Mark Wahlberg forced himself to eat a dozen eggs a day to gain 20 lbs in less than a month for a role

Actor Mark Wahlberg in a suite and tie/a basket and carton of fresh eggs
Leon Bennett/Helen Camacaro/Getty Images

In a July 15 interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, actor Mark Wahlberg said that eating a massive amount of calories for his latest movie role was less fun than he thought it would be. 

In his upcoming film, "Stu," he plays a retired boxer turned priest. He said the role required him to put on weight and body fat quickly.

The film was shot in 30 days, Wahlberg said, and he gained at least 20 pounds during that time. 

Wahlberg said he ate 7,000 calories a day for two weeks, and then 11,000 calories a day for another two weeks. The average adult man needs about 2,500 to 3,200 calories a day to maintain weight, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The actor said he was initially excited to gain weight because it meant indulging in whatever he wanted after maintaining a strict routine to maintain his physique.

However, Wahlberg said the effort of eating all that food quickly became a burden instead of a pleasure. 

"It was fun for about an hour. It's such a hard, physical thing to do," Wahlberg said. 

He said hitting his calorie goal meant eating every three hours, even when he wasn't hungry. The intense regimen made gaining weight a greater challenge than shredding body fat, he said.

"Losing weight, you just kind of tough it out — you just don't eat, and exercise. And this, even when you're full, I would wake up after a meal and have another meal," he said. 

Wahlberg's private chef, Lawrence Duran, told E! News the actor's daily meals included at least a dozen eggs, lots of rice, olive oil, protein shakes, and oatmeal. 

A picture of a switch and lightbulb
Subscribe to push notifications