“The Doctor Told Me I Was the Most Likely Person to Have a Heart Attack” – How Eddie Hall Lost 80 Pounds, Improved His Health, and Became a Ripped MMA Fighter

If you ever wondered what it takes to become the world’s strongest man—and then walk away from it all for the sake of your health—Eddie Hall’s transformation is one for the ages.

From national swimming star to deadlift history maker, Eddie’s path has been anything but ordinary.

In a recent interview on the Men’s Health podcast, the British icon opened up about the raw beginnings of his strength journey, his battle with depression, and the toll 12,000-calorie days took on his body.

But beyond the barbell, Eddie Hall reveals how he’s finding new purpose through MMA, fatherhood, and reflecting on a life built through trial, error, and raw determination.

This is a deep-dive into the mindset, methods, and evolution of a man once warned by doctors that he was “the most likely person in the UK to have a heart attack or stroke.”

The Weight of Strength: From Pool Lanes to Podiums

Before fame hit with the World’s Strongest Man title and his record-setting 500 kilogram deadlift, Eddie Hall was dominating in a different arena—swimming.

As a teenager, Hall was one of the UK’s best, representing on the national stage and training with Olympic-level squads. But a series of traumatic events—a school expulsion, a family cancer diagnosis, drug use, and an unplanned pregnancy—pulled his life into a tailspin.

“I thought I had no future,” Hall shared. “I was on Prozac, seeing a psychiatrist, and doing nothing but playing PlayStation and wasting away.”

It was his mother who finally gave him the push that would change his path: “Why don’t you try the gym?”

That advice reignited something in him. At 14 years old, Hall began lifting weights, chasing the image of Arnold Schwarzenegger, not knowing it would launch his comeback—and his legacy.

Fueling Goliath: What a 433-Pound Strongman Ate Daily

“I was 196 kilos—433 pounds—at my peak,” Hall recalled.

To maintain his size and power, Hall consumed between 10,000 to 14,000 calories daily. His metabolism was so high, researchers at Staffordshire University measured that he burned 5,500 calories simply sitting in a chair for 12 hours.

• Breakfast: A bucket of porridge, multiple English breakfasts.
• Lunch and Dinner: Massive portions of meat, rice, and carbs.
• Snacks: Cheesecakes, oatcakes, and anything dense in calories.

“Everything was just quadrupled,” said Hall. “If someone had one steak, I had four.”

Doctor’s Orders: The Wake-Up Call That Ended Strongman

Despite the glory, the lifestyle caught up with him. Hall’s blood work showed red flags across the board—elevated liver and kidney markers, dangerously thick blood, and astronomical BMI.

“The doctor looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘If I lined up all 70 million Brits, I’d pick you as the most likely person to have a heart attack or stroke right now.’”

That conversation ended Eddie Hall’s strongman career in 2017.

Since then, he’s dropped over 80 pounds, improved his cardiovascular health, and embraced a new mentality focused on longevity and functional performance.

From Deadlifting to Headkicks: The Beast Goes to War

These days, Hall isn’t just training in the gym—he’s stepping into the cage.

After facing off against fellow strongman Hafthor Bjornsson in boxing, he transitioned into MMA and stunned the world by knocking out five-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski in just 28 seconds.

To prepare, Hall trained up to three sessions a day:

• Two stand-up striking sessions per week
• Two Brazilian jiu-jitsu sessions
• Daily strength and conditioning with high-rep explosive lifts
• Plus: swimming, long walks, and recovery work

“We trained for war. But the whole game plan came down to one goal: land the first punch,” Hall said. It worked—one punch rocked Pudzianowski, and the finish came seconds later with hammer fists and a powerful takedown.

MMA Nutrition: Why Carnivore Is Working (for Now)

Eddie’s current performance diet might raise eyebrows: strictly carnivore.

“All I eat is meat, eggs, and dairy,” he said. “No carbs. No sugar. Just animal-based foods.”

He credits the diet for improving energy, sleep, and mental clarity—key boosts during long MMA rounds. However, Hall remains cautious about its long-term use.

“I don’t think I’ll be on it forever,” he noted. “But right now, it’s the perfect fuel for my lifestyle.”

Example Day on Carnivore:

• Breakfast: 200g salmon, cottage cheese, 2 boiled eggs
• Lunch: Ribeye steak, duck eggs, sauerkraut
• Snacks: Cheese and cultured dairy like kefir

The Bond Builder: Training with His Son Max

One of the most wholesome projects Hall shares is his gym time with son Max, now 12 years old. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyspraxia, Max struggled with social skills and academics—until the weight room transformed his life.

Once he began training, Max’s reading, math, and confidence surged within months.

“Sport is one of the best treatments for ADHD—you burn off the hyperactivity and in return, calm the mind,” said Hall, who also struggled with ADHD in his youth.

Their sessions have not only helped Max cope—they’ve strengthened a father-son bond that’s difficult to quantify.

Leaving a Legacy: Advice from the Sauna

Hall credits much of his early wisdom—and financial success—to time spent with older men in the gym sauna. “That’s where I learned about life: marriage, mortgages, and mindset,” he explained.

Simple advice like “don’t dump your wages at the pub—buy a house instead” paid off for him early, launching his real estate investments before age 20.

It’s a message he hopes to pass on to the next generation, both through his content and his new podcast, The Good, the Bad, and the Beast.

What’s Next? Still a Beast—but Smarter

Hall says he has zero interest in chasing records for ego. “Even if I came back to Strongman and won another title, it’s just two titles. I’m already immortalized as the first to pull 500kg. I proved my point.”

Now, at 37 years old, he’s focused on entertainment, fitness, MMA, mentoring young athletes—and simply living a strong, healthy life without the looming threat of a stroke or heart attack.

In His Words:

“I’m lucky to sit here today and say I’ve got no regrets. Just be yourself and chase your dreams.”

That might just be the strongest advice Eddie Hall has ever given—and it didn’t require lifting 1,102 pounds to prove it.