JAKE PAUL TURNED the entertainment industry upside down in 2020 when he first stepped into the ring. The social media enfant terrible, famous for videos of outlandish stunts, had his debut pro boxing match against Ali Eson Gib. He won. Then he out-boxed basketball legend Nate Robinson, notably knocking him out. Still, many traditional boxing fans didn’t take him seriously, so Paul organized fights against a list of former MMA champs: Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz, Ben Askren, and Anderson Silva. Paul beat each one and now boasts a professional record of 9-1-0.
Next up on July 20, 2024, Paul faces Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) fighter Mike Perry. Men’s Health met up with the 27-year-old in Puerto Rico at the Taj MaPaul, Paul’s residence, to learn how he’s eating and training for his eleventh professional fight.
What’s in Jake Paul’s Fridge
“I’m naturally a fat kid at heart,” says Paul. “I grew up eating Hamburger Helper, Burger King, all of that stuff, in Ohio. That’s what I was used to and that’s what I kept on eating when I moved to Los Angeles.”
Since starting competitive boxing, however, Paul revamped his eating habits to fuel his 10 to 12 weekly workouts and keep him within 15 pounds of the cruiserweight weight limit (200 pounds). Now he mainly eats whole foods such as eggs, potatoes, steak, chicken, yogurt, and fruit. Here’s a quick rundown of Paul’s favorite things in his fridge.
So. Much. Protein
Surprise, surprise, right? As an athlete who routinely cuts weight, Paul needs protein to keep himself full and maintain muscle mass as he cuts. Protein is a staple for pretty much all of our Gym & Fridge subjects, but Paul’s assortment may just be the bougiest.
Japanese Wagyu Beef: “This is what really keeps me going,” says Paul. “I look forward to eating this every night.” Though prices vary, 11 pounds of Japanese boneless ribeye from Dartagnan will run you $1,700.
Smoked Salmon: There are 18 grams of protein and 115 calories in three-and-a-half ounces of smoked salmon, making it a great high-protein, low-calorie snack for folks in a calorie deficit. (Pro tip: Add it to a bagel if you’re trying to bulk up.)
Angus Beef Tenderloin: Each three-ounce serving packs 20 grams of protein and 275 calories, as well as 15 percent of your daily required iron intake.
Shots!
Don’t get too excited. We’re talking about ginger and ketone shots, which are advertised as helping to induce ketosis (where your body burns fat for fuel). Ketone shots may also potentially reduce lactic acid production.
Fruit
Paul eats oatmeal and eggs for breakfast, a Thai chicken sandwich for lunch, and a little pasta for dinner. You probably noticed that one food group is absent from his daily menu. “I don’t eat a lot of vegetables,” Paul says. “I don’t know if I really believe in vegetables.”
He does, however, crush fruit. “The fruit is a good pre-workout snack,” Paul explains. “If I’m feeling low on sugar and glucose, which is what your muscle burns when you’re working out, I’ll have a fruit bowl before practice.”
Body Wash?
Yes, we’re serious. Paul had a row of W body wash (which he owns, we should add) on the top shelf of his fridge. “I like to keep my body wash cold. Don’t ask me why I like to keep it cold,” Paul says.
Jake Paul in the Gym
Say what you want about Paul, but the guy does not slack off in camp. He says he trains twice a day, five to six days a week. His first session is focused on boxing drills, footwork, and sparring, with a second session for strength and conditioning or track work.
“I changed coaches roughly 18 months ago,” says Paul. “The whole regime got way harder. There are way more practices, way more running, way more punches being thrown, and way more of a focus on my footwork.”
To warm up for all that exercise, Paul walks on the treadmill for 10 minutes, followed by various dynamic stretches (including unorthodox moves like handstands and cartwheels). “Injury is always a lingering [thought],” Paul says, “but thankfully, knock on wood, I have a body that doesn’t typically injure.”
Paul also works to fortify his mind. In addition to frequent meditation sessions, he’ll walk down to the beach twice weekly for what he calls “salt water cleanse boxing” to express himself and release his energy and anger. Leading up to a bout, Paul collaborates with author Lucas Mack and Onnit founder Aubrey Marus, who he calls his mediation coaches, to visualize the outcome of his coming fights.
“If you’re truly committed to what you want to accomplish, that’s how you stay focused because motivation comes and goes,” says Paul. “Some days I’m excited to go to the gym, but most days I don’t want to go to the gym. But because I want to be world champion, that’s what I focus on.”
