When the legendary swimmer Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he changed the course of Olympics history. He surpassed Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven gold medals won at one Olympics. In addition, with 28 medals under his belt, he is currently the most decorated Olympian of all time.

As a result, it is not shocking to learn that Michael Phelps typically ingested 10,000 calories when his career peaked. However, after his retirement, his diet changed, and Phelps himself felt the effects on his body. Many believed his nutrition may have been the key to his Beijing success. But according to experts, it’s not a meal for the average person.

Michael Phelps’ post-retirement diet

The retired swimming legend is no longer following his 10,000-calorie diet because he is no longer training as hard. However, it took some time to figure out what suits him when he isn’t toiling away in the water for 5 hours daily. During an interview with GQ, the 23-times Olympic gold winner swimmer was asked, “When you realized you wanted to make a change, what was the hardest part?”

In reply, Michael describes the changes he felt after clearing his diet. He said, “Cleaning up your diet is hard. There were ups and downs. When I did clean up my diet, I saw a significant change in how I felt—I’ve reminded myself of that time and time again. I was seeing more clearly in all aspects of my life and didn’t feel like a blob.”

READ MORE: “More Than Anybody Else on the Planet”: Michael Phelps Reveals How a Piece of Paper Changed His Swimming Career

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After this, Phelps also shared a glimpse of what he eats now, which includes more vegetables. He makes smoothies with spinach, almond milk, cacao nibs, and figs and includes salads in every meal. Phelps has faced a huge difference due to his post-retirement diet.

When Phelps called himself a race car

Phelps’ previous diet reflected the same energy as a racing car which needs a lot of polishing and fuel to move forward at blasting speeds. He once stated, “I would like to say I’m the chef in the house. I make most breakfasts and every dinner, and I’m always trying to incorporate as many nutrients as possible because I’ve always treated my body like it’s a high-performance race car.”

Additionally, the athlete is currently concentrating on providing his family with a healthy diet that includes a variety of veggies for lunch and dinner.

WATCH THIS STORY: When Olympic Legends Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, and Others Won Their First Gold Medals