Bodybuilder Sam Sulek is in full prep mode for the 2026 Arnold Classic — and he’s taking fans behind the scenes of exactly how he’s fueling the journey.
On December 7, 2025, the surging pro broke down his full day of eating, showing the disciplined, no-frills approach that’s shaping his Classic Physique debut in Columbus, Ohio, set for March 5–8.
After earning gold and his IFBB Pro card at the 2025 Arnold Amateur, Sulek has quickly become one of bodybuilding’s most talked-about rising stars. Having trained alongside the likes of Urs Kalecinski and Larry Wheels, he’s now ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other pros — and he’s not leaving any detail to chance.
Sulek’s coach, Hany Rambod — a 25-time Olympia-winning trainer — confirmed that the 23-year-old intends to not only compete at the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio, but will also try his hand at the Arnold Classic UK later in the season.
READ MORE: Jay Cutler Reveals His Pick To Win The 2026 Arnold Class & Mr Olympia
Fans are already buzzing to see how the YouTuber-turned-pro handles his Classic Physique debut on one of bodybuilding’s biggest stages.
A 2,541-Calorie Blueprint for Precision
Sulek’s current diet comes in at 2,541 calories, built around 249 grams of protein, 303 grams of carbohydrates, and 37 grams of fats. It’s a straightforward but tightly measured plan designed to keep his energy high while chiseling his physique to stage condition.
Sulek has always favored a “no gimmicks” approach — sticking to basic, repeatable meals that keep his macros predictable. “This counts more as my real meal,” he explains. “I don’t understand the hate on carbs in a dieting phase.”
Meal 1 – Pre-Workout Energy
- 2.5 oz ground beef
- 2 rice cakes
- Sugar-free barbecue sauce
- Sugar-free jam
“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.”
Meal 2 – Post-Workout Recovery
- 8 oz ground beef
- 2 packs of peach-flavored oatmeal
- Sugar-free barbecue sauce
“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,” he added. “That’s going to lead to you overeating.”
Sulek says he always overestimates his food measurements rather than underestimates them — a safeguard to stay on track with his calorie deficit.
Meal 3 – The Beef and Rice Cake Combo
- 10 oz ground beef
- 4 plain rice cakes
- Zero-sugar barbecue sauce
- Garlic powder
- Salt
“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,” Sulek told viewers. “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.”
White rice might be a go-to carb for many pros, but lately, Sulek’s been “crushing up rice cakes and throwing them into” his meals for a faster prep option.
Meal 4 – Turkey and Oats
- 11 oz turkey breast
- 2 packs of blueberry-flavoured oatmeal
- 2 rice cakes
- Sugar-free barbecue sauce
- Sugar-free jam
“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.
Sulek swapped out beef for turkey in this round, keeping his carbs steady while lowering fat.
Meal 5 – Simple Finish
- 5 caramel rice cakes
His final meal of the day is light — just rice cakes — but he uses it as a checkpoint to gauge progress.
“If the scale isn’t changing, I’ve got to change the routine,” Sulek explains. “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.
Sulek looks like he has his diet locked in. With his Classic Physique Pro debut set for March 5–8 in Columbus, Ohio, anticipation is building to see whether this disciplined structure will help him rise among the IFBB elite.
And given his track record so far, few are betting against him.
Featured image credit: YouTube/Sam Sulek (screenshots)
