Hafþór Björnsson, known to many as “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones, is more than just an actor—he’s one of the strongest men on the planet. Standing nearly seven feet tall and weighing over 200 kilograms, the Icelandic strongman holds the world record for the heaviest deadlift at 501 kg. To maintain his massive frame, he follows a strict training regimen and consumes 10,000 calories a day.
For most people, eating that much food in 24 hours would be unthinkable. But one fitness YouTuber, Matt, decided to take on the challenge. His goal? Eat exactly what Björnsson eats in a day and see if he could keep up. From the first meal to the last bite, the experience turned out to be far more difficult than expected.
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A Heavy Start: Breakfast with “The Mountain”
The day began early, with a hydration routine that included creatine and a hefty dose of salt—a necessity for Björnsson, who sweats heavily and is prone to cramping. “First thing in the morning, creatine and hydrate as well because I love salt so much,” he explained. “I’m a big guy, and I tend to cramp up.”
Breakfast was a serious challenge right out of the gate. The meal included steak, 500 grams of potatoes, eggs, and a generous amount of salt. While the portions seemed manageable at first, Matt quickly realized the sheer volume would be his biggest obstacle. “This is not easy for me,” he admitted. “It’s a lot. I can tell you it’s a lot.”
Björnsson, on the other hand, was unfazed. “I’m hungry now, I’m going to crush through this,” he said, casually adding more salt to his plate. Matt, struggling through his mountain of potatoes, tried to keep up with Thor’s speed. “My tactic is like speed,” he said. “If you eat quickly, hopefully, that gives me the best chance.”
The Never-Ending Meals: A Test of Endurance
The morning meal was just the beginning. Over the next several hours, meal after meal arrived, each one just as daunting as the last. The menu included steak, rice, vegetables, Greek yogurt, orange juice, and olive oil shakes—all packed with calories, protein, and healthy fats.
As the day went on, Matt found himself struggling not only with the volume but also with the monotony. “It’s not necessarily a crazy amount at once, but because we eat again and again and again, it gets harder,” Björnsson explained. “If I feel like my body weight isn’t increasing, I’ll add two bananas, maybe more rice. It’s all about consistency.”
By lunchtime, Matt was already feeling the effects. “I literally just finished breakfast,” he groaned, staring down another massive plate of food. But Björnsson showed no sympathy. “You have to finish,” he insisted, keeping a watchful eye on his guest’s plate.
The Breaking Point: A Battle Against Fullness
As the day progressed, the meals became even harder to stomach. The most difficult moments included massive avocado bites, thick yogurt shakes, and what seemed like an endless supply of rice. At one point, Björnsson offered a chicken broth and orange juice mixture, a drink Matt hesitantly accepted. “I feel like I’m going to have PTSD about shakes after this,” he joked.
By the final meal, Matt was near his limit. “I’ve hit a rice wall,” he admitted. But he refused to quit, determined to finish what he started. Björnsson, amused by his suffering, continued to encourage him. “You got it,” he said, watching as Matt forced down the last bites.
Lessons from the Challenge
By the end of the day, Matt had officially conquered half of Thor’s 10,000-calorie intake, but it came at a cost. He was exhausted, bloated, and completely overwhelmed. “One day is hard, but doing this for a sustained period of time would be absolutely horrendous,” he admitted.
Björnsson, unfazed as ever, simply shrugged. “It’s just another day for me.”
The experience highlighted an important truth: maintaining a world-class level of strength and size requires an extreme level of discipline—not just in training, but in nutrition. Eating 10,000 calories a day isn’t just about consuming massive amounts of food; it’s about staying consistent, strategic, and committed.
For those who dream of reaching the top of the strength world, this challenge made one thing clear: lifting 500 kg might be tough, but eating like Hafþór Björnsson? That’s a whole different kind of struggle.
