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!

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I had tried JKC based on the recommendation of a parent of one of my students. I originally started by attending Saturday drop in classes. I was hooked. I decided to join full time when I I had taken a year off from teaching and it was the best thing I have done for myself.

First and foremost the trainers at JKC are extremely knowledgeable. I feel like they are as dedicated to my success as I am. The workouts are tailored to me, my skills and my goals. This is important. Jon and Thomas truly want the best for their clients no matter what level of fitness they are starting from. I also like being able to book a session at a time that suits my schedule. This also helps keep me accountable. Once the session is booked I am not likely to cancel!

JKC was recommended by a previous trainer who followed Jon online. He thought Jon’s approach to training was excellent. JKC employs well educated trainers who are very particular about technique and form. I have never injured myself because the trainers know what they are doing. They can always answer any questions I ask about my training. As well the trainers are friendly contributing to a relaxed and friendly atmosphere at the gym.

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’m 43 and started at JKC just over a year ago. I started at JKC because of multiple recommendations from existing clients. There are 2 main elements that distinguish JKC for me. Firstly the sense of community. I’ve been to multiple gyms in multiple cities/countries, you just  can not manufacture the sense of community and support you get from other gym goers and the team. It’s very motivating and happy to say I’ve made some friends at JKC.

The other major distinguishing factor for JKC is the expertise and passion of the team. Jon, Thomas and Craig craft highly personalized programs based on my fitness goals and know how to push me best without being pushy. They pay close attention to ensuring my form is solid before encouraging me to take on more weight for the exercise. Plain and simple they love what they do and it shows.

I originally joined JKC because I was anxious about passing out and embarrassing myself since I hadn’t weight trained in a while and I’d hoped to find somewhere sympathetic. My husband @terry_hussey had been training at JKC and his success there made me miss the achievement you feel from a good workout. I went to meet Jon and immediately knew it was going to be a safe space for me. I was never judged for the fears I had and where I was starting from. Jon and Thomas made sure to check on me often, and found a way to challenge me but make me feel secure at the same time, and Terry and I were able to book sessions together, so working out became a shared win for us!

JKC is different from other gyms because of the personal growth you have outside JKC (the sessions inside JKC creates a great positive feedback loop!). You gain self confidence, learn how to show up for yourself, meet a community of newfound friends, and get the support of your trainers who are behind you 100%. I’ve left a scattered workout so proud of myself I’ve honestly shed a tear in the car on the drive home. JKC is the mental health relief valve I need to stay positive, and keep my anxiety and health related fears at bay.

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