hall's sole focus was on maximizing strength and mass. The mantra in strongman is "you've got to have weight to shift the weight," and Hall embodied this philosophy. To sustain his massive 30.5-stone (427 lbs) frame and gruelling training sessions, his daily calorie intake was staggering. He reported consuming over 12,000 calories a day, sometimes pushing that figure to 16,000 or more, especially during heavy bulking phases. In fact, one specific extreme bulking experiment saw him attempt to consume 20,000 calories in a single day, an ordeal he later said made him sick.
His diet at this time was not focused on 'clean eating' but on sheer caloric density. Meals were frequent and enormous, often consisting of:
- Huge English breakfasts with all the trimmings
- Large steaks, pasta, and vegetables
- Liters of high-calorie foods like ice cream and double cream to top off meals
- Liquid calories from shakes and juices to aid digestion and boost intake
The Boxing Transition: Cutting for the Ring
Following his strongman retirement and decision to enter the boxing world, Hall's focus shifted from maximal mass to a leaner, more agile physique. This necessitated a dramatic cut in his calorie intake. For his highly anticipated boxing match against Hafthor Bjornsson, his diet was scaled back significantly to around 6,000 calories a day, a move that helped him shed a considerable amount of weight. This phase required a more balanced and controlled approach to nutrition, prioritizing lean protein and complex carbohydrates to support new training goals.
The Carnivore Experiment: 10,000 Calories for Health
In a more recent dietary shift, Hall experimented with a month-long carnivore diet, documenting his journey for his YouTube channel. This diet consisted almost exclusively of meat and dairy. Despite cutting out carbs, his daily intake was still monstrous, clocking in at nearly 10,000 calories. The diet was reported to consist of multiple meals, often featuring ribeye steaks, salmon, and eggs, supplemented with high-calorie milkshakes, broth, and protein powder. While a month-long experiment, this demonstrated how his body, even when not in peak strongman form, still requires immense amounts of fuel to maintain its size and active lifestyle.
Comparing Eddie Hall's Diets
| Feature | Strongman Era | Boxing Transition | Carnivore Experiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Calories | ~12,000-16,000+ | ~6,000 | ~9,800-10,000 |
| Primary Goal | Maximize strength and mass | Reduce weight for boxing | Improve health and performance |
| Carbohydrates | Extremely high, from pasta, rice, etc. | Balanced, controlled intake | Almost zero (with some exceptions like certain sauces) |
| Protein Source | Varied meats, dairy, supplements | Leaner meats, supplements | Meat and dairy products only |
| Key Food Items | Steak, pasta, pizza, ice cream, full English breakfast | Balanced meals, likely featuring lean meats and complex carbs | Ribeye steaks, salmon, eggs, dairy, milkshakes |
Training Goals Dictate Calorie Intake
The striking differences in Eddie Hall's calorie intake across his different athletic phases underscore a fundamental principle of sports nutrition: calories are a tool to be adjusted based on specific goals. When his objective was to lift a world-record-setting 500kg deadlift, the energy expenditure was so high that a vast caloric surplus was essential for recovery and growth. As his goals shifted to boxing, the priority was agility and endurance, requiring a more conservative and precisely controlled diet. Even his carnivore diet, while seemingly restrictive, was calibrated to provide the energy needed for his continued heavy training while addressing specific health goals like reducing inflammation. For more insights into how elite athletes manage their fuel intake, articles on sites like BarBend offer excellent analysis.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Number
In conclusion, the question of "how many calories does Eddie Hall need a day?" does not have a single answer. It is a dynamic figure that has reflected his changing career ambitions and health priorities. His strongman days saw him consuming upwards of 16,000 calories to support his massive size and lift superhuman weights. The transition to boxing dropped his intake dramatically to around 6,000 calories for a leaner physique. Most recently, his carnivore diet still required a massive 10,000 calories to fuel his active body. These figures demonstrate that for elite athletes, diet is a strategic component of training, not a matter of gluttony, and his caloric needs are as impressive and varied as his athletic feats. His career serves as a living example of how dietary strategy must adapt to a changing body and evolving goals.
