Hey Folks! Every week, I get asked questions such as: “What do you eat?”, “What is your diet like for strongman?” or “How many calories do you eat?” 

Because of the interest in the topic, I decided that the best thing to do was write a blog post about it! Before I get started though, a little disclaimer. A person’s diet, similar to an exercise program, is a very individualized thing. My diet is designed to maximize my performance in the sport of strongman and as such is not necessarily suitable for other purposes (weight loss, endurance performance, etc). So please do not think of this as a blueprint for how you should be eating to achieve your fitness goals!

What I’ve laid out for you is a glimpse into my “average day”. There can be changes in here for meals like breakfast and supper. For the most part though, I stay pretty consistent to what is written below. Enjoy!

Meal 1: Breakfast Skillet

This skillet is 2 sausages, 1/2 of a red pepper, 1 onion, 3 medium potatoes, 2 eggs, and a couple handfuls of cheese. I also had a glass of orange juice with it. This can vary though, some days, it’s bacon eggs, and toast or when I work early in the morning, it’s a protein shake, rice, fruit and orange juice. The rough nutrient breakdown for this meal is: 43 grams of protein, 65 grams or carbs, 50 grams of fat and a total of 960 Calories.

Meal 2: Steak and Rice with Tomatoes

This meal is a 225 gram strip loin steak, 145 grams (measured uncooked) of jasmine rice, and 175 grams of cherry tomatoes. The meal is always rice, beef, and vegetables. Lately, it’s been the striploin but I have had ground beef or the shredded beef (see meal 4) with this meal many times. The rough nutrient breakdown for this meal is: 49 grams of protein, 131 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fat and a total of 830 Calories.

Meal 3: Shake and Fruit

I usually eat this meal at work so it’s on the run. It is a shake made of 1 (35 gram) scoop of protein powder and 1 (100 gram) scoop of weight gain powder. With it I usually have some fruit, often 3 clementines as any of the morning JKC crowd could tell you!. The breakdown for this meal is: 43 grams of protein, 100 grams of carbs, 8 grams of fat and a total of 635 Calories. 

Meal 4: Shredded Beef and Rice with Zucchini

This meal is 175 grams of shredded slow cooked beef roast, 145 grams (measured uncooked) of jasmine rice, 175 grams of roasted zucchini, 75 grams of barbecue sauce and a couple handfuls of cheese. Similar to meal 2, this meal is always beef, rice, and vegetables. The rough nutrient breakdown for this meal is: 49 grams of protein, 170 grams of carbs, 12 grams of fat and 1050 Calories. 

Meal 5: Yogurt, Berries, etc, etc🤣

My last meal of the day varies depending on the day. When I work early in the morning, I usually have something smaller like a shake and some fruit similar to meal 3. When I’m not up as early though, I like to have something a bit larger and lately that’s been a smoothie that consists of 200mL of oat milk, 300 grams of greek yogurt, 200 grams of frozen blueberries, 45 grams of natural peanut butter and 100 grams of weight gainer powder. The breakdown for this shake is about 58 grams of protein, 130 grams of carbs, 35 grams of fat and 1030 Calories.

So, now we get to the fun part, the total amount. So with these meals my daily total is about: 245 grams of protein, 600 grams of carbs, 110 grams of fat and a total of just over 4500 Calories. As I’ve said, this is what I’d call my “average day”. This can change some days based on my work schedule, for example on Monday and Tuesday I generally have breakfast, lunch, a shake, and then supper before bed since I don’t get home until late so I’m not having that evening shake. I hope you all enjoy this post and it gives you a little insight into my diet!

I am the oldest client at JKC at 79 years, soon to be 80. I started training at JKC July 2021. I started at JKC because two of my three sons Justin and Michael and their partners Andrea and Keir and one of my doctors recommended JKC. They all train at JKC Now my wife Linda trains at JKC too. My third son Jonathan lives in Kingston. There is a congenial community atmosphere at JKC. People are introduced to each other. There is effective personal training at JKC.

I am 62 years young and I started training with Jon in 2013. I originally came to join JKC as a recommendation from other family members that were onboard with Jon. Their enthusiasm for the gym experience was quite evident.  I was not to be outdone, so I decided to join as well. JKC, in my mind, certainly stands out from the crowd. I feel it’s a combination of the skill and passion the coaches have for their job and their clients. Each client is treated with the upmost respect and given time to explore their fitness journey without any pressure. JKC is certainly not a cookie cutter gym.The coaches customize your fitness program to suit your needs and your fitness level. This certainly makes sense because no two clients are alike.  This is where JKC excels! Jon, Thomas, and Craig keep the atmosphere at the gym light, but productive. A great combination that obviously works and makes the clients want to come back. Lastly, the camaraderie at the gym is everything. Meeting likeminded people who make you feel you are not alone in your fitness journey is everything.

I had virtually no real experience using weights and felt intimidated going gyms. I avoided gym-goers using free weights, especially when hearing that loud crash, as they would drop weights to the floor. I thought this was to show everyone around them that they owned that area and that I shouldn’t go anywhere near! So I guess I just wanted to learn how to lift weights safely in a gym environment.

I spent over 18 years in the British Military, so I got to use some nice gyms. 99% of my time and experiences in those gyms was spent doing cardiovascular workouts, because I could just jump on a treadmill, plug in my head phones and do my own thing! JKC is different, because they have given me the confidence to use free weights and equipment that I had feared for years. Their demonstrations and knowledge is impeccable and I thank them for their continuous belief and support they show me at every session.

Courtney Sharpe

Nutritional Coaching by Julia Howard

For the past two months I have worked with the JKC team and have never felt better! In addition to a personal fitness plan, JKC’s holistic nutritionist, Julia, worked with me and around my busy schedule to educate me on healthier food options and meal planning. I maintain a daily food log which Julia reviews and provides feedback on and we also have weekly chats to discuss my nutritional goals and potential improvement areas. Julia also helped me to identify and work around dietary constraints which have caused digestion issues for years!

Julia and the rest of the JKC family have helped me get my confidence back! I love starting my days with a good sweat and a healthy breakfast. I understand what foods make me feel my best and my body is well on its way to becoming more lean, fit and happy! I would totally recommend Julia and the entire JKC team!

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