I chose my passion over profession, to help you transform your life

Even with this mindset, as I later progressed in a demanding career in banking alongside obtaining a MBA and starting a PhD, I succumbed to the pressures of corporate life and became overweight for the first time. Approaching 30 unhealthy and out of shape was enough to reinvigorate my fitness quest. I started following the advice and programs of various online high profile trainers and uncovered ways of adapting training and nutrition to my international professional lifestyle. The results were decent, but short of my vision of what a physique should be. More important, using typical bodybuilding approaches didn’t leave me feeling very healthy or athletic.

Into my 30s, I set out to compete in a physique show, and hired an online coach who specialised in contest preparation. Although not quite the outcome I had always hoped for, the result aesthetically was reasonably impressive. However, the experience was anything but healthy. Multiple bouts of cardio, highly restrictive eating, unnecessary training stress on the body – all resulting in hormonal imbalances that took several months to recover from. How could a “fit-looking body” be so unhealthy?

Under the guidance and mentoring of leading industry names, I finally came to understand the methods to make real progress. Critically, I learnt that this approach meant prioritising my health as much as my physique – optimising aesthetic achievements and being healthy are not distinct – they are one and the same. To excel without using unnatural bodybuilding methods, one must harness all the nutritional benefits that nature has to offer, whilst training systematically to get stronger over time. This goes hand-in-hand with ensuring lifestyle factors such as sleep and stress are dialled in.

The result is a sustainable approach to fitness, where hunger is manageable, and training methods drive not just aesthetics, but a functionally useful, healthy and athletic physique. While not quite Rocky Balboa, I did then manage to become the Hercules Olympia Male Model UK Champion, at the ripe old age of 38.

I appreciate that aspiring to win a physique show is not for everyone. I do, however, believe (and have consistently proven with my clients) that applying the same principles, adapted for a busy lifestyle, enables anyone to fulfil their potential – becoming better versions of themselves with every passing day.