Surging Pro Sam Sulek is breaking down how he’s fueling his physique for the 2026 Arnold Classic. On Dec. 7, 2025, he detailed his 2,541-calorie full day of eating in prep for the 2026 Arnold Classic.
A lot of YouTubers tease bodybuilding ventures, but few actually follow through with them. In 2025, Sam Sulek proved he could compete onstage after taking gold at the NPC Legends Classic. His success allowed him to enter the Arnold Amateur contest.
Sulek brought up his legs with an improved look to earn gold and his IFBB Pro card at the Arnold Amateur. Having trained with other rising IFBB stars like Urs Kalecinski and Larry Wheels, fans expect Sulek to make waves when he finally stands against other pros.
Sam Sulek’s Full Day Of Eating Ahead of 2026 Arnold Classic
Find his full day of eating from the video below:
Meal 1
- 2.5 oz of ground beef
- 2 rice cakes
- sugar-free barbecue sauce
- sugar-free jam
This was Sulek’s pre-workout meal, providing him with ample carbs and protein to push for intensity.
“Not a lot of food, that only added up to about 250 calories,” he shared. “That was just so I’d have a little something in my stomach before training.”
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Meal 2
- 8 oz of ground beef
- sugar-free barbecue sauce
- 2 packs of peach-flavored oatmeal
Sulek always overestimates rather than underestimates his food measurements to ensure adherence to his calorie deficit.
“This counts more as my real meal,” explains Sulek. “I don’t understand the hate on carbs in a dieting phase.”
“I strained this really well, but you’re probably safer overestimating the amount of fats that are in it versus underestimating. That’s going to lead to you overeating.”
Meal 3
- 10 oz of ground beef
- zero-sugar barbecue sauce
- garlic powder
- salt
- 4 plain rice cakes
While white rice is a go-to carb source for the rising pro, he mentioned that he’s been crushing up rice cakes and throwing them into his bowl lately.
“This is a meal where I’ve mixed the carb component into the protein. I got a bowl of mash sitting in front of me. Did I mix in oatmeal? I don’t mind doing that, but I wouldn’t do that with a barbecue sauce, white rice? I wouldn’t mind that either. I just crushed up four plain salted rice cakes and stirred that up into everything.”
Meal 4
- 2 packs of blueberry-flavored oatmeal
- 11 oz of turkey breast
- sugar-free barbecue sauce
- 2 rice cakes
- sugar-free jam
His fourth meal also featured oatmeal, but this time he changed his protein source to turkey.
“Honestly, this is going to be my most consistent, well, I’m always consistent, but my most plain dieting phase of what I’ve done. Instead of cheating the system, getting all the low-carb super high fiber stuff, just kind of sticking to the basics. So far, it’s been working out pretty well,” he said.
Meal 5
- 5 caramel rice cakes
His final meal was just a snack of rice cakes. He noted that anytime the scale isn’t changing, that means it’s time to modify his routine, whether that’s cardio or eating less food.
“If the scale isn’t changing, I’ve got to change the routine. I can either do more cardio, eat less food. I’m trying not to overdo it on cardio. Hour a day, 30 in the morning, 30 at night, is about the sweet spot.
Any more and I might start getting not total fatigue, I’m not doing marathons, but too much cardio, I think can eat into your recovery a little bit,” said Sulek.
Total Macros
- Calories – 2,541
- Protein – 249 grams
- Carbohydrates – 303 grams
- Fats – 37 grams
Fan anticipation is mounting ahead of Sulek’s next show. The 25-time Olympia-winning coach, Hany Rambod, confirmed that Sulek intends to not only compete at the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio, but will also try his hand at the Arnold Classic UK show.
Sulek looks like he has his diet locked in. Fans look forward to seeing his Classic Physique Pro debut at the 2026 Arnold Classic, set for March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Sam Sulek Reveals His Top 10 Exercises to Build Muscle
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