Michael Philips Food Plan

So what does it take to be the top swimmer in the world? To appear in the Olympics three times? To break world records and to win eleven Olympic gold medals? Eh, not much, just a strict training regimen, oh yeah, and a 12,000 calorie a day diet.

At least that's what it takes Michael Phelps.

The 23-year-old swimmer doesn't exactly have the normal physique of a man who would eat that much. Phelps stands at 6-feet, four-inches and weighs only 195 pounds. In fact, the lean swimmer has talked in interviews about the struggle he's had to try and break that 200-pound mark.

In a single day, the swimmer from Maryland eats six times the amount of a normal adult male. So, what do you eat when you're Phelps, and can eat pretty much anything you want to?

Well, here's a typical day in the diet of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps:

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

Two cups of coffee

One omelet with five eggs
One bowl of grits
Three slices of French toast with powdered sugar
Three chocolate chip pancakes

Lunch
One packet of pasta
Two ham and cheese sandwiches with mayo

Dinner
One packet of pasta
One whole pizza

Also, count in at least 2,000 calories of energy drinks.

Phelps told NBC that all he does is "Eat, sleep and swim." Well, you have to figure that when you're eating that much, it takes time. But, he also said he frequents many local restaurants, because honestly, making that much food, would take up most of your day.

So kids, remember, if you want to be like Michael Phelps when you grow up, you have to eat at least 10,000 calories a day, and slowly work your way up to 12,000. I'm kidding of course. No one wants Michael Phelps to be the new reason for childhood obesity.