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!

After my children were born, I was completely out of shape. I had been active before my first pregnancy in 2008. I saw a post on social media about a charity event that was hosted at the gym. It prompted me to check out the JKC website. I was immediately impressed by the professional content and decided to give it a try. The professionally crafted and uniquely tailored work outs, as well as the sense of accountability and commitment that they foster. I have not missed a workout since joining – contrary to other experiences I have had when purchasing gym memberships. The flexibility of booking and rescheduling workouts, made easy by an online app, also contributed to my success in meeting my fitness goals.

I enjoy every session, working out with Jon, Thomas and Craig, as well as the “JKC Community”. Anytime someone achieves a personal best, I enjoy the celebration and support everyone gives each other. For me, I fondly remember achieving personal bests on bench press, chin ups and the sled push, in particular.

I joined JKC because I wanted to better care for my physical health, but didn’t really know how, or where, to begin.  Seeking help from a trainer seemed like a wise choice, and I had heard great things about the staff at JKC. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate exercising.  So, I’ve only ever tried sticking with a gym routine twice in my life.  Each experience consisted of me wandering around, not knowing what to do, and settling for an elliptical machine or something else that seemed comfortable and non-threatening.  Each session was the same, and I felt like I was wasting my time.

Each session at JKC, however, is specifically crafted for me.  I don’t have to think about what to do, because I’m told what to do.  I don’t have to worry about how to do things properly, because I’m shown (sometimes multiple times!) how to accomplish each task.  I don’t have to be concerned about slipping into a comfortable routine, because Jon and Thomas won’t let that happen.

log overhead press

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!

Kathryn Sparrow

Nutritional Coaching by Julia Howard

From my initial consult with Julia, she was professional and knowledgeable as both a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and athlete. She was interested in my nutrition and fitness goals and the development of a plan that would set me up for success.

Julia designed weekly meal plans that were complete with recipes and shopping lists. The food choices were nutritious, easy to prepare, and ensured that I felt well nourished and energized throughout my training and non-training days. Not only do I feel leaner and more fit, but I have more energy and I feel much more in tune with my body and food choices. Julia really helped me put everything in place so I can continue this process going forward- I cannot thank her enough!

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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