A Bodybuilder Tried Michael Phelps' Epic Workout and 12,000-Calorie Diet

"His training is pretty intense, but his

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Even so, that's still an enormous amount of food for Tennyson to eat in just one day, so he divides the calories up into three huge meals. "There's lots of diversity, lots of carbs, and a

Breakfast consists of a 5-egg omelet, a bowl of grits, 3 fried egg sandwiches with spinach, 3 slices of French toast, 3 chocolate chip pancakes, and 2 cups of coffee; it's a hearty way to start the day, for sure, and leaves Tennyson "feeling full" and "sweating a lot."

Once he's digested all of that food, it's time for him to tackle an Olympic-inspired swimming workout; a series of swimming drills which work on both technique and speed across breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle, and Phelps' specialty, butterfly. "Swimming is a deceptively hard workout," he says. "My lats are fried, my head from that swimming cap is toasted right now, and I feel a little bit woozy, it must be glycogen depleted from that workout."

Meal number 2 is a slightly simpler affair: 2 ham and cheese sandwiches and pasta, as well as 2 energy drinks (a Phelps staple beverage). Then it's time for a bodyweight workout, with Tennyson attempting a dead hang pullup max to see how it stacks up against Phelps' record of 34 consecutive reps. "You know pullups hit your lats, which is going to help with your overhead and pulling power, helping you get through the water," he says. He ultimately manages 20 reps before dropping from the pullup bar.

The third and final carb-heavy meal of the day is even more pasta (1 pound, to be exact), and a large pepperoni pizza, along with another 2 energy drinks. "I honestly don't think I'll ever be able to achieve ketosis again in my life," he says