J.J. Watt eats up to 9000 calories a day, loves brunch

J.J. Watt is a massive and powerful man, which is one of the reasons he is such a force as a defensive end. But to maintain all that size and strength requires the Texans star to eat a lot of food.
J.J. Watt eats up to 9000 calories a day, loves brunch
J.J. Watt eats up to 9000 calories a day, loves brunch /

J.J. Watt is a massive and powerful man, which is one of the reasons he is such a force as a defensive end, but to maintain all that size and strength requires the Texans star to eat a lot of food.

Watt and his trainer, Brad Arnett, recently explained to ESPN why adding a little bit of junk food to his diet of 6,000–9,000 calories a day has him feeling better than ever.

Arnett had the reigning Defensive Player of the Year add healthy fats from avocados and coconut oil into his diet and encouraged Watt to take one cheat meal a week, which the Texan usually uses on brunch.

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"I love brunch," Watt said. "Brunch is my favorite meal. I went there, had brunch, had a massive potato pancake omelet, which is an omelet inside a potato pancake. Then I had stuffed French toast with berries and stuff. My cheat meals aren't even that exciting. That was my cheat meal. The omelet is still pretty darn healthy. The stuffed French toast was the cheat meal, but that was delicious."

Without the benefit of a cheat meal though, Watt says hitting those high calorie totals can be a bit of a slog.

"It's literally, if I'm not working out, I eat the whole time I'm not working out," Watt said. "It's exhausting. You have to force feed. You have to force yourself to eat food."

GALLERY: SI'S BEST PHOTOS OF J.J. WATT

SI's Best Photos of J.J. Watt

May 27, 2015

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Robert Seale for Sports Illustrated

May 27, 2015

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Robert Seale for Sports Illustrated

April 6, 2015

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John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

with Caroline Wozniacki

Nov. 4, 2014

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Pam Francis for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 26, 2014

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Ronald C. Modra for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 5, 2014

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Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 5, 2014

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Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 5, 2014

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Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Sept. 21, 2014

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Sept. 21, 2014

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Sept. 9, 2013

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John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Sept. 9, 2013

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John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Jan. 5, 2013 -- AFC Wild Card

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Peter Read Miller for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 21, 2012

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David E. Klutho for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 14, 2012

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John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 14, 2012

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John Biever for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 14, 2012

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John Biever for Sports Illustrated

Oct. 14, 2012

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John Biever for Sports Illustrated

Jan. 7, 2012 -- AFC Wild Card

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Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Nov. 27, 2011

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Damian Strohmeyer for Sports Illustrated

Sept. 11, 2011

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Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

April 28, 2011

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David Bergman for Sports Illustrated

Feb. 28, 2011 -- NFL Scouting Combine

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Todd Rosenberg for Sports Illustrated

Jan. 1, 2011 -- Rose Bowl

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Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

Nov. 27, 2010

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John Biever for Sports Illustrated

Nov. 27, 2010

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John Biever for Sports Illustrated

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