Michael Phelps vs. an Average Woman on Weight Watchers

The newspapers have been reporting on the incredible amount of calories that Michael Phelps has been
eating per day to maintain his weight as he trains and competes for the gold.

According to The Guardian UK, CNBC, and a whole mess of other media outlets, Mr. Phelps up to 12,000 calories a day. What would that mean to Michael if he was on the Flex Plan of Weight Watchers? Michael Phelps would need to eat 240 points a day.

Compare this to an averaged sized, moderately active woman on Weight Watchers who might get about 24 points a day.

Here is a sample menu for that Average Woman.

Breakfast
1 cup light artificially sweetened yogurt - 2 pts
2 Tbsp dried cranberries - 1 pt
1/2 cup low-fat granola cereal 3 pts

(Breakfast total - 6 pts)

Lunch
1/2 Cup Tomatoes - 0 pts
Turkey Sandwich on Wheat Bread with one slice of low fat cheese - 5 pts
1 Cup Carrot Sticks - 0 pts
2 Small Plums - 1 pt

(Lunch total - 6 pts)

Healthy Snack
1 Apple - 1 pts
1 Tbsp Peanut Butter - 2 pts

(Snack total - 3 pts)

Dinner
For dinner, lets say Average Woman eats at the chain restaurant called Islands...
1/2 Small Caesar Salad - 3.5 (She puts the other half in a to go box before she even has a bite.)
1 Bowl of Tortilla Soup (no sour cream or Guacamole)- 8 pts
1 24 oz Diet Coke - 0

(Dinner total - 11.5 pts)

Total Points for the day... 26.5
Just a bit over the 24 point goal, but luckily Average Woman has 35 extra points a week to use when she goes over her daily limit.

What would a sample menu for Michael look like?

Breakfast
5 Slices Wheat Toast - 6 pts
2 Tbsp of Butter - 6 pts
1 Tbsp Jelly - 1 pt
8 Egg Cheese, Mushroom, and Spinach Omelet - 24 pts
6 Mini Sausages - 5 pts.
3 Pancakes Prepared from Scratch - 9 pts
2/3 Cup Maple Syrup - 11 pts
2 Cups Melon - 2 pts
16 Oz 2% Milk - 5 pts
24 Oz Fresh Orange Juice - 6 pts

(Breakfast total - 75 pts)

Lunch
3 Cups of Caesar Salad -7 pts
3 Dinner Rolls - 10 pts
1 16oz Steak - 36 pts
2 Large Baked Potatoes - 7 pts
2 Table Spoons of Butter - 6 pts
4 Tbsp of Sour Cream - 3 points
2 Cups of Peas in Butter Sauce - 6 points
1 Cup of Berries with 1/2 Cup of Real Whipped Cream - 3 pts

(Lunch total - 78 pts)

Healthy Snack
3 Apples - 3 pts
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter - 20 pts

(Snack total - 20 pts)

Dinner
For dinner Michael also visits Islands and has...
1 China Coast Salad - 28.5
1 Pipeline Burger - 36
1 24 oz Coke - 6

(Dinner total - 70.5 pts)

Total Points for the day... 246.5
Oh no... just a bit over the 240 point goal, luckily, Michael has those 35 extra points a week to play with, otherwise, he would have to hit the gym for a good workout.