Mark Felix: Supplements, Diet, and Best Lifts

At 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) and 310 lb (140 kg), Mark Felix aims to consume at least 7,500 calories each day, as well as numerous supplements, to maintain his massive bulk. Below, we take a look at what supplements he takes, at what his diet consists of, and at some of his incredible lifting recordings. 

Mark Felix: Supplements, Diet, and Best Lifts

So, what does Felix consume to prepare himself for training and to recover afterwards?

Mark Felix: Supplements

In an interview shared by personal trainer Matt Swaz, it’s revealed that Felix starts and ends the day with a swathe of supplements, including creatine, a pump enhancer, glutamine, branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), and essential fatty acids. 

Why does Felix take these supplements?

Here are some of the benefits:

• Creatine: Has been shown to increase performance on a wide range of measures of anaerobic power, including bench press, leg press, and deadlift (you can learn more about the benefits of creatine supplementation here).
• Pump enhancer: A pump feels good. There’s also some evidence that L-arginine (a common component of pump enhancers) can improve athletic performance (Pahlavani et al., 2017).
• Glutamine: Can promote muscle recovery (Legault et al., 2015)
• BCAAs: Can increase anaerobic power, endurance, and perceptual–motor skills (you can find out more about the benefits of BCAA supplementation here).
• Essential fatty acids: Can reduce joint pain and stiffness (Goldberg & Katz, 2007).

In an interview with Muscle and Fitness, Felix mentions that he also takes a multi-vitamin and glucosamine to help with his joints. 

I limit my caffeine intake and use it when I need it pre-training – Mark Felix

Mark Felix: Strongman Diet

According to the aforementioned interview, a typical day of eating for Felix looks something like this: 

• Breakfast: (all of the supplements above as well as…) Weetabix with milk
• Snack 1: Green tea, fruit, salad
• Lunch: Eggs or tuna with wholemeal bread, high-protein jelly
• Snack 2: Fruit and a protein shake
• Before workout: A pre-workout
• Dinner: Steamed vegetables with chicken or salmon
• Snack 3: (all of the supplements above as well as…) peanut butter on wholemeal bread

In an interview with bodybuilding.com, Felix says he’ll also take meal replacements and protein bars during competitions and when travelling. 

When we're lifting all day, I'll eat anything that’s nutrient-dense and easy to consume. – Mark Felix

Mark Felix: Best Lifts

With his huge hands (spanning 13 inches or 33 cm) and almost unrivalled grip strength, one of the strongman events for which Mark Felix is best known is the Hercules hold, which involves holding up two 352-lb (160-kg) pillars for as long as possible. Here’s a video of a 53-year-old Felix setting the world record at Giants Live. 

His best deadlift in a competition is 925 lb (420 kg), which he did at the 2016 World Deadlift Championships. 

Outside of competition, his personal bests include a 530-lb (240-kg) bench press and a 770-lb (350-kg) squat.

Mark Felix: Other

As well as for his strength, Felix has become known for his amazing longevity. Born in 1966, he was 38 years old when he first qualified for the World’s Strongest Man (WSM) in 2004. Subsequently, he qualified almost every year up to and including 2023, when he competed in the competition for the last time at the age of 57. His best performance was in 2006 when he finished 4th.

Outside of competition, Mark Felix makes a living as a plasterer. 

Final Thoughts

If you liked this article, you might also be interested in this one on the supplements of some of the strongest men in the world or this one about the supplements, diet, and best lifts of Martins Licis (WSM winner in 2019). 

About the Author

As well as BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in life science subjects, James Roberts has over 10 years of experience in strength and endurance training. He loves to write in order to share his expertise in healthy eating, training, and supplementation

References

Goldberg, R. J., & Katz, J. (2007). A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain, 129(1-2), 210–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2007.01.020 

Legault, Z., Bagnall, N., & Kimmerly, D. S. (2015). The influence of oral L-glutamine supplementation on muscle strength recovery and soreness following unilateral knee extension eccentric exercise. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 25(5), 417–426. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2014-0209 

Pahlavani, N., Entezari, M. H., Nasiri, M., Miri, A., Rezaie, M., Bagheri-Bidakhavidi, M., & Sadeghi, O. (2017). The effect of l-arginine supplementation on body composition and performance in male athletes: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71(4), 544–548. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.266