“I probably eat cleaner now,” GOAT Michael Phelps talks about freedom of being ‘picky’ eater after retiring from sports in 2016 

GOAT Michael Phelps talks about nutrition values for athletes in the wake of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

“I probably eat cleaner now,” GOAT Michael Phelps talks about freedom of being ‘picky’ eater after retiring from sports in 2016 

Michael Phelps [Image Credit- Imago]

Michael Phelps recently opened up about his eating habits in the wake of the 2024 Summer Olympics. He talks about how nutrition plays a crucial role in an athlete’s life, especially prior to any championships or major championship matches.

He admits changing his lifestyle vastly after retiring from the world of swimming in 2016. Being one of the most decorated Olympians, his lifestyle has inspired many young athletes in the process. During an interview with E! News, he said, “I probably eat cleaner now than I used to.”

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Phelps says his food intake has reduced since he doesn’t have any obligations to raise his calories prior to competitions. While he cramped up on junk foods and ice cream, it was all to gain 10,000 calories while training.

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There’s no way you can just eat clean and get all those calories. So, I was trying to cram ice cream and whatever I could into my system.
Michael Phelps as per Leah Degrazia of E! News. 

In the past, Phelps felt that “eating was a full time job” but now he enjoys what he intakes and has the freedom to be a “more picky” eater. Now he enjoys not “devouring everything in my sight” but choosing what to eat and what not to.

Michael Phelps says his eating habits positively affects his family too

Michael Phelps‘ family is with him on his journey of controlling diet and partaking in nutritional foods. Not only has his lifestyle evolved since quitting being a professional swimmer, but now he teaches his wife Nicole Johnson, his children, and even his dog about the nutritional values of food one should indulge in for a better lifestyle.

Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson
Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson [Image Credit- People]

His commitment has also inspired many young athletes to chase a healthy lifestyle both for personal and professional gain. Although Phelps admits to eating junk foods, he maintains the balance by saying, 

If I was eating junk food all the time, then I wouldn’t be able to push my body to go the speeds that I was going.
Michael Phelps as per Leah Degrazia of E! News. 

He says that the journey of changing dietary habits was not easy. “Post-retirement it’s challenging to eat sometimes,” Phelps noted during a 2021 interview with GQ. His goal since retirement has been to “cleaning up” his diet and to “build and repair muscle” to stay healthy for a long period of time.

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