Those of us who have a passion for bodybuilding know that packing on the muscle requires some considerable financial outlay. A set of dumbbells, a monthly tub of protein powder, a gym membership, and a kitchen full of whole foods is only the beginning. What’s the true financial investment required to succeed on a pro bodybuilding stage? In an Instagram reel published on June 7, 2023, Martin “The Martian” Fitzwater shared his expenses as an IFBB pro Men’s Open competitor.
Competing in the Open Division, with no weight restrictions, Fitzwater treads in the most extreme bodybuilding class and, therefore, invests a significant amount of cash to develop the hulking physique that the judges expect to see. With the princely sum of $400,000 awarded to 2022 Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan, it’s easy to see why competitors must speculate to accumulate. Check out Fitzwater’s reel below:
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Daily Expenses
“It’s expensive to be a pro bodybuilder,” said Fitzwater, who has previously told Muscular Development that he can eat up to 9,000 calories daily during the off-season. Below is a breakdown of the daily bill for “The Martian.”
Morning Fuel
Fitzwater begins his day with a black coffee ($0.25) and a smoke. His morning meal is comprised of protein powder and almond butter, among other undisclosed ingredients, and racks up, he says, to $12. For his second meal, Fitzwater devours chargrilled chicken and white rice, and although this is paid for by his sponsor, it would set one back $8.
Fitzwater enjoys drinking apple juice and is willing to pay for quality goods. He says that the total cost of meal three would also come to around $8. Although the IFBB Pro doesn’t detail the entire dish, it appeared that more chicken breast was part of the deal.
The Martian’s pre-workout is $1.13 per scoop, and his bespoke blend of aminos, carbohydrates, and electrolytes totals $5. Gym membership at Fitzwater’s’ stomping ground would cost one roughly $1.70 per day, but to get there requires $6 per day in gas. Post workout, Fitzwater satisfied his sweet tooth with birthday cake flavored whey protein and brownie batter cereal.
Evening Fuel
Steak, rice, and doughnuts were next on the menu for $12. Fitzwater’s “anything goes” meal (read: cheat meal) is a fully-loaded plate of sushi rolls.
This can range from $10 to $50.
[Related: Brett Wilkin’s 6,000 Calorie Bulking Diet Includes a Cheat Meal Every Other Day]
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Working Out the Cost of Working Out
Fitzwater’s daily average total expenditure is $91.08. Fitzwater said he also spends $55 each day on “extra-curricular” activities. While the contents of that are left up to your imagination, this flexes the grand daily total to $146.08. In a 30-day month, Fitzwater’s total is approximately $4,382.40 without making deductions for off days.
If that sounds like an astronomical sum, it doesn’t include traveling expenses to competitions, paying trainers and posing coaches, grooming, and so on. How does any athlete afford the expensive world of pro bodybuilding? Fitzwater writes in the caption of his post, “Get a real job first; you’re going to need it. Bodybuilding ain’t cheap.”
Featured image: @martfitzh2o on Instagram
