I was so busy trying to perfect my abs and pecs, I didn’t realise I had a problem

October 1, 2026 — 7:00pm

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It was when sipping some grim, flavourless soup with the fervour and grace of a dog lapping spilt gravy – my only main meal that day – that I realised I was becoming a joke.

Slurping the final mouthful, I saw my mum and sister exchange a wry look. I knew what it meant. I’d become a nightmare.

It was month three of my 5:2 intermittent fasting diet. Five days a week of eating up to your usual calorie limit (around 2500 calories for men), two days of eating just 500 calories. Brutal.

We were holidaying in Turkey at the time. When I could have been eating kofte with my family, I was fasting and had become a giant bore about calorie counting.

Looksmaxxer Androgenic banned from Brisbane nightlife areas

Their gentle exasperation didn’t deter me from my almost impossible goal: muscular upper body; tiny waist. I was still working out on fasting days. It was the only way I’d find my body acceptable.

Sylvester Stallone........

© Brisbane Times