The “American Monster” is back in full swing to strongman training. Robert Oberst has recovered from his shoulder injury and is prepping for his return to the competitive strongman stage as the leader of Team USA at the 2022 Giants Live World’s Strongest Nation (WSN) contest against Team UK led by 2017 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Eddie Hall. On June 18, 2022, Oberst took to his YouTube channel to share an update on what he eats to fuel his training.
Like many competitive strongmen, Oberst is known for consuming a lot of calories to keep his weight high and lift heavier in competition. He’s previously been on camera eating a 12,000-calorie cheat meal and stating how he would consume upwards of 20,000 calories per day the week leading up to a competition if he could. Check out what he eats in a full day in the video below, courtesy of his YouTube channel:
[Related: Konstantine Janashia Withdraws From 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic, Replaced by Maxime Boudreault]
Let’s Talk Food
Oberst prefaces that his current diet is not necessarily a full commitment. He has until Nov. 26, 2022, until he competes in the 2022 WSN contest, and expects to amend his diet further as that competition approaches. That said, Oberst is “dialing it in” to be “at his best” when he walks under the bright lights at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.
Unlike previous diets, Oberst is tracking all the food he consumes on the MyFitnessPal app, which allows him to log all the food he consumes and get an approximation of his macros and calories. Here’s Oberst’s food intake per day in the order he consumes it:
- First Bites — Half a bagel with cream cheese and four ounces of smoked salmon.
- Breakfast — Three-egg scramble with as many egg whites and veggies as he wants.
- Morning Snack — A quarter cup of mixed nuts (no peanuts) and an apple.
- Midday Snack — Six to eight ounces of grilled chicken.
- Pre-workout Meal — One banana, one tablespoon honey, choice of fruit, oats with milk.
- Lunch — Six to eight ounces of bison with rice and veggies.
- Post-workout Snack — Varies, but consists of 50 grams of carbs and 50 grams of protein.
- Dinner — Steak with potatoes, veggies, and a salad.
- Late-night Meal — Three-egg omelet with veggies and cheese OR six-eight ounces of chicken with a quarter cup of mixed nuts and an apple or orange.
Oberst enjoys smoked salmon, but this is the first time it’s ever been a part of a meal plan he’s followed. He has, of course, consumed a lot of fish, but this is the first time a cured fish made the cut. Likewise, while high carbohydrate intake is a must for all the load he subjects his body under in training, bagels are also a new feature of his diet.
The daily breakfast for Oberst is pretty lenient quantity-wise. He is capped at three whole eggs but can supplement it with an unlimited amount of egg whites and any vegetables he pleases. His follow-up snack is a combination of nuts and fruit for satiety. As far as red meat goes, Oberst enjoys bison but has the option to swap it for ground turkey if he pleases. He usually mixes it up with onions and jalapenos for some added kick, as many of his meals are adjusted based on how he feels.
Although Oberst is following a meal plan, his calories aren’t capped. If he feels hungry, he’ll add more volume to his meals and vice versa if he isn’t as hungry. His post-workout snack is specific in its macros, and Oberst said it is often a protein shake.
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[Related: Strongman Josh Lancaster Sets U80KG Heavy Dumbbell World Record of 100 Kilograms (220.5 Pounds)]
Oberst’s Strongman Future
Oberst intends to qualify for the 2023 WSM contest and then retire from competitive strongman. Oberst has competed at the WSM eight times (2013-16, 2018-21), qualifying for the WSM Final twice. His best finishes were ninth overall in his WSM debut in 2013 and eighth in 2018. We’ll see if Oberst’s new diet helps him slim down to move better in the medley-style events while maintaining his strength to handle heavier implements in November.
Featured image: @robertoberst on Instagram